Saturday, December 1, 2012

Heb.13:5...I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.

YEAH!! School is out for this year! Everybody is so thankful. It has been a difficult year, but now it is over.   So take a breath and begin preparing for next year, right? For me, I think this year was difficult because I missed last year, and my students didn't receive English. Well, the 7th - 9th received a program from an organization here in which our school is involved. I don't like the English workbooks  because there are many grammar mistakes  and other mistakes. Also, the teachers at the school don't know English, and therefore the workbooks are not checked properly.  Due to my experiences, I truly believe that textbooks in any language should be written by native speakers, and not by those that have learned a language as a second language. Many errors would be avoided, I think. And then as with many programs, the students are not taught everyday language. What a difference there is in the classroom lessons, and the real thing.  So therefore, the focus for my students is everyday language. I want them to be able to speak about everyday events.

This morning I went to the bank to pay my telephone and electric bills. I heard someone calling me, and it was the guy that owns the shop where I bought my cell phone. He wanted me to make a bank deposit for him. Wow! Talk about trust. He does speak English and has lived in Florida. But still...thank you Lord for favor.

I've been reading the Old Testament in Spanish. And this morning I was reading about Moses being taken from the river by Pharaoh's daughter. Saved from the Nile (?) and then later saved from the Red Sea, all by the hand of God. Interesting. God is ever present, isn't he?  I find it interesting when Christians pray, "Lord be with us".  Really?  He said he would never leave us nor forsake us. So if he isn't with us, where is he?  A Latino group, Rojo, sings a song called No, No, Me Soltaras. It's absolutely my favorite in Spanish. And that's what it says, "He will never leave nor forsake me".

I get to go home for a month in 17 more days. I'm getting excited. In fact my suitcase is coming out of the closet before I go to bed tonight. Some Christmas shopping starts on Monday.  I will get to hold my new great-grandson!  And another grandson is due about the time I return to HN. I have lived to see my children's children's children.  And not all of them have even started!!  God is so faithful, and his word cannot be broken. I'm so thankful for that.

So when I return to HN in Jan., I have to buy a car. Thank the Lord that Mario and his wife will be doing the looking, pricing, etc. I want to have an afternoon class for the parents that want to learn English at the school, and for that I need a car.  Will see how God moves in both of these things. He answered my prayer for buying a new sofa, so I know he will lead and guide in this area, too.

Also, I have been given another job by Mario; evaluate the teachers that teach English. Oh, wow! (Another reason to have a car). But the Lord will help me here. It was interesting when Becky and I went to San Pedro Sula for the graduations. At the William Smith school, two of the teachers were translating the speeches in English, since there were other Americans there that did not speak English. (They don't translate for me when I'm there :).  Anyway, one of the teachers said we need an American to come and help us with pronunciation. One that does not know any Spanish! I told her to please say that again! Truly, sometimes I mix  the English and Spanish. What a mess! And what a blessing that I met THE William Smith and his wife and party that was there. I always wondered who this man was that the school was named after. (I'm really trying to write without leaving a preposition at the end of the sentence. It's rather difficult to change old habits). He has a ministry that is worldwide. And do I remember the name?  No. I'll look it up later.

And it has been interesting to know that a few of our schools were started by the Jimmy Swaggart Ministries. (I hope I spelled his name correctly). And of course, when Jimmy had his big trouble, money for the schools stopped coming. But thank God for the faithfulness of his people like Mario and his wife. They and those that helped them kept the schools open. God used Jimmy to help me when I first came into Pentecost. What a blessing he was to me,  and there is a special place in my heart for him. God forgives and forgets upon repentance. Too bad people don't.

I talked to my brother today, and I'm so excited that he is thinking about coming here to see me next year. I just want to shout hallelujah! We have such a fantastic relationship. I think it's so special because we didn't get to grow up together. And when we are on the phone, sometimes we just giggle. Crazy! I keep reminding him that money is being spent just for us to giggle together!  But he's worth every penny, or should I say dollar? I love him and thank God for him.

God says for us to to talk about the things that he does for us so people can see and know how good he is. But many times Christians don't talk about the things he is doing in their lives. Why is that? Are we ashamed, embarrassed, what? And maybe I'm guilty, too. But  I have learned that we can tell what he has done, because it is he that does the work. If others have a problem with our testifying, it truly is their problem. And why am I talking about this?   I have no clue. Maybe someone needs some encouragement here. Oh, well, I'm going to go get my suitcase out of the closet!!!!