Let's see, where to begin?? The last few months have been wonderful, exciting, and FULL!!
In December, we made our much anticipated trip home to Ohio & PA. We spent about 2 weeks in Ohio with Bryan's family and our friends, and 1 week in PA with my family. We got to meet our newest nephew, Isaac (Bear) & celebrate his 1st birthday with him. We played lots of trains & cars with Jeremiah. Krystal & I got in loads of shopping & baking!! We spent Christmas with family, instead of on webcam. We had a fun New Year's celebration with friends. We had a nice time visiting some of the churches that have supported us through our time here in CR. It was so refreshing to be home & so great to see everyone . . . in some ways, it felt like we had never left!
In January, we joined 11 students from Palabra de Vida in Chicago for a 3 week student exchange with College Church & Wheaton Academy. It was one of the busiest times of our lives, but also a very rewarding experience!! We were parents to 11 teenagers . . .yikes!! We got to help them teach a Spanish conversational class. We also got to see many parts of Chicago & head up to Wisconsin to ski!! Phew :)
It had never felt better to arrive in CR than it did after all those weeks of cold and busyness. We arrived, settled in, and welcomed Bryan's parents & Denny (a member of their church) to CR the next day!! They came to help out at the school with various projects, mainly building cabinets for our High School principal's office. We were also able to enjoy a nice trip to Arenal Volcano!
Well, they went back to the cold, and it was time for us to get back to real life!! We spent a few days at a staff retreat and then the rest of our time preparing for classes to begin. We have now been in classes for 5 weeks!! Bryan is teaching 7th grade English, 7th grade Science, 10th/11th grade English, and helping out every Thursday with 3rd/4th grade English classes. I am teaching 9th grade English, 10th grade English, and doing some sort of group tutoring with three 8th grade students & six 7th grade students! We also continue to help in other ministries with the school - worship for chapel & teacher devotional, basketball, guitar lessons, & girls' Bible study. It's been a good start to the school year & we look forward to what God has to bring in the next few months!
As we continue to put down roots here in CR, we see another season of change on the horizon. We are nearing the end of our committment with the school. It's hard to believe that it's been almost two years since we arrived, not knowing how God was going to use us. It's been amazing to see how He has provided for us and given us purpose here. We've developed fulfilling relationships with the people here. We've seen God at work with the students of Palabra de Vida. And as difficult as it is going to be, we feel that God is giving us the go ahead to move on . . . we're planning on finishing teaching in July and heading back to Ohio, where Bryan will return to East Canton to teach & coach and I will . . . who knows :) We are of course having mixed feelings of sadness, excitement, guilt, hope, uncertainty, and peace.
We ask that you would be praying for us during yet another time of transition. We also ask that you would pray for the future of La Palabra de Vida Christian School. Our friend Kristin, who is also teaching English, plans on leaving right around the same time as us. At this point, they do not have teachers to fill our spots. Please pray that God would complete His direction by providing qualified, excited, Christian teachers that would be able to pick up with the students where we leave off.
Thanks for supporting us with your prayers, gifts, and encouragement! We are forever grateful to all of you! See you soon!!
