Rest

As we snacked on mangos and apples we reflected on how exhausted we were...why were we so tired?! Maybe it's just being in another culture and interacting with it for at least 9 hours a day.



Our usual ride back from the school

This first week has been a whirlwind of lesson planning, new food, drinking lots of tea, frustration and joy, schedule changes, and miscommunication:) But we have survived and thrived in this culture. Sitting yesterday and today, listening to the students and hearing their stories of poverty and village life...seeing their love and passion for the Lord, and watching them work so hard learning English challenges me and puts things in perspective. Some of the students are from such remote villages that they have to take a bus for two days and then walk through the mountains for another day and sometimes two days! One of the students was sharing how they didn't have any money for pens and pencils for school (that was in another village) they had to write on stone tablets (which is common!)
Seeing the Pastor's faith in every day life and his constant joy in Jesus is amazing...on our taxi ride in the morning (8:30) he will being humming and singing worship songs...while I'm still trying to wake up!:) In the afternoon, he and his wife and I sit in the back of their truck as we bump and speed back to our hotel.

The students filling holes in the road outside of the school today

Tomorrow we will be visiting two of the orphanages that he has helped start and manages. I'm so exited to get to see the children and hopefully hang out with them a little!