[Saturday, February 19, 2005]
What a week it has been....and especially what a night it has been! I just came from a surprise birthday party. The mother of a girl in my class is turning 50 tomorrow. She is such a wonderful Christian example and a blessing to many. She was truly surprised and overyjoyed! The party was a great success. The neat thing about it is that today( Feb. 19) is my 24th birthday. So, even though it wasn't my birthday party, they included me in so many things. Tonight I had one of my most memorable birthday experiences. You may have heard of Mariachis before. Well, they are very popular in Mexico. It's a special band. They dress up real fancy and play instruments and sing- Mexican style of course. Well, anyways, there was a mariachi band there and they sang lots of songs. They began by singing the popular birthday song for Gale and then they performed for the guests. Then one of the people told them it was my birthday and they made me sit in the middle of the room and the mariachi guy sang to me. He sang a song called, "Bonita," which means "Pretty." So, in the song would be a pause and then he'd sing "Bonita" and the people were all saying, "woooo" so I was so embarassed but it was so much fun. I'll probably never have an experience like that again. They also had me help blow out the candles on the cake and they sang Happy Birthday to me also. It was such a special way to end my day!
Well, yesterday I also had celebrations for my birthday. Yesterday my students threw me a surprise birthday party and it was so neat. I am soooooo blessed to have the love of my students. They planned the party by themselves and got a couple moms to help them. I was suspicious that something was going on, but didn't know what, so I was really surprised by all they did for me. Then last night my friends cooked me a special birthday meal and afterward we played some games. Today my friend, Shannon, took me out to lunch.
So, between Valentine's Day and birthday celebrations I've had about every good thing imaginable to eat!
I was blessed today also to be able to talk to my family for awhile. My mother said such encouraging things to me. She knows that I'm still going through somewhat of a hard situation in my life and she said exactly what I needed to hear! How God has put so many special people into my life. I have so much to be thankful for. Thank you all for the way you have been a part of my life. I am grateful for you!
Well, I would like to end with a couple prayer requests. First, please pray for strength for me as God continues to heal a hurt in my heart and for wisdom as I seek God's direction for next year. Secondly, please pray for God to provide the staff needed here at PCS. Specifically for those God wants to put here next year! If you or anyone you know would be interested in teaching at PCS, please give them my contact information. We are currently looking for a high school Science teacher, a high school Bible teacher and an elementary teacher. Thank you so much. Have a blessed week!
Angelina
Well, yesterday I also had celebrations for my birthday. Yesterday my students threw me a surprise birthday party and it was so neat. I am soooooo blessed to have the love of my students. They planned the party by themselves and got a couple moms to help them. I was suspicious that something was going on, but didn't know what, so I was really surprised by all they did for me. Then last night my friends cooked me a special birthday meal and afterward we played some games. Today my friend, Shannon, took me out to lunch.
So, between Valentine's Day and birthday celebrations I've had about every good thing imaginable to eat!
I was blessed today also to be able to talk to my family for awhile. My mother said such encouraging things to me. She knows that I'm still going through somewhat of a hard situation in my life and she said exactly what I needed to hear! How God has put so many special people into my life. I have so much to be thankful for. Thank you all for the way you have been a part of my life. I am grateful for you!
Well, I would like to end with a couple prayer requests. First, please pray for strength for me as God continues to heal a hurt in my heart and for wisdom as I seek God's direction for next year. Secondly, please pray for God to provide the staff needed here at PCS. Specifically for those God wants to put here next year! If you or anyone you know would be interested in teaching at PCS, please give them my contact information. We are currently looking for a high school Science teacher, a high school Bible teacher and an elementary teacher. Thank you so much. Have a blessed week!
Angelina
[Saturday, February 05, 2005]
I was enjoying the beautiful day by taking a walk up to the church on the hill. Wearing a sleeveless shirt made me feel a little odd as I passed the poblanos with their sweaters and coats on. I admit that it was somewhat overcast and there was a cool wind blowing, but nevertheless it felt like spring to me. As I was walking I turned around to see La Malinche clearly in the distance, as if I could reach out and touch it. Then to my other side were Popo and Itza. Popo was blowing thick smoke out of its top. How I will miss that walk to the top of the hill that overlooks Puebla when I return to the US. Ahh, but I'm so glad for the wonderful memories I have here. My walk just enhanced my joy today. It's been a good week. School was about the same as normal, although my students have been helping me celebrate my birthday month. My birthday isn't until the 19th, but for about a week I've been receiving "Happy Birthday Miss Starkey" pictures and notes. It's fun. February is going to be a very busy month, especially the second half of it.
Next Friday evening is the school Valentine Party for the high schoolers. The teachers are invited also. Then, we will have a class party on the 14th. On the 16th I am speaking in chapel. On the 17th I have a meeting with the PCS Recruitment Strategy Team. On the 18th I will probably have a special meal with my friends to celebrate my b-day and the 19th is my b-day plus there is a 50th birthday party for one of my friends here on my birthday. Then, at the end of the month I'm going to a Youth leadership retreat at the camp. It will be a weekend of Spanish and learning from God's word. I'm really looking forward to it. Of course March is going to be busy also, but I will wait until later to tell you about that.
So, I'll have plenty to keep me busy( as if I'm not busy enough already) in the next few weeks.
Well, like I mentioned, I was asked to be on the recruitment team and I'm excited about it. We are truly in need of teachers. We actually are lacking help right now. SO, if you know of anyone who would be interested in spending the next 4 months here in Puebla teaching, let me know. We need someone to take some high school classes. I'm looking forward to helping find teachers for next year also. I know God is already preparing the person who is going to take my place and I'm very excited for that person!
One other new thing having to do with school is that I've been asked to give special lessons to the ESL students while their classmates are having Spanish class. The students will begin Spanish this week and I and another teacher are going to have English class for the students whose 2nd or 3rd language is English. I think it will be a great experience for me!
Well, I'll end this week by telling you a little of what I've been learning from God's Word. I've been reading in a few different places at different times of the day. In Jeremiah I have been seeing God's great gift of love and mercy. He is such a wonderful God. He literally begged His people to turn back to Him and turn away from idols. He reminded them of all the things He had promised to them and still they wouldn't listen. Today the chapters I read were about God and Jeremiah telling the people how idols cannot compare with God. God is the only one that deserves our worship and He alone deserves to be revered by the nations. I was reminded that one day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!!! How wonderful it is to know Him and to proclaim that before the day of judgment. Take the challenge with me of sharing Christ with others this week so that the, too, can know and believe while here on this earth that Jesus Christ IS LORD and there is NO OTHER!
All for His glory,
Angelina
Next Friday evening is the school Valentine Party for the high schoolers. The teachers are invited also. Then, we will have a class party on the 14th. On the 16th I am speaking in chapel. On the 17th I have a meeting with the PCS Recruitment Strategy Team. On the 18th I will probably have a special meal with my friends to celebrate my b-day and the 19th is my b-day plus there is a 50th birthday party for one of my friends here on my birthday. Then, at the end of the month I'm going to a Youth leadership retreat at the camp. It will be a weekend of Spanish and learning from God's word. I'm really looking forward to it. Of course March is going to be busy also, but I will wait until later to tell you about that.
So, I'll have plenty to keep me busy( as if I'm not busy enough already) in the next few weeks.
Well, like I mentioned, I was asked to be on the recruitment team and I'm excited about it. We are truly in need of teachers. We actually are lacking help right now. SO, if you know of anyone who would be interested in spending the next 4 months here in Puebla teaching, let me know. We need someone to take some high school classes. I'm looking forward to helping find teachers for next year also. I know God is already preparing the person who is going to take my place and I'm very excited for that person!
One other new thing having to do with school is that I've been asked to give special lessons to the ESL students while their classmates are having Spanish class. The students will begin Spanish this week and I and another teacher are going to have English class for the students whose 2nd or 3rd language is English. I think it will be a great experience for me!
Well, I'll end this week by telling you a little of what I've been learning from God's Word. I've been reading in a few different places at different times of the day. In Jeremiah I have been seeing God's great gift of love and mercy. He is such a wonderful God. He literally begged His people to turn back to Him and turn away from idols. He reminded them of all the things He had promised to them and still they wouldn't listen. Today the chapters I read were about God and Jeremiah telling the people how idols cannot compare with God. God is the only one that deserves our worship and He alone deserves to be revered by the nations. I was reminded that one day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!!! How wonderful it is to know Him and to proclaim that before the day of judgment. Take the challenge with me of sharing Christ with others this week so that the, too, can know and believe while here on this earth that Jesus Christ IS LORD and there is NO OTHER!
All for His glory,
Angelina
