11 DAYS!!

Lots to report on!!! First, I never mentioned the mouse that I found the Sunday after Thanksgiving. I was sitting on my bed when I noticed something crawl across my floor. I immediately shrieked and summoned Holly and Natalia, and the three of us proceeded to use brooms to get him into a laundry bin and throw him outside. Natalie said she found another the other day.

Next, Holly, Brooke, and Alicia’s apartment upstairs was broken into over the weekend. It was very strange; the thief only took Alicia’s money and phone, and only went into her room. He came through the window. Our windows downstairs all have bars, but theirs currently do not. Fortunately, the landlord came the next day and put bolts on the windows. It was still a very startling and scary situation, and it reminds me that I am NOT at home. It’s also

just another sign of the frustrating reality that the Dominicans see Americans and assume they have money. We are approached randomly just for money or clothes and it bothers me greatly. Alicia overhears Dominicans talking in Spanish sometimes about how she is American and must have money, and she will turn around quickly and tell them she has nothing. A few weeks ago when I got a package, the power was out so I took it outside to use the dying daylight to help me see. An old woman just walked on through the gate, took the book out of my hand, and then asked for anything, money, clothes, etc. I was very annoyed and Cecelia had to speak firmly to send the woman away.

We had another Young Life gathering Tuesday and it was fun! It does wear me out though. We meet at 5, Club starts at 7 and goes until 9 or 9:30, and then we clean up and discuss, so it is a very full evening. I am still recovering.

The Christmas program is Friday and we have a half day, which I’m very excited for. We are all really looking forward to heading home in 11 days!!

Some pictures from our trip to Boca Chica:

18 days til ETD!!!

It´s been another week, but in fairness I was at the beach for awhile. I have a nice tan :)

We had our first Young Life Club last night, which burned me out big time but was alot of fun. I really like the high schoolers here.

Thanks to everyone who was praying for our visit by the DR Secretary of Education today...we think it went well!! We´ll find out in a few days, which in DR time means a week or so.

We are all so looking forward to going home for Christmas. I personally am especially excited for cold weather (this is a first), Chrismas decorations, and hot tea. I brought my tea here, but it's always too warm to drink it.

The mornings have cooled down alot to the point where I need a sweatshirt, but I´m still wearing shorts. The afternoons get up to the low 80s or so. I think I´m in for a rude awakening when I get back to MD.

My kids go through spurts of drawing me pictures and notes. There are too many, but I've started taking pictures of the good ones. Here are some of my favorites. The first one was after I got back from the beach. I think Jesus Daniel (yes, that's his name) meant to say, I like you at the beach, but this is how it came out:

Giving thanks

Somehow, suddenly, tomorrow's Thanksgiving! I'm not sure how this sneaked up on us. Without a real fall here, it's pretty easy to forget it's November.

Today we had our Fall Festival at school, with the theme of A Decade of Thanks. First grade was the 50s! I will put some pictures below.

Tomorrow I leave to stay at the beach for a few days with Holly. I'm so looking forward to it! Anyway, since we are leaving early early, I'm going to post my Things I'm Thankful For list right now!

:: A house, a bed, and food.

:: For God's direction in sending me here.

:: Seeing my family in 4 weeks!!

:: loud fans.

:: Good friends down here :)

:: Prayer.

:: Siblings.

:: Cards and packages in the mail.

:: Health.

:: football.

:: my motorcycle.

:: Love.

:: the internet.

Obviously there are more, but I am tired and I have to pack! Here are a smattering of photos from today:

I'm 50s, Holly is 80s, Brewer is 60s!

My class! Please look carefully at the 50s garb and hairstyles :)

The best dressed!

From one of my students a few weeks ago. I believe he means to say, Miss Natalie I like you at the beach.

Well, it was a good weekend but a rough Friday. I reached a critical point at about 11 am when the kids were just not listening and I was tired of yelling and the Spanish teacher had been waiting for 10 minutes. I burst into tears and gave them a short speech about my frustration and then went home and took a nap. That afternoon Jenny was on a moto and got hit by a car and injured her ankle. Totally God's protection that she wasn't hurt worse!!

Anyway, I had a productive weekend but I am not feeling motivated in my class. I am tired of fighting for the attention of my students. I think we are all feeling ready to go home for break. Sunday I definitely didn't feel like going to church either; I just wanted to get into my car and drive to SCC and be in church with my family and everyone I know.

Another bummer was the Ravens loss to the Colts Sunday, but I watched it in the best possible way for the DR: with friends, on a projector screen. The only negatives: it was broadcast in Danish, and I had to watch it with Brewer in her Manning jersey. All in all, a good game, especially to watch.

That's about it! We have a 2 1/2 day week, so I'm pretty much half done. Wednesday is just a party. I can't wait for some time off. And then it's just a few weeks til we go home!

my Young-at-heart Life

I'm back! We had a great weekend at Young Life camp, although I think I am still recovering from the lack of sleep. I absolutely love the high school girls from our school and I'm so glad I went. I think God definitely did some neat things while we were there. Yesterday after school we had a post-camp get together so I feel like I've been running around crazily for days.

Tonight was girl dinner and Bible study, and I really love it when we all get together and share food.

Side note: just discovered that we cut Hauschka. Can we replay the Vikings now?

We have our Thanksgiving festival next Wednesday and my kids have been working hard on their Rock Around the Clock dance. I think I am more into it than they are.

Tonight we talked about some things in our lives that we are thankful for...there are so many! I thought quickly though about how thankful I am that my family has my brother in our lives. Even though none of us were planning on him, he was the best surprise ever. I love him to death and I'm glad he's one of my best friends.

Along with that I'd have to say my sister. We didn't always get along when we were younger, but I think about her pretty much every day and wish she was with me here. She's my other half and I can't wait to see her over Christmas!!!

I'm doing so much better at posting pictures aren't I?? Here are my fingernails painted Ravens purple with Baltimore spread out over them. Daisy is my nail lady...she does well!

Food success and weekend plans

OK I'm super tired and I will get no sleep this weekend so I'm gonna make this quick!

Last night's dinner for my adopted Dominican family was a success. Everything turned out the way it needed to.

I'm way excited for this weekend...I'm going to be a leader for a Young Life camp along with Holly and Tim. There are kids from our school, another Jarabacoa school, and a school in Santiago. I'm looking forward to it but I'm concerned about my sleep levels!

Special thanks to: my awesome MOM, because she always sends me things in t

he mail :)

my CHURCH, for more supplies!

the McFalls, for their nice card :)

Kaylie, for her newsy card too!

Mama Wingate, for PICTURES from the wedding that I could show my kids in class!

Our thanksgiving break is going under the guise of Fall Break, for which we have a fall festival. The theme: Thanksgiving through the decades. First through third is the

50s. We have already begun practicing! I am excited.

I leave you with a picture of the Caribbean: me, Brewer, Holly, Jenny.