2 Ears

Funny quote of the day...
A few students usually eat in my classroom when I don't have lunch duty. Today, they were all talking to me at the same time, and I finally had to say, "Ahh, I can't hear anyone when everyone is talking to me at the same time!" Then, a little, quiet girl responded, "But Miss Barnett, you do have 2 ears!"

El Salvador

I left for El Salvador with 9 other teachers last Wednesday after enjoying a delicious Thanksgiving feast at school. We took a bus from Xela to Guatemala City, spent the night in Guate, and then took another bus (at 5:30 AM!) to El Salvador. We stayed at a hostel near La Libertad, which was right on the beach. The sand was black, and the waves were strong. We were actually in an area that is a popular spot to surf. I didn't attempt to surf, but I did boogie board, which was a blast! We ate most of our meals at the hostel...buffet complete with fresh fruit and crepes for breakfast, sandwiches for lunch, and things like seafood spaghetti and curry chicken for dinner. I did not want to leave!! It was so nice to just relax...read on the beach, sit in the hammocks, lay out on the beach, enjoy the heat, eat good food, ride the waves, etc. One morning we helped release baby sea turtles. People in El Salvador used to sell and eat sea turtle eggs until 2009, when it became illegal to do so. With the help of USAID, poachers now educate people about sea turtles and let people release sea turtles into the wild. It was fun to see and hold the little tortugitas. Random fact about El Salvador...they use U.S. dollars. So, it was kind of weird and fun to return to the dollar. Sunday was a day full of traveling back to Xela. We left the hostel at 4:15 AM and made it back to Xela around 7:30 PM! I had such a fun, restful time in El Salvador and now have the motivation to finish strong. We just have about 2 1/2 more weeks of school, and then I will be on my way back to the States.

Thankful for the Upcoming Break!

I am so thankful that we don't have school next Thursday and Friday. I need a break, and I think the students do too! Middle school can be such an usual age! Yesterday I caught a boy looking up my skirt (glad I was wearing tights!), and today that same boy cried a lot, because he got in trouble for not doing his work and talking back to me. Middle schoolers are like big, little kids. I think everyday this week has seemed like Friday. The kids have been hyper, talkative, etc all week! So, I am happy that tomorrow is actually Friday!

Queen of Procrastination

Whether it's grading or planning, there's always something to do! However, right now, I just don't want to do any school work, so here I am, blogging instead. Here are a few recent updates...

• Yesterday was Betty's birthday. Birthdays are a big deal here, which is great, because I love celebrating birthdays. Another teacher (who lived with Betty last year) and I bought her a devotional by Max Lucado and a journal. I think she really liked it!
• For my after-school snack today, I ate a whole basket of mini breads called panitos (I think!) and drank some of the most bitter coffee of my life. I must have added about half a cup of sugar to that coffee!
• I am for sure going to El Salvador for Thanksgiving, which I am really looking forward to! I'll be thankful for the sun, sand, and break from school.
• I had the privilege of going to a birthday party last Sunday with my Spanish teacher (and amiga!). We rode a chicken bus out to the country, which was a very eye-opening experience! The family is very poor. There are probably about 10 people who live in this "house" (which is more like one room), but they only have only double bed. So, most people sleep on the cement floor, which must be so cold. The family was so kind and generous to us! I usually feel so guilty in these types of situations, because I feel like I should be the one serving them, instead of being served. Yet, my friend said it was their way of saying thank you. My friend went all out and brought a pinata, cake, balloons, party hats, and a banner. I thought the birthday party was for a ten-year-old girl, so I brought a cute purple scarf and headband. Turns out, it was for a boy, haha! We had such a great time! While I really love the students I teach, I also have a tender heart for kids without as much money. I want to love and serve others to praise God and bring Him glory, not to feel good. Yet, I went home very joyful that afternoon. My heart longs to be more connected with that part of Guatemala. 
• This Thursday, I am taking the eighth graders to the Mormon temple Casa Abierta (Open House). Normally, you have to be Mormon to enter a Mormon temple. However, during this Open House, everyone is welcome. I am really looking forward to this learning experience. It is interesting, because one of the moms is not letting her daughter go on the field trip, because she doesn't think a Christian school should visit a Mormon temple. I see it as a wonderful learning opportunity. I believe we should be educated in other cults/religions so that we know how to respond and defend our faith. 
• I say "Oh my!" or "Oh my word!" a lot, without even realizing it! The family keeps giving me a hard time about it, but now they're saying it too!
• I have been a bit lonely these past couple of weeks. I know that I am never alone, because the Lord is always with me (Joshua 1). However, my feelings deceive me at times. It is weird, because my friends here don't know me as well, and yet my friends and family back home who know me better, don't know what life here is like. Yet, I must continue to cling to His truths and promises. Also, I have not been the most patient with others, which is ironic, because last week I led chapel based on James 5 with the theme of patience in suffering. I see this as God's humor. If I am speaking about something, He wants to make sure I can live out what I'm teaching. He is so good, siempre!
• There was a 1/2 marathon here on Sunday. I cheered for the runners for about 30 minutes on my way to church. I saw two blind runners, two runners in wheelchairs, and many, many old men runners. Seeing them made me think that I could run a 1/2! Maybe I will one of these days...
• My sister bought a dog, haha!
• On Saturday I went to a fashion show in Walmart, because the daughter was one of the models. I stayed in Walmart for 3 hours or more, which I must say is a new record for me! After the fashion show, the family and I ate "dinner" in the Walmart food area, which consisted of fried plantains, nachos, and coffee. While we were eating, one of the guy models just came over and sat down with us. He tried to speak in English to me, but I had trouble understanding what he was saying, because his English wasn't the best! This is probably how people feel when I speak in Spanish! When saying good-bye, it is normal to touch cheeks and make a kissing sound. Yet, when he said bye to me, he definitely gave me a wet kiss on the cheek...gross! He also gave me his "business card", since he's a professional singer, haha!

Ok...enough procrastination for now! Buenas noches!

Childlike Faith

I had the 8th graders write a letter to God. I gave them the option to keep it personal or allow me to read it. One boy wrote the following:

"Dear God,
I just want you to know how grateful I am with everything you have given me. You are just awesome. You always give me what I need and even extra things. (you are just AWESOME). You are the best thing I could have, without you I would be like a rose with out color, a Coke without flavor, a Youtube without videos. You are the only thing that makes me happy, knowing you and knowing your power makes me feel safe..."

Wow! I might be the teacher, but they continue to teach me so much! I am continually grateful! I don't deserve to be here, but God graciously lets me!

Mis Ojos

I'm beginning to wish I had brown eyes. Yesterday a man told me my eyes were green and beautiful. Then he asked me how much I would sell my eyes for! Oh my!