end of term!

I made it to the end of first term. I can hardly believe it. I just finished up my report cards. I can't believe that either. It's so weird to be giving kids grades. I mean, these things are going to be forever scrapbooked or boxed up (if you're like my family) to be preserved forever. I mean, seriously...this is big stuff!

I am on break now...no school next week. I'm pretty excited about that. I'm off to the lake for this weekend (no more bad food though, don't worry). It's going to be so nice. This time I really will post pictures when I get back.

Things to pray for:
1. safe travel to the lake and back
2. rest and relaxation combined with productivity over the break
3. parent teacher conferences the week after break

Thanks for all you do to encourage and support me. Many blessings to you!

Loves.

Reading Day

I decided that since I am so long overdue for updates I'd post two today. Yesterday was Reading Day for the lower grades at the Academy. Talk about stress for the teachers and parents...I had no idea. But talk about fun for the kids. My kids are adorable!



Ok, there's a lot of pictures, but it's so hard to choose! The whole class. Sort of. It's hard to get 19 six year olds to smile and look in one place for more than few second.

My favorite paper bag puppet EVER. And it matches her costume. I didn't even help her either.

Can't have a costume day without a few spidermen.
Here's my tin man. So hilarious. Also, check out Thomas the Train (I thought of you, Mudpuddles gals). Thomas and the Tin Man tied for best dressed.

The final result of "here's a bag, there's the stuff, make a puppet." Not my finest moment of teaching, but they turned out, and it wasn't even THAT chaotic.

Chesire cat. Frog puppet.

No costume, but still quite the ham...

"I'm so cool." All the little girls in my class have a crush on him. Smart, cute, nice, what more can you ask for?

And my last comments about life in Malawi: it's HOT here. I hear that October is the hottest month, but I've also heard that it's pretty hot all the way through January. My body is so confused about why it is getting hotter at this time of year. I love to hear your stories about fall from the Northwest- I'm going to miss it! Carve a pumpkin and step on a few crunchy leaves for me!

Also, I have been posting all of (well, most of) my pictures on facebook. It seems to be the fastest way for me to do get lots of pictures onto the internet. I believe that everyone should be able to view the album by going to this link:

http://georgefox.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2011332&l=b5ba5&id=98300908

Alright, I'm off to enjoy my Saturday.

God's blessings to you!

Crisis Nursery

Last Sunday I went to an open house for the crisis nursery. Here is my story, in pictures.

Meet Madalitso (Mad-uh-leet-so).

She is the sweetest and cuddliest baby you will ever meet. She loves music. As soon as she hears it she starts dancing and clapping and laughing. She is content, even though love and affection don't always come her way regularly.

Her mother died of AIDS. Madalitso is also HIV positive.

Remember her in your prayers.

I think it would be amazing to organize a team to come out here and help out with the nursery (that's a hint to YOU...start praying...). So much work needs to be done there, and short term teams are so effective for bringing supplies, too. I took a picture of the sign so you can see what kinds of things need to be done. Hopefully you can read it. If not, the point is, there's lots of stuff.

Ministry of Hope website: www.ministryofhope.org

healthy....or....healthier

Thank you for praying for me. I got up Wednesday morning expecting to be in bed all day again but discovered that I felt much better. I ended up going to school. I planned to be there for part of the day and ended up staying the whole day. I was very exhausted by the end of the day, but so glad that I could move again I didn't care.

Being sick caused a lot of emotions that I hadn't experienced yet. For example: culture shock. I was so frustrated with all of the workers who kept coming into my house and walking around my house I wanted to scream! I also got pretty homesick. I really miss all of YOU! Anyone want to come to Africa? Anyone? :-)

I am feeling much better now. Physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually.

Well, I just wanted to let you all know that I am feeling better! I'll put up pictures from the lake tomorrow, hopefully.

I'll leave you with a quote from our Bible study book. The study is on grace.

Let grace be the beginning, let grace be the consummation, grace the crown. Bede

i need your prayers...thanks!

Hey everyone,

I had a great time at the lake, it was beautiful and relaxing. But now I'm really sick! About half of us that went are sick with some kind of bacterial infection in our stomach. I spent yesterday at the clinic (hospital type thing on campus) hooked up to an IV and really out of it from the anti-vomit medicaion (which did not help). I've been in bed all day today, but I'm not really feeling any better. Please pray for me (and my friends) to get healthy soon!

Thank you!

Update on my Classroom

Hey everyone! Thanks for your prayers and encouraging emails and comments. I really appreciate it! It is Friday and I am so happy! Here is my story to prove to you that I teach in Africa (with a picture for a visual aid).

Mecha (pronounced Meesha): Miss Miller, can Shaun get the roach out of my desk?

Me: The what? From where? What are you talking about?

Mecha: There is a cockroach in my desk and Shaun wants to get it.

Me: Let me see....oh, yes, yes there is a big bug in your desk.

*At this point I'm wondering if it is ok to let a student get it out, because I certainly am not going to touch it. Then, I remembered that I have an aide.*

Me: Mr. Joel, will you please get the big bug out?

Now, talk about a distraction! Haha. It doesn't help when the teacher is freaking out way more than the students, and taking pictures for the blog! We had a long talk about how I am afraid of many kinds of bugs. Here's the pic:

My favorite pic of the day: Keith and Zizwa, they are friends. And the two biggest trouble makers in my class! Keith is also my little singer. I am going to teach my kids "Oh Happy Day" to sing in chapel and Keith already knows all the words! I'm thinking soloist! Please pray for these two little guys as you think about it.

I'm off to the lake for a relaxing weekend. Pray that I can actually relax, without worrying too much or thinking too much about school.

Big praise of the day: The containter is fianlly here and it (hopefully) has my classroom library, math manipulatives, and some organizational stuff in it! Yay! I'm so excited!

Thanks for all of your support! I miss and love you all!

an honest update

Hey Everyone!

Some advice that I got from other missionaries is to be honest with people at home, supporters, friends and family. That way they know how to pray for you. So, here's my honesty:

I'm tired and emotional right now! I have been working almost non stop on my classroom. There is so much to do it's hard to get caught up to where I feel like I can relax. I did take a good day of Sabbath rest today though, and I am feeling better. I've been missing home- my friends and my family. Also, I seem to have caught a cold, which is annoying. Please pray for my health- physical and emotional!

And here's some more honesty: even though I don't feel the best I have in my life, I am very thankful to God for the provisions he has given. I got my monthly support report and I have a very decent amount to live on, for sure. There are some really amazing people here and I am really enjoying spending time with them. Little Analise has even decided that we can be friends, which makes my heart happy. God is definately good. Above all else, I know that He is taking care of me, and providing for me.

Please continue to pray for me, I don't think you can possibly realize what it means to me and for me. God hears you!

Thank you for support, I love you all!

PS: Sorry that there aren't any pictures yet. Soon and very soon.