Vacation Time : )

We are officially on vacation from school for 2 weeks. Tonight Michelle, Norma and I will take the bus to PuertoVallarta. It's about an 8-9 hour drive, so please be praying for safe travels and that we get to the bus stop on time : ) After last weeks travel, this will feel like a breeze : ) 

Two of my friends arrived to the resort yesterday. My mom, 2 sisters and 5 more friends will arrive to the resort Sunday. I can't wait to see family and friends, have my family here meet some of my family and friends, relax and not have to cook, clean or listen to barking dogs : ) We will spend 5 nights together at the resort. Please pray this will be a refreshing time for all of us and for us to shine bright to those we are around at the resort.

What a week it has been! It's been a good week and my heart is full! I may be a little excited to head to the beach tonight. I woke up at 4 a.m. and couldn't back to sleep, so figured I would do a blog : ) I will probably need a nap later!

I got to zoom with two classes from WDC this week : ) Each week, our preschool class zooms with Mrs. Gallant's class, but this week our primary class got to zoom with Mrs. Morlock's class. Mrs. Gallant introduced us to a fun would you rather song and dance that we loved so much we did twice. The kids had to decide which animal they would rather see and then do the yoga move for that animal. We also had funny drawing a rabbit together. Check out some pictures below.

Our primary class practiced their English by saying My name is ____ for Mrs. Morlock's class. Then we listened to The Very Hungry Caterpillar in Spanish on you tube. We did a moving butterfly song with a yoga butterfly song. We ended our time together by watching a couple videos from when we went to see the butterflies in Mexico. Mrs. Morlock's class was signing and saying I love you at the end and I took a screen shot. I didn't realize I was in the photo, but my smile says it all : ) 

I am so thankful that we can zoom. I had students from both of these classes last year, so it's fun to see familiar faces. It's been so fun learning together. Our Mexico Missions Team zooms every Wednesday morning for a devotion and prayer time. I also zoom every Sunday afternoon with my family. Thank you Lord for technology, so we can learn and grow together as well as stay in touch with many people back home while I am here! 

Thanks for praying for me to make it through the week without Liz. We survived!  I may have used my s'mores maker as a little bribe for the primary and secondary class : ) If we got all our work done, we could enjoy s'mores on Thursday : ) The week went well. I am so appreciative for Liz and her translating. Not that I wasn't before, but having her gone this week, made me even more thankful. Thankfully google translate helped me this week. It just takes a little longer than it would with Liz.

We had a couple fun events this week and I wasn't entirely sure what was happening, but I have learned if I show up with no expectations and a good attitude, it makes it much better. Thank you Lord that I continue to adjust to the culture and not always knowing what is or will be happening. 

Monday, we had an Entrepreneur Fair. Last week, the kids painted pictures, made bracelets and little treasure boxes at school. Some of the kids also made projects and paintings/posters at home and brought them to school. Each classroom had a spot set up with their projects and had them for sale. The secondary class was making and selling cotton candy and the preschool class had popcorn and a couple other treats they sold. Families and friends could come in and buy items or snacks from the kids. Some of the kids were dressed as painters. Such a fun event that let the kids be creative and use skills of communication and math.  Check out pictures below.

Wednesday we had a robotics demonstration. Maestro Frank and the students shared with families the things that they have been learning and doing in robotics class. The kids love this class! The secondary class put together two lego models that they can power and move with batteries and a cell phone. This was the hit of the demonstration. Check out pictures below. 

Thursday, we had fun making and eating s'mores! The kids worked hard all week, so we had a little treat! I am so thankful for this gift that I have been able to share here in Mexico. Everyone has loved it!  Check out the pictures below.

Friday, we had a teacher meeting at school. We always start our meetings with prayer and taking time to read scripture. This is so good for our souls. I am thankful for this time we can grow closer to the Lord and learn together. 

Last night, they had a ceremony to dedicate the newly remodeled park to Floresta. Lots of people and lots of Spanish : ) This is the park that is right across the street from us. They basically tore it apart and put all new in. Be sure to check out pictures. Not sure if you remember, but I posted pictures of the original park when I first came here. The new park has lots of equipment for the kids to enjoy and even some exercise equipment. Now I can get so sit : ) 

I was able to chat with mom and dad last night for a bit, so that was good. We still talk two or three times a week. I was up at 5 a.m. yesterday and couldn't get back to sleep, so I went to bed early last night: ) Plus I had lots of Spanish at the meeting and the park, so my brain was tired. 

Today, I am going to clean a little bit and then probably relax. Hoping the day will go fast as I may be a little excited to leave tonight. Hoping I can sleep on the bus ride. I am hoping to get together with Liz as her birthday was yesterday, but she was on vacation, so I wasn't able to see her. 

I continue to be thankful for this opportunity here in Mexico. While I am very excited to return home in June it will be sad too. It will be a bittersweet day when I leave here. I continue to be amazed at the love, kindness and grace they show me here. 

Earlier this week as we were waiting for kids to get picked up I was playing thumb wars with one of the girls. She had the biggest smile on her face and the cutest giggles. Of course she beat me : ) I will post a video on my Mexico Missions Facebook Page. God continues to remind me how much simple things in life can make a difference. He also reminds me that I am having an impact here. Thank you Lord for those reminders! 

Thank you so much to those of you that donated to my trip before I came. I was able to donate some money to the school as they continue to struggle financially. I remember how fast donations came in and kept coming in up until the day I left. God knew then that the school would need money now, so thank you for being a part of God's work here in Mexico.

Thank you to those of you have donated to the campaign. You can still donate if you feel led. 

Thank you Lord for a great week of school with fun activities. 

Thank you that you continue to help me adjust to the culture and not always knowing what is or will be happening.

Thank you that my attitude has been good.

Thank you for your never ending love and the love of people here in Mexico and back home.

Thank you for the opportunity to get away, to see family and friends and for my family here to meet my family and friends.

Thank you for little reminders about life and that I am making a difference.

Please be praying for safe bus travels as well as flight travels for family and friends. 

Pray that we get to the bus stop on time and we are able to sleep on the bus.

Pray for safety and an enjoyable time away. 

Continued prayers for the school-financially and construction building.

Continued prayers to finish strong and be open to whatever God has planned for these last few months in Mexico.

Enjoy some photos from the last week : ) 

Mrs. Morlock's class signing and saying I love you                                                                                         as we said good bye. Filled my heart up : ) 

Listening to The Very Hungry Caterpillar in                                                                                                     Spanish. Very small picture of our classes in the                                                                                             the corner

Doing butterfly actions

Butterfly yoga

More butterfly actions

The fun would you rather song and dance with Mrs                             Gallant's class

Another shot of the fun

Our class loved it

Rabbit drawing. The kids were great listeners

Our rabbit drawings 

Couple more rabbit drawings

I made this for Liz as her birthday was on Friday

Primary class with the projects to sell for the                                             Entrepreneur Fair

Preschoolers giving pastor his treat he bought

Next few pictures are of the kids waiting to get set             up

Next few photos are close ups of the projects and                                                                                         paintings. Many things were made out of recycled                                         items. Very creative!

Next photos are of secondary class preparing their                             cotton candy

Another group shot of primary class

Preschools with Raquel

Secondary class

Entrepreneur Fair

Cute little popcorn seller. He was walking around with this

Customers

Sweet treat

Waiting for customers

Yummy treat

Enjoying cotton candy

Selling treasure boxes preschoolers made

Preparing treats for their customers

A mini orange with chili powder : ) 

Selling their goods

Delicious Treat

Proud Artist

These kids love to play tag at recess. They all                                                                                                 crammed into this little house thinking I wouldn't                                             be able to tag them : ) 

The little house they crammed into : ) 

Maestro Frank welcoming students and families to                                                     the Robotics Demonstration

The secondary and primary students sharing with                         families

Showing the families one of the activities they do                                     in robotics class

Dani is in heaven as he got to demonstrate on the                         computer

Primary students with Maestro Frank

Lego kits the secondary class put together

Cute decorations

Just some fun at recess

Next photos are of primary class, staff and                                                                                         secondary class enjoying the s'mores maker

Demonstration of work out class in the newly                                         remodeled park

Many people listening to the mayor of Floresta                                                                             share at the park dedication ceremony

Next few photos are of the newly remodeled park

Norma sharing about the park : )