Just Keep Swimming!

Okay, so I must admit that I have been struggling this past week. I have been stressed since coming here as I adjust to having my own classroom of students, a new culture, a new language, and missing Japan. Last week it hit me hard. Please pray for me as I learn to love teaching and love my students (I am struggling in both these areas). I am reminded of a verse in Proverbs 3:5-6......"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."

I am learning this very thing....to TRUST in the Lord to give me strength, wisdom, and a peace that I am right where He wants me. I do believe that I am here for a reason but it still makes it so hard!

Parent-Teacher Conferences are this week, which doesn't help in the stress department. Pray for me as I get the courage to talk to parents (even though I still don't know all my students real well). On a positive note, I am leaving Friday night through Sunday for a MUCH needed trip to the beach! I can hardly wait! Until then, I will.....just keep swimming!:0)

Oh, Panama!

Ok...so it has been quite a whirlwind here...I am not sure where to even begin this post. I now have 20 little students along with battling a sore throat...(of course that is the thing we use the most when teaching!) Sigh.

I want to tell you about today. My roommate (and dear friend) and I have been using the expression "Oh, Panama" to describe situations that occur that can't be explained. ( My friend and I in Japan did the same with "Oh, Japan"). Today, I taught half a day of school with the rest of the afternoon for meetings. Well, I soon found out that 3 of us new teachers would be taken to do some necessary things for immigration. So, 4 of us went to a local mall to get our blood taken (AIDS test). The doctor was not in so we got pictures taken instead, ate ice cream, and went back to the clinic....this time he was there. So, the 3 teachers took our turns to get the shot (me holding the hand of one during her turn) and then went back to school. I was able to work in my room for about an hour and then headed to a beauty salon with my roomie. There we enjoyed a manicure and pedicure to help get our minds off the stress of school. After that, we headed to good ol' McDonalds.

I couldn't help but laugh about my day and wonder who would ever do all of this in one day? Well, I sure did! It has been quite a day! God continues to be faithful and is teaching me a great deal. Pray for me as I continue to battle this sore throat (and stress!)

Oh, Panama!

A New School Year Begins!

Yes, it is true! School started on Thursday and I am happy to say that I have made it through the first 2 days of school already! I have 19 little 1st graders this year. It has been an overwhelming week but also one of excitement as I get to know my students. (I already have some cute stories). Even through the challenges, I am SO happy to be here as God continues to use me for His purpose. I have also been overwhelmed by all the support, prayers, and love that I have received from others here in Panama. I am SO blessed!

A New Exciting Adventure!

Hello everyone. I am sorry for not updating you all for a few weeks. It has been a whirlwind of a few weeks that is for sure. I left Japan on July 19th, went to the USA for about 8 days, and just recently arrived in Central America. So far things are going well.....I love my roommates and teachers at the school. The support that I have received has been AMAZING! I am SO thankful to be here with some relatives too. Please pray for me as I get ready for school to start....the big stresser in my life now! I am just trusting that God will work everything out for the 1st day of school (which is on Thursday, by the way). Oh, and I tomorrow I am going to the beach for the day...LIFE IS GOOD!

All My Bags Are Packed (almost)....

....and I am ready to go! I only have a few more days here in Japan! Crazy! There is still much to do but trusting that it will all get done. I will be leaving this Saturday around 5:00pm and arriving in Seattle around 9:30am. Try figuring that out!:-) Pray for safe travel and health (I have not been feeling so great...probably due to lack of sleep). I will let you know when I arrive in the USA!

A Cloudy Heart

A teacher at one of my schools used this expression to describe my moods these last few weeks at my schools. It was cloudy on that particular day so he said "Your heart is cloudy". I think he described it perfectly. I am using this in regards to all the goodbyes that I have had to say to my students...goodbyes that have NOT been easy. Today was no exception. This week is really busy with goodbye parties so today (Monday) was my last day playing softball after school with the girls. I have been anticipating this time for a while. I prepared a speech and letters for all of them but I still struggle with telling them how much they have helped me this year. So, it is hard to explain in English and then I had to translate it into Japanese! Ugh! I did the best I could and only cried at the very final sentence. Thankfully I still have the rest of the week to enjoy. Pray for me right now as I go through all these goodbyes, parties, PLUS trying to pack and clean up my apartment. Oh, and due to all this busyness, I have not been getting enough sleep....I think this is just how it is going to be for the whole month of July! Last weekend, I traveled to Aomori for a goodbye party with many other ALTs in my prefecture...it was a wonderful reminder of all the great people that I have met as a result of being here. It was also great to be able to speak all in English AND know that there are others leaving after one year. I will try to keep you all posted....I leaving Japan on July 19th!!!!

Japanese Wedding Ceremony!

So, I just wanted to tell you all about my AMAZING weekend before things get too crazy this week. As many of you know, I have been to more weddings than I can count but over the weekend I was able to attend my very first Japanese wedding ceremony! I took the shinkansen (bullet train) down to Tokyo on Friday night (after a very emotional day of goodbyes at one of my schools). I stayed with my friend, Yoko, that night. On Saturday morning, I went with Yoko to a beauty salon....which just so happens to be where she works! This salon is also just down the street from the Tokyo Tower! She fixed my hair for the wedding ceremony and then I was off to the Tokyo Dome Hotel! It was a beautiful ceremony, followed by a wonderful party at the hotel. I also attended 2 other parties that day (after the one at the hotel)...yahoo! It was SO much fun and so cool to meet Akiko's friends. Akiko wore 4 different outfits during the day too. Today, I then met up with 2 other friends for coffee at Starbucks and then lunch at a fun little restaurant. I then made my way back to the Tokyo Station to catch the Shinkansen back to Hachinohe, followed by another 2 hour train ride to my city. As exhausting as this weekend was, I wouldn't trade it for anything. I am so thankful that I was able to attend this beautiful celebration and experience my first Japanese wedding!