This has been a crazy week. We have had teacher meetings every day and have been overloaded with information. It is a lot to compound all the school information and reality that I am in charge of a classroom with the fact of moving to a different culture. I think I'm finally beginning to settle into knowing this is my home for now and am beginning to be more comfortable than overwhelmed by this environment.
It is such a blessing to be united with Christian teachers with a mission to be the light of Christ to these students. Every morning we have begun our day with devotions. We have put a lot of work into getting prepared for our students to come. I'm not sure I'll ever feel ready, but things like the syllabus, lesson plans and cleaning and repairing the instruments are what I've been working on the past few days.
I am also so blessed by my roommates/apartment-mates. They are wonderful girls. We have been able to share a few meals together and it is nice to go through the process of being new teachers together. I taught my roommate Alysse to play the tuba the other evening. That was certainly entertaining.
Church last Sunday was an adventure. We hopped on a Rapidito, a small bus that runs from just outside our gate to downtown Tegus, and we took our time getting to Santidad, the church I had attended last year. When we got to the church the service was almost over and we were confused, but we found someone who informed us there was only one service that day, so we went back to a coffee shop and shared verses with each other and then had a time of prayer, which was refreshing. Then in the afternoon I attended an English service farther downtown. It was nice to worship in English as well.
The school provides transportation to get groceries down in the city every weekend. Today we went to the farmers' market. I love the farmers' market!! I got bananas, mangoes, green beans, snap peas, peppers, and carrots all for a little less than $5. I also ate a baleada, a thin tortilla with beans, eggs, creama, and dried cheese. so delicious! and then washed it down with bag of water. Everything comes in bags, even water.
I've walked down to the mercadito (little grocery store) a couple times this week. One evening it was raining, but we were in dire need for ice cream! It's a nice short walk and it's good to get off of the campus every once in a while.
There are a lot of things to pray for right now. Confidence in the classroom, especially with discipline these first couple of weeks. Relationships with all of the teachers and with my apartment-mates, that I can be encouraging as well as be encouraged. Wisdom in my teaching. Humbleness to ask daily for the strength from God that is more than enough.
Jeremiah 15:16 "Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by Your Name, O Lord, God of hosts."
I like this verse, not only because of the analogy of eating God's word, but because it goes on to say that it is because we are called by God's Name.
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