I love Venezuela-the only place I know where gasoline is cheaper than water

I know it's been a while since I last posted. Now that school has begun, my free time has been filled with planning and grading.

I'll give you the highlights from this past week in no sort of order whatsoever:

1) Making homemade pizza with the housemates. We bought a kilo of pizza dough for a little over a dollar and it smelled delicious. 

2) More salsa dancing last Saturday. Danced with some guy and was still terrible but he said I improved by the end. It is possible we were on Venezuelan television as there was a reporter there filming and taking pictures. Going back to the park tonight for live music and merengue dancing...should be interesting. 

3) Kayla and I got on the wrong bus on the way home. We had to stay on until it made a complete circle back to Plaza Venezuela, where we got on. It took forever to get home. 

4) Killed a massive flying cockroach in Natalie's room. It took five of us to bring it to its demise. Pictures were taken. 

5) More house issues. No water on Tuesday so it was my first day teaching un-showered. It made for a great devotion that morning with my students talking about privileges like water that we think we deserve. Also, our fridge and microwave are somehow causing a short and won't work at the same time. David is coming to fix it today. No internet yet.

6) We have friends! In addition to the girls we've met through salsa dancing, some people our age from church have invited us out several times. We went to see a movie several weeks ago and last Saturday went to El Hatillo for churros. Mmmm! It was awesome because there were about ten people there, most of whom only spoke Spanish so it was a great opportunity to listen, learn, and speak a little. 

7) We (Kayla, me, and Alli) got stuck in the rain and were pretty soaked. We stopped by the panaderia to get bread and the workers laughed at us. Whatever...it's Venezuela...it rains and we do get wet. 

     The Lord has been so thankful and is growing me so much each day. I love teaching and love my students. I have a good relationship with my students and they seem to be learning. The school's staff gives me so much support and encouragement. I love trying to speak Spanish with our Venezuelan staff. Every afternoon Marisol comes in to clean my room and we try to have a conversation. It is usually interrupted by me saying 'Uno momento' and typing something in to google translate. 

     Each day I share a devotion with the students and pray over their requests. We are reading from 'My Utmost for His Highest.' I read it three times a day and am always amazed by how I get something new each time. I pray that the students see the love of Christ in me and are growing in their own faith. Discipleship groups and youth group start up this week and next and I am excited to work with my students in a different environment. 

     Kayla and I led worship during staff devotions this morning. As much as I love singing in Spanish, it was so nice to get to sing worship songs in English as a group. Please keep the school and administration in your prayers. This week was a difficult one...very stressful. 

     I am officially spending my birthday in Panama. Flights were booked by our travel agent yesterday (yes I have a travel agent :-)). We are now looking for a house on the beach. Most of the school staff is going so it should be a lot of fun. 

     Next week school really picks up. We start Spanish classes on Monday, I am helping out with an after-school program one afternoon a week. Wednesday means a faculty meeting. We are starting a women's Bible study that will probably meet on Tuesdays. Youth group and disciple group are on Fridays. My time fills up so quickly and in-between all that, I am a full-time, first year teacher. But I am here because of the students and want to get involved in their lives. Pray that I will be efficient with my time and will continue to teach the kids well.

This had to be shared....best bread ever and costs less than 20 cents. We are now friends with the workers at the panaderia by the school because we stop here every day to get kania. 

Spanish word of the day: 'enserio' which means 'for serious or for real?' We've been using it all the time lately. 

Miss you all! Keep the comments coming...and keep me updated on your lives as well!