Okay.. I've been asked for an address.. so.. if you'd like to make my day, you can send something to:
Craig and Lindsay Beatty (Katrina)
Cond. Lago Playa
Apt. 2621
Toa Baja, PR 00949
I should receive it then and you'd make me happy :]
So today.. me and Linds went grocery shopping and I went to pay and had my first official moment where I was spoken to in Spanish and just kind of froze. Lindsay finally jumped in and helped and told me he wanted my ID. haha. And then we went to Taco Bell (yes, they have Taco Bell!) and as we were walking in Linds was like, let's see how good my Spanish is when ordering! ...DUH! I'm not even thinking when it comes to that. Luckily, this girl was like, I speak English.. and she was from PR but her English was sooo good. So yeah.. it was a pretty relaxing evening. Now we're just hanging out watching American Idol. This time last night, I was already in bed. I don't know what it is about this place, but it SUCKS the energy right out of you. I slept for 9hrs last night and couldn't manage to stay awake this morning. I also had felt like a truck hit me.. don't know why.. but my body just ached.
anyway.
Didn't get a chance to talk to my teacher today.. She kept me busy grading and running copies.. this placement really is going to be rough. I don't see me teaching much... so that's going to have to be okay with certain people back at home.
um... so I got called a name by one of my students. Have no idea what it was.. but one kid was like, he's telling jokes about you. And then another one gasped and said, he called you a really bad name! And the teacher dealt with it.. but I have no idea what he said! The little punk.
Another kid asked me if I knew that Hannah Montana lived in Tennessee where I lived :] And then she was like, when is she going to come to Puerto Rico!?? aw. poor girl. I should have been like they were in the movie and be like, I know Hannah Montana. :] hahaha.
Oh. and we have a student with ODD.. which I've never heard of. It's Oppositional Defiant Disorder. HA. yeah.. no joke. it's a disorder. Anyway. He was really sweet to me. He kept coming to me for help and then in the cafeteria we have to sit with them (I know, it sucks) and he was like teacher! teacher! here! (The students called you "teacher"). Anyway. At least he's not being crazy for me.. yet.
I felt like I was going to say something else... but I don't remember.
Anyway. Keep on reading. Keep on praying. Send me mail. I love you all. :]
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
I'm gonna go with Molly's title... Sorry for the book.. but its my first update in PR!
I wish I could tell you I was in the beautiful city of San Juan (or right outside it), but I can't. I'm here, but with this weather, it hasn't been beautiful. I refuse to take out my camera until the sun comes out! It's been in the 70s which feels nice, but this gloomy rain thing has got to go. And when it goes, it can take my allergies with it. My nose has been nothing but stuffy and I have done nothing but sneezing!
To back it up a bit, I came in on Saturday. My flights were good. The first one from Knoxville to Charlotte was a little rough, but luckily, it was only 30-40ish minutes. It was on a teeny plane with two seats on each side. Lucky for me, I sat next to a bigger gentleman, making me lean into the aisle a little bit. Just like in the movies though, I fell asleep and then someone walked down the aisle and hit my shoulder. Nice, huh?
So I got to Charlotte, which was a nice airport, and had about an hour and a half wait til my next flight. This one was a lot better. The day before when I checked in online, I changed my seat to a window so I can take some pictures (it was cloudy so that didn't happen). I sat next to a girl my age that was on her way to relax for Spring Break. We got to talk a lot and she happened to be from CA, which some of you know I'm applying for a job there. She was telling me how pretty that area was and how I needed to just go for it. She's studying in DC in International Politics. Crazy, right? I know. Anyway. She was sweet and it was good to talk to someone... as well as good to sleep during the flight!
Craig and Lindsay were there to pick me up. It was sooo good to see them. I'm so excited I get to spend this time with them and it's so comforting and such an enouragement to have them here as well. Like I said, it's been raining, so the drive wasn't too much to see. It all just looked so crummy. We dropped my stuff off at the apartment and went to the mall to go to Chili's for dinner. Okay.. When people asked me how I was going to do this teaching thing here, I kept saying, oh! It's an English instructed school.. no big deal. But what I didn't think as well is how everything else around me would be Spanish! The menu for instance. I could read like every other word so I figured it out, with Linds' help as well. But everywhere you go it's Spanish.. street signs, menus, receipts... and then you'll run into Puerto Ricans who speak better English than you. But it was a little bit of a culture shock because I wasn't thinking of the obvious.
Sunday we went to church... it's no Crossings, that's for sure. And I wasn't expecting it to be. It's a small church, the organ plays 2 songs and then the guitar and drums play 2 songs.. and that's because they can't agree, but that's another story. Craig preached though, so that was good.
We did some shopping at Costco and came home and all three of us slept the afternoon. It was kind of nice to nap. That evening we went to one of their friends' house to celebrate Lindsay's birthday. They are all super sweet and very welcoming. They made some kind of Puerto Rican steak on the grill, which was soo good. I think it's called... chureso? Or something along those lines. But I had a good time. It was nice to get to know everybody right away.
And today... it was my first day at school. I'm going to love these kids. One of them came up to me and started talking in Spanish and I just looked at him and smiled and then he was like, Are you from another country? And I laughed and said yeah.. so he got out a map and I showed him where.. then he said, You speak in Spanish? And I told him very little and he just laughed and said, hok. I talk to Ingles. haha.
The teacher's aid that's in there will not be in there while I'm there. She's on doctor's orders not to go back to work, so my teacher said it was like a blessing in disguise that I got to come be here. It was a little rough today, but we're meeting during their Spanish class first thing in the morning tomorrow to talk. So I kind find out what she expects of me, what I expect of her, etc. Hopefully it will get better than what it was.
Anyway. I won't keep writing a book. They'll be pictures soon, I promise. Maybe next weekend when the sun's out? And I can show you mi casa as well :]
To back it up a bit, I came in on Saturday. My flights were good. The first one from Knoxville to Charlotte was a little rough, but luckily, it was only 30-40ish minutes. It was on a teeny plane with two seats on each side. Lucky for me, I sat next to a bigger gentleman, making me lean into the aisle a little bit. Just like in the movies though, I fell asleep and then someone walked down the aisle and hit my shoulder. Nice, huh?
So I got to Charlotte, which was a nice airport, and had about an hour and a half wait til my next flight. This one was a lot better. The day before when I checked in online, I changed my seat to a window so I can take some pictures (it was cloudy so that didn't happen). I sat next to a girl my age that was on her way to relax for Spring Break. We got to talk a lot and she happened to be from CA, which some of you know I'm applying for a job there. She was telling me how pretty that area was and how I needed to just go for it. She's studying in DC in International Politics. Crazy, right? I know. Anyway. She was sweet and it was good to talk to someone... as well as good to sleep during the flight!
Craig and Lindsay were there to pick me up. It was sooo good to see them. I'm so excited I get to spend this time with them and it's so comforting and such an enouragement to have them here as well. Like I said, it's been raining, so the drive wasn't too much to see. It all just looked so crummy. We dropped my stuff off at the apartment and went to the mall to go to Chili's for dinner. Okay.. When people asked me how I was going to do this teaching thing here, I kept saying, oh! It's an English instructed school.. no big deal. But what I didn't think as well is how everything else around me would be Spanish! The menu for instance. I could read like every other word so I figured it out, with Linds' help as well. But everywhere you go it's Spanish.. street signs, menus, receipts... and then you'll run into Puerto Ricans who speak better English than you. But it was a little bit of a culture shock because I wasn't thinking of the obvious.
Sunday we went to church... it's no Crossings, that's for sure. And I wasn't expecting it to be. It's a small church, the organ plays 2 songs and then the guitar and drums play 2 songs.. and that's because they can't agree, but that's another story. Craig preached though, so that was good.
We did some shopping at Costco and came home and all three of us slept the afternoon. It was kind of nice to nap. That evening we went to one of their friends' house to celebrate Lindsay's birthday. They are all super sweet and very welcoming. They made some kind of Puerto Rican steak on the grill, which was soo good. I think it's called... chureso? Or something along those lines. But I had a good time. It was nice to get to know everybody right away.
And today... it was my first day at school. I'm going to love these kids. One of them came up to me and started talking in Spanish and I just looked at him and smiled and then he was like, Are you from another country? And I laughed and said yeah.. so he got out a map and I showed him where.. then he said, You speak in Spanish? And I told him very little and he just laughed and said, hok. I talk to Ingles. haha.
The teacher's aid that's in there will not be in there while I'm there. She's on doctor's orders not to go back to work, so my teacher said it was like a blessing in disguise that I got to come be here. It was a little rough today, but we're meeting during their Spanish class first thing in the morning tomorrow to talk. So I kind find out what she expects of me, what I expect of her, etc. Hopefully it will get better than what it was.
Anyway. I won't keep writing a book. They'll be pictures soon, I promise. Maybe next weekend when the sun's out? And I can show you mi casa as well :]
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Taco Bell and the Moon
So I guess I do all my thinking when I’m driving. I had two random thoughts the past two days that led to being even more in awe with God.
Thought 1:
I went to Taco Bell before work on Saturday and I got one of those 5-layer burrito things, theyre really good and theyre only 89 cents! :] anyway. I forgot to say NO SOUR CREAM. I HATE HATE HATE sour cream, if you didn’t know that already. Well, I didn’t want to get out of my car because it was cold and snowing/raining. So I got out a napkin and opened up the burrito and grabbed the chunk of sour cream out and went on my way. As I was eating it, I was hesitant with every bite thinking I was going to bite into nastiness at any minute.. I really do have a point.. stay with me… So I finally get to a point where I taste it.. and maybe it was all just in my head, I don’t know, it’s a possibility. Anyway, it was gross and needless to say, I didn’t finish it. It got me thinking though how Cora loves sour cream and how I despise it. And then it got me thinking… how amazing is the God we serve? He created us all SO different. I mean, in looks and personality and all of that.. but even with the TASTE BUDS on our TONGUES! Think about it. Think about all those tiny and irritating little things we have and how everyone likes different foods. That’s because of our taste buds! I was really just taken a step back by that thought.
Thought 2 (See pictures below):
This time, I was driving home from work.. and the moon was absolutely BEAUTIFUL tonight. I mean, it looked bigger than I could ever imagine… abnormal even to the point I lost my breath. I grabbed my phone and texted my roommates (old and new :] ) and said, LOOK AT THE MOON! I almost hit the car in front of me because I was so distracted. It was bright yellow and BIG, if I haven’t mentioned that already, and you could see the craters and everything in it. Well, that got me thinking… do you realize how much time and thought God put into creating this universe and everything in it?? I mean, to sit there and think, “I think I’m going to put this ‘moon’ in the air by the earth, and you know what? I think I’m going to make the Sun reflect it at a perfect point to light up the entire sky. And you know what else? Why not add beyond billions of speckled bursts of light in the sky as well?” Again, I my breath was just taken away THINKING about our Creator. Just thinking how He times everything so right, and yet, we QUESTION Him??? WHO ARE WE? It is only by HIS grace that we even MATTER! I fully believe He plans everything for a reason. I believe he puts people in our life to get us through the day, to give us hell and problems that we learn and grow from, to comfort and talk to and build us up when we’re low… he strategically has it all planned out. So why must we question? It’s our nature and that SUCKS. I don’t want to question my life and the problems I may have when my problems are nothing compared to what others experience or are going through. Even those problems that are bigger than mine, are nothing compared to others… and so it goes on. I am beyond blessed more than I deserve. I have absolutely NOTHING to complain about. My God will get me through everything. It reminds me of one of my favorite verses in 1 Corinthians:
13No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it.
God’s not going to put anything in your life that you can’t handle.
That rant was not intended to go in that direction :] The moon just made me realize how God timed creation out so amazingly.. and then that just got me thinking as I was typing.. So yeah.. those are my thoughts.
God is good. What else is there to say?
These verses also popped into my head..
Luke 19:40
(referring to the disciples) "If they keep quiet, the stones would do it for them, shouting praise."
Psalm 97:4-5
4 His lightning lights up the world;
the earth sees and trembles.
5 The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the Lord of all the earth.
Thought 1:
I went to Taco Bell before work on Saturday and I got one of those 5-layer burrito things, theyre really good and theyre only 89 cents! :] anyway. I forgot to say NO SOUR CREAM. I HATE HATE HATE sour cream, if you didn’t know that already. Well, I didn’t want to get out of my car because it was cold and snowing/raining. So I got out a napkin and opened up the burrito and grabbed the chunk of sour cream out and went on my way. As I was eating it, I was hesitant with every bite thinking I was going to bite into nastiness at any minute.. I really do have a point.. stay with me… So I finally get to a point where I taste it.. and maybe it was all just in my head, I don’t know, it’s a possibility. Anyway, it was gross and needless to say, I didn’t finish it. It got me thinking though how Cora loves sour cream and how I despise it. And then it got me thinking… how amazing is the God we serve? He created us all SO different. I mean, in looks and personality and all of that.. but even with the TASTE BUDS on our TONGUES! Think about it. Think about all those tiny and irritating little things we have and how everyone likes different foods. That’s because of our taste buds! I was really just taken a step back by that thought.
Thought 2 (See pictures below):
This time, I was driving home from work.. and the moon was absolutely BEAUTIFUL tonight. I mean, it looked bigger than I could ever imagine… abnormal even to the point I lost my breath. I grabbed my phone and texted my roommates (old and new :] ) and said, LOOK AT THE MOON! I almost hit the car in front of me because I was so distracted. It was bright yellow and BIG, if I haven’t mentioned that already, and you could see the craters and everything in it. Well, that got me thinking… do you realize how much time and thought God put into creating this universe and everything in it?? I mean, to sit there and think, “I think I’m going to put this ‘moon’ in the air by the earth, and you know what? I think I’m going to make the Sun reflect it at a perfect point to light up the entire sky. And you know what else? Why not add beyond billions of speckled bursts of light in the sky as well?” Again, I my breath was just taken away THINKING about our Creator. Just thinking how He times everything so right, and yet, we QUESTION Him??? WHO ARE WE? It is only by HIS grace that we even MATTER! I fully believe He plans everything for a reason. I believe he puts people in our life to get us through the day, to give us hell and problems that we learn and grow from, to comfort and talk to and build us up when we’re low… he strategically has it all planned out. So why must we question? It’s our nature and that SUCKS. I don’t want to question my life and the problems I may have when my problems are nothing compared to what others experience or are going through. Even those problems that are bigger than mine, are nothing compared to others… and so it goes on. I am beyond blessed more than I deserve. I have absolutely NOTHING to complain about. My God will get me through everything. It reminds me of one of my favorite verses in 1 Corinthians:
13No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it.
God’s not going to put anything in your life that you can’t handle.
That rant was not intended to go in that direction :] The moon just made me realize how God timed creation out so amazingly.. and then that just got me thinking as I was typing.. So yeah.. those are my thoughts.
God is good. What else is there to say?
These verses also popped into my head..
Luke 19:40
(referring to the disciples) "If they keep quiet, the stones would do it for them, shouting praise."
Psalm 97:4-5
4 His lightning lights up the world;
the earth sees and trembles.
5 The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the Lord of all the earth.
Monday, January 11, 2010
quick update.
just a quick list and some pictures of what's going on:
1. bought my tickets for puerto rico! no turning back now :] march 6-april 28.
2. my moms engaged!
3. im back in 1st grade starting wednesday.
4. i filled out my first "real: job application (for the position of the lead teacher in the ECLC :)
I haven't turned it in yet.. still need to revamp my resume.
I'm a fan of in there :]5. i feel like there needs to be a five... um..
home was great. Christmas was great...
and I was back in Knoxville for New Years Eve, which was great..
I guess that's all for now :]
Sunday, December 20, 2009
this christmas.
Three things need to be addressed.
1. I suck at updating this.
2. I've reached beyond my goal for Puerto Rico. My mom's response? "Someone wants you to go." No joke. My faith just keeps growing.
3. Christmas. Usually I'm not about all the "christmas-y" things. Such as lights, music, movies (minus Elf), etc. This year it's been different. It was BEFORE Thanksgiving and the Nsync Christmas album was busted out. Right after Thanksgiving the house was decorated. And maybe that part is different this year because it's MY house. Lights are outside and in. There's a tree. Window cling-ons. Door hangings. Christmas parties galore. Not to mention, I have watched Elf like, at least 10 times. I have never been more in the Christmas spirit. My heart is just happy. My small group bought stuff for the Christmas Shop and my eyes just seem more open. I can't wait to go home and be with my family. I love that my mom's side doesn't do presents. We just go and eat and be together. That's what I'm excited for. And those precious babies, Skylar and Caleb. On my dad's side this year we did something different as far as presents. We did our grab-bag like we always do, but this year we didn't have a list to write what we wanted and it was only a $10 thing. I'm quite excited for that too. Haha, those gifts could be quite fun. I love being together with them as well. I love having all the kids running around everywhere (7 under 8 years old, if I counted right). ooh I just love it. AND this year I think we're going to Chicago to ice skate that night. New memories to be made.
Going along with Christmas, today's church service was great. I recommend going to crossingsknoxville.com to listen to the podcast. The question was addressed, "What if Christmas was a world changing event, again?" Oh my goodness. What would the world be like? What would stores do if 4.5 billion dollars (yes, that's right, billion) wasn't spent JUST around Christmas time? What if that hope that a baby brought to the world was actually celebrated? What would it be like? I was just about brought to tears during Common Meal today just thinking about that and just thinking about my life. I am so ridiculously blessed. I don't need anything. Yes, I have times of "trouble" but I have an amazing family, I have amazing friends that accept me for me when at times that could be difficult, I have a roof over my head, I have a job. I just want to celebrate that. I want to be able to rejoice that we have such a loving God that sent his Son into a world of selfishness and hate in order to give his people the shalom that was intended.
So what if Christmas was a world changing event, again?
I encourage you to check out these two things.
1. Advent Conspiracy: http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20091215/us_time/08599194759000
2. Rebel Jesus: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEC7d5jbAbo
i hope and pray you all have an amazing Christmas and that you can go beyond just thinking the phrase that so easily gets tossed around of "Jesus is the reason for the season" but that you can find hope and that restoration from the babe in the straw.
"so i bid you pleasure
and i bid you cheer
from a heathen and a pagan
on the side of the rebel Jesus"
1. I suck at updating this.
2. I've reached beyond my goal for Puerto Rico. My mom's response? "Someone wants you to go." No joke. My faith just keeps growing.
3. Christmas. Usually I'm not about all the "christmas-y" things. Such as lights, music, movies (minus Elf), etc. This year it's been different. It was BEFORE Thanksgiving and the Nsync Christmas album was busted out. Right after Thanksgiving the house was decorated. And maybe that part is different this year because it's MY house. Lights are outside and in. There's a tree. Window cling-ons. Door hangings. Christmas parties galore. Not to mention, I have watched Elf like, at least 10 times. I have never been more in the Christmas spirit. My heart is just happy. My small group bought stuff for the Christmas Shop and my eyes just seem more open. I can't wait to go home and be with my family. I love that my mom's side doesn't do presents. We just go and eat and be together. That's what I'm excited for. And those precious babies, Skylar and Caleb. On my dad's side this year we did something different as far as presents. We did our grab-bag like we always do, but this year we didn't have a list to write what we wanted and it was only a $10 thing. I'm quite excited for that too. Haha, those gifts could be quite fun. I love being together with them as well. I love having all the kids running around everywhere (7 under 8 years old, if I counted right). ooh I just love it. AND this year I think we're going to Chicago to ice skate that night. New memories to be made.
Going along with Christmas, today's church service was great. I recommend going to crossingsknoxville.com to listen to the podcast. The question was addressed, "What if Christmas was a world changing event, again?" Oh my goodness. What would the world be like? What would stores do if 4.5 billion dollars (yes, that's right, billion) wasn't spent JUST around Christmas time? What if that hope that a baby brought to the world was actually celebrated? What would it be like? I was just about brought to tears during Common Meal today just thinking about that and just thinking about my life. I am so ridiculously blessed. I don't need anything. Yes, I have times of "trouble" but I have an amazing family, I have amazing friends that accept me for me when at times that could be difficult, I have a roof over my head, I have a job. I just want to celebrate that. I want to be able to rejoice that we have such a loving God that sent his Son into a world of selfishness and hate in order to give his people the shalom that was intended.
So what if Christmas was a world changing event, again?
I encourage you to check out these two things.
1. Advent Conspiracy: http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20091215/us_time/08599194759000
2. Rebel Jesus: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEC7d5jbAbo
i hope and pray you all have an amazing Christmas and that you can go beyond just thinking the phrase that so easily gets tossed around of "Jesus is the reason for the season" but that you can find hope and that restoration from the babe in the straw.
"so i bid you pleasure
and i bid you cheer
from a heathen and a pagan
on the side of the rebel Jesus"
Monday, November 2, 2009
PR bound.
So I figured I'd update this real quick.
I sent out my support letters for Puerto Rico less than a month ago. I am AMAZED at how God is providing already. I shouldn't be, because, well, WHO AM I to be amazed at what our Creator can do? It's nothing that I know he can't. It's just been a continuous reminder of how blessed my life truly is. I have an amazing family. Family meaning three things here: my actual blood-related family, my family in Christ, and my family-away from home in Knoxville, including my amazing friends. I don't deserve any of it, but my life is blessed beyond my words.
As far as an update on that, I have enough to buy my plane ticket, which is a huge weight off my shoulders. I'm hoping to get that in about a month or so!
For those of you who are thinking, what support letters? Puerto Rico? Well, you should know. :] I'm doing my 3rd placement of my internship in Puerto Rico in March/April. Just ask, I'll tell you more about it!
Oh yeah. And if you are reading this and got a letter, I'm a moron. I wrote Knoxville, IN. Clearly, I go to school in TN! :]
Thanks for all your love and support! Continue with those prayers.
I also started my Kindergarten placement today. More to come on that...
I sent out my support letters for Puerto Rico less than a month ago. I am AMAZED at how God is providing already. I shouldn't be, because, well, WHO AM I to be amazed at what our Creator can do? It's nothing that I know he can't. It's just been a continuous reminder of how blessed my life truly is. I have an amazing family. Family meaning three things here: my actual blood-related family, my family in Christ, and my family-away from home in Knoxville, including my amazing friends. I don't deserve any of it, but my life is blessed beyond my words.
As far as an update on that, I have enough to buy my plane ticket, which is a huge weight off my shoulders. I'm hoping to get that in about a month or so!
For those of you who are thinking, what support letters? Puerto Rico? Well, you should know. :] I'm doing my 3rd placement of my internship in Puerto Rico in March/April. Just ask, I'll tell you more about it!
Oh yeah. And if you are reading this and got a letter, I'm a moron. I wrote Knoxville, IN. Clearly, I go to school in TN! :]
Thanks for all your love and support! Continue with those prayers.
I also started my Kindergarten placement today. More to come on that...
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
I have decided...
...that I need a job where I can just love on kids. There are so many kids who are hurting and that just need to know that they are loved. That’s all I want to do. I don’t want to teach and discipline them, I just want to spend time with them and love on them and show them that there’s a Greater Love.
Where can I get an application?
Where can I get an application?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)