Everything is an adventure...even bowling:)

This is the story of how, what should have been, a regular group outing to Indo food and pool became a night full of spicy food, Southwestern souvenirs, crazy traffic, drive-by serenades, near death experiences, and bowling.
Aaron, Emily, Jennie, Lindsey and I had originally planned to go to out to dinner at an Indonesian restaurant and then play pool afterward. Little did we know what the night would hold. Dinner was successful, spicy, but successful. We left the restaurant to head up the hill to a possible place to play pool. When we walked into the food court/mall, I got a little taste of home. Right there at the entrance was a collection of Southwestern Souvenirs for sale. Good heavens, you would have thought you had walked into the Trading Post on your way to the Grand Canyon:) I have never been more tempted to buy a canteen in my life:)
When we walked up the stairs to where a game of pool should have been waiting for us, we were reminded that during the month of Ramadan any place or activity that promotes things like drinking and smoking is closed down. We then attempted at plan B--finding another pool place...plan C finding another pool place...plan D sit in the middle of the road for ten minutes and try to think of something to do on a Saturday night. Finally, we decided on Plan E: go bowling downtown! We ventured out in search of the bowling place that turned out to be a mall near downtown. The combination of the insane traffic and attempting to follow the fearless leader of the pack made for quite a perilous journey. Lindsey and I were nearly hit by a car two or three times. While stopped at a light, we were serenaded by a group of college students asking for money. Now, when you are in a car you can roll up the window, lock the doors, but when you are on a bike, it is rather awkward. How does one react? All Lindsey or I could do was laugh:) We safely reached the mall, and headed up the stairs attempting to follow the signs to the bowling place. After three flights of stairs, we entered a narrow corridor resembling the setting of a horror movie. We finally came to a door with the sign for the bowling alley, but ended up entering through a side entrance. What a sight--five white people all of the sudden appear through the back door of the bowling alley, so much for being subtle:) As if we hadn't stuck out already, we ended up having to borrow socks from the bowling alley to wear with our bowling shoes. These weren't plain white socks, no, no, no, these were red and pink socks. The game of bowling was successful, as usual I had my spurts of athletic ability getting two or three strikes, but ended up with the fewest points. It turned out to be a really fun night, full of laughter, a couple near death experiences, and really great material for my blog. I am realizing that everything here is an adventure, especially when you least expect it:)

Welcome to Reality...

It has been a rather long week and a half, hence the lack of a post lately:) I guess you could say that the honeymoon phase of my adventure has worn off for the moment, and I am starting to slip into a routine here in the tropics. As my responsibilities grow, so does the stress level, but I am working on taking it day by day. For the past two weeks I have been teaching math to our 14 perfectionist fifth graders. My lessons have been going really well! I also got to create the final project for the Maps and Lakes of the World Unit. The students had to discover a new make believe country, and then create an expandable map that includes a map, a list and description of the resources and features of the country, a description of the people and why I should visit their country. They turned out really well, these kids are extremely creative! I am getting more comfortable in the classroom, the students are getting used to having two teachers in the class and I am learning so much. This week our Yearlong Plans were due, along with the revised copy of our "Parent Friendly Curriculum," and report card templates. The elementary teachers have been working hard to create "Parent Friendly Curriculum" to post on the school's website, we also are redoing the report cards to make them more elementary grade friendly. So basically the past couple of weeks have been full of curriculum. It has been a long process, but I have learned a lot about standards, benchmarks, learning expectations and measurable objectives--the nitty gritty stuff that teachers do behind the scenes:) We got it all done though, turns out that Charity and I make a pretty amazing team!!
I haven't had much adventure lately, but I did take my first Ojeg on Wednesday. An Ojeg is the motorbike taxi, yes, Molly rode on a bike with a stranger and survived. Last night we went to the boys soccer game and then to a Chinese restaurant where you can order the all you can eat and order everything on the menu if you want. The catch though, is that if you don't finish all the food, then you have to pay the individual price of the dishes you order. It was really good food, and don't worry we were able to polish off everything:) After dinner we headed up to the indoor ice rink, where I decided that the Indonesian onlookers were not ready to see Molly Evans ice skate. I guess I haven't fully recovered from the fall (and embarrassment) of 2003...Alli, I think you were the only one who was there for that:) Anyways, Becky, Melinda, Tobin and I went to shop and get coffee instead.
Today, I have been working in the classroom trying to get the Social Studies projects graded and my lesson plans written for next week. I have been really productive and my introverted side has had a chance to recharge:) Next week we get to go on our first field trip to a lake about 2 and 1/2 hours away. It should be interesting:)

Little Bit of Poetry and Some Lessons Learned

This week during literacy centers, Charity had me run the center on poetry. We went over shape poems, haikus and limericks. I never realized before how fun limericks are. As a small group we wrote a limerick together. Here are two examples:

Billy the Buffalo lives on a boat.

His best friend in the world is Chunky the goat.

They eat spam from a can,

and drink hot spicy jam

That burns as it goes down their throat.

Eating fried chicken makes Frederick quite happy.

Although after a meal he behaves rather slappy.

Dancing around

and making strange sounds,

His performance deserves a loud round of clappy.

I had so much fun writing these with the students. They are so creative!

This week is Spiritual Emphasis Week. We have chapel everyday with special speakers that have traveled here from the states. The elementary kids are learning about "Building a Foundation of Faith." I am loving it, our speaker, Karen has been talking about how a strong foundation consists only of Jesus Christ and nothing else. She read this amazing book today called Sydney and Norman. It is about two pigs. Norman is one of those perfect pigs that always looks put together, is on time to work and has always done well in everything. Sydney on the other hand is a mess. His house is a mess, his clothes are a mess, and he can never seem to do anything right. One day both pigs get a note from God asking to meet with them. Norman is certain that God is going to tell him how wonderful he is, and Sydney is just sure that God is going to tell him how disappointed he is in him for missing the mark again. Norman walks into his appointment with God, and God says "There are three things I want to tell you: 1. I love you. 2. You are not a great as you think you are. and 3. Your pride makes others feel bad about themselves." Norman is totally in shock, he doesn't expect God to tell him that and walks home with a heavy heart. Sydney comes into his appointment fifteen minutes late with his shirt hanging out and a hole in his pants. Sydney cringes as God smiles and says "Sydney, I have three things to tell you: 1. I love you. 2. I love you. 3. I love you." Sydney can't believe that God would love him despite all of his imperfections. Sydney wakes up the next morning a little more content, and Norman wakes up a little more humble. By the end of the story, I was in tears. Isn't it cool though, when God uses something like a children's book to soflty remind your heart of his love, mercy and grace?

God has shown me so much in the last week. I am in the midst of some anxiety with the increase in my responsibilities fast approaching. This week I took over math, in a couple weeks I will take over Bible and Language Arts, and in about four weeks I will have full control of the classroom for six weeks. Yesterday, as Charity and I were mapping all this out, I nearly fell out of my chair. Although I was on the verge of a breakdown, I had to remind myself of Deuteronomy 31:8 "The LORD himself goes before you, he will not leave nor forsake you. Do not be discouraged, do not be afraid." I have to constantly remind myself to take it day by day. A month ago, I was terrified thinking about taking over just one subject but he has gone before me this week and math has gone really well. I have a choice to make when it comes to worrying, I can choose to be hard on myself and wallow in anxiety, or I can choose to rely on God for the strength and ability to teach. In the last two weeks I have been convinced that not only is teaching a ministry, but it is the ministry and the purpose to which I have been called. If this is the purpose to which I am called, then that means God's going to do his work through me, which means that I have nothing to worry about. In my weakness and feelings of inadequacy he gives me strength and ultimately, it is him who receives all of the glory, not me.
Please be praying for all the staff at BAIS though, as Ramadan is fast approaching and can be a really dark time spiritually.