blessings

What a lovely afternoon...
After school I came home and was working on lesson plans in my room.  I heard a knock at my door and my house mom was inviting me to a Bible Study in her house.  I said yes, and proceeded to join four middle-aged women and a young boy (a son) for the study.  All in Spanish, may I add. 
The woman who led the study spoke insanely fast, so I didn't quite catch all the details.  But I got the main idea.  And I was pretty proud of myself-- they basically quizzed me on my Spanish at one point.  I was following along in my English Bible, and they were asking me what translation I had and if I understood.  When I said I did, they asked me to translate two verses for them.  Luckily they were pretty simple verses and they all understood what I was saying, minus a few corrections for my grammar. 
All in all, it was just nice to see these women meeting together and studying the Bible and praying together.  In a culture where "religion" is so prevalent, it was nice to see people genuinely striving after the Lord as part of an active community.  An encouragement to my heart.
I've been wanting to try church here, but its a little intimidating not knowing where churches are here or the people there, in addition to the fact that it would be in a foreign language.  I've been wanting to visit my host family's church, and am hoping I can this Sunday. 
Speaking of my host family-- I am really starting to feel like part of their family.  They are so great to me.  Maybe you remember an old post about how my host mom found school supplies to give to me when I was having a bad day and had forgotten to purchase what I needed?  She also knocks on my door in the mornings to make sure I'm up and leave on time, so I don't miss the bus! haha.  It is just nice to feel cared about. 
I've always thought they were a nice family, but I've grown even closer to them now that I am the only outside person they have living here.  When the French girls were here, we were served dinner at a separate table.  But now that its just me, I eat most nights in the kitchen with the rest of the family.  Tonight was especially great because everyone ate together and we all got to talk.  I think it also helps that my Spanish is better now.  The son and I both have birthdays in October-- like two weeks apart and he has been planning his party.  Tonight they were telling me we could have one big party to celebrate both of our birthdays and I was welcome to invite my teacher friends.  They were going on and on about what we could do and were asking me what food I wanted and that they could make up invitations to give to my friends here.  It just made me smile to see how much they are including me in their family.  And I feel blessed to be a part of that.
I'm also really enjoying teaching.  More and more.  Don't get me wrong, its still plenty exhausting.  But so incredibly rewarding.  I love seeing my students learn.  I love watching them get excited about the things we are learning.  They get really into the things we do sometimes.  Like this week our story in reading has been a play about these ants.  And apparently at recess today, that's what the whole class decided to do together-- re-enact the play.   And we write stories together in class sometimes, and they LOVE it.  Its awesome to see them get so creative.   And I love how they love to give hugs and tell me endless stories (okay, sometimes/a lot of times the stories are annoying)  but I like that they are excited to tell me things. 
Another encouragement to my heart: today's chapel.  Each grade takes a turn to lead it.  (My first chapel is next week, so feel free to pray for that :) )  And today's was kindergarten's.  Oh. my. goodness.  Most precious thing I have seen in quite a while.  Loved it.  To hear their little prayers and their little singing voices.  Ahh, nothing like it.
Also,  I will continue to talk about how awesome I think the staff I work with is.  While I was cleaning out my classroom before school even started for the year, I found an old stuffed Santa Claus/elf thing that sits on a chair.  I had no idea what to do with it.  So another teacher and I came up with the idea to turn him into a morale booster :)  We hid him in a teacher's room with a treat and an encouraging note with instructions to pass him on.  Again, you may call me cheesy if you would like.  But then little Santa man ended up in my room the other day.  And as lame as it might sound, when you receive that as a little surprise it does make you feel good!  Especially to read a encouraging note from a peer letting you know they think you are doing a good job and to keep pressing on.
So yeah, I just was feeling particularly blessed tonight and wanted to share.