A Baptism and Half Term

Hello All,

 This week has been quite busy. I meant to email on Thursday on my afternoon off but I ended up being busy all day. Last weekend Miss W and her girls, the Rs, and I went to see Joel and Kaleigh Griffin at Kalene where they were taking vacation time from Angola. It was so nice to see them and to see the Rs in a more relaxed situation. Mr. R is the headmaster and also the grade one teacher for this year.

 The Rs are actually leaving next week to settle their oldest into university in Saskatchewan. I have been observing Mr. R with the grade ones and slowly taking over classes. On Monday, I will completely take over the classes. I will have circle time, centers, Math, Spelling, Language, Phonics. Mrs. R was doing the handcrafts for the grade 3/4 boys on Saturday mornings. I will take it starting this week.

 This weekend was half term. The kids and teachers get a couple days off school and spend all day down by the pool and river. We had school Thursday but then they started the swimming Thursday afternoon. They have a half term movie the kids all watch together. This time it was Monsters Inc. It is so fun to watch a movie with the kids and see and hear their reactions. One girl in particular has a very infectious laughter. I was on pool supervision Saturday afternoon and Friday morning. I was able to even out my burn over the weekend. I was on one side of the pool all morning so was only really red on my left side. I was on the other side on Saturday. I have a particularly bad spot on my neck. My clothes keep rubbing against it.

 Last Sunday I had the privilege of witnessing four of the senior girls obey the Lord in baptism. I have known them since grade 2 and 3. They are in grade 8 and 9 now. I am so happy to see them going on for God.

And so it starts again

Hello all, I am happy to say I have arrived safe and sound at Sakeji school in Zambia. I had a good trip. From Dubai to Lusaka there was a bit of a delay because of an issue with one of the passengers, but once resolved, the flight went smoothly. The first night in Zambia I stayed at the flight house which is a private guest house for missionaries. I was so tired from my trip I easily slept straight for nine hours. I flew to Sakeji on a private flight Since the plane was smaller, the ride was more bumpy. I almost needed an air sick bag, but I was able to make it through. I was greeted by many of the teachers and many greetings that were long over due. I have missed being here immensely! I had a few surprise greeters as well. Joel (my cousin), his wife Kaleigh, and their three little girls are here in Zambia for a little visit. They are currently missionaries in Angola. It was so nice to see them on this side of the world. I didn't think I was going to be able to. They have gone to a little getaway at Kalene, but I will see them again on the weekend before they head back to Angola.. Since I have been here before I know most of the students in grades 5-9. I don't necessarily recognize all of them because it has been nearly four years since the last time I was here. They have done a lot of growing up! I am slowly learning the younger students' names. I believe their are 83 students in total so it is nice to know half of the names already. Please pray that I will be able to adjust back into the routine of things soon. I woke up at 2am this morning and could not get back to sleep until 5:30. Then my alarm went off at 6:30 to get ready for breakfast. Hopefully, I will be tired enough to sleep through the night and get over my jet leg. I will be taking of the grade one classes the headmaster, Mr. R, has been taking. Please pray the adjustment between teachers go well. Also pray that I will be a good teacher and that the students will be attentive and ready to learn. They are a very energetic bunch, and I am excited to be their teacher this term. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers, Yolanda

<div style="clear:both"><a href="http://snapknot.com"><img src="http://snapknot.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cameraday_quote.jpg" title="SnapKnot" alt="SnapKnot" border="0" /></a></div><div>Courtesy of: <a href="http://snapknot.com">SnapKnot</a></div>

Oral Exam Today!!

This is my two minute speech for my oral exam today. Estoy nerviosa!

Hola! Mi nombre es Yolanda. Ahora mismo vivo en Windsor. Yo soy de Hamilton. Mi gustan los ninos. Ensene en una escuela en Zambia el ano pasado. Ensene tercer grado. Tambien trabaje con todos los grados. Durante las vacaciones los ninos nadaron en la piscina y jugaron al lado del rio. Ellos comieron fuera. La escuela tiene tres semestres. Los ninos van a casa por un mes entre los semestres. Nosotros desayunamos a las siete de la manana.  Nosotros comemos bizcochos de arroz y panes tostados para desayuno todos los dias. Todos los domingos nosotros comemos los cereales tambien.  Los ninos tienen que esperar hasta las siete y veinte antes de ellos se levantan de la mesa.  Nosotros comemos pan de maiz y frijoles marrones todos los sabados. Mi comida favorita alla son las bananas pequenas. Yo fui alla por siete meses. No fue tiempo suficiente. Yo deseo volver a Zambia despues de terminar la universidad.

Hello my name is Yolanda. Right now I live in Windsor. I am from Hamilton. I like kids. I taught in a school in Zambia last year. I taught third grade. I also worked with all of the grades. During half term the kids swam in the pool and played beside the river. The ate outside.  The school has three semesters. The kids go home for a month in between semesters.  We eat breakfast at 7 in the morning. We eat rice cakes and toast for breakfast every day. Every Sunday we eat cereal also.  The kids have to wait until 7:20 before they get up from the table. We eat cornbread and brown beans every Saturday. My favorite food there are the small bananas. I was there for 7 months. The time was not sufficient. I wish to return to Zambia after I finish university.

Lo que un salvador!

Hola!

Yo voy a utilizar el blog para practicar mi español. Yo aprendo español a la universidad.  Yo creo deber practicar mas.

Hace frío afuera.  Octubre está muy nublado.  Está lloviendo ligeramente.

Yo voy al centro para la iglesia. Nosotros recordamos Cristo en la mañana.  Gracias Dios. Tú muestras tu amor.  Yo empiezo a entender por qué me quieres. Haces me tuyo por tu sacrificio. Aleluya, lo que un salvador!

Hola mis amigos!

Hola mis amigos!!

Yes it's been awhile! Since my time in Zambia I have well adjusted back to Canadian life.  It was awesome to see my family again! I spent some time in New York before heading home for Christmas...but that's all old news! 

I am now I proud university student working on my general Bach. of Arts.  I have started my first year with an undeclared major, so I am taking a random courses to figure out what I want to do.  I know WHAT I want to do, become a school teacher, but I have to figure out HOW I'm going to get there! So, this semester I am taking the all important, Foundations of Academic Writing (FAW), Understanding the Contemporary World (so far, basically art history), and Intensive Spanish (hence the introduction /\).  Being a student again is kind of like learning how to ride a bike again, you never really forget. I'm just a little rusty. :p My study habits need to be tuned and writing skills need practice. 

I'm really enjoying Spanish. I can't say I'm getting the marks I wanted, but I've only had one test. Hopefully, I can learn from my mistakes!

With all the words and grammar we have learned this is the introduction I put together yesterday for class:

Me llamo Yolanda. Soy rubia, alta, y joven. Estudio en a la Universidad. Soy canadiense. Me gusta dibujar y pintar.  Yo vivo en Windsor con mis abuelos, mis primos, y mi Hermana.  Fui Chicago en el fin de semana.  Deseo ser profesora de colegio.

I apologize if there are any grammatical errors, and please correct me if I do!

I may not me at Sakeji any more, but it's still "A Wonderful Life"! God is good! I have been enjoying this verse lately, "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God." Psalm 42:11

I went to highlight the good parts and realized I didn't know which parts to pick! It's all so relevant to me right now! I thank God for His constant presence and love!

November Update

Dear friends and family,

I bet it’s getting colder and colder at home now.  It’ll be interesting coming home and dropping 30 degrees!  This cold that I have right now could last a little longer with a temperature change.

Everything is going smoothly here at Sakeji.  We are finishing up the term next Wednesday.  The parents are coming starting in the morning.  In the evening the kids will perform their Christmas show for their parents.  It’s all starting to come together.  The kids will have 2 or 3 full rehearsals on Monday and Tuesday. 

Everyone, including myself, is very happy to be done with report cards.  They’re all due by today, so Mr. Ronald can have one  more look over before they are printed and ready for Wednesday.   I only had to write comments for two classes, so my load is considerably less than the other teachers.  I have learned so much from my time here.  I am excited to pursue my education next year.  It’ll be weird going back to school and being a student again.

Right now the kids are going through the Sakeji triathlon.  All of the students and staff have finished the bike part, with a few broken chains, and the last of the students just ran by my house.  Next the team has 50 laps in the pool.  I am very proud of the students and staff members who are going through the race. 

I leave Sakeji on Thursday morning with Jessica Russell.  We’re heading to Lusaka.  Her plane leaves on the 8^th.  Hannah is driving down so she will meet me in Lusaka around the 8^th or 9^th.  This is the best time for Jessica and I to fly because the other kids who are flying home are going on that day.  I’ll miss the kids so much, but I know God has a great plan in mind for me.  “For I know the thoughts that I think towards you saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”  Jeremiah 29:11. It’s so cool that God knows my future.  He’s in charge!

Well, the next time I send an update I’ll either be in Lusaka or home.  God has been so good to me for the past 7 months.  Please continue to pray for the students as they return home.  Pray for the students who are leaving Sakeji for higher grades.  Pray that they will be a testimony and remember what they have learned here.  Also, pray that the students who are going home for the break will be good testimonies for God.  Most of all, pray for their salvation! 

God bless!

Yolanda