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What I'm doing to celebrate: This year I turned the big 2-4.  It seems like such a big number.  I told that to the boys and they said, "You said the same thing last year."  My birthday was such a fun day.

It began right when I woke up and got to open the package my mom sent with me in December.  She sent a birthday card in the mail, but it sometimes takes a long time to get mail in Santiago.  Even without a card, it was nice to have a piece of home to open on my special day.

Christin was an awesome roommate and decorated my classroom and laid out cute cards the students made for me.  She wrote a clever note with cute little gifts.  The cards from the kids were so special and nice.  The girls are so incredibly artistic, and the boy's precious notes melted my heart.

Rosa brought me the biggest balloon bunch I have ever seen, and we celebrated at lunch with pizza.  Unfortunately Andrew and Joseph weren't feeling very well and couldn't stay for the whole day.  Isaac was having a lot of fun singing, as you can see in the funny picture.

The night of my birthday I met up with some friends at Mari's Cakes for more pizza.  Corinne came all the way from La Vega to celebrate, and Amanda came straight from work.  Nathaly offered to drive us, and it was so fun to laugh, talk, and eat good food.

I felt so spoiled and loved by the gifts, texts, posts on Facebook and messages.  Thank you all for making my birthday so special.  Here's to many new adventures in a new year.

New Year - Reyes Academy Style

What we did to celebrate:  I realized I never posted anything about our beginning of 2016 celebration.  With the business of kidney stones and starting teaching again after the holiday, I simply forgot.  Last year we had an awesome New Year party (Here's my blog post about it), and this year I wanted to make it even bigger and better.

Thursday, January 6th was the first day back to school.  We had a half day so Christin and I could get the apartment ready in the afternoon.  We decorated for our sleepover/party.  The kids came over Thursday night.  We had pizza for dinner and had a New Year's photo shoot, which was really fun.  We played Skipbo and watched a movie, Captain Phillips, with the girl's classroom full of air mattresses and glow sticks.  It was a late night full of laughter, talking, and celebrating 2016.

The next day I bravely made chocolate chip pancakes for 8 people, something I never thought I would do.  It showed me one day what it might be like to prepare breakfast for a family.  Pancake batter flying, trying to make sure the kids eat a banana, and make sure all six of them were dressed and ready for our field trip.

We were heading to Puerto Plata for the day, a town near the beach.  Our first stop was the cable car.  We had a lot of fun taking pictures and walking around once we reached the top of the mountain.  We also found this cool bridge that had an amazing view, which I hadn't seen the last time I went up the cable car.  The boys especially loved the caves.

The second stop was an old fort in the city.  We ate lunch in the car and explored the building, learning about the history of Puerto Plata.  This part happened during the heat of the day, so we took a rest after the tour.  I absolutely love the architecture of the fort.  The old doors, windows, and arches are fun to photograph.

We ended the day at an amber museum.  After reading reviews on Trip Adviser, I had very low hopes for the museum, but the boys and I just finished studying fossils.  The amber museum was a perfect way to connect the field trip to science.  The museum was surprisingly really interesting.  It is not very huge.

We are hoping to plan some more field trips this spring.  I would love to go to Haiti with our students.  Currently in Spanish class we are reading about dolphins, so a trip to Ocean World is in the near future.  Love getting to explore this beautiful island.

Con mucho amor.

Pirating up the Week

What I've been teaching:  This was a "ruff" week.  The boys were more restless than normal, talking and not paying attention.  I had shorter patience because I have been busier.  I have been fighting off sickness and this stupid kidney stone.  Part of the way through the week, I realized I needed to "pirate" some of my lessons.  I hoped this would engage the boys more and improve my attitude about work.  

Teach like a Pirate (prior blog post about it can be found here) is all about being a purple cow in a sea of black and white ones.  The book encourages teachers to be creative and think outside of the box through different "hooks."  

from: here 

The Safari Hook:  Wednesday we moved to the roof for reading time.  There was a beautiful breeze, and we sat in the shade while reading Long Way from Chicago.  There are so many different places in our apartment complex that I should take advantage of and use.  Getting outside of the four walls of the classroom helps keep them engaged.

The Mystery Bag Hook:  Thursday I placed these three mystery bags on my desk.  I purchased some freeze-dried "astronaut" food over the summer.  We are currently studying outer space and the solar system.  I wanted the boys to be intrigued.  They could feel the bags.  Rice cakes, cookies, and paper were some of the guesses.

We ended week 22 of the Reyes Academy with worship, prayer, and a fun little selfie photo shoot.

How are you mixing things up in the classroom?  What are you doing to keep students engaged?

La batalla

What I've been learning:  It has been a rough 10 days.  I started feeling some pain a couple weeks ago in my lower left stomach area.  I thought maybe it was cramps, or maybe my stomach being sensitive after the parasites from December.  Saturday, January 16th the pain came back.  And it wasn't going away.

My sister convinced me from a thousand miles away to wake up my roommate and go to the ER.  After a urine test the nurses determined I had kidney stones.  It didn't surprise me that I had them, since mom and dad have had them before, but it made me mad.  Why did I need to get them?  I am only 23, too young for this.

After vomiting, trying to sleep in the freezing hospital, and finishing the IV of harsh pain medications, Christin and I headed back to our apartment with more pain meds in tow.  The nurses also gave me the name of a doctor to see on Monday.  I slept and drank many liquids for most of Sunday (and had a few visitors who brought me juice!), and then Monday rolled around.

God sent me a wonderful friend in 2016.  Carla lives down the street from us, and she is my age.  She just finished her time in the university and is waiting to graduate.  She agreed to accompany me to the hospital on Monday.  We headed to the seventh floor to see the doctor, only to find out he was on vacation.  No one knew when he was going to come back.  I was ready to give up right then and there.

Carla took charge, and we went from floor to floor looking for other urologists.  In the DR, in order to see a doctor, you don't have a specific appointment time.  You arrive in the morning and put your name on a list, and the doctor sees patients in that order.  We found the urologist with the shortest list.  After waiting a few hours, he could see me.

The doctor was so kind and funny.  He did a sonogram and could tell there are at least two kidney stones, maybe more.  He wanted me to have a special X ray done.  Monday when I got back from the doctor I found these sweet notes from my students.  Their prayers made me cry.  

Thursday I had to fast and clear out my system for the X ray on Friday.  What a painful process.  Friday went fine, I just arrived home extremely tired, but with the X rays.  This week I will go back to the doctor with the X rays to see how many stones there are, how big they are, and what we can do about the situation.

I has been a difficult week.  I was kind of mad at God at first.  WHY I kept asking.  I am getting more involved at church and serving more in Santiago.  These kidney stones are holding me back.  The devil doesn't like it when we are serving God.  We are in a battle (la batalla) and this was one of the devil's schemes to knock me down, make me feel discouraged, and tired.

My two words for the year are REST and PRAY.  I have gotten lots of time over the past week to rest.  I need rest.  My body is trying to get these stupid kidney stones out.  It's tiring.  I also have had lots of time to pray.  It was a long weekend, and many of my friends left for the mountain or beach.  That left me alone in my apartment.  I took advantage of the time to talk to my Heavenly Father.

There are no limits for those who have faith in God.  Trust in him.  He makes the impossible possible.  He changes and transforms our circumstances. 

One of my friends in the DR said to me, you will never know God as HEALER if you are never sick.  Those words really hit me hard.  

Thank you for your prayers, texts, and messages.  I have felt SO supported in this challenging journey.  What is God teaching you in the middle of the battle?

Con mucho amor.  

Bible journaling

What I've been creating: I love art journaling.  That's the main reason I started this blog way back in 2011 (first blog post ever can be found here).  Through Instagram I discovered the #biblejournaling feed and #illustratedfaith feed.  Many people around the world are turning to Bible journaling to connect with God.

I was fascinated with the idea.  At first it seemed weird to cover over the words in my Bible, but then I realized what an amazing way it was to talk to our Heavenly Father.  I love being creative, and I truly believe it is one of my gifts.  It has already helped me memorize scripture and get excited about opening my Bible.  I really have to think about how to represent a particular verse or passage; it forces me to slow down and actually spend devoted time with the Lord.

On my first page  I was messing around with my watercolor markers and my new stamps that Christin got me for Christmas.  I opened my Bible to the page that had the bookmark and decided to begin there.

The second page I created has these wings.  It is smaller and does not fill the full two-page spread.  It's simple and really highlights the verse: "Let me take refuge under the shelter of Your wings!" Psalm 61:4

I am so inspired by the sunrises and sunsets that I see on the roof.  I have always had the desire to paint them, and what better place than my Bible.  This is my favorite page I have created so far.  I love the mountains and the colors of the sunset/sunrise.  God uses nature to speak to me and fill me with His peace.

This past Sunday at church the theme of the message was Quien soy? or Who am I?  Pastor John read most of Romans 8, which I turned into this...  I used some new washi tape that mom got me for Christmas.  I included English and Spanish notes, and used my watercolor markers to highlight especially important passages from the text.  It is one of the simpler pages, but I love that it doesn't need to be extravagant.

"The Spirit helps us in our weakness." Romans 8:26

"For in this HOPE we are saved." Romans 8:24

Over the past week I wanted to try something new with the boys during Bible class.  We all read the same Bible passage (Isaac chose Genesis 19) and journaled/illustrated what we learned from the passage.  Genesis 19 is the story of when God destroys Sodom and Lot's wife turns to sand.

This passage made me really think about why are sad and strange stories in the Bible.  Isaac mentioned that life doesn't always have a happy ending, and neither does this chapter of the Bible.  It also showed me how we need to surround ourselves with people who will bring us closer to God.  We need to be alert and look forward toward the future, not behind us like Lot's wife.

The story of Mary and Martha is very convicting to me.  I saw someone else create an incredible illustration from this passage.  She used the whole margin, but I wanted to try something new with the paper flap.  On the backside of the flap I stamped "Are you Mary or Martha?"  I am still trying to figure out how to easily flip the flap, because right now the tape impedes it a little bit.

God has already taught me so much through this way of connecting with Him.  It allows me to slow down and rest in His truth and His promises.  I cannot wait to continue creating.

Con mucho amor.

2015 - A Year in Review

My phrase for 2015 was BE BRAVE.  It was a year full of triumphs and challenges.  It was a year of traveling and seeing new parts of the world.  It was a year full of new friendships and watching God work in big ways.  Back in 2013 I posted this list of important events from the year.  Here are some of the highlights from 2015.

1. Yve's School - Spring 2015

Never did I ever think I would be teaching Spanish with my three middle school boys to 40+ Haitian students.  I had been wanting to do a service project with the boys, but I wasn't sure what.  Getting outside of the four walls of our classroom was one of my main goals for them during the 2014-2015 school year.

Here's the blog post about how we got started.  But it has been awesome to watch the boys grow in their confidence each time we go to the school.  It's one of my favorite things that we've done together.  God pushes not only me, but also the boys outside of their comfort zones.  He catches us every time.

2. Costa Rica - March 2015

Semana Santa, or spring break, threw me into my fourth trip to Costa Rica.  It was an incredible week full of rest, family, laughter, and easy to understand Spanish.  Here's the link to my blog entry from the trip.  It made me realize how lucky I am to have family and friends and people who love me all over the world.

3. Moving - May 2015

The end of my first school year in the DR I said goodbye to my house on Calle G and moved to an apartment in El Dorado I.  I absolutely love this apartment.  It can be challenging teaching and living in the same space, but I mostly love it.  Living on the fourth floor gives us a great breeze, and it gives us some exercise when we bring our groceries home.

This apartment is much closer to public transportation.  There is a security guard who lives here, so I feel much safer.  The location of the new apartment is "far" away from the people I hung out with last year, but it's been awesome to see how God has put people into my life on this side of town.  Plus there's the amazing roof where I get to watch epic sunrises and sunsets every day.  I mean look at these pictures...

"In His hands are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are His also.  The sea is His, for He made it, and His hands formed the dry land." Psalm 95:4-5

4. Got baptized - June 2015

I was baptized as a baby in the Lutheran church, but over the past year I have been attending a Baptist church and a Four Square church.  I have been questioning why I was baptized as a baby.  I want to follow in the example of Jesus, and he wasn't baptized as a baby.  In fact, no where in the Bible is anyone baptized as an infant.  It a choice that someone makes when they are old enough to understand.

Last year, I had Pastor John of Iglesia Baptista Vida Nueva come talk to the boys about baptism.  We were studying about it in Bible class, and it was such a great conversation.  I had thought about getting baptized again after that day, but I put it on the back burner.

In June I went to a camp with the Four Square church, Cantico Nuevo.  It was an amazing camp full of spirit-filled worship, crazy games, and good conversation.  I was talking to my friend Keren, and we started talking about being baptized.  She started sharing the story from Acts 8 when the eunuch was on the road.  God had told the disciple Philip to meet this chariot in the desert.  Philip asked the eunuch if he understood what he was reading about the Bible.  He replied that he did not.

"Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus." Acts 8:35  

The eunuch responded immediately to this good news and wanted to be baptized.

"And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, 'See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?'" Acts 8:37 

After he was baptized, he went on his way rejoicing, and Philip simply disappeared.

Later, after Keren and I were talking about the story, one of the leaders approached me and asked if I had been baptized.  I responded and told her how I was baptized as a baby, but that I had been thinking about being baptized again.  My own choice.  My own decision to fully immerse myself in God's plans for my future.  She asked if I wanted to be baptized that day.

What a joyous occasion.  There was water, and I had the faith to take the next step.

5. Working at PacTrust - July 2015

I spent July and a few weeks of August in Oregon with my family.  I wasn't exactly sure how I would spend my time at home, but I assumed I would be resting and relaxing.  I don't make very much money working in the Dominican Republic.  The thought crossed my mind that I could maybe try to find a job for the month or so that I was home.

Every summer in college I spent working at my dad's office.  I worked in records management, accounting, IT, but my favorite place in the office is up front at the reception desk.  I love getting to talk to people on the phone and visitors who walk through the doors.  My dad explained they were having some problems with the new receptionist they hired.  She was sick a lot, and it was hard to find someone to cover for her.

I sent an e-mail on Thursday, just stating that I was back in OR for a month and was available if they needed help.  Friday I received a response saying to come in on Monday.

Wow, what a financial blessing to work there for a few weeks.  I loved getting to connect and talk to my dad's coworkers who I love so much.  Such a blessing.

"Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not of more value than they?" Matthew 6:26

6. The Sloth Experience - July 2015

Anyone who knows me, knows that I LOVE sloths.  They are my favorite animal.  I have sloth shirts, earrings, a hat, a towel, even sloth wine glasses that my mom got me for Christmas.  My friend Chandler went to a sloth sanctuary in Rainer, WA a few summers ago.  She got to hold a baby sloth.  I was so jealous.

She said she wanted to take me there over the summer, so July we packed up in the car and headed off for the sanctuary.  It was one of the coolest experiences.  We went in this little room and fed sloths.  The room was warm and humid.  The sloths were sleeping when we first got there.  We fed them cucumbers and zucchini for around 20-25 minutes.  I wanted to stay there forever.

7. Bridesmaid Time - August 2015

One of my oldest friends Sydney got engaged in 2015, and she asked me to be her bridesmaid!  I had the honor of accompanying her while she went wedding dress shopping.  This is the first time I'm going to be in a wedding for one of my friends.  Such an exciting time, even though it makes me feel a little old that my friends are getting married.  

8. 2nd Year Teaching - August 2015

I felt SO much more confident going into my second year of teaching.  I know the boys; they know me.  I already knew how to organize a school day, and I had prepared much more during the summer.  Although I can't reuse anything from the 2014-2015 school year, I just feel like there is more of a flow in the school days.  It also helps that we aren't in any of my student's houses this year.  :)  It has been such a joy to watch the boys (and girls) grow.

9. AAV - August 2015

In high school I had the privilege of being a part of Younglife.  In college I had the privilege of helping lead Younglife.  I love working in a ministry setting with high school girls.  There is a youth group at one of the churches I go to called AAV (Amar, Aprender, y Vivir la palabra de Dios // Love, Learn, and Live the word of God).  During the 2014-2015 school year I thought about getting involved, but I was just trying to survive last year.

This year one of the leaders, Ruthi, asked me if I wanted to check it out and get involved.  The first weekend the group met, I got scared and nervous.  I figured my Spanish was not good enough and that God wasn't going to use me.  Oh what happens when we listen to the lies of the devil...

The following Monday at Bible study we were reading about Jonah and what happened when he didn't listen to God the first time... So convicting.  The next Saturday evening I went to AAV and haven't stopped helping.  I got to share the message with the girls two different Saturdays in Spanish.  The second time I did it all on my own.  There were only three girls there that day, but it was still awesome to step out in faith and see what God was going to do.

I feel a lot of spiritual warfare with AAV.  I am constantly praying for the group and praying for confidence for me when I go.  Gosh, God is so good, though.  I am learning so much through serving in this way.

10. Teaching Spanish - September 2015

Over the summer I noticed a post on a missionary Facebook page looking for a Spanish teacher for some girls in Santiago.  I responded immediately inquiring more.  In September I started teaching Jami Jo and Judith Anne.  They are 11-year-old twins.  They come over two times a week for Spanish lessons.  I have been using TPR strategy with them.  They came in knowing almost nothing, but they can correctly use the verbs ser and tener and regular AR verbs.  They know over 70 verbs.

They are two of the sweetest girls I have ever met.  We had several different holiday parties, and sometimes we get to go out to dinner after Spanish class.  Their family has been such an answer to prayers I didn't even know I had.  They are so involved, polite, and caring.  I cannot wait to teach them more this spring.  

11. New Roommate - Fall 2015

My first year of teaching in the Dominican Republic was challenging.  I was a first year teacher, trying to do it all by myself.  My bosses hired another teacher for their older daughters for the 2015-2016 school year.  Christin and I met in May before the school year ended.  She was going into her 3rd year of teaching, and she seemed so nice from the very first time I met her.  It has been an incredible blessing to live and work with her.

I have two works for 2016: REST and PRAY.  Cannot wait to see all God has in store for this year.

Con mucho amor.