Birthday Party at the Cafe

Feliz Cumpleanos Jesus and Mili! 

(L-R: Mani, Mili, Jesus, Luisa, Tadeo)

Lighting the candles...

Mordita for Mili

Group picture

My two students, Jesus, and Luisa, and I

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Jesus, Mani, Luisa, and I.

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We managed to inflate the "super balloon." The kids had fun running around with it.

I think this is the best picture ever of Tadeo and I. I'm glad he got to go along and enjoy the festivities.

So that was the party last Friday at the cafe. Jackie and I braved the crowded town (because of the October fiestas) and the kids each got a smoothie, we played with the super balloon, Mili and Jesus had their penguino cakes, we opened gifts and then headed back to school. 

Please pray for Magdalena. This prayer request is a little outdated, as last weekend was the actual holiday of San Fransisco Javier, our city's saint, but the town is still teaming with people. Every October for several weeks people come to celebrate. Some people come walking from Nogales or other towns to pay vows that they have made. Please pray that God's light, truth, and power would shine into the hearts of the people here in Magdalena and also all those who come to celebrate. Pray that they can know God's love and salvation by grace.

Also, please pray for our two new students in kinder. They are twins of a primary school teacher at Colegio Verdad y Vida (the on-campus school) and are in Jackie's class. Today was their first day, so I don't have any pictures, but they are very petite and very cute. Please pray that they can have a smooth integration into our school and that the other kids can be good examples for them to follow. 

Thanks to God for a fresh, breezy day, for His blessings on our choir, and for Tadeo's improving communication skills. (It has been amazing to hear the improvements in our choir (ages 13-20ish). Our next program is planned for November 8th. For me it is a weekly bucket filler.) 

Dia de Independencia 2015

Independence Day is actually tomorrow, but since they're won't be school, we celebrated today.

Viva Mexico!

Playtime. Mani.

Chui.

Mili.

Even Hunter (Jackie's dog) joined the party.

Luisa.

Walking to recess.

The students and I.

At 12:15, we went out to the big school for an independence day party with all the other students in Colegio Verdad y Vida (Truth and Life School). There was a photo booth and then we sat down and watched some of the students march with the flag. We sang and listened to some Mexican history. Then we ate lunch.

Here is a picture that Carissa captured of Tadeo.

You have to admit it: He is really cute!

Please pray for my students and I as we study together. Please also pray that I can always keep my focus on God and that He would guide me.

Thanks to God for all of His many blessings, including the exciting progress I've seen in Tadeo.

P.S. I just thought it'd be fun to include a picture of the independence day celebration from last year. Pictured here on the left is Luisa and in the center, Mili. They have grown up so much in one year! Darilis is in the traditional blouse. 

Glasses for Mani

So...Mani went to the eye doctor and he badly needed glasses. For now they have given him only half of his prescription. Anyways...Sunday he looked so adorable in them, especially with his white shirt, and tie, I just had to take some pictures and post them for all of you.

Isn't he cute?

Tadi was pretty cute, too.

Sunday night these clouds rolled in. I thought they looked like waves in the ocean, just upside down.

Tadeo and Jorge.

Eric Rinkenberger. :)

Preschool Begins

...or I should say preschool began on August 31st. I started this post about a week ago, but didn't finish it, so now it is rather outdated. But nevertheless...here it is.

A couple days before the grand opening of preschool, I took Tadeo to see the room and decided to make him a name registry paper just like the other kids'. He was quite pleased.

Day 1. Recess. Mili.

Luisa.

Mani.

Day 3. Cutting out circles. These are my two preschool students: Luisa and Jesus (Chui). They come from 9:00 -12:30 every morning.

Day 1. Tadeo's first day of "real" school. He comes from 12:35ish to 2:00 PM every day

 I have been working on more communication aids with him (pages with pictures from www.boardmakeronline.com) and it has been amazing to see him improve in the last couple weeks of school.

In the picture above you can see our sticker chart (for NO HITTING), his communication book, his communication device (the black rectangle - we don't use it very often), and in the background, the classroom feelings chart. All have been great tools to use with him.

Day 3. Mani coloring at recess.

Three of the kinder crew. Luisa is on the left and Chui on the right. Mili (center) is in Maestra Jackie's class.

Here Luisa and Chui are singing their favorite ever Bible Song: El Amor de Dios. (The Love of God). They pick it almost every time it is their turn to choose the song. And this day they were singing it during playtime with their newly fashioned "microphones."

Thanks to everyone who has been praying for my teaching experience. I feel like I am learning twice as much as the kids, but it is going well. I feel hopeful that we will meet our goals for the year.

Praise God and Keep Praying!

Betel House Beach Trip 2015

So after trying numerous times to plan a trip to the beach, we finally made it.

Here are some pictures of the house where we stayed.

Pau instructed us to eat plenty of fruit during our stay.

Our back patio.

It was Kenia, Tadeo, and Mani's first time ever at the beach and they all had a great time.

Fish dish Friday evening.

Friday was Yaneli's 16th birthday and we picked up an ice cream cake in Hermosillo. (To get to this beach you have to drive two hours south to Hermosillo and then about an hour west.)

Yane was not thrilled about getting her face smashed in a hard, cold ice cream cake... 

But she was a good sport.

We collected shells, built sand castles, rode the waves, went to the pier and jumped off, and tried out sea food restaurants. Here I wrote "Casa Betel" by one of our sand castles. Pau, Kendra, and Marce were honestly not too excited about the trip, thinking about dealing with Mani's tantrums away from home. However, he only threw a couple tantrums and we all had a great time. I think it was all the better because of the low expectations.

Yane preparing to meet a wave.

Kenia and Yane riding the waves.

Tadeo loved the waves and sitting on the beach where they could wash over him.

One afternoon we even rode an inflatable banana boat...spray in your face, leaning to keep from tipping, bouncing over the waves. They dumped us off a few times.

On our trip home, we went to the lookout mountain in Hermosillo. I hadn't ever been there, but it is quite the view.

The family looking out over the city.

The sign reads, "Jesus Christ is coming."

Thanks God that there are still people announcing Thy coming. 

Thanks that the trip to the beach was such an enjoyable and bonding adventure for our family.

Please pray for our family as we continue to adjust to Yerania's absence (see post "A peek into my classroom."). Pray for Yerania as she adjusts to life with her family and that she would continue to seek God. Please pray that I and my two students, Luisa and Jesus (Chuy), would experience a smooth entry into preschool next Monday.