Rainy Day Activities

This has been the rainiest season Nicaragua has had for a very long time. Definitely the most rain I have seen in my six plus years here. Roads become rivers, potholes become small crater lakes, rays of sunshine become golden opportunities to dry your damp, musty clothes.

We've had our share of inside recess days at NCA. My class has done really well regardless of having to stay inside. The boys in my class are soccer fanatics. They go all out in the playground when they play soccer so they were starting to go through withdraw until they discovered they could make up their own soccer game.

Imagine it as a spin on fooseball! The boys love it and can entertain themselves for at least 20 minutes.

Meanwhile the girls play games, puzzles, color and chit chat.

Please pray for Nicaragua. Many homes are being flooded as the ground has reached its saturation point. Usually October is the rainiest month of the year. Join us in praying for safety for those whose homes are at risk of flooding, dry places for families to stay, safety in traveling on the wet and often flooded roads, protection for the crops. Some crops are at risk of being lost due to all the rain.

Crossing the Jordan

Sidenote: I started this blog two weeks ago and was unable to post it until now. It seems so appropriate to add more after the most recent events with my family. I've added more promises fulfilled in blue below.

I have the privilage of working with 15 wonderful first graders every day. We have lots of fun learning and growing together. This past week we re-enacted the crossing of the Jordan River into the promised land by the Israelites. What joyous occasion for the Israelites after waiting for 40 years in the desert. The joy of God's promise to them fulfilled!

As I reflected on some of the other promises that God has fulfilled throughout the Bible with my class I looked as bit farther at the promises He has fulfilled in my own life.

Here are just a few:
Psalm 20
¹ May the LORD answer you when you are in distress;
may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.

² May he send you help from the sanctuary
and grant you support from Zion.

³ May he remember all your sacrifices
and accept your burnt offerings.
Selah

⁴ May he give you the desire of your heart
and make all your plans succeed.

Verse 1: God has protected me from many close calls while driving on the roads in Nicaragua as well as from sickness that seems to plague many here.

Verse 2: He has sent help and wonderful support from family, friends and a great community of believers here in Nicaragua.

Verse 4: The desire of my heart this past year was to return to teaching and God has granted that opportunity. I am overjoyed to be able to work with a special class of first graders and learn from them.

What a great and mighty GOD I serve! Not only for his answers to prayer and promises fulfilled but also for the trials and challenges he puts us through that motivate us to move deeper into His presence.

On Sunday, January 24th I received news that my sister-in-law passed away suddenly. Doctors did not know it at the time but later discovered that she had a very rare and aggressive form of cancer. Upon receiving this news I immediately made plans to go to TX to be with my brother during this difficult time. Don and Jessilyn had just gotten married in May of 2009. While the trip was a difficult one I can say that I still say that I serve a God who fulfills his promises. Though we are often plagued with questions like: How? Why? What am I supposed to do now? There is comfort that can be found in the fulfilled promises of our Lord and the reminder they are to us that we are not alone in this life and He does not change.

These are just a few of the promises I saw in my life over the past few weeks

verse 1: HE does answer in the day of trouble. God provided great friends who helped me find the cheapest ticket to get home fast, a sub for my class, a beautiful, spontanious prayer time.

The God of Jacob did set me securely on high! There was a peace unexplainable and an assurance that God had all the details in His control.

Verse 2: Help and support from Zion! Boy oh boy was there ever. Not only physical help in preparing lesson plans from friends at 11:00pm but also financial help too. Not to mention LOADS of prayer from so many of you.

Psalm 20

⁵ We will shout for joy when you are victorious
and will lift up our banners in the name of our God.
May the LORD grant all your requests.

⁶ Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed;
he answers him from his holy heaven
with the saving power of his right hand.

⁷ Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

It is my prayer that always boast in the name of the Lord. He truly does save his annointed. There is no doubt in my mind that He answers us with His saving right hand.

Prayer Request:

Please continue to pray for my family as we work through the grieving process.

Pray for Don, my brother, as he learns to live without the love of his life by his side.

The custody of 4 yr old Gabriel. He is Jessilyn's son and is in the middle of a very difficult situation.

I'd love to share more of what God is doing and has done so if you want more details please write.

Peace

Praise the Lord the marches on Saturday were the most peaceful that I have seen during my time here in Nicaragua. I know that it largely due to the number of people and churches that have been praying for this dear country.

Thank you for continually lifting us up in prayer.

Here's a little funny first grade story that happened today.

One of my little girls asked me while we waited for her parents to pick her up after school, "Miss Franklin, do you sleep?". I replied, "Well Mariana do your mom and dad sleep?" She answered, "Yes!". I asked her, "Do you think that I need sleep just like your parents?" She said, "Yes." Then she sweetly asked "when and where?". I told her that I sleep at night just like she does and in my own bet at home. It was so cute because she genuinely wanted to know if I really did sleep and where. So I hope I was able to clear up a little first grade myth that teachers sleep in their classrooms and rarely ever leave school. ;-)

With that being said it is time for me to get some sleep. I guess I'll grab a good book and stretch out on my desk using my student's journals as my pillow and turn in for the night. Sweet Dreams!

Prayer Request

I have shared with some of you that I have had some kids with special needs in my class this year. It has been a challenge to meet their needs and still help the rest of the class move forward. A decision is being made this week for one of these special need students. I ask for prayer for all those involved in the decision. Also for the students, parents and teachers. May God's grace fill our mouths and thoughts as we sort out this issue. Thank you!

Coming Soon! Mouse Tales!

Life

Life is full!! It is full of highs and lows, challenges and accomplishments, yet through it all the Lord Most High, El Elyon is with us. I have been doing a study during my devotions on the names of God and El Elyon has left me pensive this week as I attempt to grasp God's sovereignty over all and in all things.

As I have returned to teaching full time here in Nicaragua I have had opportunities to see the Lord Most High visibly at work in my life. While I have spent two years outside of the classroom I have learned and experienced many things. God has shown me the importance and value in stopping and spending time in relationship with others. Sometimes the "work" is not the most important thing. Now with the weight of lesson plans, learning objectives, grading and everything else that comes along with teaching I see El Elyon placing people in my path to remind me of the importance He places on people and relationship. My prayer is that I see each encounter as God taking an active role in my learning process as well as that of my students.

Now on to some specifics of the new school year! I have 16 soon to be 17 first graders. Ten active boys and 7 talkative girls. Some things you can always count on. :0)
We are starting our fourth week of school. It has been fun. I've sure been tired at the end of every day though!! Shoooo those 6 and 7 year olds have a lot more energy than I do.

I wish I had pictures to share with you of my class and school but my camera was stolen from my desk last week. Therefore I'm in the market if anyone is upgrading and wants to get rid of their old camera. Praise the Lord I left my computer at home that day and that it didn't grow legs and walk away too. Once again I can see the Lord Most High's protection over even my stuff.

Everything in life I learned in First Grade

Yep, that's right I learned it all in First Grade!! Well no not really but I sure have learned a lot by being around 6 and 7 year olds. :-)

Tuesday is the official start of the new school year. As you all know I am transitioning out of the Short Term Team Coordinator position and back into the classroom at NCA. These past few weeks have been busy with finishing up the last teams, sorting, organizing and planning for a new group of 15 first graders.

Nicaraguan dust can do amazing tricks when left untamed for a few weeks over the summer. I have managed to wrestle it down to a minimum in my classroom. As I cleaned I made several interesting discoveries. One- geckos must be mating and reproducing in first grade based on the unknown quantity of gecko eggs I've found. Two- rain is nice when you are hot and are looking for a nice cool off but it is not nice when it leaks all over the books you've stored for the summer. Three- I have so many resources available to me in English that my colleagues can only dream of in Spanish.

Please pray for my new class as we start class tomorrow. Pray that we would mesh well, learn lots, laugh often and share our hearts with each other. My desire this year is to open up the Bible to my students in new ways as they become more proficient readers. My prayer is that they would be hungry for God's Word and would eat it up. I also pray for wisdom in meeting my students needs. There are many different backgrounds and difficulties that my students come from and I want to be able to help them in the best way I possibly can.