At the Movies

My students are so creative, and I have enjoyed seeing the natural leadership abilities that some of them have! A group of 3 or 4 students planned a 5th grade class outing. Outside of school of course, and originally without parents either. Thankfully after some wise suggestions from a few parents and teachers, the students admitted that they, at the age of nine and ten, were not quite old enough to roam around LIMA, PERÚ unchaperoned. So besides that minor detail being worked out and the location being switched a few times, the students wrote invitations (in both English for me and a few other parents, and Spanish for the rest of the parents) and planned an outing to the movie theatre. I was pretty impressed with their initiative, and thankful that I was invited :)

Going to the movies with them also provided a fun atmosphere to be a little bit more relaxed with my students, and a great opportunity to connect with several of their parents. 

This is Your Birthday Song...

For Birthdays I love teaching students "The Birthday Song" because it is not very long. 

It however very fun, and usually funny the first time they hear it! 

If you don't know the particular song I'm referring to, then you should just invite my mom or I to your next birthday party, and we'd be happy to teach it to you! 

 Sometimes my students think I'm crazy... this would be one of those times :) 

Notice his eyes, haha!

 After learning the song, he appreciated it, 

and was once again convinced that his teacher was not totally insane! 

This Happy Birthday Boy also enjoyed wearing 

his "It's my Birthday!" pin around school all day!

Celebrate the Savior is Risen!!!

In 5th grade we are celebrating this week that our Savior Jesus Christ is Risen and Alive!

We studied the events in Jesus' life leading up to His death and resurrection... 

The students learned about Jesus' triumphal entrance into Jerusalem

where He was joyously greeted "Hosanna! Hosanna!" ...

His last supper with His disciples 

where He explained how they should remember him...

His time of intense prayer in the garden of Gethsemane 

where He prayed for His Father's Will to be done. 

Romans 5:8-9

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: 

While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Along with the TRUE reason for EASTER, which is CHRIST...

We did spend a little time nibbling, gobbling, chewing, and swallowing 

Peeps from my mom! 

(Thanks for sending them mom!)

All cute and wrapped up...

excited for the chow down...

mixed thoughts on these puffy blue bunnies...

without much emotion...

with tons of emotion!!!

Gone. Yummy!

I also enjoyed a wonderful Easter Dinner with my roommates! 

The chorus of "In Christ Alone" was being sung by all 

as we made mashed potatoes, ham, and dinner rolls :)

cRaZy Eights!

cRaZy EiGhTs!!!

As mentioned earlier, I am indeed teaching 8th grade this year! I have been thoroughly enjoying it! They are a fun group of kids, and I love getting to work with students who are a little older. We are able to have a lot of great conversations, not only about grammar, vocabulary, spelling, writing, poetry, and literature; but also about how God desires to have a personal relationship with each one of us! 

How you can PRAY:

- Diligence for the secondary students as they really do have a full load. They start learning their 3rd language (Mandarin Chinese) in 7th grade. Our hope as a school is that these students will be "shakers and movers" that impact the world for Christ! 

- Diligence as their teacher. Secondary requires more time in preparation and grading!

- Girls' Bible Study. This week my roommates Amber, Kari, and I are starting a Bible study after school on Thursdays for the 8th & 9th grade girls. Please pray for God leading in this!

I was so blessed to get to know this student a little bit last year at camp,
and have her in class for 3 weeks this year before she moved!
I am praying that she and her family will have a smooth transition,
 and that God will continue to work in her life!
*I try not to share students' names on my blog,
but ask me her name sometime because it is sweet!

Love working with these kids!

Carnival...?

If you're ever invited to "Carnival" in Peru, you should know it does not mean an amusement show with rides... basically it means WATER FIGHT!!! In some parts of Peru there are more traditional celebrations called carnival during the first few weeks in February. However my only encounters with it have been water fights (even seeing many kids carrying water balloons around during the month, watching for their next target)!

So in keeping up with tradition and looking for a fun way to kick off the year in NAP (10-12 yr. old ministry at church), we decided to join in on the fun of "Carnival!" Enjoy the pictures below.

I also want to ask you to PRAY for NAP... both the students and the leaders. Last year there were several kids that came, but not the same group consistently. We are praying that God grows this ministry and uses us as His tools to share the gospel and disciple youth! 

I would like to ask for specific prayer for this Saturday, March 17th, as I will be teaching my first lesson for NAP... yes, in Spanish! Please pray for God's leading, fluidity in speech, and time and diligence in preparation. (Time is precious these first few weeks of the school year!)

NAP's theme verse this month is:

Mateo 5:16 Así alumbre vuestra luz delante de los hombres, para que vean vuestras buenas obras, y glorifiquen a vuestro Padre que está en los cielos.

Navigating the World

Here are my wonderful new 5th grade students learning to navigate the world. In World History we're studying maps, hemispheres, and longitude & latitude. They love moving around the room to use the maps and globe, but they're not the only ones navigating the world... Our text books and workbooks are also navigating across the Pacific Ocean! 

Here are a few other updates... 

- Teaching 8th grade has been a great fit! I've always wanted to teach junior high, I just never expected to do it while I was teaching 5th grade. This year I have 20 fifth graders and 14 eighth graders. It's been great getting to know them, but there is definitely a bit more grading! (Just finished graded two 8th grade quizzes and the tests start tomorrow!)

- I'm enjoying teaching, but praying for God's strength, perseverance and creativity every day. The beginning of the school year has been long hours. I'm also praying that this slows down as we establish more of a pattern.

- I'm thankful that I've been able to maximize my time with "prayer runs" most mornings. Kari & I take turns praying for our students, MCS, our ministries, and God's direction, among other things during our extended runs! What a way to spend the first part of your day!

Please Pray:

- Rest & Energy

- Patiences and organization with teaching 2 grades

- Text books & workbooks to arrive very soon!!!

Ready or not, here they come!

In less than 10 hours Monterrico Christian School will be in session for the 2012 school year! It's been una locura (craziness) here at MCS the last week and a half. Staff retreat. Painting. Construction. Bulletin boards. New computer program. Teaching seminars. Decorating. New book shelves. Students' supplies. Moving desks. And a lot of planning!

With all these activities and preparing, I still don't feel quite ready for tomorrow! Our school has been required to do a lot of last minute changes because of different regulations, so it's been a bit crazier than usual this year. 

Yet in the midst of this locura I am reminded of a passage that I have been meditating on this week...

     Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let you gentleness be evident to all. The Lords is near. Do not be anxious about anything, by prayer and petition let your requests be made known to God. And the peace God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

     Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.  -Philippians 4:4-9

Therefore, I will Rejoice in the Lord! and Let my request be made known to Him (here's how you can be praying for me & MCS):

- Excellent 1st day of school tomorrow!

- That our school books would arrive soon... we're making do until they arrive. 

- That God would give me grace and wisdom to teach both 5th grade & 8th grade English, this will be a stretch, but My Creator knows me inside and out, and He will sustain me!

- That students' hearts would be open to what God has to teach them this year!

Resting in His peace,

natalie

Nancy, our wonderful principal, giving us directions!

Everyone got an MCS hat to commemorate our fun day!

Games, games, and more games...

and celebrating!!!