Day 30

Bests: parent's night at the Foundation, having fun with the first graders today, bandeja paisa for lunch today at school, receiving Valentine's roses from Marv & Judy, and from two high school girl friends!

Worsts: exhaustion at the end of a long week, and some substantial ankle pain this evening.
__________________________________________

I have been so contentedly busy here as I near the halfway point of my time in Bogotá. Tuesday was spent at ECA (the school), working with the first graders as normal. The Elementary principal did pull me aside and ask if I would like to get some time in with the middle school classes, or even to observe high school, for some amplified experiences. Sounds like a great deal to me. I don't want to write off education just because elementary, particularly the batch of first graders we have, is not my full passion. So I'll let you know what I do with that in coming weeks. Also on Tuesday, we in first grade had a marvelous Valentine's day, and they all enjoyed the Tootsie Rolls my mom had sent from the States with my dad. :)

Wednesday, I went to the Foundation. In the morning I was translating a video testimony from Spanish to English...which was HARD! It involved much political history of Bogotá (which very much interests me, for some reason), and so I learned a lot. Not only that, but the way people blend words when they speak often makes for a puzzling time on the translating end for me. But, all the same, fun. :)
In the afternoon I helped three of the Foundation mothers to prepare the food for that evening--they were having a parent workshop (along the lines of how to do homework help), and also were expecting a youth mission team from Canada. So, after a fun afternoon helping dear N in the kitchen, I got to help be translator for the kids as we monitored them during the meeting. Then we all ate, and the team, the As and I  went to Cafe & Crepes (of Mr. A's brother) for dessert. Mmmm. Chocolate hazelnut crepes. YUM.

Thursday found me back at the school, helping with reading (it's so fun to watch them learn how phonics work), lunch, math, and other things. After school Thursday, I went to the house of the first grader I tutored that one week, whose family goes to the Puerta Abierta church--JV. Her father and I are preparing a skit for "Language Day", which is next week. It's centered upon hilarious intentional mistranslations of various VERY Colombian sayings. Should be a hit, I hope.

Friday...arrived at last. Haha. What an early morning! Plus, I did not sleep well last night, rather confused and pensive. I had been thinking about extending my time here in Bogotá, but soon found it to be less convenient for the other internship I am going to have in Chicago. So, I arrived to school this morning confused and tired still.
But God met me in the hallway--in the form of the school nurse.

Now, I have to pause here for a minute, and just state that of all the schools I've been in, I think the nurses are the most fantastic, supportive, wise, helpful, and generally maternal figures in the building. They have changed my life before; another one, SI, did it again today.

I told her how I hadn't slept well, and why, because I know her from church and school--in my book, well enough to share things with her when I know she is gifted in counsel and encouragement. So she just spoke straight to my heart about the uncertainties--of staying longer, of future major, future job, future spouse, future place of residence. All culminated with her sharing this Word with me:

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.

Encomienda a Jehová tu camino y confía en él, y él hará. Salmos 37:5

Bingo. That's it, Lord. And just like that, I found peace.
So, that's my second story this week of God speaking. I am learning to hear his voice, and TRULY love and yearn for it! It's lovely. Wonderful. He is our Wonderful Counselor, after all.

No matter when my return date to Colombia is, I know that I always have a welcoming community. The other teacher's aides put in good words for me, as did Miss W (first grade teacher). And besides, I don't have to live my whole life right now. Let's save some of the goodness for later, shall we? Something to look forward to whilst writing papers and such. :)

Tomorrow I travel to Pacho for a relaxing day-and-night at Diego's family's finca, or like ranch house. It will be lovely to see other parts of Colombia, however close it may be (2 hours drive). I'm ready for a road trip in the mountains! :D

xox