First Day of School

Yesterday we had our first day at CDS. The school is absolutely amazing. Everything is so open and there are beautiful plants and trees growing everywhere. All the classrooms have numerous windows that stay open during the day to let the breeze in. We’ll definitely try to post some pictures of the school as soon as possible. It is truly breathtaking. Not to mention the view- we can see the entire city of San Jose from the school’s location. The kids in my class are from all over the world: Guatemala, United States, Costa Rica, Brazil, Italy, Venezuela, Argentina, Israel, Georgia, China, just to name a few. It is truly a diverse group of students. Each student has very specialized needs as well. Several students in my class are being screened for dyslexia. I also have an ADD student, several ESL students, and a boy who is in a wheelchair from a recent operation on his feet. It is a great feet trying to wheel him up the steep ramps around the schools property… I will have some guns on my arms before this trip is over!! Today was really neat because I was able to observe Mrs. Ulloa in action. The students just finished a major report on the planets, so today they spent the majority of their time writing their presentation speeches and creating a model of their planet. Some kids experimented with paper mache while others painted Styrofoam balls.  It was messy, but so much fun! My cooperating teacher is very hands on in all the activities she coordinates and I love that!!  Alaina really enjoyed watching her cooperating teacher work with the kids as well. She’s already stepped in and is helping Ms. Channer plan field day. In fact yesterday they worked with the kids on relay races.  Pray for us as we begin to take responsibilities in our classrooms. Also be praying for my family as my grandfather, “The Original James Bond 1916 version” passed away yesterday morning. It’s really hard not being able to be there with my family during this time. As I was crying out to God about the situation, he gave me these verses, “ The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable, it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power, it is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body… when the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: ‘death has been swallowed up in victory.’  ‘Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1^st Corinthians 15: 42-44 and 54-57. More updates later!