Question Number 1

Do I teach in English or in Spanish?

The easy answer to that is: English.

Our school is a bilingual school that is primarily taught in English, especially in pre-kindergarten and elementary school. I teach all in English and then throughout the day they have to classes that are taught in Spanish: their Spanish language class and their Dominican history class (Sociales). Their art/music and PE classes are also taught in Spanish.

Q & A with Natalie

Many people have questions about my life down in the Dominican Republic. I would love to spend time with each of you individually and tell you about my life, but I am realizing that it is not realistic. Therefore, if you have any questions you would like to ask, anything you would like to know about my life down in the D.R, then post a question as a 'comment' and I'll answer.

Lengthier Update

It's hard to believe that I've been home for over 2 weeks! It seems like just yesterday I was teaching my 12 kids, walking into town, and eating Gilberto's! I'm excited to go back and be a better teacher this year! I found out yeasterday that there is going to be only one 4th grade class with 19 students. I'm SO excited about it. There is a sweet place in my heart for those kids! I feel blessed that I am going to get to teach them all.

This year was a hard year but one of grace, forgiveness, and love. I learned a lot about myself as a teacher and as a person. God gave me some amazing friends. I'm so proud of the work that these men and women that I have come to know and love and their willingness to serve our Lord.

I hope that you read back through the amazing times that I've had over the past year...

I'll be updating my blog soon with updates about fundraising information and about my upcoming year in the Dominican Republic!

Four little words...

Ahhhhh...a relaxing glimpse of the end of the school year has come. We finished school on a half day on Wednesday. We had our class party (complete with dance party), watched part of Bolt, and then the real fun began! The bomberos (firemen) came and brought their firehose. So then we had a big water party! It was so fun to play with the kids, grab the timid ones and bring them into the water, and just play. Another awesome Dominican tradition that is unknown in the United States but dearly loved here!

Tonight I heard the four words that I dread hearing the most. Quick! Get a shoe. I know that I am about to face some sort of monster that I am going to crunch. Tonight it was a cockroach. We've had an infestation of cockroaches lately. I think I've killed about 1 or 2 a day for the past few days. GROSS. and the other day we had a HUGE bombing of flying ants. Probably around 100!!! (maybe a slight exaggeration, but not by much!) Yeah, it's been great.

Speaking of the animal kingdom, today Karyn and I were washing dishes after breakfast and we saw 2 lizards mating. It was like the Discovery Channel. Neither of us could look away. What an interesting interactive day it has been with the creatures of the earth. :)

I'm coming home on Tuesday!!!

IN other NEWS:

We are seeking more teachers! If you are interested, please email your resume to director@jarabacoachristianschool.org

My parents visited! 3.27.09-4.4.09

So, maybe I'm blogging a little out of order, but I was waiting until I got more pictures!

My parents got a sweet treat to the Caribbean to visit their favorite oldest daughter. :)  We went to the beach, a waterfall, and to school with my kids.  My students enjoyed meeting my mom (who they had skyped with many times) and had so much fun making rockets and shooting them off with my mom and dad.  To cap off the trip, we headed up the mountain to eat dinner overlooking the town of Jarabacoa at sunset.  Que wonderful it was!

It was so fun to spend time with them in my life down here and at the beach too! :)

Here's a peak of their trip here!

Acuario Nacional y Museo Trampolin 5.12.09

I took a field trip with my students to the Acuario Nacional y Museo Trampolin.  It was so neat to experience my students in another setting outside of school.  I love being able to interact with them in a different way than I do in the classroom.  Check out my picture slideshow!

When Godly People do Ungodly Things

I have officially finished my bible study, When Godly People do Ungodly Things by Beth Moore.  It was a challenging and sometimes downright confusing, but I know that I learned so much through it.  

It mostly talked about why Christians sin.  Why do we as Christians still fall into the pit of allowing Satan to control our thoughts, our actions, our words?  This study has become so pertinent as I've traveled down the road of allowing Satan to control my thoughts, my words.  As I've so often learned in the DR, we need to take our thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ.  And let me tell you, it's not easy.  Just today I was so discouraged and hurt, but then I realized that no one is my judge.  no one knows my heart like God does.

My favorite part of what we studied was studying the Word in 1 Samuel.  Focusing on 12:20-25.

 ²⁰"Do not be afraid," Samuel replied. "You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. ²¹ Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless. ²² For the sake of his great name the LORD will not reject his people, because the LORD was pleased to make you his own. ²³ As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right. ²⁴ But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you. ²⁵ Yet if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will be swept away."

I love it.  

The Lord delights in us.  Do not be afraid.  Don't turn away from the Lord despite all you have done.  It's good stuff.