Merry Christmas

Thank you for your continued support and prayers. Christmas just does not seem like Christmas this year. Something is missing...I can't put my finger on it, but something is missing. Oh well.

Mom had made plans to come down. She got to the airport and then was in the middle of a huge mess for like 14 hours! Needless to say, she did not make it to Suriname. I was very upset about it. I was looking forward to her visit...

On Sunday, I sang "O, Holy Night" in English, Dutch, and Surinamese...Some people were impressed. It was so much fun.

On Monday, I attended a Christmas party at church. It was for the various Bible study groups (none of which I attend), but some of the leaders were thoughtful enough to invite me. I had a great time with some people who I love dearly. (Not to mention the AMAZING food prepared by my friend, Farid...who owns a restaurant and has invited me to come learn some things about cooking)! We ate great food, fellowshipped, sang obscure Dutch Christmas songs, played "Name That Christmas Tune" (oh, you should see my answers: "Not an English song...Maybe Chinese?!?...Bing Crosby wannabe....Scary Song....) I got 4 out of 13. I did not win. After, we had a gift exchange and I got some lip glosses!! (LOVE IT)!

I went to Cola Kreek on Tuesday with Karen, her sister and brother-in-law, and another precious family from school. I had a great time. I swam in a creek for the first time in my life...The creek was filled with Bauxite!! My skin had a "healthy" orange glow after I got out of the water. We saw some missionary friends who also attend my church. I played volleyball and actually scored!!! (If you ever want to beat me at a sport...play volleyball with me). I just need to say how much I NEED positive people around me...people who encourage and show God's grace towards others...


Berea's Christmas Musical went off with a bang on Wednesday night! I had so much fun playing in the show!! I finally got all my Dutch lines down and they came out nice and smooth. I had so many positive comments about it. One of my students took some video, perhaps I can get it uploaded soon.


Afterward, a bunch of us returned to my house and ate some Junior's Brownie Chocolate Swirl Cheesecake (YES! I made this)!


I met a bunch of new friends over the past few weeks...some Americans from North Carolina, California, and Arizona...and some Surinamese. They all came over and we played Apples to Apples...I lost, as usual! (Give me Taboo any day)!

I was so blessed on Wednesday night. The Lord continually reminds me of His love for me. I was speaking with a friend about our drab house. I love to decorate, but we need a paint job first, then to find something that all the roommates could agree on, etc, etc...I would really love to decorate with a Middle Eastern theme. Oh, how I miss the Middle East!! I saying how the place would look awesome with some "fake" Persian rugs, deep purples, deep reds, and deep oranges...*sigh*

Well, my local friends came late and gave me a gift for Christmas. I opened it after everyone left...It was a pocket wall hanging that said "Middle Orient" on it...It was of "Middle Eastern" style....and it's purple, red, and orange! Scripture says that if God cares for the sparrow and for the flowers in the fields, how much more does He care for us! Thinking about that gift makes me cry and thank the Lord for caring so much about me that he would prompt someone to give me a gift that related to my conversation with another person!

Tomorrow will be a long day. Brunch with all friends who remained in Suriname. Then, it's off to dinner at my pastor's home. I made another cheesecake...strawberry...man, it's good!!!

Although it does not feel like Christmas, I feel so encouraged. I'm looking forward to 2010...serving the Lord, for this is what I was made for! I can not see myself doing anything less. God bless you this Christmas season. Remember Christ is the reason...nothing more, nothing less, and nothing else.

My Students Made Some News...

NICS wrote an article about students reaching out to others. We made the bulk of the article. :)

http://magazine.nics.org/featured/nics-students-reach-out/

Sharing the Love of Christ at Christmas

The 7th graders continue their orphanage outreach. The students put together a fundraiser similar to "Operation Christmas." We had red and green hearts with orphans names, gender, age, and a list of items needed. Parents, students and staff took names and filled shoe boxes with these items. My students created their own wrapping paper by painting newspapers. We delivered 45 boxes to the orphanage on Monday the 14th.

The kids were waiting for us. We decorated the eating area with red and green paper link chains. Then, I told them the story of Christmas while a student translated it into Dutch for me.

We gave the kids Christmas cookies that the 8th graders frosted (during Social Studies class...They loved it. Anything to get out of working the last week before break).

Then came what they had been waiting for: the presents. I called out names and my students handed each child a gift. When it was time, they all opened their gifts together. We sang Christmas songs and spent some time with the kids.

I really love this little girl named Sherry. She's 8. She has been on my heart since the first day I met her. I am trying to find out if I can start spending some time with her on Saturdays or Sundays. We will see. Who knows if it will lead to something else.

Today we (students, staff and parents) returned to the orphanage to sing Christmas carols again. The kids were so happy. Sherry was there and she would get so excited to see me....I can't wait until January 18 for our next trip. I might have to go back sooner.

Kitties. Singing. Dutch.

My kitties safely arrived two weeks ago. Levi almost died! The trip was too much for him. He didn't eat, drink, or go to the bathroom for 12 days! I took him to a vet who said he had a blockage in his intestines. Nothing helped him. Finally I took him to another (amazing) vet, who worked her "magic." Levi is doing much better. No blockage, just stress. Judah has been doing fine since the first moment he arrived.

I'm still singing in what seems to be every week at the church. I've been so blessed to be able to work with such a great team! (Karen and Jana...and my new friend, Cliff). Last week, we did "Sing to the King."

I continue to rehearse for the church Christmas musical. I finally memorized all my lines in Dutch!! It's going to be really funny for me. I'm the only non-native helping out, but yet, it doesn't feel like that at all. I even understand the directions given during practice.

School has been going well. I'm so impressed with the progress my 7th graders have made in terms of their behaviors and attitudes. It's been hard, but so worth it! Please pray for me as I am having a very difficult time with one student in particular and his mother. The mother refuses to look at her own son's behavior and she blames everyone else for it (me in particular). She actually came to school at 10:30 pm last night to confront me again and blame me. I had to walk away and told her I wouldn't discuss it at 10:30 pm on Friday night. (She had called me at 8 pm to say the same thing)! On top of that, we had a meeting at 7:30 am that morning!

Other than that things are going really well. Very busy. Took a field trip with my kids to a plantation. They were excited because they got to swim in the pool! I also continue preparations for the orphanage outreach. We are going back on Dec 14.

Please pray that Christ would be glorified in all of it and that the orphans would see the love of God through my kids.

Our internet is slow, again...so this is all I could get up this time. Enjoy.