Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Busy but good...

Its already been a very busy year. I can't believe its already March. Wow, how this year has flown by. Its been three months since I have started teaching. Sometimes I think I learn just as much as the kids. We have 24 kids this year and boy do they keep our hands full. In the mornings, I teach an English class for two of the older students who are learning the basics of English. They are new students so they have not had the class the other had. Its a lot of hands on learning. We are not teaching them reading or writing yet. Its basic a Speaking English class. Whats so much fun is that I have only two students and the material lends to doing some fun stuff. Today we learning about bakery, bread, cookies and the like. So we took a trip to the bakery and bought some sweet bread. There are many different kinds. I got one they call "tongue" or Linguas in Spanish. It its a long piece of bread/cracker. Its sweet with sugar sprinkled on top. And it looks like a giant tongue. Lol It was actually pretty good.

Later in the mornings, I help Rachel Rickenback in the lower learning center. There are 10 kids in the class ranging from kindergarten to 2nd grade. Because its an ACE classroom, they can all be in the same room. Sometimes those 10 kids feel like 100. Today was Monday and they were execptionally hyper. Everytime we turned around, they were dancing around the room, bugging someone in another office or tapping us on the arm saying "Hermana, hermana, hermana hermana". (They call me Hermana Kristina. Its like Sister Kristin in English). But we made it through the day. We have seen a lot of changes in the kids. They are starting to understand the rules of the learning center and start to adjust to the schedule. Its been a amazing how much the kids have learned already.

Because we are a new school, we work a lot on materials that we need, making bullentin boards and preparing for the next day. Sometimes this means working a long but it so worth it. God has been really helping a lot in the school. Please pray for the kids in the schools. There are some real needs in the school and some situations that need prayer. The kids in our school come from many different backgrounds and homes.

Besides school, we really don't have a whole lot of time much else. But the Rickebachs, Maria and I did get to go to Guatemala City this past weekend. We usually try to go to the city at least once a month to get stuff from the stores and do mission business. This time we also got to go shopping at a very nice mall. That was so much fun. It was nice to have a little time away and get to shopping to. Well, anyway, thats just a little update on what is happening in my life. I am also going to try to post my new newsletter. If you want to get via snail mail or email drop me a note and I will get you on my list. Now to get back work....... (Yea, right :) )

First Day of School

Remember what it was like the first day of school? I remember it well. Some kids were crying for their moms and falling on the floor. Some walked in the door tentatively while others just weren't sure what this was all about. Me? I was saying good bye to my mom before we even hit school property and couldn't wait to see what cool things were in the classroom. I remember those days. But this year, I got a different perspective on the first day of school. I am working at Esperanza School as a monitor in the kindergarten classroom and teaching English. I absolutely love it! This year we have 24 students which is up from only 10 students last year. Our school year starts in January and goes to October. We have a great group of kids coming in this year and many are from the community. What an opportunity we have to reach so many different kids and their families!

The kids came to school a little frightened and unsure but they did well. Our school is very different than any other school in Guatemala. Our school is bi-lingual but most of the time, we speak only in English to the kids. By the end of the first year, they go from no English to understanding almost everything said and even speaking back to you in English. The first day of school was pretty basic. It was an orientation day. We explanied the rules, did pledges, explained the procedures and played games. The first day was in Spanish to make it easier on the kids but after is mostly English. I am so looking forward to this year. I have to say, it will be interesting. Please pray for the school, the kids and the entire staff. This year we have one Guatemala teacher in training and another Guatemalan lady as our new director along with four missionaries. It is exciting what God is and will be doing through our school.

Home and Back Again!

Well, I'm back. A lot has hapened since I lasted posted and I just haven't had time to write about all of it. I finished out language school and flew home Dec. 20. What a change it was going from 70 degree weather to 20 degrees. But I survived. Soon after I got home, the weather changed to 2 degrees with a wind chill of about -27!! That was a little cold. But I had a nice Christmas and New Years with my family. Between packing boxes, Christmas parties, holiday celebrations, visiting friends and everything else, these two weeks were pretty packed. But I wouldn't have traded them for them for the world.

While I was home I got to visit many of my friends. Some of my sister and brothers friends and we all went up to Chicago. There were eight of us that took the train up and braved the cold. We went to a restaurant called Ed Debevicks. Its a really funky restaurant and more in a 50's style. We also went to the Winter Wonder Fest inside of Navy Pier. Its a gigantic room that held rides, a fair wheel, an ice skating rink and so much other activities. We had a blast and my cousin even tried ice skating for the first time. If you check my facebook, you can see tons of my pictures.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=95754&l=a94cd&id=608991069

My other friends Steve, Cindy, and Mark also came and visited me. I was so happy that it worked out that they could visit. We went and ate Chicago style pizza (which is the best in the world) and then came back to my house to play Rook. We took turns playing Duncan and Matlock rules :)- And once again, Mark and I won in Rook. I think now we have something like a 15 game lead in the overall tally. Sorry Matlocks, but you can't beat this team.

I stayed for a little over two weeks in the States. While I was there I also had to pack so that my stuff could be sent to Guatemala. That doesn't seem to bad but when you are trying to pack your life's belongings, it can be quite the job. But I finally got my stuff into 14 boxes which I didn't think was to bad for a packrat who kept everything. (I had to majorly sift through my things and decide what to bring.) Maria and I will be living in a house next door to Br. and Sis. Richenbach once the roof and other repairs are finished. So I had to pack a few things for the house, my clothes and assorted other items. I don;t think I will want to pack for a long time to come.

But the time came that I had to head back to Guatemala. I got a good deal on my plane ticket to come back but I had to fly out at 2:30am in the morning. So I had to leave my house at 11:00pm the night before. Luckily, it was a straight flight and I got into to Guatemala city at 6:30am. It was crazy flight but I made it back without any hassle. Praise the Lord! So now after a day or so of rest, I am about to starting preparing for the school year which starts next week. I am looking forward to starting to teach this coming year.

Climbing the volcano Pacaya

I haven't posted in a while so I thought I would combine blogs and just post one. Call me crazy or foolish, but last Saturday I got up at 4:30 to go climb Mt. Pacaya (which happens to be an active volcano). Maria and I went with a tour group that takes you to the volcano and provides the guide. I thought it would be walk in the park (and literally it was because Pacaya is a national park) but it was the hardest thing I have ever done. The bus takes you to a small village of San Francisco where you meet your guide. From

there, its an hour hike up through the forest. I have to admit Maria and I rode a horse up part of the way. It was freezing cold and very windy. Also, it was hard to breath because of the cold and the altitude. But the horses can only go so far. When you get to the lava rock, you actually have to climb. The second part of the hike is even steeper and straight up lava rock. I can't believe I made up to the peak. The path is just a small path through the ultra-sharp lava rock. Its hard to get a foot hold because its like climbing a gravel pile. I feel a couple of times and got cut up pretty bad. But I made it!!! The view from the top was unbelievable. From the top you can see for hundreds of miles and also view two other moutains, Fuego and the Water Volcano. The day that we went was very clear. Also, I got to stand next to flowing lava that was coming out of Pacaya. There are no safety rails or ropes. I have to admit it was a unique experience. I mean, how many people can say they climbed an active volcano. Would I do it again? DEFINITELY NOT!!! But it was an unique experience to say the least.

Mount Fuego (Fire Mountain) One of the two volcanoes you can see from Pacaya

The Beautiful View

Mt. Fuego and The Water Volcano. The Water Volcano is no an active volcano


The lava flow coming of Pacaya. You could walk right up to the lava flow. The heat was incredible

That is a town down below of Pacaya.

But today has been a lot calmer. We are back in Jalapa to celebrate Thanksgiving with the Rickenbach family, and Sara and Zach Roberts with their daughters. Their are ten of us here at the Rickenbach house celebrating Thanksgiving and bit of Christmas. It was great to be back in Jalapa, eating American food and having great fellowship. We got to eat Turkey, cranberry sauce, green been casserole, jello salad, pumpkin pie, chocolate peanut butter pie and cherry cheesecake. We spent all morning cooking and all afternoon eating. lol Sis. Rickenbach put up the christmas tree and played Christmas carols for today. It kinda felt like Christmas and Thanksgiving. Maybe we could call it a Chris-giving. The Roberts two daughters were so cute and we're lots of fun. Two year old, Larissa kept us entertained all day. Sis. Rickenbach had put presents under the tree so that we could open later since we would not be together on Christmas. Poor Larissa, it about drove her crazy to see the presents and not be able to open them. She kepts saying, "Presents, please, permission now." I was taking a nap before supper when Larissa came running into my room. She told me me "Come now, open presents!!! Come now!" Finally we got to open the presents. It has been a great thanksgiving!

I even got to talk to my parents and my relatives via Skype, too. I miss being with everyone but thanks to the internet, I got to talk to them for them at least a little bit. I enjoyed that. I have a lot to be thankful for. I am thankful for my parents and all of my family. I am thankful for great friends and fellow missionaries who I could spend a nice day with. I am also thankful for my friend Maria who is serving with here in Guatemala. I am also thank ful for good ole' American food that just helps makes Thanksgiving, really thanksgiving. But most important I am thankful God. He has been so good to me. How can I not thank Him for his many blessing. I really have so much to be thankful for and I don't have time to rattle off all of it. But God has been so good to me this year, and I thank Him for it.

This was our Thanksgiving centerpiece. As missionaries,we have to be creative. :) We can get Thanksgiving stuff down here since they don't have the holiday here.

Larissa and Eleyna Roberts waiting for Thanksgiving dinner to be ready.

Sis. Rickenbach and Maria preparing a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner.



The Roberts girl sitting by the Christmas Tree.

Who was the biggest kid? James and Rachel Rickenbach waiting to open their presents. James couldn't resist shaking it.
Larissa Roberts playing with her early Christmas gift from "Ganpa Lee and Ganpa Sherri"

Happy Thankgiving!!!

God in Control!

Well, I have been so busy lately that I kinda forgot to blog for the last how many weeks. But a lot has happened in that time. Maria and I went to Jalapa for five weeks. We got to help in the school and spend some time with the Richenbach family. The kids were so excited to be finishing up school. (There school year end Oct. 15) I will never forget Marvin jumping up and down with his last congratulation slip in his hand. He had been sick this year and was behind on his work but worked so hard to finish up. He finished his last pace on the last day. All Marvin kept saying was "Finally!!!" That's just Marvin for you. Those kids just captured my heart

Now we are back in Antigua to study Spanish for another 2 months. In some ways, I'm glad to be back in Antigua but it some ways I'm not. I am glad to get to learn more Spanish so I actually talk. My teacher said that I got pass the first big barrier in learning the language. I have started to get a grasp on the basics and now am able to hold a conversation without saying "what?" a hundred and one times. lol But I still have a lot to learn. I guess its just baby steps. You think sometimes your not really learning anything until you look back and see how far you really have come.

Lately, it has been really nice to be able to talk to people back in the States. I got skype about three weeks ago and I love it! I have been able to call my friends back in the States for only 2 cents a minute. All of them are usually pretty surprised to hear from me. Sometimes, I wonder if people forgot about me since I never hear from them. So I decided to call them. I am hoping to get a skype number soon so that people can call me. It is a local US number that I can get so no one has to pay out of country fees. If you have skype, you can call me via the internet for free or vice-versa. Let me know if anyone has skype. Its free to download and its not a huge file.

Well, that's all for now. I guess I need to go do my homework. UGG!!

Teachers Conference in Honduras

Well, I have been at the school in Jalapa for three weeks now. Its so interesting and no two days are ever quite the same. The children are working on finishing up thier last paces and its exciting to see how much they have learned, especially in English. I have been taking on a few responsibilties at the school. Rachel has me making visual aid materials for the school and telling the bible stories. I love telling the bible stories!! Anyone who knows me, knows that is my favorite part of children's work. But telling a story to kids who speak and understand basic English is a new challenge in itself. You have tell the story differently. Words like surrender, soldier, inheritance etc. are words they can't understand. Try telling the story of David and Goliath or the Prodigal Son and it becomes really interesting. I am learning how to do it in a way that the kids can understand. I enjoy the challenge but wow, what a challenge it is. But I'm glad I am learning now so that I will be ready for next year.

Last Wednesday, Rachel, James, Maria, Blanca and I went to Honduras for the annual ACE teachers convention. It took us about 10 1/2 hours to get there but it was so worth the trip. The sessions were really good. Dr. Dell Johnson spoke in the general sessions. That guy is so energetic but had many good things to say. He talked about the importance of individualizing learning, motivation and then our job as teacher.

One thing he said really stuck out to me. He said, "Teach a child, change a nation." Dr. Johnson reminded us that as teachers we have the important role to shape a child. And through children, we can change a entire nation for good or evil. We shouldn't complain about how a country is going unless we are going to do something about it. As teachers, we are part of that solution. If we teach a child well in his subjects along with morals, christian doctrine and beliefs then we are molding that child into a productive adult. An adult that will soon in positions of leadership, casting his vote in elections, and working in our churches.

Putting teaching in that light puts the struggles, frustrations and everyday mundane things into a proper perspective. I am not just a "teacher". I am shaping the future of a counry, where ever I am teaching. I learned a lot at the convention but I thing this thought is what stuck with me the most. It really gave me and the other teachers inspiration and a renewed vision. It was a great conference and I'm so glad I went.