(in)service

Hi Everyone! I have proven to be a bad blogger - what a surprise! I was hoping to blog once a month, but even that seems to be too much for me to handle. I think my problem is that I don't think anything has been happening here that is really blogworthy. We are out of school this week for Holy Week. I will be going to the beach on Tuesday and coming back on Saturday...so I'm excited about the fun week ahead! Things here have been going fine. School is almost out for the summer. I can't believe how the school year has flown by. My little angels have improved this year in English and it's fun to watch them grow and change. I have been able to visit the children's home in El Crucero several times this semester. I always enjoy visiting the kids. They're so precious. I was also able to fly to Dallas for my cousin's wedding and surprise my whole family. That was so fun. It was only for a few days, but I had a blast seeing everyone and getting to go to the wedd...

Okay, it's not really a mountain. It's a hill that overlooks the laguna near my house. I asked my boys to go with me (2 of my old students from Nejapa) and their mom came too. Now other people in their family want to go with us next weekend to climb down into the laguna.  The view from the top was worth all the pain of climbing.   Luis and his mom, Arminda  I've gone to the beach several times lately. I never can pass up an opportunity to visit my favorite place! It's a nice break from school too. Today we took Billy with us (he's living with a couple from NCA who are hoping to adopt him). Today was his first time to see the ocean. It was a little scary for him, but he had fun. Emily and Billy on the way to the beach. He's such a cutie! Things are going fine here. I'm still praying about my future in Nicaragua. I'm still not sure about the teaching thing. I don't feel like I'm really involved in the Nicaraguan culture right n...

Hi everyone. This will probably be my last post before I leave for Christmas break on December 16th. I will be home for 2 1/2 weeks. I'm so excited! I'm looking forward to a break. Things here are going well. Over the weekend I went to a beach south of Managua. I was able to watch a sea turtle lay eggs. It was a once in a lifetime experience. In January the eggs will be hatching, so I may go back to see that. This weekend I also went to an orphanage about 30 minutes from my house. The name of the orphanage is House of Hope. I have visited there several times. There are 12 children that live in the home and 5 little ones there that need lots of love and care. The children are Miskito and are from the Atlantic coast. I think they will be tri-lingual kids...speaking Miskito, Spanish and English. They are precious. The woman who runs the home has gone to the Atlantic coast this week to bring 2 more children back. One of the boys will be up for adoption. The children that now l...

I can't believe we are entering the last week of October! It is so warm here it always feels like summer. October is usually the rainiest month in Nicaragua, but we were bombarded with rain from hurricane Matthew during September, so we have had quite the respite this month. I will be going home for Christmas in less than 2 months! I can't believe it. Time has been flying by. It does not move more slowly here in Nicaragua (at least for me). I can hardly imagine the cold weather back home right now because of the tropical climate here. I understand now why some of my students actually said they didn't believe snow was real. I think I'll have climate shock when I go home more than anything else. The Cisneros family is doing better, I think. I talked to them on the phone last week. Maritza is feeling better. I'm not sure what she has, but she will be on medication for 4 months and has to be on a diet with no fat. Today I was able to see my boys that I spent alot o...

I just got back from visiting a friend from Granada, Juan Cisneros. His wife, Maritza, is sick right now and he is asking for prayer for her. She is very sick and is having stomach problems. They will be doing an ultrasound in the next few days to try to determine the problem. He is concerned that she may have gall stones (if I understood right). I met the Cisneros family when I visited Granada in 2004. Juan and Maritza have 3 children; a 7 year old daughter, Nohemi, and twins, Emily and Jeremy, who will be 2 in January (And yes, Emily is named after me). They are a sweet family and are passing through a test right now. Juan is very concerned about Maritza and says he has been taking care of the kids while she is laid up in bed. He says the kids need their mom. She is in alot of pain. As for me, things are going okay. I've been passing through a few tests in the classroom with my kids. If you think of it, pray for me that I will show these children who God is - that t...

Hi everyone. I'm sorry it has taken me so long to post anything. I have lived in Nicaragua for over a month and I haven't found time to tell everyone about what is happening here. But I have been hounded and pressured and Sarah has designed this oh-so-cute blog for me. So, I will be sharing at least one post with all of you. (But honestly, it has taken me this long to post something - do you really think you'll be getting many more from me? I really will try though). Things are going well here. I am busy with teaching and hardly have time for anything else. We have a big holiday coming up here (Independence Day celebration begins Friday and then we have Monday through Wednesday off next week). I am looking forward to a break from school already. Last week I did go to San Juan del Sur with my roommate and another teacher from NCA. So it hasn't been all work. I hardly feel like I'm in another country because my life has consisted mostly of school and home. The be...

My name is Sarah , and Emily is my oldest friend. Not that she's old , mind you, but I've known her since the day I was born...so she is my longest standing friend, and it will forever be impossible to beat that record. It's the middle of the night, and I'm just putting the finishing touches on Emmie's blog. And this post is necessary so that the buttons under her way cute banner actually link to somewhere in particular. Em, I hope you enjoy this blog, and I really hope you'll post in it often. I miss you bunches, but I do not hope you'll come home soon because I know God is using you mightily right where you are! I pray for you daily....some days second-by-second....and I know that Jesus is giving you the strength you need to love on His precious little children. I love you, and I'm so incredibly proud to be your friend! XOXO, Me