This year has been so amazing so far and I feel so fortunate to be in such a wonderful place. I have never met such an amazing group of people and I feel greatly blessed that He has called me here to be with these people.
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season! I hope it was a time shared with family and friends! G0d bless!
In other news:
I am still $3238 away. If you would like to contribute please go to teachoverseas.org and click "contribute" on the left hand side. There you can donate online, where you type in my name and amount to donate or you can send a check to the following address. To send a check write my name on a separate sheet of paper along with my account number #209133. Thank you!
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Christmas Time is Here
One week ago, two weeks from Christmas, I asked my roommates if they would want to throw a Christmas party for our students and friends. Even on such late notice, they agreed! The next week I was busy informing all of my students...over 90 in all...about our party, because the girls do not teach adults, they informed their friends. I figured I would tell all of my students because 1) I didn't want to leave anyone out and 2)not everyone would be able to come right? Well, to our surprise, over 60 students and friends joined us out our house to celebrate the Christmas season.
Prepping for the party and practicing the games
Our party started at 6 but because we were thinking Vietnamese time...we assumed people would start showing up at 7. I think people were too excited about the party because instead of coming late....people started showing up a half hour early!
For more than a half hour, floods of people came through our door, motorbikes packed in our small alley and shoes were in a jumble outside our door. I regret now that I did not take a picture of the chaos outside but what can I do now? Once people were finally settled inside, we tried every effort to get them to start eating. Apparently, the way we had it set up (at a table) was awkward for their culture, so we ended up moving the food into the center of the room where is was quickly devoured. And let me just say that we had asked everyone to bring some food and man did they bring food....our counter was loaded with more food than we could have imagined. We had no idea what we were going to do with all of it but by the end of the night, all but one bag of fruit and a cake was gone!
The party only lasted two hours but those two hours seemed to last forever...which was fine because we were having fun. During the night we played three games, which didn't get everyone involved but made everyone laugh. The first game we played was "Pin the Nose on Rudolph". There was a little cheating involved but because they seemed to have never seen this game, we let it slide. The other students had a fun time watching people spin around and try to stick the nose in the right place. Everyone would cheer and clap when a nose was placed. Our next game was pass the ornament which involved straws and paper ornaments. Each team was set up in a line and once the game began, the person in front had to pass the ornament to their teammate only using their straws. We let them practice first and that was funny enough but actually watching them during the relay was even better. When they dropped the ornament they would freak out and were quick to pick it up and complete the race. Each participant walked away with a beautifully decorated ornament of their own. Our last game of the night was an entertaining game of Musical Chairs. This game only came about because the winner of Pin the Nose on Rudolph did not take home his prize of a mini Christmas tree. It was a hot commodity, so we decided to make the students compete for it. The students danced around the chairs to the Christmas music and fought very hard for that tree.
Game time!
The night was definitely a success! I enjoyed so much seeing all of my students in one setting, enjoying an American Christmas party!
So many different groups of students...two of my business students even brought their children and nephews. Thank the L0rd for coloring sheets that kept them entertained for a while!
In other news....the morning started with a joint Christmas service between the International Fellowship and the Korean church. It was the most amazing experience, getting to sing about our L0rd and Savi0r together. It was definitely an experience I will never forget! The service ended with a lunch together with both American and Korean food....my favorite was definitely the chili!
All in all...it was a WONDERFUL day. And because the party ended at 8, we even got a decent sleep. Who could ask for anything better? I definitely felt blessed by the entire day.
Prepping for the party and practicing the gamesOur party started at 6 but because we were thinking Vietnamese time...we assumed people would start showing up at 7. I think people were too excited about the party because instead of coming late....people started showing up a half hour early!
For more than a half hour, floods of people came through our door, motorbikes packed in our small alley and shoes were in a jumble outside our door. I regret now that I did not take a picture of the chaos outside but what can I do now? Once people were finally settled inside, we tried every effort to get them to start eating. Apparently, the way we had it set up (at a table) was awkward for their culture, so we ended up moving the food into the center of the room where is was quickly devoured. And let me just say that we had asked everyone to bring some food and man did they bring food....our counter was loaded with more food than we could have imagined. We had no idea what we were going to do with all of it but by the end of the night, all but one bag of fruit and a cake was gone!
The party only lasted two hours but those two hours seemed to last forever...which was fine because we were having fun. During the night we played three games, which didn't get everyone involved but made everyone laugh. The first game we played was "Pin the Nose on Rudolph". There was a little cheating involved but because they seemed to have never seen this game, we let it slide. The other students had a fun time watching people spin around and try to stick the nose in the right place. Everyone would cheer and clap when a nose was placed. Our next game was pass the ornament which involved straws and paper ornaments. Each team was set up in a line and once the game began, the person in front had to pass the ornament to their teammate only using their straws. We let them practice first and that was funny enough but actually watching them during the relay was even better. When they dropped the ornament they would freak out and were quick to pick it up and complete the race. Each participant walked away with a beautifully decorated ornament of their own. Our last game of the night was an entertaining game of Musical Chairs. This game only came about because the winner of Pin the Nose on Rudolph did not take home his prize of a mini Christmas tree. It was a hot commodity, so we decided to make the students compete for it. The students danced around the chairs to the Christmas music and fought very hard for that tree.
Game time!
One of Lily's friends was way off with her placement of Rudolph's nose. We definitely had a good laugh with that one.
The night was definitely a success! I enjoyed so much seeing all of my students in one setting, enjoying an American Christmas party!
So many different groups of students...two of my business students even brought their children and nephews. Thank the L0rd for coloring sheets that kept them entertained for a while!
In other news....the morning started with a joint Christmas service between the International Fellowship and the Korean church. It was the most amazing experience, getting to sing about our L0rd and Savi0r together. It was definitely an experience I will never forget! The service ended with a lunch together with both American and Korean food....my favorite was definitely the chili!
All in all...it was a WONDERFUL day. And because the party ended at 8, we even got a decent sleep. Who could ask for anything better? I definitely felt blessed by the entire day.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
He Is My Provision
The month before I went back to the states, I began meeting with, Shawna, a woman from my church in Ho Chi Minh City. Every week we would meet and she would let me talk and talk and talk while she patiently listened and spoke when she had insight. Well, one day I was telling her how upset I was going to be that I would not be with my good guys friends next year, since I would be moving to Da Nang. She told me of a time when she felt like she was being called to move and at the time it was difficult to leave her good friends behind...however, she knew that because G0d was calling her, He was also going to provide for her. Sure enough, when she moved, the friendships she made were even stronger. She encouraged me that it would be the same for me...she even threw in a little prayer that my new friendships would be with females. (Here it is a lot more culturally appropriate to hang out with people of your same sex)
So with that I was on my way. My first few months here I definitely lacked friendships and it was difficult but He knew what He was doing and after calling out to Him for friends, I now feel like I am knee deep in friendships and it continues to rise.
Already, I have been to karaoke with some, gone over to a friend's house for lunch, and been out to coffee with a few. Yes, I did fun things with my guy friends but I have been enjoying the girls I have so much this year! I find it "ironic" that my classes last year were full of boys and this year the majority is girls....or could it just be His plan?
Today was a difficult day in one of my classes....for some reason the students were not into trying and I was done begging them to do something! In situations like this last year, I would have texted the guys and vented to them and they would have been there...but this year I not only have a listening ear, I have words of affirmation. I know these girls and I have a special bond. All I have to do is think back to the beginning of the night where one of my students, who I didn't teach tonight, came into the classroom because she saw the light on and just talked to me. Or I could reread the text I received, at the end of the night, from a student who asked if I had forgotten her because we had not talked in a few days.
Little things like this reassure me that I am completely in His will. He moved me because He wanted to use me here and He has been nothing less then my provision!
So with that I was on my way. My first few months here I definitely lacked friendships and it was difficult but He knew what He was doing and after calling out to Him for friends, I now feel like I am knee deep in friendships and it continues to rise.
Already, I have been to karaoke with some, gone over to a friend's house for lunch, and been out to coffee with a few. Yes, I did fun things with my guy friends but I have been enjoying the girls I have so much this year! I find it "ironic" that my classes last year were full of boys and this year the majority is girls....or could it just be His plan?
Today was a difficult day in one of my classes....for some reason the students were not into trying and I was done begging them to do something! In situations like this last year, I would have texted the guys and vented to them and they would have been there...but this year I not only have a listening ear, I have words of affirmation. I know these girls and I have a special bond. All I have to do is think back to the beginning of the night where one of my students, who I didn't teach tonight, came into the classroom because she saw the light on and just talked to me. Or I could reread the text I received, at the end of the night, from a student who asked if I had forgotten her because we had not talked in a few days.
Little things like this reassure me that I am completely in His will. He moved me because He wanted to use me here and He has been nothing less then my provision!
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Where Has the Time Gone?
I cannot believe November 13th was my last post! Time has really been flying by this year which is both good and bad. Good because that means the states are not too far away and I get to see family and friends...bad because I love it here and I am enjoying my students.
Because I don't want to think of the future too much, I will focus on the past...what have these past weeks held for me?
ESI had its first conference which was held the week before Thanksgiving and was in the familiar location of Mui Ne....where we went last year.
On the plane to Ho Chi Minh City
We had a few hours to kill in the city before we got on the bus for Mui Ne
Mui Ne sure has pretty sunsets
We got to go mini golfing!
Jenni in her matching PJs which is a typical day outfit for many Vietnamese women...at least in District 6
Drinking our Shirley Temples (Deidra and Ashley)
Because I don't want to think of the future too much, I will focus on the past...what have these past weeks held for me?
ESI had its first conference which was held the week before Thanksgiving and was in the familiar location of Mui Ne....where we went last year.
On the plane to Ho Chi Minh City
We had a few hours to kill in the city before we got on the bus for Mui Ne
Mui Ne sure has pretty sunsets
We got to go mini golfing!
Jenni in her matching PJs which is a typical day outfit for many Vietnamese women...at least in District 6
Drinking our Shirley Temples (Deidra and Ashley)Other recent events:
We got a Christmas tree!
Getting sinh to (or fruit shakes) with the gang...don't worry we didn't try to drive like this
Hanging out at Le Funk
A group of students came over to cook dinner
We got a Christmas tree!
Getting sinh to (or fruit shakes) with the gang...don't worry we didn't try to drive like this
Hanging out at Le Funk
A group of students came over to cook dinner
The food was delicious and fresh as my students kept telling me while the still live shrimp were jumping off the plate before they were fried
They were such great girls
Mary is so quiet but so sweet
They were such great girls
Mary is so quiet but so sweetHopefully it wont take so long to write my next post!
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