Being Carried Through

I survived my first year teaching. If you're a teacher you know the excitement and sigh of relief that comes with that. The last day of school we had a small third grade ceremony and party with my students and their parents. I made a short slide show of the pictures I had taken of the students that year and we had a great time reminiscing and noticing how much the kids have grown physically and academically. This class will always hold a special place in my heart especially as my first class. They are all moving on to 4th grade, but being that they're two doors down I will still get to see them often.

Third graders the last week of school!

Some teachers at the IAS high school graduation.

We visited the hot springs again. This is us in August and in May. How fast the year went!

I am currently enjoying my summer in the States while also preparing to return to Guatemala in August. I am returning for another year and will be teaching third grade again. My next years' class will be a very different group academically and socially, but I am extremely excited about being their teacher. I am still loving what I am doing and can't wait to return and get a second year to improve teaching methods, lesson plans, and be overall more confident and organized!

This summer is a busy one. I am spending the bulk of it in Texas with the family, but just recently got back from California visiting lots of friends and family that I haven't seen in years. It was beautiful weather and as always the beach and relaxation was very enjoyable. I am working a little bit to make some money, about to visit New York for a couple weeks, then returning to Guatemala a few days early to get my wisdom teeth pulled, then recovering quickly to return to work August 6.

Karis' 8th grade graduation ceremony.

Brooke and I on the beach in Oceanside.

The transition back to the States has been fairly easy. Somehow life seems to move a little more quickly here and I find myself wanting to do everything and eat everywhere and see everyone. I miss my job and friends in Guatemala and will be ready to return.

Returning to the States, I've been reminded of some of the small things I miss. These are the small things I'm enjoying while I'm home :)

1. walking on sidewalks and being able to walk next to someone, not in a single file line or worrying about stepping in dog poop, or twisting your ankle on the uneven sidewalks
2. pedestrians having the right of way
3. brewed Sweet tea
4. everyone speaking a language I know
5. Mexican food
6. being able to see stars
7. having a washer and dryer IN THE HOUSE
8. taking a shower without having to light the hot water heater
9. being able to sleep in relative silence (no dogs barking/fighting, blaring radios, or buses that would never pass inspection)
10. every small tremor you feel isn't an earthquake

God is so good. This has been a huge year in my life with crazy transitions and experiences. God has been so faithful in carrying me through it. I am so blessed to get the opportunity to be in Guatemala working in an incredible ministry and an incredible God, but also getting to take a break. Thank you for prayers and support!

Finishing up the year

Howdy everyone! The quick arrival of May is making me realize all that is very soon coming to an end--my first year of teaching, my first year after college graduation, and my first year living and teaching in Guatemala is coming to a close. I am about to say good-bye to my first class and it has been making me think about the many ways the Lord has blessed me and my ministry here. I am so grateful and so excited to have the opportunity to continue it for another year.

We have had a very blessed and busy spring. Two of our fellow teachers got married in the last month, so we've gotten the privilege to travel to Pana and Antigua to be attend their weddings.

In Antigua, at Amy and Allan's wedding.

Instead of Spring Break, Guatemalans take a week off in the spring to celebrate Easter. So, we had a week off the last week of March and got to travel all the way to Rio Dulce for a few days' vacation. Rio Dulce is the river in eastern Guatemala that flows into the Caribbean Sea. We stayed in a nice hotel right on the river, that could only be accessed by boat. Our room was what we can only describe as a treehouse. We got to swim in the river, read, relax, eat a lot, and sleep to the sound of rain on the river. One of the days we paid to take a two hour boat ride out to Livingston, the town that is on the mouth of the river into the Caribbean. We even got to go a little bit further to a private beach and relax and swim there. On our way back to the town of Rio Dulce we saw about 6-7 dolphins swimming in the Caribbean around our boat! It was an extremely exciting experience. AND got to scratch swimming in the Caribbean off the bucket list :)

This is our treehouse in Rio Dulce, that blue thing up there is literally my bed!

On a hill overlooking Antigua during Semana Santa.

Liz and I on Playa Blanca, a private island in the Caribbean.

Our stop in Livingston.

On our way back from Rio Dulce we spent a day and a night in Antigua, which is a popular area during the Easter week. There are several processions and alfombras in the roads. Alfombras are huge designs that people make in the streets on the paths of the processions. They dye sawdust, woodchips, or just use pine needles and flowers and make huge, beautiful, colorful designs right in the streets. They were really pretty and it was really neat seeing the people celebrate the Resurrection of Christ here.

Some people working on an alfombra.

I was extremely blessed to have my parents visit me here in Guatemala a couple weeks ago. They got to experience some typical life in Xela from shopping in the market, traveling, and walking in the crazy streets here. They came to school with me one day and spent some time in my classroom with my students. My Dad spoke at chapel for the middle school and high school students, and Mom showed my third graders some of their pictures from their travels to Africa and some childhood pictures of Miss Ellsworth, which my kids thoroughly enjoyed.

Mom in Guatemala!

 Thank you for your continued prayers and support as we finish up our last month of school. We finish at the end of May and I will return to the States for the summer in early June. Things have been really crazy the last few months and I don't foresee things slowing down this last month. Here are some things I could use prayer in...
--sanity and peace as we wrap up units and grades and make sure to get the rest of the material covered
--peace for my students and me as they finish up third grade and prepare for fourth
--focus since the school year is not yet over!
--that everything will miraculously get done
--most importantly that I wouldn't forget why I am here and Who I am here for

Just thought I should share some quotes I have been collecting from my students. Bear in mind that English is not their first language :)

"Are there a lot of juvies (juvenile centers) in the States?"

"Miss Ellsworth, I like the way you got dressed today."

Miss E: "In English, it is polite to say 'Yes ma'am."
Student: "Can I just say 'Yes Woman?'

(disfrutar is "to enjoy" in Spanish)
Miss E: "Please hurry up."
Student:  "I'm just disfruting the water."

Miss E: "Fold your paper hamburger style."
Student: "Could I fold it gangnam style?"

(loco is "crazy" in Spanish)
Miss E: "Who can remind me what local government means?"
Student: "Crazy government?"

Miss E: "Please contain yourself."
Student: "But, Miss Ellsworth, I don't have a container that big!"

"He called you to this through our gospel..."

Hello and happy March everyone! I sincerely apologize that my last post was in November. My time here is going so quickly, I can barely keep up. We are already nearly halfway through the Spring semester and the school year has continued to go very well. I'm still having a blast and loving what I am doing here. I'm starting to realize that we are merely months away from the school year being over and it is just so crazy to think how fast the time has gone!

The end of 2012 was very busy at school. We had a huge school-wide Thanksgiving feast for all teachers, students, and families. This was a much appreciated event to indulge in some turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes together. Before we knew it, it was December and time for Christmas parties, our school Christmas play, and Christmas break!

At the school's Thanksgiving event!

We finished school on December 19 and several of the teachers headed to Guatemala City to fly to the States the next day. Although the semester was wonderful, it was really exciting getting to leave the country for a while, and even more exciting getting to be with friends and family in the States for the holidays. I arrived in Austin on Thursday and was greeted by Mom, Dad, Alec and Karis (Brooke was still in Florida), and a sweet tea from Chick-fil-A. It still seems crazy to me that I hadn't seem them for nearly 5 months, but it was very sweet to be reunited.

Third graders on last day before Christmas break.

The four of us having dinner in Xela near Christmas.

Christmas break was very eventful and the Lord definitely blessed my time. The five of us did a simple Christmas in Austin, and then drove to Orlando to go visit Brooke at Disney. We also met up with the rest of dad's side of the family. It was a very blessed week of eating, swimming, family, and Mickey Mouse. It was a quick turnaround from Orlando back to Guatemala. We drove in on Sunday and I flew out early Monday morning. Weirdly enough, I didn't experience much culture shock upon my return. It was exactly as I had remembered it and it was just really wonderful to be back. Thankfully, I did miss Guatemala and my students and was ready to return when it was time (there was a small concern that I wouldn't want to!).

In the Magic Kingdom!

This semester has been just as speedy and exciting. We have already had 100th day of school festivities and this past week we celebrated Dr. Seuss' birthday. My kids are still so full of energy and are as inquisitive and hilarious as ever. I have been enjoying it so much and have felt that my calling in Xela is not over in May. I have officially signed a contract to be the third grade teacher again next year at IAS. I am very excited to continue my journey here and see what new things God has in store.

All the elementary students with their 100th day hats (hats they made themselves with 100 objects of their choice on it).

I am still planning on being in the States this summer. I will be hanging out and possibly working and traveling some. I so appreciate your prayers and will continue to keep you updated. Please pray that God would use me for His will in the classroom; that I would be a useful tool and not get in the way with my impatience, frustration, and exhaustion. Have a blessed week!

Just one of those funny things you stumble upon while grading.

Terremoto is Earthquake in Spanish

Howdy all I apologize again for not blogging for so long. Hopefully this has been a beautiful fall for you and life is going well. We have had a very eventful few weeks here in Xela: lots of traveling, earthquakes, and preparations for the holidays and finishing up the semester. It is still a very exciting life here. There is never a dull day.

A couple weeks ago, we traveled to Tapachula, Mexico so we could get our passports stamped. We drove about 3 hours to the shocking heat that none of us are used to any more. We enjoyed a few hours on the beach, ate, and shopped. This was a very nice and relaxing trip. It was also fun getting to be in and experience another country.

Liz, Devin, Sean and I in Central Park in Tapachula.

Last week, Latin American countries celebrated Day of the Dead or All Saint's Day. We got a couple days off school, so we took a trip to El Salvador. This involved about 12 total hours of travel. We rode about 4 hours to Guatemala City, then caught a bus to El Salvador. We stayed in an amazing hostel that was right on the beach. It was quiet and very uncrowded. We had all our meals cooked for us and built a bonfire right on the beach. We did a lot of reading and relaxing. We also went into town one night where we ran into Miss Guatemala, ate pupusas, walked on the boardwalk, and walked through a cemetery while people were decorating for and celebrating All Saint's Day. We had a very nice trip and were not quite ready to go back to work the next day.

This is the view of our hostel from the beach.

We met Miss Guatemala!

This is our sunburnt but very relaxed group on our last night in El Salvador.

This last week brought probably the most shocking and unexpected event. Many of us experienced our very first sizable earthquake of 7.4. It was about 10:30 in the morning, many of us were teaching in our classrooms. When the earthquake happened, my students responded very well. I was confused for a good ten seconds about what was happening. But my kids quickly got into the crouching position and did what they were supposed to do. The most frightening thing was seeing shelves almost get knocked over and my students calling out my name. I haven't been that legitimately scared in a long time. School was canceled the next day so our school building could be inspected. Other than being shaken up and a few cracks in the building, everyone is doing okay. The epicenter was not far offshore of Guatemala. Xela experienced very minor damages, but there were severe damages and even deaths in nearby towns.We were fortunate to lose power for only a few minutes that afternoon and not have any aftershocks. I didn't exactly have "experiencing a 7.4 earthquake" on my bucket list, but I had to add it just so I could scratch it off.

Thank you for your prayers especially after the earthquake. Please pray that I will continue to put everything into my job, even though I'm getting tired and I'm ready for the holidays. Please especially pray over the next few weeks as it is somewhat difficult being away from home during this time of year.

Superblessed

We have survived another week here in Guatemala! Rainy season is ending and I didn't think it was possible to have even more beautiful weather. We only saw rain once or twice this week. We have brisk, chilly mornings and evenings and then warm gorgeous afternoons. I miss the coming of fall and for the first time I'm grateful that Texas has even small seasonal changes, because here there are none. I'm missing pumpkins and the fall colors taking over the city. It's really weird seeing Christmas trees and decorations in stores already. I forget that time is passing while I'm here and life is going on at home without me. I left during 100+ degree summer and will be returning to cold Austin ready to go to Christmas Eve services....it is very strange. Although there are so many things I miss and can't wait to do again when I return to Texas,  I wouldn't trade my life here right now for anything.

God is moving in huge ways in my school and even more specifically in my class. This week we started having prayer time as a class for about ten minutes at the end of the day. The kids love it (of course, they're not doing work) and it has really created a loving, compassion-filled environment. I enjoy just stopping at school and focusing on what God is doing during the day while I'm at work with my kiddos. We have been praying for each other and we've been learning how to honor God before asking for blessings. This is such an incredible moment--hearing eight years olds thank God for being mighty to save and being so thankful that Jesus died for their sins. I thank God for these times and pray that we will all benefit from it continually for the rest of the year.

Third grade representin at Chapel.

My class is such a blessing to me. On those days that life is really difficult or they are driving crazy, I have the privilege of turning on some worship music and listening to my kids worship our Savior while they work. I am so grateful to be at a Christian school where we can shamelessly worship a huge God. It's so cool that Americans, Guatemalans, and children from so many backgrounds can come to the same classroom and sing together while they're learning.

My class did a fantastic job of leading Chapel again this week. They are very confident and brilliant singers. They love spending that time to worship and I just love hearing their voices every week.

My students leading elementary Chapel.

Last night, my friends and I participated in a very Latin American cultural event. We attended our first soccer game. We rooted for our local soccer team, Los Superchivos (Super goats)! This was a very interesting, yet hilarious experience. I went to Texas A&M so I know enthusiasm in sports, but this was comically different--people throwing trash on the field, men urinating on the wall ten feet from our seats, fireworks being exploded a little too close for comfort, learning all kinds of Spanish vocabulary that we probably wouldn't learn anywhere else. We had a lot of fun in our new jerseys as the white people represented the Supergoats.

Kendra, Liz, and I in our Superchivos jerseys.

This would be the equivalent of the student section=craziness.

I am very grateful for some relaxing time the next couple weekends. We are heading to Tapachula, Mexico next weekend for a completely paid trip to get our passports stamped. We will be doing some shopping, going to the beach, and enjoying some shorts weather. Then we head to El Salvador for a four-day getaway the next weekend. Definitely looking forward to some much needed relaxing time. Thank you for your prayers. Please continue to pray for my kids and my relationship with them. That I would model love and patience with them. Love you all and see you Austinites in two months from yesterday!

Fall in Xela

Hello everyone! I miss you all and I miss the traditions that fall bring. Mostly Texas A&M football, especially since we're doing so well! Who knew...

This week was so great. I find myself saying at the beginning of every week, "If I can just get through this week, it'll be less busy next week." Lies--that has yet to happen. Each week brings new craziness and joys. I would not trade any of it though. I am daily reminded of how huge our God is and that He is my source of life, energy, and joy.

 This last Wednesday the school's student council put on an event called Silly Skit Night. This was a fundraiser for our Spiritual Emphasis Week that we will be having next semester. I had the honor of being the elementary school judge representative. We saw skits from first grade all the way up to the teachers. We had a great time with students, parents, and colleagues. It's so great to be in a school community where we can be silly and laugh together. Even where the teachers can put on skits dressed as a boy band or an 80s work out video and still have the respect of their students and their parents.

The judges. Ready to judge.

The sweet 1st graders doing their skit.

Second grade girls. Girls just wanna have fun!

The winners! The 9th graders. So painfully awkward--hilarious.

Girl teachers.

Boy teachers.

Women.

This week unfortunately ended with me being sick. Thank you Lord that it didn't seem to be anything food-related. It seemed to be just a yuck fever, flu-thing. Please pray for continued healing and that being sick will have taught me to REST. It was difficult missing the last day of the quarter and I feel very behind. Please also pray that I would prioritize well and realize that I am responsible for taking care of myself. Pray that I would put my need for perfectionism at the feet of Jesus and leave it there.

I woke up to an earthquake this morning! That was kinda crazy. Definitely not in Texas any more...

Thank you for your continued prayers and support. This week marks almost exactly halfway til Christmas. I can't believe how fast it's going. I am looking forward to spending the holidays with my family and eating some MEXICAN FOOD! Hugs :)

jess

I am blessed is an understatement

Hello everyone! I AM in fact still alive and well. I'm sorry it has been so long. It's been a crazy few weeks. Life is so good! We are finishing up the first quarter of school! The first round of report cards and parent teacher conferences are this week...so crazy how far into the year we are. We're almost halfway to coming home for Christmas break! So much has happened these last few weeks that I'm gonna do bulleted-style blog this week.

1. These last few weeks have been really spiritually heavy in the classroom with my students. I prayed for deeper connections with my students at Bible study on a Monday night, and the very next morning a student came in and sobbed on my shoulder for five minutes. I have a student going through such a hard time and he is carrying such heavy burdens on his little shoulders. I cried and prayed with him. As heartbreaking as that moment was, I was so grateful for that moment and the reminder of why I'm here.

2. Last week, we had a bit of a dramatic occurrence in third grade. My students come from difficult homes where life is not always easy. We have an issue with getting along and loving each other, but who doesn't? It reached a point that I broke down in the office, not knowing what to do. I returned to my classroom and cried in front of my students for a while telling them how frustrated I am that they are so hurtful to each other. Needless to say, I made all of them cry. There were tissues everywhere and sniffling students. They wrote me apology notes and we are all going to work on loving each other better. Please pray for me to be an excellent role model of servanthood and love in my classroom. Pray that I would have time and energy to spend time teaching them what it looks like to love and to incorporate it well with God's Word.

Had a huge stack of these.

3. My students like to do something called "hug attacks." This is exactly what it sounds like. They run at full speed to hug me and the goal is to knock me over. They are very dangerous, but I'm always laughing too hard for me to tell them to stop. I secretly love hug attacks.

They are so weird.

4. It has been my students' #1 goal to guess my age this year. This is the most hysterical thing ever. I've gotten everything from 15-40 years old. I told them I was 100 and although they don't believe me, one of my students pointed out that I was born the year the Titanic sunk! Another student concluded that I'm a vampire because I won't be honest about my age. They also say I'm a sinner because I won't tell the truth.

5. My craziest student likes to do something called a Waffle dance. Everybody knows about it but me. He has informed me that he'll show me the dance when I tell him how old I am.

There have been many a recess trying to build a pyramid.

6. I have been so blessed by the Bible studies I have been attending! The women staff Bible study has been so great and encouraging. It's wonderful going through the same things in life with a solid group of girls. It's also really fun to get to spend time with some high school students.

7. Last week, it was my turn to do Chapel for the elementary students. We had a blast. We talked about the Sermon on the Mount and more specifically the Beatitudes. We also talked about being the light of the world and shining brightly in a dark world. The kiddos sang Kari Jobe's "We Are" so loud. Such beautiful voices :)

8. Last weekend, my friends and I visited the city of Totonicapan. We had a great time and we fit a lot into our day trip. We climbed a mountain and hung at the most beautiful waterfall. Toto was a bit crazy because of their local fair, so it was absolute madness in most of the city. Some of the highlights were getting squeezed into a crowd at the fair by small indigenous women, being on a bus with 130+ people and a drunk teenager being dragged on by his friends through the already packed aisle. The best part was getting to hang out with this wonderful family who lived in a little village in the city. We spent time playing intense hide and seek in corn fields. My heart was filled by this time so much. It felt like my trips to the Dominican Republic in high school, and we all decided we will be making monthly trips to Toto to visit these kids :)

The gang at the beautiful water fall.

9. Monday October 1 was International Children's Day. I was invited to my class' party after school. There were pinatas and games and face painting--it was crazy. It was really fun getting to hang out with my students outside of school and hearing them speak Spanish with their parents and siblings. The weirdest part was actually sitting with the moms and talking with them. It was so great but I am not quite used to being an adult just yet. I wanted to go play with the kids! The kids bought me flowers and all signed a card for me for this event as well. They were very grateful that I moved here and am teaching them. I am blessed is an understatement.

Waiting in line for the pinata.

Showing off their pinata prizes.

Thank you for your prayers and for reading. I am missing my family and friends greatly, but I am so blessed to be serving here. Please pray that I will serve and love well and will not grow wearing doing so. ALSO, my kiddos have started a class blog please please please read it and comment on it. They are super excited to tell you about their class, their school, and their culture. They are writing it all by themselves. Another post will be up tomorrow. Here's the link IAS Third Grade