I have to apologize for the three month period of blogging silence. I plan on writing much more frequently now that the ball is rolling. Let me catch you up to speed, and then I'll give you a glimpse into what the last month of preparation will look like (as well as I can tell :)).
These past few months have been a time of finishing up jobs, sending support letters, receiving support, communicating with my director and a couple other teachers about the upcoming school year, VISA, teaching Sunday School, moving out of my apartment, and enjoying the last few months with friends.
I finished up with FedEx at the end of May and am trying (unsuccessfully) to stay active without my weekday night exercise group. I taught a few more swim lessons and guarded a few more shifts towards the end of May to round out my time at the YMCA, and finally, the King Child Development Center. This past Wednesday was my last day at the King and they could not have done a better job of making me feel loved and appreciated. It was a great send-off (what says "We love and appreciate you" more, than a 10$ gift certificate to Chipotle?)! Having had said goodbye to the preschoolers and my amazing Kindergarten Sunday School class and team (what says "God be with you Mr. Bjorlie" more, than 30 some kindergartners laying their hands on you and praying for your ministry?), I am finally ready to move up a few grades to work with what I have heard is the best class a first year 3rd/4th grade teacher could ever ask for.
In my e-mails, skype conversations, and phone calls with some of the staff at Highlands International School (HIS), I have learned more about the home stay family I will be staying with and where they are located. I will be staying just outside the city (La Paz) with a Bolivian couple and their kids who all have jobs and are older than me. A couple of the kids know some English, but suffice to say, I will be immersed in the Spanish language daily. Praise the Lord! I can't wait for the lessons to start. Necisito practicar mucho! I also sent in my VISA application and got my passport back with the stamp of official approval last week. I have also purchased my airfare down to Bolivia, so there is not much left to stand in my way.
I have also been humbled and deeply moved with my first experience of sending out letters for support and watching them come in. After having totaled up how much support I have with both the one-time gifts and the monthly gifts, I am just over 4/5 of the way there. The Lord is good, and His faithfulness is amazing! I am working on the thank-you cards right now for any of you supporters wondering if I got your gift. If there are any of you who want a more personal update so as to know how to best support me with prayer and also to know how the Lord is working in and through my life and ministry, please send me your e-mail address at bjorlie@gmail.com. I am currently planning on sending out a monthly support e-mail at the end of each month, starting in July, so let me know if you are interested.
I moved everything out of my apartment with the help of my dad, roommate, and his fiancee on Thursday and spent the weekend in Austin. I am currently writing to you from my semi-barren apartment (my roommate hasn't moved out yet) packed and ready for an early rise-and-shine plane ride tomorrow morning. Now that you are all caught up to speed, I will give you a brief itinerary for how the next month will look.
June 25th: Arrive in Memphis for the PFO (Pre-Field Orientation) training
July 4th: I leave the training a few days early so as to make it back for my roommate's wedding, which takes place the very next day. I hope to see fireworks from above!
July 6th: Back down to Austin, where I will spend the remainder of the month making packing lists, preparing an in-depth outline of how the school year's going to look, and spending time with the family. I hope to make at least one trip back to the Twin Cities sometime during that month for final farewells also.
July 28th: My flight to La Paz leaves at 8 in the morning and arrives in the evening. Hola Bolivia!
July 28th-August 6th: Acclimate and culture shock time!
August 7th-10th: School orientation and setting up the classroom. My first one!!
August 13th: Bring on the kids! :) Wahooo!!!!!!!! I'm a little excited.
Well there you have it. You are all clued in. Now it's your turn. Questions, words of encouragement, advice, funny tasteful jokes, etc... Let the comments commence!
June 24, 2007
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
