Evening of Thanks

This Friday evening we had a Thanksgiving program at the school. Each class had a special to time to perform. My first and second graders have spent a little over a month learning about the Pilgrims and their journey to the new land. We made a special portfolio project with everything we learned.

On Friday, my students held their portfolios while they shared their favorite part that we learned. Then they sang the Pilgrim Song. They were adorable. Each of them had a solo and they did such a wonderful job. I couldn't resist taking a video of  it and sharing it with you guys.

God has me HERE

As many of you know, my grandfather, Billy McCarty passed away this week. He has been ill for a very long time, and we know that he is with God now. However, as humans, his surviving family (wife, kids, grand-kids and great grand-kids) still miss him.

It has been hard being so far from my family during this time. I would give anything to be able to be there to hug my grandma and comfort her during this time.

However, God has made it very clear to me through this difficult time that I am where I am supposed to be. Although this knowledge does not take away all of the pain, it does bring me comfort in the fact that God has me where he wants me. I am doing what I am supposed to be doing.

I thank God for the man my grandfather was. He loved his family and his country and was confident in his Savior. I am grateful for the christian heritage that he passed down to our family.

On a much lighter note:

Aren't they just the cutest?!?

For our Bible verses at school the 1st and 2nd graders have been memorizing Psalms 34. The writer of Psalms 34:4 tells us about how he called for God and how God delivered him from all of his fears. My little first grade boy came to school on Monday and told me that he sometimes has bad dreams and wakes up and calls for his mom. However, he told me that Sunday night instead of calling for his mom, he remembered the verse about being delivered from our fears. He prayed to God instead and went back to sleep.

How cool is that!! My little first grader seeing God working in his life. I love that I have the opportunity to teach these children about God.

Thank you guys for your prayers!

Exciting Bus Rides

So last week I went to lunch with a friend. We decided to go to a restaurant that would be to far to walk to. So we caught a bus. On the way back from the restaurant, I see this lady holding this gray container. She keeps poking at something inside of the container. Every time she pokes at it; whatever it was would jump. So I am just watching her do this over and over.

All of the sudden whatever this thing was jumps out of the container and hit the lady on the shoulder then fell to the ground out of sight. The lady screamed and her boyfriend gave her a dirty look for making a scene. Then a man and his son started looking on the floor for the mysterious thing. The man found it and held up a live grub worm to give back to the couple.

It is very common to eat grub worms here. They bring them home live and then fry them up. From what I understand they cook them like frog legs. To say the least, riding on the bus in Ecuador is always an adventure, you never know what you might see. You should come and visit just so you can take a bus ride.... well actually there are much better reasons to come and visit but you get the picture.

Grub Worms- 

Ecuador... I am finally here!!

I know that it has been a long time since my last update. Sorry for the delay. For a while I did not have access to reliable internet and then school started so....

Well, here we are after 3 1/2 years of raising support and language school, I am finally here in Ecuador. It has been a big transition but I am loving it here.

In the last month I have:

1. Finished Language School
2. Moved Continents
3. Furnished a house
4. Moved into my house
5. Learned to use a gas stove- I still don't know how to work the oven (I don't know how to light it with a match)
6. Setup my classroom
7. Started School
8. Gotten a parasite
and much much more!

Yes, that's right. On the first day of school, I woke up with a fever. I got a parasite. (Very common here in Shell. I just had to get some medicine for it from the hospital. However, I felt very crummy for a few days )

However, I love my little class. The kids are wonderful. They are so excited about school and even begging for homework (I have 1st and 2nd graders- they will change their opinion soon)

Below I added some pictures of my classroom and my house. Enjoy!

The front of my house.

The Kitchen and the oven I don't know how to operate

The patio, backyard and grill

The passion fruit plant on my back porch

The pineapple that is growing outside my bedroom window

The 1st and 2nd grade classroom at the Nate Saint Memorial School

Math Calendar Board

Classroom Computer and Cubbie Holes

Word Wall and all of the animals painted on the walls. It's a jungle in there!

Test Results- End of Language School

I mentioned on the last blog that I had 2 big tests coming up soon. Well, the first one was last Friday, and was a 30-minute oral exam. You can't really prepare for the test, because you just have a conversation with a teacher.In order to pass the oral test, I needed to achieve an 'advance' rating on my speaking abilities. (A teacher told a friend of mine that an 'advanced' level is when a Spanish speaker who has never talked to a gringo (English Speaker) before can walk up to me and hold a conversation, and I can understand and make myself understood.) Considering that I came to Costa Rica to study Spanish only 10 months ago, and that I knew absolutely no Spanish at the time, getting an advanced rating would be pretty huge.

The second test was last Tuesday, and was a comprehensive, 3 hour, 300 point written exam. It covered everything: present tense, past tense, future tense, subjunctives, parifrases, comparatives, quoting people... everything! In order to pass the written test, I need at least a 70% as a final score. Most students take both exams after their third semester at the school, but since I am leaving  this coming Monday, I decided to take them now. 

Well, thank you for all the prayers and encouraging notes. I did pass both tests so now I can focus on getting ready for the start of the school year in Shell, Ecuador!

The End of Some Times and The Beginning of Some Times

So its that time again. Time to start packing and looking forward to getting settled in a new place! That's right. I leave Costa Rica on Monday, August 6. I am very excited about this next step, but I am sure going to   miss my life here in Costa Rica as well.

Coming up this week: Exams Exams Exams... I will be taking the Final Exams for the Language School. On Friday, July 27 I will be taking the Oral Exam and the following Tuesday, July 31 I will be taking the 3 hour long Grammar test.

School starts August 23. I will be teaching 1st and 2nd grade this year, and I am beyond excited. So far, I will have 2 first graders and 2 second graders. I have been having fun thinking and planning for the new school year.

Below are some pictures of my apartment and the school. I don't have pictures of my actual classroom yet but you will get the idea below. :) These pictures are of the kindergarten classroom a few years ago.

The Front View of My House

The Patio

*Summer* In Costa Rica

The last two months have been packed but wonderful. I have said good bye to friends and hello to many new friends. I have definitely learned more Spanish. I have traveled to Panama, and all around enjoyed the many friendships that I have made here in Costa Rica. Although technically it is summertime, it doesn't seem much different to me, except for the fact that May is the start of rainy season here. I am still in school everyday and except for the rain the climate didn't change much.

We had a week break in between semesters. I ended up not going out of town, and just used the extra time to study and and catch up on some sleep. However, one day some friends and I set out to find the oldest Catholic church here in Costa Rica. After 2 buses and over 3 hours being lost in downtown trying to find the correct bus stop we made it to the church. And would you believe it, after all of that we didn't even go inside the church!

Church in Coronado, Costa Rica

This year the Spanish Language Institute celebrates its 70th anniversary! The school first started out in Columbia but moved to Costa Rica later on. It has been a wonderful time of learning and growth for hundreds of missionaries to Latin America.We had a grand party. Here is a short video of the band that came and surprised all of us. As you can see the children enjoyed dancing with characters. The only mishap is the band brought a devil like character with them. He was not so exciting.

70th aniversary movie from Jennifer Kendrick on Vimeo.

I have gone to 2 concerts with my Tica sister Mariela. I have really enjoyed getting to know her better. She is very patient with me! The concert is in Spanish of course. The first concert I did not understand anything. So for the next concert I printed out the lyrics to the songs and read the songs as they played them. That helped a ton.

Mariela and I at the concert

Crazy Busy Times!

Sorry that it has been so long since I have posted! I just realized that it has been over a month. Here is a short overview of some of the things that have been going on.

At the end of March, I had to leave the country to renew my visa. So we went to San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua. It was a nice little beach town. Everyone had fun and it was a relaxing time.

The beach in Nicaragua was beautiful!

The church that I attend "Calvary Chapel San Pedro" had a youth gathering after school. They invited all of the students in middle school and high school in the area to come to the skating rink after school. We gave out snacks and the kids had fun skating. One of the teenagers shared his testimony, the pastor shared the Gospel and they showed a scene from Facing the Giants in Spanish.

Lisamarie and I

Today, we had a going away party at the Saturday Ministry with the kids. Chelsea, who has been studying since last April and has worked with the ministry the whole time, will be leaving in a week and a half. We had 65 children. We sang songs and played games and ate cake and donuts and orange soda. Talk about sugar hyper children.

Pile of children all around Chelsea!

The older kids had a cake fight. The only problem is that the colored icing stains

Chelsea with two of our regular kids!

The first few weeks that this little girl came, we couldn't get her  look at us, let alone get
 her to participate or  smile. Look at how far we have come!

¡Feliz Cumpleaños!

 Last week I had my first birthday out of the country. I had a wonderful 26th birthday weekend!

On Friday night friends from school and I had dinner downtown at an Italian restaurant. On Saturday, I visited the Feria with Lisamarie. On Saturday, Emy and Carlos, my Tica parents, threw me a birthday party. We had pizza and cake and icecream. 

Cafe Mundo in downtown San Jose.

Sara, Chelsea, Lisamarie and I

Friends from language school: Suni, Edward, Laura and Mark.

On Saturday, I went to the Feria with Lisamarie.
I bought cucumbers and onions for Emy, my  Tica Mom.

Paying for the onions.

Now I have my onions and the best fresh squeezed orange juice! (in the cup)

Chelsea and Lisamarie at the party.

Hello Kitty Birthday Cake!

Emy, Marreala, and Karla: My Tica mom and sisters.

Blessing In Disguise

I was thinking the other day about being here in Costa Rica, and thinking about what a fulfillment of a dream this is. But then I stopped. Really MY dream was completely different than this.

 I was reminded of the country song that talks about thanking God for unanswered prayers. Now I believe that God always answers my prayers. The answer might be "no" or completely different from what I thought it should be, but God answers my prayers. However, the premise of the song is that what the guy prayed for would not have been the best thing for him. He thanks God for what did happen because he realizes that God knows best.

How true this is in my life. When I was seven I knew that I was going to be a missionary. My dream was that I would get married and move with my husband and kids to Africa. I knew that I wanted to study education in college so that I could home-school my children.

I know that if God had called me to Africa and to home-school my kids, I would enjoy that as well. However, I would not trade what I am doing for anything. I love speaking Spanish (although it is a lot of work), I love the school that I will be teaching at in Ecuador.

Even after I knew that I was going to Ecuador to teach school (and that I was not married with kids), there were plans and dreams that I had that were not in the plans of God. I was dead set against going to Costa Rica to learn Spanish. I wanted to go straight to Ecuador and learn Spanish for a semester in the capital. I can't imagine not being in Costa Rica right now. This time has been such a blessing and I would not change it for the world.

 This reminded me to check my current hopes and dreams. Am I holding on too tight to something that is not in His perfect will for my life. I am fighting something that could be just what I need. I thank God that He knows what is best for me, even when MY dream is something completely different.

Life of a Student in Language School

I am getting into the swing of things here in school. I really like my teachers and my classes. I have a lot of homework at night, but all of it is helping me learn the language. I mostly do homework and normal life here in the afternoons. However, some nights I get to babysit children so that the parents can have a break. (I love these nights) On Tuesday afternoons, I visit a local orphanage so that I can play with the children and show them love. Usually the single adults do something interesting on Friday nights. (This might be just going to the mall to eat at the food court - Subway here I come) On Saturday afternoons, I join other students and go to a small neighborhood and work with very poor children. Sundays we take a bus to a neighboring town and attend a Spanish church. In the afternoons, we attend a English Bible study lead by some of the men students from the school. Although there is not anything really exciting happening, I really enjoy my days.

I included a very short video of me talking with a girl named Nicol that I met on Saturday afternoon. (She spells her name NICOL without the "e")

Transcript:
What is your name?  Nicol
My name is Jennifer. Nice to meet you Nicol.
How old are you? 9 years old
O how big!
Do you have any brothers or sisters?  Yes
How many? 5 brothers
Really? no I am just kidding I have four brothers
What are their names? Anderson, Tayler and Meychal
Talking to Baleria - Good Job! How Pretty!
Thanks Nicol

You are not late; Only the time is late

I thought that this was an interesting thing about the Spanish Language. As we were learning about how to say the time correctly in Spanish, the teacher explained that people can not be late. Only time can be late. People can be in a hurry because the time is late or because you woke up late, but it is not correct to say: Kathryn is late today. So next time you are in a hurry, relax. You are not late only the time is late.

On Saturdays, a friend of mine named Chelsea, helps at a ministry in a poor city in San Jose. This town is mostly gang members and their family. Most of the houses are squatter houses. Meaning they build their houses out of material like tin and scrap metal. The ministry has two Bible studies for the children in the neighborhood.. There is a older children Bible study (the children can read and write) and a younger children Bible study  (they are not able to read or write). For the last two weeks I have had the opportunity to join her and work with the younger children. I have a lot of fun and it is also a great way to practice my Spanish. Little children are usually very patient with people that are learning the language. Here are some pictures of my time there. You will notice in the pictures the different ages of the children. The "older children" in the group are there because they are still not able to read or write at a level that would allow them to participate in the other class.

The little boy in the red shirt is named Wayner. It took me 6 times to understand  his name
and I still could not spell it correctly until someone wrote it out for me.

Nicole is definitely meant to be a leader! She is very sweet and loves to
hug the teachers constantly.

Mark is a student with me at the Language School.
The children were enjoying putting crayons in his beard.

Coloring with the children!

The lady holding the little boy in the back of the picture is the owner of
this house. The ministry is working with her to improve her house so that the rats can not
get under her floor boards and the roof will not leak. It is coming along little by little.

As I was taking pictures, Jeffery asked to take a picture with me. He still was not so
sure that he wanted  to  stand to close me.

Grown men playing jump rope with kids. It's a beautiful thing.

The neighborhood where the children live.

A Photo Is Worth A Thousand Words

So since a photo is worth a thousand words, I thought this blog I would show a lot of pictures instead of a lot of words :) To catch you up, I am back in Costa Rica learning Spanish. I started class on January 10 and it is going very well so far. Enjoy the pictures!

My new friend Chelsea and I on our way to the small supermarket

This is the bus that I take to get downtown and it also goes right by my house

My friend Lisamarie, Chelsea, and I at the park

My friend Sara and I at the park. This is a park by the school where I do all of my studying

This is the view of the mountains from my house

This is the guard and the guard house across the street from my house

Doing homework at the park!

Hard at work!

If I need a break from studying, I can watch the watch the boys falling off their skateboards

Traffic on the way to the small supermarket

Jumbo - the small supermarket