First Day of School!

        School has begun! For the first time I have my very own class! Well actually two classes, as I am teaching both 4th and 5th grade. These first two days have been exciting, interesting, challenging and rewarding. My students are truly adorable! Many of my students as Asian (Korean, Taiwanese, etc.), others are Paraguayan and Latin American, and still others are North American. Many of my students have a high level of English proficiency and other have a very low comprehension. This additional diversity has certainly presented an additional challenge, but I am quickly becoming accustomed to which words I can easily use and how best to quickly explain others. These students are eager to learn and I cannot wait to dive in next week! We will be learning about Place Value in Math, Scientific Method in Science, Nouns in Grammar, and Maps and Timelines in Bible.

Firsts:

- First Day of School!

- First time having my own class! They are wonderful!

- First Open House (on the same night as the first day!)

- First Scavenger Hunt for my students! They loved it! (It was difficult to explain what a scavenger hunt was! It took them a while to understand)

- First time I didn’t think twice when I was called profesora! I am really starting to become accustomed to greeting and customs of Paraguay.

- First Time formally introducing myself in Spanish to the student and parent body of the school.

Prayer Requests:

1. Please continue to pray for the previous prayer requests.

2. Please pray that I will be able shine the Lord's light to my children through all my actions.

3. Please pray that I will be able to instruct my students in the best manor possible.

4. The school is still looking for a few teachers for this coming year. Please pray that these teachers will be found quickly and the best ones found for these positions.

One week down!

        I have officially lived in Paraguay for over a week and have already experienced so many things. I have been very busy setting up my classroom and working on lesson plans, but things are really coming together. I am constantly reminded that with God all things are possible and I truly need Him during this time in my life. With all of the new firsts, changes, and challenges ahead it will certainly be easy to get caught up in all of the negatives, homesickness, and trying to do things on my own. Thankfully I have a great support team both here and in the states to help me through.

        The first day of school has been pushed back due to the cold weather. This was mandated for all public schools by the government and highly suggested for private school. As I mentioned earlier the cold weather is usually no colder than the 40s but with the poor insulation and rarity of this temperature the country is less prepared for the cold. This is a blessing as it gives us more time to prepare and set up the classroom. Which as a new teacher is a wonderful blessing!

Firsts:

- First time that my food was weighed to determine the cost at a buffet restaurant. A leadership family took me out to eat on our first day and I preceded hand over my plate to find the number of kilos I would be paying for! This is very common here.

- First time I bought this big of a yellow pepper! Three of them cost me about 50 cents!

- First time playing Scattergories with a South African who for the letter O was the only one of 8 (the rest being US citizens) who wrote done a president and got a point. Her answer Obama. The rest will never live that down!

- First time that I unconsciously stated to everyone around that I was single and looking for a husband, by putting my purse on the floor at church. Apparently this is an old tradition to show you are available. Thankfully I picked it up of the floor before any proposals began to come, and it remained on my shoulder for the rest of the service.

- First Week completed in PARAGUAY!

Prayer Request:
As far as prayer requests go, please continue to prayer for the away requests. As always thank you so much for these prayers!!!!

I'm Here!

My First Few Days!



I finally arrived in Paraguay after lots of prayer, 24 hours of traveling, and 10 months of looking forward and preparing for this day! Despite a few challenges and delayed flights, we made it in the nick of time (walking right on to the airplane after a sprint across the airport). The Lord really protected us and got us here safely.
These last few days have been a whirlwind of settling in, meeting new people, building relationships, and diving into the Paraguay culture. This is one of the first times that I actually feel like I can sit down and take a breath. It has been incredible getting to know the new teachers, leadership, and the people of Paraguay.

In two days I will be starting orientation for new teachers. Then Monday and Tuesday are the in-service for teachers with school starting on Wednesday! Everything has been crazy, a bite challenging, and truly a chance to grow.

I have already experienced so much and have so many stories to tell. Therefore I have decided to present my posts in this pattern: Summary, then Firsts (a list of my first time experiencing something), and finally Prayer Requests). I will try to keep this up as much as possible!

Firsts:

- First picture with Obama…..which happened to be in Paraguay.

- First U.S.A. exhibit that I visited about the US that I understood only part of what it said since it was entirely in Spanish.

- First time someone tried to sell me a USB flash drive that is also an air freshener.

- First time buying electronics from a store whose space takes up less than 10 square feet, and you stand in the middle of a hallway 3 feet away from 5 other store fronts when you shop, select, and purchase the product.

- First time riding a Paraguay bus, overcrowded by US standards times two and that was a medium day on this system.

- First time I used a shopping basket in a store that is on wheels with a handle that then has the trolley trail behind you.

- First time being asked if I am from Spain and complemented on my Spanish (thanks to all my Spanish professors, know the language has been a huge help!)

- First time buying a block of yeast (it is a paste like yeast that come in a large brick); I had meant to buy butter and was surprised by this. The product had nothing about yeast on it and was in the store between the margarine and the other choices for butter. Oops, I guess I will be learning how to use it and make some great bread.

- First time cooking a full meal on my small challenging Paraguayan gas stove, not an easy task at all. Though I must say it turned out pretty good. Several meals later and I think I am becoming a quick learner.


Prayer Requests:
Despite arrival these prayer requests remain very much the same.
1. Please pray for me and all the new teacher as we prepare for school. So people have had very little notice, but the Lord has been in control and blessing us this far and will continue to do so!
2. Please pray for the students that they will be safe as school begins, that they will feel loved, and that they will be reached and shown God's light in this up coming school year.
3. Please pray for the poor of Paraguay, witth all of the rain that has been coming down streets have been flooding causing danger to traffic, surprise potholes and flooding. This is also highly dangerous to pedestrians as they can get swept away which can be fatal. We have had to stay in already due to severe weather. Flooding also takes out the homes of the poor in the Chaca near the major river ever time big rain comes. Furthermore the weather has been bitterly cold in the 40s and low 50s. While this may not seem so severe these buildings and houses are prepared for the 90 degree weather that is present more the 10 months out of the year. With little insulation and high prices for heating many families are struggling.

Thank you as always for all of your prayers and support it is more than appriciated!

All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go.... this week!

3 days until I leave my home and move oversees to another country! Most of my paperwork has finally come through, just a few days ago(Friday)! Praise the Lord!!!!! I have packed my bags, am throwing in a few more items and will be finishing up some last minute tasks. I have also been blessed to spend some time with my family as we prepare to say goodbye. It has been wonderful! Thank you also to all of you who have who have been praying for me and wishing me well before I leave!

Prayer Requests:

1. That my teaching license will come through soon! It is on the last week (of 8) that they can hold on to it (but should take 2-3 weeks to mail). Even though I have tried calling in to speed things up, because I am not teaching at a PA school they will not expedite.

2. Fingerprint clearance to also come through. My fingerprinting clearance has taken months now to come through and I have no idea where it is in the progress, but I will need it for the paperwork for working in Paraguay!

3. Safe Flights and travels! The weather hasn't been to good in South America and some flights are being delayed. Also these airport aren't always the safest places to be.