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!