Let's Go For a Paseo!
Hi everyone!! I hope this post finds you well! Things here have been going pretty smoothly. The weather has stayed cool except for 2 or 3 days that we had without rain. School is in full swing and I FINALLY got a schedule for my classes set in stone! I've been teaching in my own classroom, though I haven't been able to decorate it yet because I believe they are going to paint it yet.
I went back and skimmed my last post to see how much I needed to catch you up on, and it seems that it has been a long time since the things in my last post have happened! So hopefully I will remember everything that's happened since then. Classes have been going pretty well. The oldest class is catching on the quickest. We had already worked on verbs and prepositions, so this week we worked on question words and common questions. Some of the younger classes are still working with a couple verbs and some others have started on prepositions. These kids are so bright! When they're paying attention, they really catch on quickly. I've had to incorporate some discipline lately as the kids have been having trouble staying in their seats and paying attention! I found myself losing my patience with them, because some openly refused to sit down and be quiet. So this week, I have some ideas that will hopefully motivate them to behave. When I'm with the 3-year-old group, I usually go over the alphabet, colors, and shapes, and then read them a little book before we play. Right now, the only color they remember is purple; every time I turn the page in the color book to the purple page, they point and say "PEWRPALLL!!" (or something like that). :)
Last week, I went with the girls on a "paseo". The last time I went on a "paseo", it meant we were going for a joy ride around the plaza a couple times. They explained to me that we were going to a farm to swim in the river. So, I figured it would only be for a couple hours, maybe we'd be back right after lunch. Turns out it was a church picnic that lasted most of the day! What also seemed to be a dreary, rainy day that morning when we left, turned out to be an intensely sunny day- burning me to a crisp! However, it was one of the best days I've had since I've been here! We just socialized, sang, and tossed a volleyball around while lunch was being made. After a great lunch, we swam in the river for a while. Then I played volleyball with the adults for most of the rest of the day (which is probably when I go the most sun). We ate dinner and came home. I quickly lathered myself in lotion, in hopes that my burn wouldn't peel- I'm still peeling.
I think that Saturday has become my favorite day of the week. Not only because it's a free day that I can get caught up on things like laundry and writing my blog, but because I get to help in the kitchen all morning. I help make bread and cut vegetables and whatever they ask me to do! But most of all, I like helping the ladies in the kitchen because they are wonderful people to be around! They have joy and always have a smile on their face! They're extremely hospitable, gracious, and encouraging. They often tell me I've gotten skinnier, as if it's a bad thing, so they decided to remedy this by making me breakfast every morning (I usually eat a bowl of cereal and some yogurt). This morning I had pizza on toast. Yes, it was very good even though you wouldn't normally think of pizza as breakfast!;) So, as you can see, I am very well taken care of here!
Devotional thoughts from this week:
"Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice, or the Lord will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from him." Proverbs 24:17-18
How often do we judge people so that when something in their life goes wrong, we say or think, "Well it's about time" or "They deserved that" or "They had it coming!". These are the people we need to love, not judge! We need to have compassion on those people! We need to reach out because maybe you are the only one that will be Jesus to someone at just the right time!
"What you have seen with your eyes do not bring hastily to court, for what will you do in the end if your neighbor puts you to shame?" Proverbs 25:8
Don't make quick assumptions about what you see. Also, don't gossip about things that you think you know about. Gossip will only ever make situations worse.
"Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until He comes and showers righteousness on you." Hosea 10:12
What unplowed ground do you have that needs to be broken so that you can truly seek the Lord?
" I will not carry out my fierce anger, nor will I turn and devastate Ephraim. For I am God, not man- the Holy One among you. I will not come in wrath." Hosea 11:9
It is so human nature to unleash our wrath on those who have betrayed us. There is no one who has been more betrayed than God; but, Praise God!, not only is He a just God, He is a merciful God!
"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone- for the kings and all those in authority..." 1 Timothy 2:1-2
We should be interceding for our leaders, and though it hurts to say it, we are told that "thanksgiving be made for everyone", even those we don't like. Our government officials have an enormous job and need (whether they know it or not) many to intercede and pray for them to make wise decisions!
"I also want women to dress modestly, with deency and propriety, not with braided hair, or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God." 1 Timothy 2:9-10
Modesty isn't only about what we wear. It's primarily about how we act and what is in our hearts. Once we live modestly, the physical modesty will come naturally. Beauty can only truly be attained when it starts within and then shines out!
"May I feel and know the heartbeat of the One who created me and pursues me out of intense love for me, an unworthy bride. If life were fair, I should be the one mocked and punished for my sin's. Every sin would be laid bare to my shame for the world to see. I should be drowning in the guilt and condemnation of what I've done. I should be going to hell. But my lover pulled me out of the way of the mockers and condemners. They were blind, so when He took my place, they thought they were beating the worst sinner of all, but they were really beating the savior of all. The mocking, condemnation, and hell that was to be mine, He took instead. He did this, knowing that I am an imperfect and- no matter how hard I try- unfaithful bride. He sees the beauty that I can be and pursues me so that He can make me His beautiful bride. After all this, why would I be unfaithful? Why would it be difficult to love Him? Why do I get so tempted to chase after other unsatisfactory things when the One with overwhelming love for me is calling for me? I will run to Him, not from Him!"
Thank you all for your prayers and support! Share the love of Jesus with someone this week!!
God Bless!!
Kirsten
I went back and skimmed my last post to see how much I needed to catch you up on, and it seems that it has been a long time since the things in my last post have happened! So hopefully I will remember everything that's happened since then. Classes have been going pretty well. The oldest class is catching on the quickest. We had already worked on verbs and prepositions, so this week we worked on question words and common questions. Some of the younger classes are still working with a couple verbs and some others have started on prepositions. These kids are so bright! When they're paying attention, they really catch on quickly. I've had to incorporate some discipline lately as the kids have been having trouble staying in their seats and paying attention! I found myself losing my patience with them, because some openly refused to sit down and be quiet. So this week, I have some ideas that will hopefully motivate them to behave. When I'm with the 3-year-old group, I usually go over the alphabet, colors, and shapes, and then read them a little book before we play. Right now, the only color they remember is purple; every time I turn the page in the color book to the purple page, they point and say "PEWRPALLL!!" (or something like that). :)
Last week, I went with the girls on a "paseo". The last time I went on a "paseo", it meant we were going for a joy ride around the plaza a couple times. They explained to me that we were going to a farm to swim in the river. So, I figured it would only be for a couple hours, maybe we'd be back right after lunch. Turns out it was a church picnic that lasted most of the day! What also seemed to be a dreary, rainy day that morning when we left, turned out to be an intensely sunny day- burning me to a crisp! However, it was one of the best days I've had since I've been here! We just socialized, sang, and tossed a volleyball around while lunch was being made. After a great lunch, we swam in the river for a while. Then I played volleyball with the adults for most of the rest of the day (which is probably when I go the most sun). We ate dinner and came home. I quickly lathered myself in lotion, in hopes that my burn wouldn't peel- I'm still peeling.
I think that Saturday has become my favorite day of the week. Not only because it's a free day that I can get caught up on things like laundry and writing my blog, but because I get to help in the kitchen all morning. I help make bread and cut vegetables and whatever they ask me to do! But most of all, I like helping the ladies in the kitchen because they are wonderful people to be around! They have joy and always have a smile on their face! They're extremely hospitable, gracious, and encouraging. They often tell me I've gotten skinnier, as if it's a bad thing, so they decided to remedy this by making me breakfast every morning (I usually eat a bowl of cereal and some yogurt). This morning I had pizza on toast. Yes, it was very good even though you wouldn't normally think of pizza as breakfast!;) So, as you can see, I am very well taken care of here!
Devotional thoughts from this week:
"Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice, or the Lord will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from him." Proverbs 24:17-18
How often do we judge people so that when something in their life goes wrong, we say or think, "Well it's about time" or "They deserved that" or "They had it coming!". These are the people we need to love, not judge! We need to have compassion on those people! We need to reach out because maybe you are the only one that will be Jesus to someone at just the right time!
"What you have seen with your eyes do not bring hastily to court, for what will you do in the end if your neighbor puts you to shame?" Proverbs 25:8
Don't make quick assumptions about what you see. Also, don't gossip about things that you think you know about. Gossip will only ever make situations worse.
"Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until He comes and showers righteousness on you." Hosea 10:12
What unplowed ground do you have that needs to be broken so that you can truly seek the Lord?
" I will not carry out my fierce anger, nor will I turn and devastate Ephraim. For I am God, not man- the Holy One among you. I will not come in wrath." Hosea 11:9
It is so human nature to unleash our wrath on those who have betrayed us. There is no one who has been more betrayed than God; but, Praise God!, not only is He a just God, He is a merciful God!
"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone- for the kings and all those in authority..." 1 Timothy 2:1-2
We should be interceding for our leaders, and though it hurts to say it, we are told that "thanksgiving be made for everyone", even those we don't like. Our government officials have an enormous job and need (whether they know it or not) many to intercede and pray for them to make wise decisions!
"I also want women to dress modestly, with deency and propriety, not with braided hair, or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God." 1 Timothy 2:9-10
Modesty isn't only about what we wear. It's primarily about how we act and what is in our hearts. Once we live modestly, the physical modesty will come naturally. Beauty can only truly be attained when it starts within and then shines out!
"May I feel and know the heartbeat of the One who created me and pursues me out of intense love for me, an unworthy bride. If life were fair, I should be the one mocked and punished for my sin's. Every sin would be laid bare to my shame for the world to see. I should be drowning in the guilt and condemnation of what I've done. I should be going to hell. But my lover pulled me out of the way of the mockers and condemners. They were blind, so when He took my place, they thought they were beating the worst sinner of all, but they were really beating the savior of all. The mocking, condemnation, and hell that was to be mine, He took instead. He did this, knowing that I am an imperfect and- no matter how hard I try- unfaithful bride. He sees the beauty that I can be and pursues me so that He can make me His beautiful bride. After all this, why would I be unfaithful? Why would it be difficult to love Him? Why do I get so tempted to chase after other unsatisfactory things when the One with overwhelming love for me is calling for me? I will run to Him, not from Him!"
Thank you all for your prayers and support! Share the love of Jesus with someone this week!!
God Bless!!
Kirsten
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