New Beginning!

It's the start of a new year and it's the beginning of 3rd Quarter. It feels good to start fresh and to be able to start strong. I spent christmas in Canada once again and enjoyed my stay. Saying goodbye to my Canadian family is always the hardest thing for me but there hasn't been a time that I haven't left home without being prayed for which makes goodbyes a little easier. It was hard to not see my family in Honduras as I knew that they were all together this Christmas. I cannot wait to see them during the summer. It was easier to come back to Dominican Republic because I knew that there were people who loved and cared about me here already. Needless to say this time around it was much easier to come down here and it was even exciting to come back.

First day of school was a little bitter sweet. During Christmas break one of our 7th grade students passed away and the first day of school was a little hard. I didn't know her super well but remember seeing her during lunch breaks and just random times during the day. The hardest part for me is being able to know that this was God's will. It hurts to know that a girl with so much a head of her had to die of cancer. Why? This is the question that I find myself thinking about often. This question will never be answered for me but I know that Chadianny is now pain free and there was a reason why God decided to take her home. No Degree or masters or any education are able to prepare you for something like this.

The sweet part about being back in school is feeling loved and cared for by my students. As soon as they saw me they came running to give me a big hug. It felt good to be loved by my students and it felt good to know that I am at least doing something right because these kids for some reason love me. Don't know if they have necessarily learned anything but they at least love me. :) It was nice to just sit with my students at the beginning of class and listen to all of their Christmas stories and traditions. Now as the week is coming to an end I can say that this week has been a great start of the semester.

Well besides my teaching life, this past Tuesday my friend Natalie and I were able to throw one of our friend, Caroline, a baby shower. It was fun to be able to celebrate with her and get excited about the coming of her son! Her and her husband Ryan are missionaries down here and Natalie and I have gotten to know them fairly well this past year and it's been fun to watch them get ready for this new stage of life that they will be going into. Caroline is due January 23rd so if you think about it please pray for her and Ryan and their baby James.

Overall the start of the new year has been good. I enjoy life here but still trying to get adjusted to different things here but overall I can't complain. God has been faithful with providing friends, support, and love. Its been a great experience so far and I am excited to see where else God will take me this year.