Guíame a La Cruz

Did I really go to bed at 8:45 p.m. on a Friday night? Yep.  Must be a teacher. :)


It's 3 weeks into the 2012-2013 school year already! Classes are up and running and now in full motion.  Everyday I'm teaching 2 hours of 5th grade language arts (spelling/wrtiting/reading) and then 1 hour of 5th grade social studies and another hour of 6th grade social studies.

My 5th Grade Class

This is how they really are... :)

You're probably wondering what do I even teach in Social Studies to students in Colombia? That's a good question. Well, in 5th grade I just taught them about The Great Exhibition that was held in Great Britain in 1851, The Sepoy Mutiny where the British forced native Indians to be part of the East India Company's army, following with Indians rebelling.  Lately, we've been talking about how Japan was a closed country in the 1850's and re-opened to the world, and then now we are on The Crimean War.  When I saw I was going to be teaching over these topics plus more I was overwhelmed.  I don't think I ever learned about these things growing up...or at least if I did, it DEFINITELY did not stick in my memory.  However, it's been fun & interesting learning this material!  I'm starting to find an interest in History all the sudden. :)   Last year I think I even told some of my "Social Science Education Major" friends that I don't think I could EVER teach Social Studies/History because it's soooooo boring.  Ha. But here I am teaching history and it's not boring at all!! God's got a sense of humor. :)

At school every week we have some "traditions" if you will.  For teachers, we each have a prayer partner throughout the year that we meet with at least once a week.  On Tuesdays we have a devotional before school. Wednesday we have a short time of worship where we come together and sing 3 songs as a staff.  (Where I've been able to play my mandolin!) Two English & one Spanglish usually.  We have Spanish teachers at school that speak little English so we get to sing in two languages! Hence, the title of this post.  Last week we sang "Lead Me to the Cross" in Spanglish and it's so awesome singing to the Lord in two languages in one song! We started with the English, "Savior I come...quiet my soul...remember..." and then at the chorus we switched to Spanish singing, "Guiame a la cruz....lléname de Amor..." Love. It.

Thursdays are a morning that usually is a time of meetings if something needs to be addressed.



And then there's FRIDAYS!! Every Friday we have hot chocolate & bread and use the time in the morning for a Teacher Meeting as a Staff.  The kids usually come at 7:30 M-Th but on Fridays they arrive at 8:15.

For the students, Middle school has chapel on Wednesday mornings where 8th graders lead music and then we either have someone talk or have a small group.  I'm leading the 5th grade girls small group so if you could pray for that it would be greatly appreciated!

Then Fridays are Mission Spot where the middle schoolers hear about Missions and then have SSR (Silent Sustained Reading) until 2nd period.

I'm still really encouraged by what God is doing at El Camino Academy and am excited that I'm able to be part of His Work He is doing here!

Apart from school I've been able to do some pretty sweet things.  We went to Calera...a place over the mountain outside the city.  It was fun to get away from the city, hike, and eat some delicious Colombian food!

Arepas con queso & Quatro! (Colomaian Specialties!)

Calera

Lauren, Megan, me, Kelli! (Roomies!!)

Then we went to Prado. A town down in "hot country" where there's a lake.  I swam a LOT, which was AWESOME. I also was able to wakeboard! It was a great time to spend with some other teachers and relax where it's sunny and warm.  As opposed to Bogotá...cool and wet.  (But I'm not complaining!)

On our way to the Island!

The place we stayed on the Island in Prado.
The white building at the top is the church we went to.

At church in Prado

Even though it's been great, school can still get stressful at times and it can be frustrating trying to learn about a new culture while trying to figure out this teaching thaaang.  I especially get frustrated with language.  I want to be fluent in Spanish so bad but it takes so much time! Especially since I'm teaching in English everyday.  The nice thing is that they give teachers free Spanish classes after school every M,W, F.  Also, I've been able to work on my Spanish from just trying to converse with the Spanish teachers at school.  I even sat down and had lunch with one of them which was chévere. :)  I feel like I'm understanding more but my vocabulary is so small that it's hard to get across what I want to say sometimes because of the lack of words that I know.

I went to church with my roommate a couple Sunday's ago and I could actually understand the sermon! It was about how we should set our mind on things above and not on this earth.  They also have a young adults group (totally in Spanish again) I've been able to meet some Colombians and get to know them a little.  I'm excited to start getting to know some natives not only because I enjoy meeting new people and brothers/sisters in Christ but I can also work on my Spanish that way as well!!

I really can't complain that much.  God has blessed me beyond what I deserve with meeting some pretty awesome people where we can support and encourage one another in our faith in Jesus & really...what's more important than that?? Gloria a Dios! 

I pre-ordered the new Tenth Avenue North cd in early July back in the States on itunes and it came out last Monday! So, I've been listening to it quite a bit.

Here's a little taste of it for you to enjoy and be encouraged, dear friends:

Colombia es Chévere!

One of the first new Spanish words I learned upon my arrival was "chévere" which means "cool" or "sweet" so they use it a lot here. :)

I've already been in Bogotá for 2 weeks and so much has happend! So far I've had new teacher orientation and then this past week has been just teacher orientation.  Understanding the curriculum, how the school works, preparing for my classroom, etc.  However, I'd like to key you in on some of the adventures that have happend these past two weeks:

My first ride on the public bus by myself
The second full day that I was here we went to school and there was some miscommunication that I needed to bring lunch.  I figured I could just take a public bus back to my apartment.  I asked if it was safe to do that and they said yeah just be careful because I guess bad things can happen on the bus such as people robbing you and threatening you and stuff....  Anyway, I was up for the adventure. got $1,400 ready ($1,750 Colombian pesos = $1), and was on my way! I got on a bus, went until centro comercial santafé (the giant mall along the autopista a.k.a. highway, walked over the bridge and made it back to my apartment safe and sound! :D Thank you, Jesus.


Nico!
My friend Brittney back in the states knows a guy, Nicolás, from Colombia that used to live in Bogotá.  He had to come to Bogotá for a few days for school the first week I was here so I got his contact information and we met up at Santafé, the mall, and got some coffee at Juan Valdez Café. He was welcoming and friendly. It was great actually talking with a Colombian and someone who has lived in Bogotá to give me tips on how to live here.  He has been super helpful and I'm so thankful for him!


El Jungle
The first Saturday that I was here a bunch of us teachers went to The Jungle which is a ministry that the school is connected with.  It is located in the part of town where there is tolerated prostitution and these kids are caught up in it. The Jungle is a place of refuge for kids to go and be kids, play around, and be loved in a healthy way.  There's also time set apart for singing songs and hearing a Bible story.  We sang "Abre mis ojos O Cristo" (open the eyes of my heart) AND "ERES TODOPODEROSO!" This song isn't an english tranlsated song BUT we sang it all the time while I was in Nicaragua and so I knew all the words and was able to sing along with the kids.  It was awesome. :) I'm so encouraged at what God is doing through this ministry and how He is touching and changing the lives of these precious kids.

Here's a link to read more about the ministry: El Jungle


Running path! 
This is a small blessing...but a blessing nonetheless! There's a bike/running path right behind my apartment complex and it's safe enough for me to run it by myself in the daylight.  I've been able to run almost everyday (whenever I have the free time) but only before 6:30 because everynight it starts getting dark at that time unforutnately.  There's quite a few people who enjoy running on staff this year so we've gone out a few times together which is ALWAYS a blessing to be able to run with other people. The mountains are to the east of the path and it's a beautiful view.


RAIN
It rains almost every day here.  I've learned that you should always take an umbrella with you wherever you go.  The sun might be shining when you go outside but 10 minutes later it could be raining hard.


la fruta
There are SO many different types of fruits here.  I think I heard someone say at least 200 kinds.  I've been blending a lot of juices with it. :D

Jugo de Curuba!  There's no english word for it
but I guess it's a kind of passion fruit...maybe?

Almuerzo (lunch)
Here's a picture at what a typical lunch looks like that I'll be getting at school everyday:

Soup, rice, potatoes, meat, vegetables, fruit, juice, & dessert

Iglesia (church)
I went to a Spanish Speaking church on Sunday with my roommates Megan & Kelli.  It was all in Spanish.  I really need to brush up on my Spanish.  I've been able to sort of communicate with people. I know it'll take time though.  My favorite part was singing praise in Spanish.  It was also a bunch of songs I knew from in English like "Our God" & "You Never Let Go"  but of course all in Spanish.


Sickness
Last Saturday my throat was feeling scratchy, then on Sunday I felt awful at church, Monday I was back at school with everyone (including returning teachers) and I still felt pretty rotten.  I took some meds, people prayed for me, & then Nyquil at night and got 9 hours of sleep every night this week and throughout the week I got progressively better.  However, now other people are starting to get sick so PLEASE pray for them that they would be ready before the students come on Tuesday!


Cédula y turista (ID & tourist)
Everyone is required to have a Colombian I.D. so we had to go downtown yesterday to get "Cédulas" (ID's)  it was  a little less than smooth but thankfully we all were able to get it! Then the Spanish teachers took us to a popular park and then a district called Usaquén where there's a mall and market.

The girls just chillin' after we got our cédulas

They had this giant screen set up in the park with bean
bags for people to sit on so that they can watch
The Olympics! Chévere. :) 

Like I said...so much has happend! Amongst ALL these wonderful adventures this weekend I NEEEEEED to tackle the curriculum and understand what I'm teaching and put a plan into action. I'm super overwhelmed with this. I know it'll get done somehow but PLEASE pray for focus and diligence. I think I can get it done in one day if I focus on it ALL day and ALL night.

My plan for Sunday is to go to church and then Bogotá Gospel which is a Christian concert in a big park in Bogotá.  That will last all afternoon until the night though.  I would really love to go to this but I guess we'll just see how much I get done on Saturday.  

Doesn't this look chévere?!?!

This is what next week looks like (8/6-8/10) so that you can be praying for me, my fellow teachers, and my students:


Monday: last day of teacher orientation
Tuesday: Half day with kids getting to know them, talking to the parents, and having a BBQ
Wednesday: Half day of classes
Thursday: First full day
Friday: Full day again


p.s. Be sure to stop by my photos page to see more photos that I've taken while in Colombia! 


Dios Los Bendiga! (God bless you!)