Saturday, October 30, 2010
Thursday, October 14, 2010
10-14 In the middle
Hi. I have posted some facebook statuses and photo albums, but I havent really journaled or blogged any of my first 2 weeks here. Yes, crazy to think its only been two weeks... I feel so at home here that I dont even remember much of life back in the US at this moment.
I don't know where to begin with the crazy awesome life that I have been allowed to lead.
I know poker is a silly game and a fun hobby but it blows my mind everyday to reflect on how God allowed this game to transform my life and allow me have opportunities to serve that I likely never would have had otherwise. I am so thankful. I am thankful to DS and MS for teaching me the game, EH and CJ for sticking with me and giving me opportunities to have played and won. Its so amazing to have been blessed to be able to pay off college debt, avoid the 9-5, to travel, become fascinated by other cultures, serve kids, and learn about life and love in the process.
So I am here today in Pena Blanca Honduras teaching 6th grade as well as 1st grade and just hanging out in 2nd and 3rd grade because we are extremely short staffed. The School's purpose is to provide an excellent bilingual education to local kids from families that would not be able to afford it otherwise...They give scholarships to families who can't afford tuition and provide an amazing atmosphere of love, respect and joy. Its unbelievable.
I teach Math, English, Science, Spelling, Phonics, Reading, Art, Bible, Music, and Geography.
This week we have solved for variables, converted units, diagramed sentences, wrote stories, spelled difficult words, prayed, read the bible and discussed its relevance today, listened to music on my ipod some of which was from the Beatles, Coldplay and Mat Kearney, discussed languages in different countries and as much much more.
I started playing soccer every afternoon after school with some local guys. There are about 25-30 guys who come out everyday and play 12v12 with the same guys vs the same guys all the time. We won the first day and lost the last two...badly. I got taken out today and am currently icing my swollen leg and ankle but I just hope it heals for tomorrow!! Im gonna get back in shape very soon...
I called Giovani in El Salvador today and told him I am coming to visit in one week. Doubt I could be more excited to see him and Daniel and everyone else in colonial prada, san miguel.
I got him a Real Madrid jersey and matching shorts and daniel a Barca jersey and matching shorts when I was in Bulgaria lol....cant wait to play soccer with them in their respective jerseys haha...I am super excited for them to meet mi Novia tambien...ella es increible y me hizo panqueques de banano esta noche para la cena .... diciendo :)
OK so enough about me please listen to these songs and check out this blog that I received from a friend!!!
Please listen to these while you read :
1. Mat Kearney - In the middle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeJoUeTaYqU
2. Brett Dennen - Ain't no reason
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uurrp6JADI0
I was inspired tonight after receiving an extremely kind message from HRG.
She sent me this blog that I have directly quoted and I kindly ask that you read it, if not the whole thing at least what i have copied:
http://www.aholyexperience.com/2010/10/when-youre-dying-to-live-radical-fight.html
This lady spent some time in Guatemala and writes about how it has affected her life :
"How can we keep scratching down words about leaves and thanksgiving meals and pretty plates when there are kids who are starving in a dump today, when there are kids who don’t have plates, never mind candles or flowers or potatoes? How do we keep peeling the scales off our eyes?"
Continued :
"And yes. I did give testimony before the congregation on Compassion Sunday. I ask you to pray and you, with overwhelming generosity do. I wear my shirt. I bring photos of Guatemala. I bring 15 child packs, dreams in need of sponsors. I bring 3 boxes of cookies. I say I have enough for the whole congregation. I give three boys in the front row the 3 boxes. They are now three smiling boys.
I ask the congregation if they are happy? They stare blankly. But, I say, there ARE enough cookies for everyone. The boys at the front just have to share. They just have to distribute the cookies. And if they don’t share? Well… I guess the rest of us go hungry? Two of the three smiling boys in the front row squirm a bit awkward.
One, the one with both arms wrapped tight around his box of cookies, he just keeps giggling. To his defense, I’m not at all certain that he knows what the word “distribute” means.
I look around the sanctuary, make eye contact with Bill Menkveld and Cindy Hayden and Dave Duccomon, and I tell slow them on Compassion Sunday what someone told me after I returned from Guatemala and I had felt it’s sharp edge along the skin, “God gives the world enough of what it needs. He just doesn’t distribute it.”
I ask the congregation if they are happy? They stare blankly. But, I say, there ARE enough cookies for everyone. The boys at the front just have to share. They just have to distribute the cookies. And if they don’t share? Well… I guess the rest of us go hungry? Two of the three smiling boys in the front row squirm a bit awkward.
One, the one with both arms wrapped tight around his box of cookies, he just keeps giggling. To his defense, I’m not at all certain that he knows what the word “distribute” means.
I look around the sanctuary, make eye contact with Bill Menkveld and Cindy Hayden and Dave Duccomon, and I tell slow them on Compassion Sunday what someone told me after I returned from Guatemala and I had felt it’s sharp edge along the skin, “God gives the world enough of what it needs. He just doesn’t distribute it.”
We will have to share.
We’re the ones who will have to do the distributing. "
We’re the ones who will have to do the distributing. "
God Bless
Nick
Sunday, October 3, 2010
10-3 Some kind of home
my very simple room with no desk...
Hello readers and friends, I am sitting in my simple little room in Pena Blanca Honduras looking at my lesson plans and such for two 2nd grade classes and the 6th grade class at the Bilingual school here. IS and I arrived Wednesday night, got introduced to the school on thursday and friday, did an overnight weekend trip sat-sunday with the 6th graders at the Finca Las Glorias Hotel here and then its back to school tomorrow...I must say this is gonna be an extreme challenge for both of us, but Im sure with God's guidance we can do an exceptional job of teaching these amazing children. There are about 200 kids in all who all know different amounts of english so the main goal is teaching them english, keeping them engaged and learning as much math, english, spelling, phonics, science, reading, bible, art, music and a few other specials as possible! I will be posting updates on here and on facebook!
God Bless and enjoy these songs!
1. Thriving Ivory - some kind of home
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLOWP8G4AjY
2. Francesca battistelli - beautiful
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSwov6Zp1hY
3. Angels and Airwaves - the flight of apollo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c01kE18yEuE
4. Mat Kearney - Undeniable
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weq_YZcc5NM
Nick
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