Now we are in the swing of things!

Here we are, into our fifth week of school already.  It has been a whirlwind with trying to get the family settled in, preparing for new jobs, adjusting to a different culture, finding a new church, etc. but now it is finally starting to feel like home away from home.  Kimberly is teaching 5th and 6th grade general music as well as 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th-12th choirs.  While it has been difficult to adjust to teaching full-time again, she has mentioned how much she enjoys her job here.  There are two secondary counselors so my partner is taking on grades 7-9 while I'll be working mostly with grades 10-12.  This is the group I'm most comfortable working with so it is a great set up here. I must say that the job here is very different from working in the public school back in Washington.  I don't have to do any course scheduling and things are generally much more relaxed here.

The girls started off the school year fairly well too.  Amelia began kindergarten with Mrs. Hernandez and she looks so cute in her little school uniform (see photos at link below).  The class is taught in both English and Spanish until Christmas so she'll probably be the one to pick up the language faster than anyone.  She says that she doesn't understand what is going on sometimes, she still has a smile on her face and a positive attitude.   Clara started 2nd grade with Miss Hydeen and she seems to be doing quite well in class.  She's a bit more reserved than the others when it comes to meeting new people so she doesn't have many friends yet.  She has a few classmates she occasionally hangs out with but no one who she considers a close friend yet.  Please keep this in your prayers.  Maddi is in 4th grade with Miss Frasso.  All three of the girls' teachers are fairly young and "hip".  I'm not sure where Mrs. Hernandez is from originally, but she is now married to a Honduran and has lived here quite a while.  Clara and Maddi's teachers are ironically both from Michigan and I think this is their 2nd or 3rd years teaching here.  All the girls are being challenged academically as well which is nice to see.  They may not be too fond of it, but we like it ;)  Last Friday was "Day of the Child" so each classroom had a party with games and plenty of sugary food. The Honduran parents go all-out for this affair.  The girls wondered why we don't celebrate this back in the states.  I told them that when they come up with "Day of the Adult", we can then celebrate both of them back at home.  Independence Day is on Wednesday this week so we work two days, have a day off, and work two more days.  Viva Honduras!

For prayer requests, please pray for good health.  Maddi came down with a fever and runny nose last Thursday and has battled the fever all weekend.  Tylenol has helped keep it down but it seems to keep returning.  She did go to school today but looked exhausted.  I won't be too surprised if she ends up in the nurse's office.  Amelia seems to be coming down with a cough as well.  Please pray for healing for both of them and protection from illness for the rest of us.  Thank you and click the links below to enjoy some more photos of Academia Los Pinares and the open market downtown.

Academia Los Pinares
Downtown and the open market