Growing...

The past few weeks we've been studying cycles in science. We've studied the human life cycle, the life cycle of salmon, and finally the flowering bean plant life cycle. I had no idea lima beans and kidney beans could be so exciting! Our Lord and Creator truly is amazing!

The first day we soaked beans in water and then dissected them to learn the different parts of a bean. Did you know that when you eat beans you're eating a bean coat, young roots, and young leaves?

The students each got to put 3 beans in a baggie with a wet paper towel to 

watch the bean plants go through the first few stages of the bean cycle. 

The students loved naming their beans and talking as if they were their children growing up right before their eyes :) Every morning the students rushed in to see who's bean had emerging roots... 

And leaves, and eventually they became strong enough to stand up inside the baggies.

I think the most memorable bean names may have been Gaby's, Peter, James, and John. 

They were so proud of their sprouting bean plants! 

Exams and more...

Update & Prayer Request:

I just wanted to write a quick update and ask for your prayers as we wrap up the first quarter of the school year! It's hard to believe we are in our 9th week of school and there is only 2 weeks till a break :) The next few weeks will be a little crazier than usual with tests, grades, and report cards. Also the need has come up for me to teach in the 2nd grade classroom a few hours a day until another teacher arrives in a few weeks. Please be praying that I will rely on God when I feel weak and the He will strengthen me and help be a blessing to not only my 5th graders, but also to the 2nd graders :)

Thank You!
natalie

ps. I hope each of you had a wonderful weekend Celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord & Savior!!!!

¡Exposición!

Mrs. Charo and I with our 5th graders. Mrs. Charo teachers 5th & 6th grade Comunicación & Historia del Perú, and she's my Spanish tutor :) 

Last Friday the class had an exposition with the students to wrap up their Peruvian history unit learning about Peru's plants and animals. It was an exciting afternoon, the students loved their hats, flags, and of course we all enjoyed the many Peruvian dishes made by the students and their families. Yum!

Ann, Camila & I enjoying some Peruvian cuisine!

Two of our wonderful mothers were
a huge help during the exposition.

Natalia took great notes on the whole event!
We may have a famous journalist on our hands :)

Trials & Blessings

Update:

The past three weeks have presented both blessings and trials, the trials have reminded me to pray and ask God for strength, and the blessings have reminded me to praise Him for his goodness and faithfulness! 

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James 1:2-4

One of the trials has been a challenging issue that came up with my class about 2 weeks ago. I won't share any details, but it has really brought me to a state of continually prayer for wisdom as a teachers and praying for the hearts of my students! It has been a great learning and growing experience as I have gained knowledge and wisdom from other teachers and especially from our principal, Nancy! She has been very encouraging and also a great example of diligence in prayer! 

God is using these trials to remind me to pray more often, and more specifically. I think I'm getting better at in because on Friday, when I asked for a volunteer to pray towards the end of the day, one of my students said, "Miss Carroll do we have to pray again? We've prayed so much today." I laughed and said, "Good! The Bible says to pray without stopping!" 

"pray continually" I Thessalonians 5:17 

In the midst of this, I got sick which brought on a little bit of homesickness :( Thankfully God answered the prayer as my fever only lasted 24 hours over the weekend, and I didn't have to miss any school! The homesickness was remedied by a large dose of skype chats with my family and a few friends, what a blessing it is to be able to see familiar faces, and hear familiar voices! I LOVE hearing from friends & family back home, e-mail, skype, facebook, letters! It's such an encouragement :)

Although there have been some trials, there have also been many blessings! One of those blessings is that Kari & I have started going to a women's Bible study with some of the moms from school. We're going through the book Experiencing God.  Both the women in the group and the book have been a blessing over the past 2 weeks.

Pray for: 

- Peruvian Presidential Elections today

- Diligence in the Bible study

- God to work in the hearts of my 5th graders! 

Thanks for your continued prayers & support!
~Love, natalie

Teachers and staff takes turns speaking at chapel, this week was my turn. I shared from Matthew 13:24-30, the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares. Are you a good plant producing fruit, or are you being choked out but the weeds that the enemy has planted? 

There are three chapel sessions each week, one for P3-1st grade, another for 2nd-6th, and 7th-8th have their own. I got to share with the 2nd-6th graders, who were excited to look up the verses and read for the group.