Awesome God

I forgot to tell this adorable story! Last week I taught my 4th and 5th graders the song Awesome God, including the first verse. 6th grade had learned the song (thanks to Miss Heidi) and when they sang it for chapel, my kids demanded to learn it. I wrote the words on the board and sang it through with all four of my Bible classes (4A, 4B, 5A, and 5B) all week long. Honestly, it got a annoying.

On Thursday my 4B class (the WORST behaved class) begged me, 'Miss! Can we sing Awesome God today???' again. A little wearily, I agreed. We started the verse:

When he rolls up his sleeves he ain't just puttin' on the ritz.
Our God is an awesome God.
There is thunder in his footsteps and lightning in his fists.
Our God is an awesome God.
And the Lord he wasn't joking when He kicked 'em out of Eden,
and it wasn't for no reason that he shed his blood.
His return is very soon and so you better be believin' that
Our God is an awesome God.

(you have no idea how cute that sounds in Spanish accents)

Then they blasted the chorus as loud as they possibly could:

Our God is an awesome God,
He reigns from Heaven above
with wisdom, power and love.
Our God is an awesome God.

As the force of their singing hit me I couldn't help but realize the power of our God. He hears these kids' praise. He cares for each one.

He really is awesome.

Honduras vs. Mexico!

Wednesday night rocked! Seriously.

Some of us watched the big Honduras vs. Mexico game at Julio's house (the computer teacher). To be honest, I almost fell asleep on the couch--sorry, I find soccer kinda boring. Honduras won 1--0. The city exploded!

Julio walked us home, but he wanted to go down the boulevard on the way back. There, an impromptu parade had started. People rode in trucks up and down the 5 blocks from the school to our street, shouting, cheering, screaming, hugging random people on the street.Crowds lined the street, cheering. Groups of teenage guys ran from truck to truck, shaking them. Everyone wore blue and white (Honduras' flag colors). We wore our newly-purchased soccer jerseys and joined the crowd.

My throat is sore from screaming 'Hon-dur-as! Hon-dur-as!' or singing 'Ole! Ole-Ole-Ole!' all night. Not only did we join the crowd, but we hopped in a minivan belonging to a mom of one of our students and joined the parade! We rode the boulevard twice, a pack of gringas sporting Honduras pride.

On Thursday my 4th grade boys asked me after class, 'Miss, when Honduras plays the USA, who you cheer for?'

'Both!' I said--'Hon-dur-as! U-S-A!'

Castillo de Omoa trip!

Sunday we drove to the coast!

Thanks to one of the Honduran teachers, all the missionaries piled into a (mini-sized) 15 passenger van. We drove 4 hours to Omoa, a coastal town, and toured the old Spanish fort there! (It cost about 10 lempiras for locals--40 lempiras for all 'foreigners.' Fair? I think not!) I loved exploring, taking pictures, and soaking in all the green-ness that grows there.

We drove about a block down the street and stood on the beach! I didn't realize how much I've missed the basics of a beach--wind, the sound of surf, and sand! Of course, the beach didn't invite much swimming or sunbathing. It looked slightly iffy and trash littered the tiny stretch of sand. Better beaches are farther away....

On the long drive back we stopped in San Pedro Sula, the biggest city in Honduras, and wandered around the big mall. It's MASSIVE! Talk about reverse culture shock. :D In the food court I bought Honduras' version of Mexican food.... quite the experience!

This week we're calculating grades. 6 kids in each section didn't pass Math, but they have one more chance to make it up--the Recuperation test I'm giving on Thursday. Sigh. I hate telling kids that they didn't pass.

Student Files: Alex

Alex cracks me up 24-7. He is the funniest kid I've ever come across. He's always so happy, but in such a quiet, contained way!

I got a tour of his house a few weeks ago. I walked down the street with one of the full-time missionaries, Jenny, to her apartment after school one day. She lives next door to Alex.

He saw me and, containing his excitement, asked, 'Miss, come see my house.' I said sure, and was lead through the nicest house I've seen in Honduras--beautiful tables, two TVs, designer drapes. Wow. His parents are rich! And the whole time Alex stood there in quiet pride, giddiness, and excitement.

Just yesterday I called him up to my desk to show him his grades for the first Partial (quarter). I pointed at my grid, 'Alex, you got 86% in Math, 98% in Science, and 96% in Bible. You did very well, Alex!'

His face glowed with concealed pleasure. 'Yes, Miss,' is all he said. And he started chanting '86 Math, 98 Science, 96 Bible' over and over on the long trek back to his seat, his face all scrunched up in concentration.

I wish I had a video of him for you--he does daily, normal things in such a (i know i shouldn't say it about a boy, but it's true!) cute way!!

Champas, Tests, and a Soon Approaching Battle

Last Thursday our school hosted a cultural night called Champas! I love it!

For me it was a Honduran blend of WWU's Barn Party and MGA's (my high school) Fall Fair. The secondary classes set up booths that represented Honduras' states and sold traditional food. I broke down and bought food from a couple booths and walked away stuffed for only 40 lempiras (2 dollars)!

The picture on the left shows me with some of my 5th grade girls all dolled up for the night; Kora, Celeste, Amy, Linda, (me), and Daniela.

Each grade wore old Honduran costumes and danced! Oh my word, my 5th graders looked so adorable as they twirled all over the cancha. I snapped pictures continuously, cheering and feeling very much like a proud parent. Haha! Even my crazy 4th graders ( shown in the picture below) looked like angels.

We had Parent Teacher Conferences again on Friday. I think my class does so well because their parents are so involved! One mother asked if I could tutor her daughter two days a week: I'm really looking forward to the one-on-one interaction!

This week the teachers are all preparing for Partial exams. Next week is test week--even the little kids have tests! Have I mentioned how much I hate calculating grades?

I witnessed a rat in our house. Bethani attempted to hide his presence from the rest of us(apparently she thought we'd over-react??), but the secret's out. I sailed through the kitchen last week just in time to see him scamper down the windowsill. I was not as discreet in my disdain.

This means war.