Transitions Keep Coming

So last week we got some shocking news at school. We walked into school expecting it to be a normal day only to find out that our principal and his wife (our lead teacher) had decided to leave. They weren't just leaving our school, they were leaving the country. And to make it even more shocking, we were told they were leaving as soon as possible. Of course the one thing on my mind is why? Unfortunately that question has never really been answered.  

So here we are with a school that is 4 months old and we are losing 2 of the 5 foreigners! What!? All week we were wondering and stressing about how we were going to cover all our lead teacher's responsibilities as well as our own and what we are going to do without an international principal. Thankfully our lead teacher decided to stay until the end of the week to get things together for the next week. However, some of the things that she wanted weren't going to happen because we are only 3 people. 

On Friday we had a farewell ceremony for them after our student of the month awards. They were showered with gifts to help them remember all the staff and great times at our school. The kids were all sad to see them leave. I didn't think I would see so many students crying. My heart broke! I had two kids holding onto me for 30 minutes. They are really going to miss them!  

Our Students of the Month! Girl Power!!!

Singing our school song with our principal and his wife one last time! 

It is really cool to see how God is moving at our school. So even though this news was shocking and we didn't know what we were going to do, God reminded us that he is in control! This wasn't a surprise to him. He has a plan! And the Monday after they left there was a new teacher ready to join our team. God provides even when we are three steps behind. 

 “For I know the plans I have for you” — this is the Lord’s declaration — “plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. You will call to Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you” — this is the Lord’s declaration — “and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and places where I banished you” — this is the Lord’s declaration. “I will restore you to the place I deported you from.””

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭29:11-14‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

The Two Month Mark!

Well I have been here for exactly 2 months! In some aspects it feels like forever and in other aspects I feel like I just got here. I have gotten involved in a lot of things, which I think helps in the transition of living overseas. Things are still not easy but it is slowly becoming the new normal. School is slowly getting better and better (however there was a small hiccup yesterday that sent my day into a tail spin). Also getting involved at the church is one of the best things, it is what helped me in China and is what is helping me here.

When people ask me how long I have lived here sometimes they are shocked by my answer. I have learned how to get a taxi and tell them where I need to go, whether by saying it in the language or showing the address on my phone. I know how to buy vegetables at the local street market. I don’t always understand what they are saying but I manage to pay them and not feel ripped off. I know a couple of key phrases and can give input on the way things work here. I am nowhere near perfect but I have learned quickly some of the things needed for survival.

Everyone at church knows I am new, but because I am involved in a lot of things (the young adults group and the women’s group) people tend to think I have been here longer. I think this is a big part of transitioning. Getting involved helps to not think about home so often and I meet tons of new people. The young adults have been meeting at our apartment for the past month. It is so awesome to have a big living room where everyone can sit comfortably. Also I am a part of the women’s connection team! It’s nice having things to do outside of school. It makes me feel like I have more of a purpose here and an impact on the city.

School has been an up and down roller coaster. Whether it is trying to understand co-workers or trying to learn from the other foreigners. There are so many people (yet so little) working here and we are all different. We have different ways of communicating, teaching, and experiences. It’s a lot of adjustments to make while also adjusting to teaching in a foreign country. It doesn’t help that we never hear encouraging words from parents. We only hear the negative things which in turn make us feel like failures. But God is at work here! I am so grateful for the daily reminders that He is here with me. Some days it is easy to see and others it is a little harder. But I always know he is here and he has called me here. Thank you for your continued prayers and love!

2 months down and 22 more to go!

Taco night! And a few games of Dutch Blitz! 

Out of the City

Today is a national holiday which means.... NO SCHOOL!!! And when you are living Ina foreign country and you don't have to go to work, you go sightseeing. Or in our case, we went hiking but it included sightseeing :).

Our principal and his wife invited us to join them for a morning of hiking and sightseeing outside of the city. Of course we jumped on the opportunity to get out and see some of this beautiful country. So we met them this morning at 7:30 at their apartment. At 7:40 we were on the road heading out of the city!!! 

Sometimes on a really clear day you can see mountains in the distance and that is where we went. About 40 minutes out, there is a national park. It was so amazing to see green trees and leaves, and smell the fresh air! We drove up most of the mountain and then had the choice between two different sets of stairs. 

At the entrance ready to begin the hike/climb to find out what's at the top. 

I don't think any of us were prepared for this climb. We knew it would be stairs, but I don't think we expected steep and eleven steps. But we were champs and made it to the top! It was so pretty! At the top of the mountain is a temple for people to pray to Buddha and their ancestors. So it smells a lot like incense and people where buying fruit and candies for their ancestors. It is very interesting to watch.  

After we rested at the top, it was time to walk back down. The steps were easier to go down but you had to focus on not falling! But we made it!!!  

We did it!!! So proud of us!!! 

We took our time going back down the mountain. I got to practice my Vietnamese with the driver, telling him to stop so that we could take pictures. It was so pretty!!! 

Pretty view! 

The fountain outside a small cafe.  

Town at the bottom of the mountain. 

I love flowers. And the ones here are just so pretty!!!