Month in Review: The Sequel

Yeah, I suppose that promise to write soon after the last blog didn't turn out so well. Once again, I apologize and will attempt to be a better blogger.
It's so easy to get caught up in everything that's going on, not just school, but hanging out with the staff and my stay-home family as well. ( I put that in there for you mom.) I love you, dad, and Stacy alot, but they have become my extended Bolivian family since I have been here. Although the family has gotten much smaller since my last posting. Alberto and Charro, the parents, are both in Houston with their oldest daughter, Monica, who just had triplets! My big sister Daniela, who is the youngest child in the family and few years older than me, left for Houston on the first of this month. That leaves Dora, her son Daniel (currently in Kindergarten @ HIS), and Fabrizio (aka Alberto or Beto), the only son, about 5 years older than me. The house feels emptier, but Dora has been amazing, what with working, taking care of Daniel, and fixing me dinners. I try and help out when I can by letting her know what my plans are so she can better anticipate if I'll be around for dinner or not. I also helped out two weekends ago with Daniel's B-day party, my first Bolivian B-day party. They invite pretty much everyone, play games, eat cake (while parents have tea), open presents, and then at the end comes the pinata. Only, it's not like in Mexico where you bash the pinata. Instead you just pull out the bottom and all the goodies fall out. It might not seem as fun, and I do admit that I missed the pumelling the pinata usually gets, but you can reuse the pinata and it saves the little kids from laughed at by a bunch of grown-ups who enjoy watching children swing aimlessly at a structurally reinforced bag of candy while blindfolded. If that's not a run-on sentence, then I don't know what is. Anyway, I got a chance to blow up at least 70 balloons (pop at least 5 as I tried to tie them), help lead games such as Pato, Pato, Gonzo (Duck, Duck, Goose) (they never heard of Duck, Duck, Grey Duck, go figure), and do my best to help eat as much Spiderman cake as possible. Alright, there's a bit about the home life, now school...
Parent teacher conferences went well. I had 17 non-stop conferences from about 8:20 to 1:45. There were questions and concerns raised, and then plans and solutions were discussed and agreed upon. I can honestly say that, although being nervous during the day, I felt encouraged after all was said and done. I had many comments from parents with girls that their daughter was nervous about having a male teacher, but that now, they rather enjoyed having one. I do admit that I love each and everyone of my students, and I felt encouraged by those parents who came in and let me know that their students had experienced that love. Now that first quarter is done, I have dropped social studies and picked up science. After doing a brief unit on soil, we began our rocks and minerals unit. The boys are constantly at the other end of the field during recess like always, only now, I don't have to worry about finding rock and mineral samples, because it seems to be many of the boys passions, and I have way too many rocks in my classroom now. I'm just grateful for their enthusiasm and need to find a way to get the girls interested. Hopefully, when we talk about minerals and how they form crystals, such as diamonds, rubies, and emeralds, maybe then they'll become a little more interested. :)
We received our Desiring God curriculum two weeks ago also, which I have excitedly began to teach. I feel as if I got my first care package with familiar items from home, seeing as how I have taught this curriculum for a year and half at Bethlehem Baptist. The kids seem to enjoy it quite a bit also, as the whole theme is a mystery entitled "In the Beginning... Jesus". We will be solving the myster of Christ's death on the cross and the history of redemption. Yeah, that's right, redemptive history for third and fourth grade. Good stuff! Finally, keep me in your prayers regarding the reading curriculum. I'm still piecing stuff together and I'm afraid that I'm not meeting the criteria I should be, but 3-7 grades will be getting some resources soon to help. Pray that I can develop something concrete and cohesive for my students who vary so widely in their reading abilities. And now, the side stuff...
Games Club occurs Wednesdays after school and the coordinator, Tom Fisher, has pretty much made me the mascot. His slogan? "Beat Bjorlie!" Yeah, his newest poster misquotes me as challenging anyone who thinks they can stand a chance in a game of Settlers against me. Don't worry, I'm not getting a big head, but hey, I'm here to help, yeah? I still continue to hang out with Scott (english teacher) and the elementary teachers as we watch movies, play cards, or just simply chill together. After conferences, five of us took a trip to El Castillo, down in the south Yungas. El Castillo is an old Spanish castle that has been made into a hotel. We arrived at dusk and found out that the power was out and that apparently there were many ghost stories that surrounded the castle. So we had fun playing Phase 10 by candlelight in a spooky old castle until 2 in the morning. The next day consisted of a hike with Ashlyn and Scott to a waterfall, where I was compelled to stand under for the fun of it. The hike also consisted of many unstable bridges that were so much fun to cross. Then it was lunch and a couple games of Uno. Then I went swimming with Ashlyn and Alison at the beach. What a laugh, it was more like rocks alongside a rushing river! It was still fun wading out as far as you dared against the fast-flowing current. I like the fact that they don't have all those signs saying "Stay out of the Water, Dangerous Current". Yeah, duh! That's why I want to get in. Anyway, then it was back to play more games, watch "Pan's Labyrinth" and then trying to compose a ghost story, where each person took turns citing the next twist in the gruesome plot. We were all so tired though, that it was pretty pathetic. Sunday was another beautiful day that resulted in another hike to the other waterfall, where both Scott and I got drenched this time. It was a blast!
This last weekend was our Spiritual Retreat. All the teachers went to Chulumani, which is a beautiful town about another hour past El Castillo down further into the South Yungas. The Lord blessed us with amazing weather and a 25 meter long pool with two diving boards! Yeah, I was ecstatic! I must warn you though, these diving boards were thin wooden planks that didn't have much spring and the high board was cemented into a platform. The tip of the high board was two feet short from the edge of the pool, so you had to jump out aways to insure you landed in the water. Still, I was able to do 1 and 1/2s off both boards and impress my director a little. :) We also had lots of fun playing "Keep Away" in the pool. I love dunking people. Yeah, I know I was a lifeguard, so what? Jason, the director, had flown out dear friends of his from the states to lead our four sessions talking about the exchanged life. In summary, talking about the transformed life we have when we allow Christ to live in and through us, instead of trying to master our sinful desires on our own. It was a good time to reflect in areas of my life where I struggle with letting God reign. For me it's not so much an arrogant thought that I can do it on my own, but a self-pitying withdrawal when I don't. It was good to put that temptation at the front of my mind and claim the truth that I am an heir to the Kingdom of God and that I was known and loved by the source of life and love before I was even born. A good weekend!

Alright, I think I have caught you all up on most everything that's been happening. There is one other thing that I have left out, but I'm not at liberty to share about it yet. Most likely in my next blog, I will be able to fill you in. I lead my second chapel this week for the 3-7 grades, so pray for wisdom and guidance as I seek the Lord for the best way to teach about another one of God's names, "The Unknown Name". It comes from when Paul is talking to the Greeks about the many statues of gods that they have and he talks about their pedestal they built for the "unknown god". Yeah, I tend to choose the abstract names of God, but hey, I like the challenge. Thanks again to all of you for your prayers for me and patience with me. God has been doing amazing things in the school and in my life. Pray that I continue to lean on Him who knows the prosperous plans for my life as I seek to serve Him here in La Paz.