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: