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Tuesday, September 28, 2010
My Big Top Adventure
OK, I think this may have worked...click on the picture and it should take you to my album. Enjoy!
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Is it really almost October?!?!?!?!
Hi friends and family-
I hope this finds you all well! I should apologize for not being a very "updative" person...it's been a busy week! THANKS for those of you who check in with me over e-mail and Facebook...you're so sweet to send notes of encouragement and prayers on my behalf. They are SO appreciated and I am truly grateful!
I'm not sure when I even last updated, so I'll start where I think I left off.
September has been a busy month, including a super fun surprise visit to the States :-) We had time of for Nicaragua Independance Day (September 15) and the Battle of San Juancito day (September 14) so I came home. I think I got every one pretty good! I flew in to Chicago on September 11 where Amy picked me up and took me to Rock Island, Illinois to surprise my family. The only thoughts I really have on that is that is worked! I think everyone was pretty surprised. If you want the best version of the story, ask Don DeWaard :-) It was AMAZING to be home for a week and to see so many familiar faces. I would say that I have learned how very true the statement is about not knowing what you've got until it's gone. I miss everyone so much...it's tough some days. But I know I'm in the right place and it makes it just that much more sweet to come home!
So, after a week in the States, I flew back to Nicaragua on September 18 to the HOTNESS and rain once again. This week has been good, but it's been adjusting back in to my new life. Most of the kids were pretty excited when I was back at school on Monday morning, and I have to admit, it was great to see them too...
This week has been good, but brought lots of prayer requests:
Samuel (one of my ESL boys) was playing futbol on the playground and he fell. He ended up being taken to the hospital in the ambulance with an incomplete fracture to his collar bone. He was one scared little boy, so pray for quick and complete healing for him. Pray also that the boys pick up on the language and that what I am teaching them is helpful. So many days I feel inadequate to be teaching them, and I just pray that what I teach them will be used to help them.
We had a special meeting on Thursday morning at school. There is a family who has pulled their children from NCA because they believe that a situation dealing with the discipline of their child was inappropriate and they have taken legal action against the school. It has been on the Nicaragua news, and the lawyer working with this family is relentless. God's hand has been seen in SO many ways over the past few days, but PLEASE pray for God's protection over the school, the students, and all of us teachers. People go all out here in Nicaragua, and Liam told us basically not to talk to anyone that we don't know...he's unsure of what this lawyer will all do to get our name run through the mud. So, this is a big concern for all of us now. As of now, nothing has happened but I just ask that you pray that continues.
Safety...we are sandwiched between 2 hurricanes right now and we just CAN NOT handle the rain right now. So much flooding and destruction that is just not helpful in this country. Hurricane Matthew was supposed to be very unkind to us on Friday and Saturday, and PRAISE GOD we did not see much rain. However, there is apparently another one coming. So, please pray that these hurricanes change their paths, or better yet, dissolve.
I have been able to get back in to a work out routine and run around my complex. However, my hip has been really bothering me and I just ask that you would pray that my hip pain would go away and that I would be able to continue getting active again :-) Some mornings it's tough to walk for about a half hour, so it's not so much fun, but it has been feeling somewhat better, so for that I'm thankful.
It is time for me to decide what to do next semester. Just be in prayer for me to make the best decision for me. My desires and the Lord's may be different, just pray that we get in sync and that His will is carried out in my life! I know what I want to do, but I want to be sure that it's the right thing...
THANKS to God for the cooler weather, I've been wearing sweaters. One good thing about these hurricanes is that it really cools things off. I am so glad that I did bring a fleece blanket and some sweaters, they've been useful.
Thanks again for all the prayers and support, it's awesome!
I have tried unsucessfully several times to get picutres on here, as soon as I can find someone who knows what they are doing...I'll add them here :-)
Blessings~
Angie
I hope this finds you all well! I should apologize for not being a very "updative" person...it's been a busy week! THANKS for those of you who check in with me over e-mail and Facebook...you're so sweet to send notes of encouragement and prayers on my behalf. They are SO appreciated and I am truly grateful!
I'm not sure when I even last updated, so I'll start where I think I left off.
September has been a busy month, including a super fun surprise visit to the States :-) We had time of for Nicaragua Independance Day (September 15) and the Battle of San Juancito day (September 14) so I came home. I think I got every one pretty good! I flew in to Chicago on September 11 where Amy picked me up and took me to Rock Island, Illinois to surprise my family. The only thoughts I really have on that is that is worked! I think everyone was pretty surprised. If you want the best version of the story, ask Don DeWaard :-) It was AMAZING to be home for a week and to see so many familiar faces. I would say that I have learned how very true the statement is about not knowing what you've got until it's gone. I miss everyone so much...it's tough some days. But I know I'm in the right place and it makes it just that much more sweet to come home!
So, after a week in the States, I flew back to Nicaragua on September 18 to the HOTNESS and rain once again. This week has been good, but it's been adjusting back in to my new life. Most of the kids were pretty excited when I was back at school on Monday morning, and I have to admit, it was great to see them too...
This week has been good, but brought lots of prayer requests:
Samuel (one of my ESL boys) was playing futbol on the playground and he fell. He ended up being taken to the hospital in the ambulance with an incomplete fracture to his collar bone. He was one scared little boy, so pray for quick and complete healing for him. Pray also that the boys pick up on the language and that what I am teaching them is helpful. So many days I feel inadequate to be teaching them, and I just pray that what I teach them will be used to help them.
We had a special meeting on Thursday morning at school. There is a family who has pulled their children from NCA because they believe that a situation dealing with the discipline of their child was inappropriate and they have taken legal action against the school. It has been on the Nicaragua news, and the lawyer working with this family is relentless. God's hand has been seen in SO many ways over the past few days, but PLEASE pray for God's protection over the school, the students, and all of us teachers. People go all out here in Nicaragua, and Liam told us basically not to talk to anyone that we don't know...he's unsure of what this lawyer will all do to get our name run through the mud. So, this is a big concern for all of us now. As of now, nothing has happened but I just ask that you pray that continues.
Safety...we are sandwiched between 2 hurricanes right now and we just CAN NOT handle the rain right now. So much flooding and destruction that is just not helpful in this country. Hurricane Matthew was supposed to be very unkind to us on Friday and Saturday, and PRAISE GOD we did not see much rain. However, there is apparently another one coming. So, please pray that these hurricanes change their paths, or better yet, dissolve.
I have been able to get back in to a work out routine and run around my complex. However, my hip has been really bothering me and I just ask that you would pray that my hip pain would go away and that I would be able to continue getting active again :-) Some mornings it's tough to walk for about a half hour, so it's not so much fun, but it has been feeling somewhat better, so for that I'm thankful.
It is time for me to decide what to do next semester. Just be in prayer for me to make the best decision for me. My desires and the Lord's may be different, just pray that we get in sync and that His will is carried out in my life! I know what I want to do, but I want to be sure that it's the right thing...
THANKS to God for the cooler weather, I've been wearing sweaters. One good thing about these hurricanes is that it really cools things off. I am so glad that I did bring a fleece blanket and some sweaters, they've been useful.
Thanks again for all the prayers and support, it's awesome!
I have tried unsucessfully several times to get picutres on here, as soon as I can find someone who knows what they are doing...I'll add them here :-)
Blessings~
Angie
Thursday, September 2, 2010
dear Mis angei...
Hello Friends and Supporters~
WOW, God is good!
Nicaragua has been great, and I'm having a great experience. Today is my official 4 week mark, and yet in some ways it feels like I left the States yesterday, and in other ways I feel like I've been here forever! Things have been going really well, and I feel like my transition has been smooth. There are always bumps im the road, but I suppose those are to be expected.
NCA has been doing well! I am spending my mornings in the first grade classroom with my 20 kiddos whom have gained much of my affection...well, most of them anyways! We have a few who are TOUGH kids from TOUGH homes and they decide if they're going to have a great day or a not so great day. So, that's been fun. I wake up every morning not really knowing what I'm going to get with a few of them. However, today the kids were learning how to write a letter and they all wrote them to Ms. Franklin, except one little sweeite who wrote to me. I'll give you a snipet of his letter to me (spelling of course done by him;-)
dear Miss angei-you are my Favorite teacher. I love you! miss Angei, can i come to your house? will you read books with me? You are butifool and I love you! Your friend, Oscar
AAHHH...makes all the bad days worth it in a small moment of sweet time!
2 mornings a week I'm meeting with 2 students in the 5th grade classroom on the counseling side of things. This week was my first week, but both kids really opened up to me, in fact I had to kick them out of the office :-) Both kids have trouble making and keeping friends, and I have a feeling I'll discover some pretty tough home lives once our relationships grow. Both are sweeties, just need a little good adult attention. Plus, considering I'm the "adult" we just have fun together :-) Both of these kids could use prayers, just in their own lives and in helping me to effectively help them.
OH, to my ESL days! My boys are great...but so frustrating! I feel like the blind leading the blind. It's been a tough thing to take on, but I know we must just keep going. The boys are great, but they are so done by 1:30 in the afternoon, and honestly so am I. So, motivation to get anything done has not been real easy. On a positive note, I have seem some progress with each of the boys and for that I am grateful. I just hope that whatever it is that we are doing that it does benefit them in some way!
So, that's a typical day in my life. Of course, there are some fun things too...
On Saturday, my roomate and a fellow co-worker at NCA are heading to San Juan del Sur. For those of you who don't know what that is...it's paradise :-) It's a great beach town on the Pacific Ocean, and also where they are currently filming SURVIVOR. So, pray for safety and RELAXATION this weekend, I know we are all looking forward to it! We have a teacher inservice day on Monday, so no kiddos but we have meetings all day. I have spent every Labor Day in Kanawha with my grandparents for my entire life, so it will be a little bit tough to not be there, but I know I'll have fun too.
Next week at school we also have an Independance Day festival. The kids do presentations on Nicaragua and the festival includes dances by all the classes...and the teachers! We have dance practice 2 days a week and it's been really fun so far. I get a traditional Nica dress and I have to wear bright red lipstick. I'll be sure to post pictures on my blog (www.adewaard.blogspot.com) after the festival. I have attended one year when I was here to visit and I KNOW it will be a good time.
Sorry this got so wordy, I need to update more often so it doesn't have to be so long. A few more things...
Today at lunch some of the teachers were talking about a girl named Rachel who came to Nicaragua this week Monday and is REALLY wanting to go back to the States already. So, I got her number and called her and she's coming over tomorrow night. Please pray for Rachel, the first few days and weeks are such a whirlwind of emotions and I just pray that she would do what is best for her. Pray that I may help her in any way I can. I know I haven't been here too long, but I wanted to reach out to her. Movie and pizza night at our house, fun times!!
Another thing I wanted to share. I have been reading the book Crazy Love which I would highly recommend to anyone. One quote from the book that is really standing out to me is this:
God knew who He was creating, and He designed me for a specific work.
My prayer is that this statement is true for all of us...may we all find that specific work that we are designed to do.
Thanks for all your support and encouragement. I'm so sorry if I don't keep up well with e-mail. I've been getting quite a few (which I LOVE) but I just can't respond as quickly as I would like. Please keep in touch, it's so good for me to hear from home!
Have a great weekend everybody!
Blessings and Love~
Angie
WOW, God is good!
Nicaragua has been great, and I'm having a great experience. Today is my official 4 week mark, and yet in some ways it feels like I left the States yesterday, and in other ways I feel like I've been here forever! Things have been going really well, and I feel like my transition has been smooth. There are always bumps im the road, but I suppose those are to be expected.
NCA has been doing well! I am spending my mornings in the first grade classroom with my 20 kiddos whom have gained much of my affection...well, most of them anyways! We have a few who are TOUGH kids from TOUGH homes and they decide if they're going to have a great day or a not so great day. So, that's been fun. I wake up every morning not really knowing what I'm going to get with a few of them. However, today the kids were learning how to write a letter and they all wrote them to Ms. Franklin, except one little sweeite who wrote to me. I'll give you a snipet of his letter to me (spelling of course done by him;-)
dear Miss angei-you are my Favorite teacher. I love you! miss Angei, can i come to your house? will you read books with me? You are butifool and I love you! Your friend, Oscar
AAHHH...makes all the bad days worth it in a small moment of sweet time!
2 mornings a week I'm meeting with 2 students in the 5th grade classroom on the counseling side of things. This week was my first week, but both kids really opened up to me, in fact I had to kick them out of the office :-) Both kids have trouble making and keeping friends, and I have a feeling I'll discover some pretty tough home lives once our relationships grow. Both are sweeties, just need a little good adult attention. Plus, considering I'm the "adult" we just have fun together :-) Both of these kids could use prayers, just in their own lives and in helping me to effectively help them.
OH, to my ESL days! My boys are great...but so frustrating! I feel like the blind leading the blind. It's been a tough thing to take on, but I know we must just keep going. The boys are great, but they are so done by 1:30 in the afternoon, and honestly so am I. So, motivation to get anything done has not been real easy. On a positive note, I have seem some progress with each of the boys and for that I am grateful. I just hope that whatever it is that we are doing that it does benefit them in some way!
So, that's a typical day in my life. Of course, there are some fun things too...
On Saturday, my roomate and a fellow co-worker at NCA are heading to San Juan del Sur. For those of you who don't know what that is...it's paradise :-) It's a great beach town on the Pacific Ocean, and also where they are currently filming SURVIVOR. So, pray for safety and RELAXATION this weekend, I know we are all looking forward to it! We have a teacher inservice day on Monday, so no kiddos but we have meetings all day. I have spent every Labor Day in Kanawha with my grandparents for my entire life, so it will be a little bit tough to not be there, but I know I'll have fun too.
Next week at school we also have an Independance Day festival. The kids do presentations on Nicaragua and the festival includes dances by all the classes...and the teachers! We have dance practice 2 days a week and it's been really fun so far. I get a traditional Nica dress and I have to wear bright red lipstick. I'll be sure to post pictures on my blog (www.adewaard.blogspot.com) after the festival. I have attended one year when I was here to visit and I KNOW it will be a good time.
Sorry this got so wordy, I need to update more often so it doesn't have to be so long. A few more things...
Today at lunch some of the teachers were talking about a girl named Rachel who came to Nicaragua this week Monday and is REALLY wanting to go back to the States already. So, I got her number and called her and she's coming over tomorrow night. Please pray for Rachel, the first few days and weeks are such a whirlwind of emotions and I just pray that she would do what is best for her. Pray that I may help her in any way I can. I know I haven't been here too long, but I wanted to reach out to her. Movie and pizza night at our house, fun times!!
Another thing I wanted to share. I have been reading the book Crazy Love which I would highly recommend to anyone. One quote from the book that is really standing out to me is this:
God knew who He was creating, and He designed me for a specific work.
My prayer is that this statement is true for all of us...may we all find that specific work that we are designed to do.
Thanks for all your support and encouragement. I'm so sorry if I don't keep up well with e-mail. I've been getting quite a few (which I LOVE) but I just can't respond as quickly as I would like. Please keep in touch, it's so good for me to hear from home!
Have a great weekend everybody!
Blessings and Love~
Angie
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