Update from the South

Things have been going very well in Nicaragua, I've felt really great about being in here, knowing that I'm doing the right thing! Last week, I was very sick and missed a few days of school. Last week was really tough because being sick made me feel very homesick, and it was a difficult week. However, I'm so happy to report that I am feeling totally better and adjusting has been a challenging and fun experience. I do ask for prayers in continued positive adjustments :-) I do miss my family and friends VERY much, but SKYPE is a wonderful thing and we use it alot.

Things at school are going well, and I just want to update everyone on my roles there. My mornings are spent with the 1st grade classroom of 20 kids. The maximum per class at NCA is 14, so by the numbers you can see that we're over. We have 11 children who speak English as a second language, so my role in the classroom is a very obvious need! It's been an interesting experience, but the adjustment has gone well.

Another one of my roles at NCA will be to work with the counselor. My first 2 students are both 5th graders just needing some help with emotional maturity and social skills. So, I start meeting with them next week. Pray that the tools that I use will be effective in shaping these young people.

And my last SUPRISE role is teaching an ESL class to 2 boys (brothers) who are in 3rd and 4th grade. THis is brand new, something that is causing me some stress but I know that God will use me in the best ways that he can. I will be having an intensive hour with these guys at the end of the school day EVERY DAY!! Yes, that's 5 hours of me being a teacher a week. Ain't God funny?? Please pray that this goes well, I'm apprehensive about this opportunity as I'm feeling equipped in NO WAY to take on this task. But, I have great support from the principal on this...and hey, my roomie is an ESL teacher so I can't get a better resource. This class starts Monday. Lessons plan, grading homework, creating assignments...all this teacher lingo will be added to my vocabulary soon.

So, as you can see I'll be very busy, and still excited to be able to do it :-)

A few other personal things:

I have a co-worker who is very involved in an orphanage in Managua. She has told me that when I'm ready she would love to have me along. I know this will be an emotional experience for me, but one that I finally feel I'm ready for. So, I'm excited to get invovled in that...

OK, now any one who is a MAMA (especially my mama) stop reading!

There has been some violence in the streets. A few teachers have experienced it first hand, I have not. People are getting robbed in their cars. They (robbers) will attack the car, start shaking the car and demanding money. They have even started tires on fire and it has been very violent the past few days. So, please pray that this violence will stop and for safety for me and all the other teachers. This is scary, but we know that God is always with us, protecting us.

Thanks for checking in on me, ya'll are the best (can you tell I live with 2 southern Belles)?!?!?