[joe + tay keith]: ¿Hablas Inglés?

Last week, I was working at ATRIO (a school) and I was talking with a little boy. Our conversation wasn't very complicated, but apparently I was speaking Spanish alright because about half way through our conversation he looks at me and goes, "are you our new Miss?" (well, in Spanish of course, with Miss meaning Teacher), and I responded "well yes, I am here to teach English." And the little boy got this excited look on his face and goes, "oh, do you speak ENGLISH??!"

I started teaching at two different schools last week. The first is called ATRIO, and it is a school for 3-17 year olds, and I teach in every class from 3-17 year olds. I teach there on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays from 8-2. Instead of leading conversation groups, I have been teaching their English classes. So the teacher will give me the book about five minutes before class and say "you need to teach this today", and then I teach whatever it is for the next 45 minutes. I've taught everything from grammar, food, transportation, culture, vocabulary, to helping students write papers about their summer vacations and famous people that they've heard of. I absolutely love the kids, they have so much energy, and they are so patient with me and my Spanish. Yesterday, I had three people tell me I'm adorable when I speak Spanish? Not sure if I want to be adorable, but I guess that's better than not being able to speak it :) I've gotten many questions about the color of my eyes and my hair, as well as how old I am and if I'm married, and if I'm going to marry Justin Bieber. These kids are pretty curious, and love to ask question after question after question, though I think some of their questions are definitely stalling tactics. While at first I had a hard time teaching and controlling some kids, I am learning a lot about what it means to teach a classroom and how to think on the fly. My lessons rarely go as I planned on them going, and I have to invent things on the spot quite often, which has just made me a bit nervous. I'm a twenty year old theology/music student, yet I'm being placed in front of a classroom where everyone thinks I'm a teacher and told to teach English, which happened to be my least favorite class in school. God has a funny sense of humor! However, I know that it is through my weaknesses, His strength and glory are displayed, that He is glorified and I can name numerous times where I have seen Him provide strength, peace, creativity, and the ability to teach. Yesterday, one of the teachers was sick and so I stepped in and taught all of her classes by myself. I really have enjoyed this experience and I am so thankful for it!

ATRIO School

Fourth Grade, Primary

Nicole and I

My lunch crew

The second school that I teach at is called Jean Piaget. I only teach there on Wednesday afternoons to their High School-ers, and this is more of a conversation group. I help them talk and practice English, as well as proof read papers and such. They surprised me last week with how good their English was, and they definitely have a passion to learn. I have one kid who wants to be an engineer, and another who wants to be an astrophysicist. They are brilliant kids, and I love working with them.

In addition to teaching at the schools, I'm also teaching SEEDS which began last week. We went from 12 kids the first meeting to 19 by the third, so it's growing. I've loved teaching here as well. The program is 3 hours long, and so I've had a bit of a problem keeping the kids involved but we are learning, as well as the Peruvian teachers are starting to take over the teaching which is encouraging to see since they will be continuing this program when I leave. The kids are learning, they just need lots of repetition and such.

Needless to say, I've been quite busy, teaching lots about English. I've had a couple different opportunities to hang out with people down here, which has been fun as well. I have enjoyed getting to know the youth, and working on their English as well.

God has been teaching me a lot, and convicting me in many areas during my time here in Perú. But the most challenging one has been this week and with the concept of Joy. We are saved in Christ Jesus, bought and paid for by His blood, therefore we have every reason to live in His love and Joy. However, often we do not. I know that I am so guilty of this, but we focus on the bad things in our lives rather than the good things, when in reality we have no reason to be sad. I know that life can be difficult, and that there are things that it is nearly impossible to rejoice in. However, we are commanded to "rejoice in the Lord always" (Phil. 4:13). Joy and happiness are not the same thing. Happiness is a feeling, where joy is a choice. Joy is choosing to rejoice in God and trust Him no matter what is going on, where as happiness is an emotion. Many times I think that I need happiness to be joyful, but if I were to choose to rejoice in the Lord and let His joy shine through me, then I would be joyful in Him, whether I was happy or not. Because in reality, I have been saved by His grace, by His sacrifice. He has given me a second chance at life, and chooses to work in my heart every day. He loves me, and has blessed me beyond measure. Where is my reason for sadness? Why am I not rejoicing every day in His mercies?

As far as food goes, I definitely have stretched my taste buds. I have eaten everything I have been given, and have enjoyed almost all of it. I definitely ate a tomato during this trip and enjoyed it for the first time, as well as I ate guinea pig the first day (called Cuy, pronounced cooie), and I had cow stomach today at school (called Mondongito a Italiano). Also, one of the most popular foods is called Ceviche. It's essentially raw fish with onions and whatever other vegetables you want, mine also had corn, and then it's coated with lemon flavoring. It's super good, and definitely a favored food in Peru. As far as desserts go, my favorite has been Mazamorra. It's a warm, thick, syrupy desert that tastes a bit like cherry cough syrup. It's super sweet. I wasn't so sure about it the first time I ate it, but it definitely has grown on me and I enjoy it now.

I want to thank you for all of your prayers and support. I have talked with many of you, and am always blessed and humbled by the fact that you are praying for me. I know that God is using your prayers, and I can feel them often. Thank you so much! I pray for you at home often, and hope that everything is going well. However, I would like to ask for continued prayers for:

-- the Serranos and their ministry with YMI Perú down here. God has opened up two opportunities to do Spanish sports camp with local churches in January and February, and is possibly opening more. YMI Perú is also opening up SEEDS in another church, with the possibility of opening more. So God is using them, but they cannot do anything without His will and His power, so just continued prayer of blessings on YMI Perú would be lovely.

-- the English ministry down here, and that God would equip me to minister to these schools and be His light and His love and His joy

-- that my heart would be open to His will and His plan for ministry, not stuck to my own expectations.

Thank you so very much! I have included more pictures below, and I hope that you all have a blessed week :)