On to 4th grade!

It must be a sign that I love my job when the first day rolls around and I get all giddy! My third graders are now 4th graders and loving them as much as I do I moved up with them! Taking their role seriously they have shot up a foot over the summer and are amazing me with how much they have grown maturity-wise too. That's not to say we don't have our silly days still. We have one new student and two on furlough who will join us as the year goes on. Alright school year....we are ready to take you on!

Where has all the summer gone???

What a crazy, full summer!  I planned on updating the blog frequently…then I blinked and it was August!  Our vacation was more of a working vacation.  But even being busy we managed to squeeze in some fun family time. 

We hit the ground running in June by helping host a short-term team that consisted of team members from Mike’s mom and brother’s home churches.  Emmanuel Baptist from Parkersburg, WV and Mt. Moriah Baptist from Smithfield, PA did an INCREDIBLE job helping to install playground equipment and spruce up the Orchard Children’s Home in nearby San Jose.  The Orchard is run by Kids Alive International.  MK’s from Kids Alive attend our school and we were able to connect our friends from the states to this work.  It was an amazing, blessed time getting to reconnect with friends from the states and watch their interactions with the great bunch of kids that live at the Orchard.

Mike’s mom and brother were able to stay after the team left and his dad came and joined them so we were able to spend a special week with them introducing his dad to the wonders of Peru.

The entire month of July Mike, Marcy and another SAM teacher, along with his two teenage sons worked on our Spanish learning with a local professor.  It was definitely a challenge but a great learning opportunity.  Our teacher Ernesto was very patient! 

 In the afternoons we began work around the school, remodeling and cleaning out classrooms.  So much was done this summer!  Mike’s science lab was completely revamped and overhauled with new walls, paint, tables and a huge clean-out.  Several other classrooms had walls put in to replace the rough wood and new coats of paint to brighten the place up.  The library received the biggest transformation.  Much of July was spend sorting and organizing books, moving shelves, updating technology and giving the place a new look.  While there is still some minor decorating touch ups to do the library is more usable and kid-friendly now. 

Towards the end of July, we received a wonderful blessing from a short term team with IMB. The team contained three teachers and one of the ladies led a professional development workshop for all of the SAM Academy teachers with some really great stuff!  She also led us in a writer’s workshop which I know has helped revamp how several of us will be teaching writing this year.  The training was very inspiring and refreshing.

Our final days in July we took a quick trip to Lima so that Mike could take his drivers’ exam.  He is now officially licensed in Peru…yay!!!  The funny thing was that same week our car broke down so he couldn’t drive..haha.  But its up and working now so we are back on the road!  Since Mike passed the first day we were able to catch our breath and relax a little.  Mostly we just hung out in some of Lima’s parks.  We especially enjoyed La Parque de las Reservas.  The waterfalls there were amazing!

So now we are in August and school starts tomorrow!!!  I am so thankful for the ways the Lord blessed our summer.  Sorry this has been more of a newsletter than a blog…I’ll try to do better.  What’s that Yoda says?  “There is no try...only do, or do not.”  Working on it!