Entering Transition

My roommate Anne just began packing, and she started by taking all her posters and pictures off the walls, which I think is a cruel beginning to the end, leaving the room naked and echoing!

I guess it just hasn't quite hit me yet. Our last day of teaching was yesterday, next week is final exam week, and after that I'm leaving this beautiful country of El Salvador. I'll be parting with my housemates who feel like family to me, my students, whom I've grown to love and have learned so much from...the warmth of the Latin culture, the mountains and the beach...

This past year has definitely been the most adventurous, exciting, and memorable one of my life. It came with many challenges, stretched me at times to my limits, and forced me to grow up in many ways...while also revealing to me how much more growing up I have left to do!

Now I'm entering a time of transition. I'll be returning home during the first week of June. I'm looking forward to quality time with my family and friends I've missed so much!! I'll be back in the coffee shop at Calvary for a while (my favorite job!), but I'll be needing a full time job soon. What happens next will be interesting. All I know is that I'm not planning on coming back here, nor am I planning on getting settled in the Chicago burbs again. At this point I feel lead elsewhere and would like to experience another part of the States, preferably with mountains and more sunshine (I'm definitely spoiled now with all that)!! I've applied to several jobs in Colorado and Arizona and have gotten some calls back. Please pray that I will hear clearly the voice of God as I'm going to be making some big decisions soon...I know He's got it all worked out - the way this opportunity in El Salvador came about so perfectly is good proof of that :)

I want to thank everyone who has prayed even once for me during my time here. God has faithfully pulled me through every obstacle, has provided my every need before I even knew I had it...like when he sent close friends to join me in this journey for the entire year. How much I've needed that support and companionship!!! I'm still amazed at how the Lord sent another teacher to share my load of classes in September before I even asked for help. At my moment of burnout and desperation, God already had a plan. I'd never felt so rescued! And He came to my rescue again in the ocean riptide last month. He also kept me from a potentially wicked scorpion sting last summer, as I had one coming towards my head in the middle of the night and someone just happened to get up at that exact moment and see it! There are many more stories I could share of how God has taken care of me here - He's been so faithful :)

My 23rd Birthday

This week I turned 23. The day before my birthday, a few of my students surprised me by turning our Bible study into a birthday party - we had so much fun! We played sardines in our house with all the lights out, made goofy videos, they stuffed my face in the cake and then we had a cake eating contest.

That night, my roommates decided to blast music and noisemakers in my face while singing happy birthday, after I'd fallen asleep. I'm not quite sure what they were expecting me to do, all I remember is feeling terrified that I was being attacked and that it might already be the morning! Apparently the only response they received from me were serveral series of grunts and moans...

Then in the morning, I was walking to school when suddenly, I heard footsteps picking up speed behind me and then felt hands grabbing me from behind! I thought I was about to get robbed, or worse, until I turned around and saw that it was only some students trying to scare the living daylights out of me - they had been waiting outside my house with balloons, waiting for me to leave!

At night, a bunch of us went out for dinner at a Mexican restaurant. The Mariachi singer made me dance with him...and for any of you who know my dancing skills...this was a more than awkward moment, but it definitely got me laughing (not to mention the audience).

Yesterday we had an afternoon soccer match between teachers and students - an all school event. It was pretty comical, and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it! I especially loved that the games were taking the place of classes ;)