[Wednesday, December 29, 2004]
Happy Holidays to everyone!!
Wow, December has gone by so quickly and the new year is quickly approaching. At school we had a good last few weeks before Christmas. The students had their Christmas choir program. My class wrote a Christmas poem to recite during the program. They all did such a wonderful job. It was a fun evening. My class did something really neat one morning. We walked through the school and around the block singing Christmas carols- in English of course. We sang to a few neighbors that live near the school and the lady that owns the store across the street from the school. The kids were begging me for about 2 weeks to go Christmas caroling and they had a lot of fun doing it.
For our class Christmas party we had a field trip. One of my students lives near a mountain range and the hills are endless. Her dad took our class on a hike through some of the hills. It was a beautiful day and the sun was shining. Some of the kids had never been hiking before and it was a challenge for a few but everyone enjoyed it. The kids and I collected some volcanic rocks. They screamed and listened for their echoes. We all had a great time. At one point during the hike before heading back we stopped at the top of the hill and we sang Blessed Be Your Name. Then I asked the students to stop and reflect on who God is based on the creation that was before their very eyes. It was a wonderful day!
Well, the same day of the field trip was our last day of school before Christmas break and we got out early. After school I went ice skating with 3 of my friends to celebrate a birthday. We had a good time and being there on the ice made it seem a little more like December and Christmastime. Saturday I went shopping at the market and later packed my things. My journey home for Christmas began at 3am Sunday morning when I left my apartment for the bus station. I took the bus to Mexico City, then flew from Mexico City to Atlanta and then on to Columbus. I made it in to Lima around 6pm. It was interesting on the plane because with both flights I was seated next to a young girl who was travelling alone. The second girl was 8 and we got to talking about God and I was able to tell her about Jesus Christ and she said she wanted to know Him. I invited her to pray with me right then but she wanted to do it that night. Please pray for her because I don't know if she actually did. Her name is Alyssa.
I was welcomed home by some surprises- most of which were not pleasant for me. So, while it's been wonderful to be at home I am dealing with some hurt in my life and I will soon begin the search of finding out what God has next in my life. I ask for you to pray for God's leading in my life right now. Thank you for going on this journey with me. I have been reminded once again that God is always in control even when we don't see it. I hope that God will bring you an event to remind you of that same thing. Life is all about Him and without Him there is no life. Remember the Great I AM.
Angelina
Wow, December has gone by so quickly and the new year is quickly approaching. At school we had a good last few weeks before Christmas. The students had their Christmas choir program. My class wrote a Christmas poem to recite during the program. They all did such a wonderful job. It was a fun evening. My class did something really neat one morning. We walked through the school and around the block singing Christmas carols- in English of course. We sang to a few neighbors that live near the school and the lady that owns the store across the street from the school. The kids were begging me for about 2 weeks to go Christmas caroling and they had a lot of fun doing it.
For our class Christmas party we had a field trip. One of my students lives near a mountain range and the hills are endless. Her dad took our class on a hike through some of the hills. It was a beautiful day and the sun was shining. Some of the kids had never been hiking before and it was a challenge for a few but everyone enjoyed it. The kids and I collected some volcanic rocks. They screamed and listened for their echoes. We all had a great time. At one point during the hike before heading back we stopped at the top of the hill and we sang Blessed Be Your Name. Then I asked the students to stop and reflect on who God is based on the creation that was before their very eyes. It was a wonderful day!
Well, the same day of the field trip was our last day of school before Christmas break and we got out early. After school I went ice skating with 3 of my friends to celebrate a birthday. We had a good time and being there on the ice made it seem a little more like December and Christmastime. Saturday I went shopping at the market and later packed my things. My journey home for Christmas began at 3am Sunday morning when I left my apartment for the bus station. I took the bus to Mexico City, then flew from Mexico City to Atlanta and then on to Columbus. I made it in to Lima around 6pm. It was interesting on the plane because with both flights I was seated next to a young girl who was travelling alone. The second girl was 8 and we got to talking about God and I was able to tell her about Jesus Christ and she said she wanted to know Him. I invited her to pray with me right then but she wanted to do it that night. Please pray for her because I don't know if she actually did. Her name is Alyssa.
I was welcomed home by some surprises- most of which were not pleasant for me. So, while it's been wonderful to be at home I am dealing with some hurt in my life and I will soon begin the search of finding out what God has next in my life. I ask for you to pray for God's leading in my life right now. Thank you for going on this journey with me. I have been reminded once again that God is always in control even when we don't see it. I hope that God will bring you an event to remind you of that same thing. Life is all about Him and without Him there is no life. Remember the Great I AM.
Angelina
[Sunday, December 05, 2004]
Wow, I can't believe it's been 3 weeks since I've updated the blog. Time has passed me by. I am being overfilled with joy right now because God has been so gracious to me. He has helped me through some very busy and somewhat stressful weeks. I've been learning lately to trust God more in place of my own thoughts and ways. He continues to show Himself wise and faithful!
My students have been a great blessing to me as I have gotten to know them and learn about them. I ask that you pray specifically for 2 students in my class, Jen and Eial Gonzalez. About 11 months ago their mother left and went to Canada, leaving the father and 4 young children here. She left with the intention of coming back after working out marital problems, but now it is very unlikely. My student, Eial, showed me a letter he wrote to his mom and siblings there in Canada. It broke my heart because his heart is broken. He tries not to show it, but in his letter I saw a part of him that I've never seen- a soft, broken heart. His sister is affected at least as much. I see it in her school work and in her eyes. So, please pray for God's intervention for them.
I had a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration. I was invited to one of my student's home where 4 families, plus the single teachers at the school were getting together. Two of my students were there. It was so nice to be with my family away from home. We ate all the usual things and then sang some songs of prasie to the Lord. We finished the night with some games of Dutch Blitz. I was very thankful and blessed!
These next two weeks before school lets out will be full. My class and I are going to write a Christmas poem for the Christmas program, we'll make gifts for their parents and have some time for fun. I have to make them gifts, which will be fun, but still work. We'll be having our church Christmas party next Saturday and the last day of school (the 17th) we'll be having our class party. I'm looking forward to these fun events. Well, as you approach the Christmas season I pray that you have the joy and peace that only a relationship with the Lord can bring! God Bless you. I'll write again soon! Angelina
My students have been a great blessing to me as I have gotten to know them and learn about them. I ask that you pray specifically for 2 students in my class, Jen and Eial Gonzalez. About 11 months ago their mother left and went to Canada, leaving the father and 4 young children here. She left with the intention of coming back after working out marital problems, but now it is very unlikely. My student, Eial, showed me a letter he wrote to his mom and siblings there in Canada. It broke my heart because his heart is broken. He tries not to show it, but in his letter I saw a part of him that I've never seen- a soft, broken heart. His sister is affected at least as much. I see it in her school work and in her eyes. So, please pray for God's intervention for them.
I had a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration. I was invited to one of my student's home where 4 families, plus the single teachers at the school were getting together. Two of my students were there. It was so nice to be with my family away from home. We ate all the usual things and then sang some songs of prasie to the Lord. We finished the night with some games of Dutch Blitz. I was very thankful and blessed!
These next two weeks before school lets out will be full. My class and I are going to write a Christmas poem for the Christmas program, we'll make gifts for their parents and have some time for fun. I have to make them gifts, which will be fun, but still work. We'll be having our church Christmas party next Saturday and the last day of school (the 17th) we'll be having our class party. I'm looking forward to these fun events. Well, as you approach the Christmas season I pray that you have the joy and peace that only a relationship with the Lord can bring! God Bless you. I'll write again soon! Angelina
