Psalm 95:1-6

Hello Hello everyone!

I hope this post finds you with a smile on your face and love and joy in your heart.

Friday night we had our first parent-teacher conferences.  They went really well, and a lot of the parents were very friendly and encouraging.  We had some of the older students in our school translating for us, which was a lot of fun.  I got to know one of the 9th grade girls a lot better.  I didn't really have any problems with parents at the meeting, which I was very pleased about.  I was hoping that'd be the case since my kids only get E's, G's, and A's for grades (Excellent, Good, Average).  But I must admit, my first year of teaching is flying by.  I can't believe it sometimes...I am a TEACHER. The weeks just go by so quickly--I'm even flying home in less than a month for Christmas!

We have a our Christmas program on December 9th.  This program is HUGE.  Last year over 600 people attended the one night event.  Each grade performs a dance, which the teacher had to watch on a video and teach to his/her students.  Needless to say, it's been interesting and sometimes frustrating, but nonetheless fun.  My nursery students are dancing with half of the K-4 class, and they are pretty adorable doing their dance.  I am also helping out with the opening number which is the 9th grade girls.  They somehow heard I had a dance background, and the office quickly told me that I was helping Jaime with the dance.  It's been a challenge to learn the dance and then also teach it, but we have had a lot of fun doing it.  Our dance is almost 4 minutes long, and we only have less than 1 minute down so far, and only 2 weeks to practice--so prayers for our dance are much appreciated! I can say that I am already very excited to see the overall Christmas program that we have all been working very hard on. 

Sunday we had a Thanksgiving dinner with a bunch of American friends here.  We met a missionary couple when we first got here (Kevin and Melissa) and then there is another bilingual school in Gracias called Minerva, where a bunch of Americans teach at as well.  So we all decided to have a dinner together and all make a bunch of our favorite Thanksgiving foods.  The day was a lot of fun talking with one another and eating some delicious food and desserts.  We only have one more day left of school this week because on Wednesday morning we are heading to Tegucigalpa (the capitol) for the rest of the week until Sunday.  I cannot tell you how excited I am for this trip!  We meet up with ALL of the other American teachers at all the Abundant Life Schools and stay in a hotel that the schools put us in for free, along with food provided for us while we are there.  Now, let me remind you that they don't celebrate Thanksgiving here, but our school is being extremely giving for this holiday that we celebrate.  Apparently they do their research and on Thanksgiving night we all dress up and have a beautiful Thanksgiving dinner together, with turkey and all of the other delicious food we all typically have.  All I have to say is...YUM!  Now, my grandma's pumpkin pie won't be there (and I absolutely love her pumpkin pie) but other than that, it seems like I will be very blessed this Thanksgiving in Honduras.  

I hope and pray that all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your friends and family and that there are so many things you are thankful for.  

Psalm 95:1-6
"O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also. The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker."

Some things I find myself thankful for here:

*The things I continue to learn about God, life, myself, my students, and Honduras daily

*My students smiles, laughs, and how their faces light up with I smile at them

*The relationships I have made with many friends here

*The ability to see improvement, and to let that be enough

*Skype--to hear and see my friends and family that I love so much

*Our home, even if it often has cockroaches, ants, and a mouse

*Our Wednesday night Bible study

Have such a blessed THANKSgiving, and remember, I am thankful for YOU!