Another Friday has come and gone

I cannot believe the last time I wrote was on Monday. This week has flown by.
To recap: Wed-In the morning session we were informed we had to meet with other country teams to plan a grammar lesson! Unfortunately, grammar is not a strength of mine. However, my teammates and I came up with a fun lesson and we had a fun time preparing it. As much as I love my Vietnam team it was nice to be able to meet with some people from other teams. The rest of the day consisted of more teammate building activities and practicum. I had not taught a lesson until Wed. night and it was such a relief to get my third lesson done with! Yet it ended in stress when I realized I had not made copies of my lesson plan for my Vietnam team members! And since I had told the guys I worked with to plan the lesson I would make them copies as well, I knew I had to find somewhere to run it off. Luckily, my cousin who lives here saved me by finding a 24 hour Kinkos! Now I didn't have to look like a fool....but I still did anyway. That story for another time.
Thursday-Wed and Thursday we began the day with worship and devotions! I felt like it was the first time I got to spend alone with Him! And it was much needed. After devotions we had grammar lessons. Like I said earlier....my team and I had fun working on the lesson but we never really prepared what we were going to say so the lesson wasn't my best. At least it was just too my peers (no embarrassment in the right?) And to top off my stress from the night before and from my grammar lesson going so horribly...I learned I was to teach again! Luckily that lesson went well and I got to actually teach to 5 students! (as opposed to 1 ESL learner one night and my peers the other two nights). I am excited to say I am half way done with my teaching lessons now!
Friday-Today we had Team Unity Day! This meant all teammates from every country dressed up alike. Our team was unified by either wearing black or white shirts, jeans and tattoos with the Vietnamese flag on one arm and our city on the other. The rest of the day was nice and easy and even ended early meaning we got ample amounts of free time. Free time tonight was spent watching The Prince of Egypt with our team.
I am excited for this year to see all that He has planned for us as a team and as individuals.

More pics to come soon!

Some weekend fun

We have started another week and I am trying to come into it strong but it's hard knowing we have so much still to cover.
This weekend was much needed. As I said, Saturday we had our scavenger hunt and got together as a group and bonded even more. Sunday we went to Venice Beach which is a world in itself. We had a good time playing in the waves and experiencing a new culture. We had a fun time listening to a drum circle that was taking part on the beach. There were so many people of different ages, races and sizes playing their different styles of drums. So it was definitely a new expereince to say the least.



Today we are back into the swing of things but it has been a nicer day than most. We have had more breaks which is nice and right now I get more free time because I do not have to prepare a lesson plan. However, I do need to do homework! I hope all is well with you!

Just to explain the pictures a bit......one you can see is in a restaurant with checkered walls. This is our favorite place to go called Connolls! The other pictures you will see are of a pink Barbie car. As we were walking to Starbucks as a team one day we saw this car in the trash. Carolyn and Steph decided to make it a part of our team so we took it back to campus with it. I volunteered to be the stunt driver and rode it down a hill. Except it didn't go too far. The best part however was when the campus security drove up and asked if he could race me. I am sure you can guess who won that race.

So last night was fun! Our team got together and we watched a Vietnamese film called Three Seasons. I recommend you rent it! Other than a fun move...Friday was tough. It was a very long day and by the end of the week it was hard to be motivated about the sessions we had to sit through.
However.....
It's finally Saturday! This week has been non stop go go go! It is nice to finally slow down and take some times for ourselves. This morning we had a scavenger hunt which was pretty fun. We had to throughout Old Town Pasadena and find different locations from the clues we had. We could not use our cell phones but had to ask others to use theirs and had to ask everyone for help. I interpreted the hunt as what it will be like in our foreign countries and dang is that going to be fun! Sorry it's so short but I am going to value this extra time and go get things done...or maybe take a nap. Miss you all!

Intense Training!

Hey all just a quick update before dinner...yes we eat dinner at 5:30! Anyway, training started on Sunday and we jumped right in. The normal schedule for a day begins with meeting with our discovery groups. Our discovery groups are meetings with our team members but in a small setting. We then follow with TEFL (teaching english in a foreign language) training. We then have lunch, and start right back in with a meeting with our Vietnam team. These have been the most intense parts of training! Here we learn the beauties of Vietnam such as typhoons, spiders and rats in the apartment, massive spiritual warfare etc. So like I said....intense. To top it off we have learned the statistics of previous years with the different teams. Last year, and this is common, 4 out of the 11 teammates left. When we asked if this was common in most countries the answer was NO. We do not know why this happens specifically with Vietnam but I know after hearing this, my teammates and I are dead set on changing those statistics! Prayer for that will be wonderful and greatly appreciated!
Long story short, it will not be an easy year and what makes it even more difficult is that my team in Vietnam will consist of me and my roommate. Luckily, God knows what he is doing and has blessed me with the greatest team and roommate! With the Lord's strength and with her encouragement, I know I will more easily survive the hardships that WILL happen this year.

Sunday!

Hey folks! So Sunday is the big day! I will be driving up to Pasadena for a month of training before we head out to Vietnam! I am getting very nervous and I am feeling behind in packing so it's not making for a great last week but once I am there I am sure my nerves will calm down a bit.

Anyway, I just want to thank you all for your prayers and support throughout this process. Next time you hear from me I will be in Pasadena!

Hey folks...so I am THREE WEEKS away from training and SEVEN away from leaving the states!!! I cannot believe it! My emotions are running wild right now knowing I am leaving amazing friends and family behind. However, I am really excited for this next adventure and I know will be staying in contact with many people.
For now all the paperwork is in and support continues to come in spurts.
Thank you for all of those who have supported me and been behind me this whole process! If you could continue lifting me up in my financial needs area, health, dependence on Him etc. that would be awesome! Thanks all!