SCARY!!!

Today, after my last class, I had a few visitors to my classroom. They decided that they would help by cleaning the chalkboards for me. When I turned around I got quite a surprise. The chalkboard was still a bit of a mess but the kids cleaned the erasers for me! They are cute but a bit scary looking...

(first picture) - Say hello to Buitemelo!

(second picture) - Laurencias, Ben and Lukas. These are my boys! I want to take these three home with me. They are so funny and so sweet and come and talk to me as many times as they can manage. I just love these boys!

(third picture) - Here is Ben!

(fourth picture) - Little Lukas. So this boy is nearly eleven years old and is only about two and a half feet tall. He is so cute! He walks four or five km across town, sometimes with Ben and Laurencias, to visit me at my house.

(fifth picture) - Hanging out in the classroom...

Recognize Me?

Check out the pictures a couple of my students have drawn of me for me! I find them quite hilarious and they are most definately going up on the wall in my room! FYI - I do not own a shirt like the one in this first picture! ;-)

Miss Grootfontein Secondary School Show (Miss GSS)

One of the local high schools had a sort of beauty pagent where they chose the Miss GSS, they are like the Prince and Princess of the school. They had a Grease theme which I found hilarious but it was fun because I knew all the songs.

(first picture) - This is the whole group doing "Summer Lovin."

(second picture) - Here is "Grease Lightening"

(third picture) - This is the last song from the carnival.

(fourth picture) - Two of the boys modeling their cool clothes! ;-)

(fifth picture) - This would be the "Sandy" and "Danny" of Namibia.

Fashion Show

During the Miss GSS pagent they had a fashion show that both the men and women participated in. They also had to answer a question before walking the catwalk. Check out the fasion, not bad for Africa!

At The House...

(first picture) - Peter listening to my ipod and reading some book in the backyard. This is a rare sight since he is usually the funniest and most irritating boy around! I love him to pieces though, he keeps us all laughing.

(second picture) - Leticia trying to grow up to fast!

(third picture) - The whole crew over for dinner for our guests, Petra and Alton's, last night before heading back to the city. It was quite a night and quite a meal! ;-)

No shoes on in the house!

Crazy House!

I am beginning to think that these youth are actually living here and creating a mad house. They never leave! ;-) I love it! It is never a boring moment at home and usually it makes for an adventure. Check out the normal activities that happen on a daily basis. Sorry for the side pictures but I think you can get an idea.

Education Day!

Last Friday was the Education Day at school. There was a parade through the streets near the school and then the parents came to the school and watched presentations from each of the classes. The kids were really creative doing dramas, singing, dancing and playing the drums. many of them got really into the program. The day was a celebration of learning which is kind of ironic really at our school but it was good to see the kids getting involved in something and using there creativity. They did a great job!

New Faces

(first picture) - This is Alton and Petria. They are bible students from Windhoek (the capital of Namibi) They are here to do practical studies so they will be following Linda, Hans and me around for the next week working with us in ministry. Alton is staying with Hans and Petria is staying with us. It is interesting to have another person living with us.

(second picture) - This is Hans from Germany. He is staying in Grootfontein for one year to do similar work as Linda and me. He doesn't teach at the school but he does PE with each class once a week.

Visitors!

I have been sick for the last few days and so I did not attend curch this morning. These are some of the hostel girls who also go to the church. They walked all the way from the hostel which is a oupe kms in town to visit me because they knew I was not well. It was really sweet!

TP

We recieved a package today from the states from a friend of Linda's. In it there was a pack of 2-ply toilet paper. I set it next to the Namibian 2-ply toilet paper. Check out the difference!

Witch Doctor

This sign was posted on the community board at the local grocery store. It is an advertisement for a "traditional herbelist." This is just an ad for a witch doctor. Check out the list of things this "doctor" can help with; private parts (man/woman), court cases, business, money buster, bed luck, bewitched, S.T.D. diseases and tokoloshi (ghosts). I particularly like how it says everything is done by spirit and the cost is only N$20 (namibian money) which is less than $3 in the US.

Can they be any cuter?

Noshka, Biven and Given came to visit the other day. They are some of our youngest visitors to the house. They came over to visit the other day and so I got out the balls and the hula hoop and let them out into the backyard. They had a blast playing around. It is a rare treat for them to have the backyard to themselves as their are usually tons of kids out there. It is not often they get to have the toys to play with and no big kids taking their toys away. They are so cute when they come in and say "Hello Auntie Jessica." I usually greet them in Afrikaans and they are so cute when they answer back!

I AM Poems

This week at youth group we had the youth fill out some I AM poems. The topic this week was about Understanding Yourself. Basically it was talking about how we are special and uniquely created by God. Each teen filled out this poem and when I read them tonight many of them touched my heart. Below is one of the poems and after that I have included a few answers from some of the other poems. The bold print is what is written on the poem and the unbold print is what the teen wrote in response.

I AM

I am beautiful and blessed (two special characteristics you have)

I wonder whether I'll find a job (something you are curious about)

I hear the world crying for peace. (an imaginary sound)

I see the nature and its beauty. (an imaginary sight)

I want to go to heaven one day. (an acutual desire)

I am beautiful and blessed (the first line of the poem)

I pretend I am tough (something you actually pretend to do)

I feel sorry for the poor and orpahns (a feeling about something)

I touch many things around me (an imaginary touch)

I worry about those who don't know God (something that really bothers you)

I cry when people spread rumors about me. (something that really bothers you)

I am beautiful and blessed (the first line of the poem)

I understand the pain of being rejected (something you know is true)

I say I believe in God (something you believe in)

I dream to be married to a loving and caring man (something you actually dream about)

I try to help those in suffering when I can (something you really make an effort to do)

I hope to adopt 2 orphans and have 2 of my own (something you actually hope for)

I am beautiful and blessed (the first line of the poem)

Some of the other answers were:

I understand suffering

I worry about my family

I cry because sometimes I feel lonely

I hope I will have a faithful husband (not something most teens really worry about)

I worry about not making the right choices

I want to finish school before I give birth

I feel like nobody cares about me anymore

I understand that in the world you should suffer

I worry about my grand-mom who is sick

I see poor kids eating out of a rubbish bins (garbage can)

I am a very bad person

I dream to become a christian one day

I wonder if I will every get a girlfriend

I am very attractive in the eyes of Jesus

I hope we all go to heaven

I worry if people are my friends

Some of these things are common for all teens around the world but some of these things are not anything I would think of or worry about. It has just reminded me that the teens here have a lot of worries and concerns that have never really thought of. These poems have opened my eyes to some of the things that I need to be praying for these girls and also it helps me to better understand where they are coming from. Please keep them in your prayer.

Suisse...

Tonight, Linda and I had quite a surprise. I know I have shared a lot about the youth kids in our neighborhood who hang out at our house all the time. There are three girls in particular; Suisse, Bina and Sippee, who we call "the girls." I am getting closer to all the youth and occasionally we have some deep conversations but they can be few and far between. Suisse came over tonight and she was really upset and was crying. It took her awhile to calm down enough to tell Linda and I what was going on. Eventually she told us what the problem was and she cried a bit more. When she calmed down she went and got Sippee and Bina to come over and have some dinner and do their homework. By the end of the night she was in a good mood and back to her normal self. This was a really important night for both Linda and I as we realized that the girls have really come to trust us and know that we are safe people for them. It was hard to see Suisse so upset and hurting, I nearly cried myself. There isn't a lot that I can do to change the situation but I am glad Suisse knows she can trust us. She knows that she can come and talk and we will listen and comort her and know that we love her. Please continue to pray as we grow closer to these girls and youth. Pray we can continue to love them particularly when they are difficult and that the Lord will give us wisdom when we are talking with them.

School Work

My grade 5 classes have been studying fractions for the last three weeks. When I say studying I mean we have gone over the concept that the number on the bottom of the fraction is how many pieces total in the fraction and the number shaded pieces is the number on the top of the fraction. It has literally taken us three weeks to go over this and there are still students in my class that don't understand the concept. We are going to move on to number placement next week. We can only spend so much time on one concept. The students who are not really understanding the concept will be coming to class after school twice a week for some more one on one attention. Hopefully it will help. Below are some pictures of our last day of fraction work. I wanted to let them have a little fun with learning so the kids made big fractions to hang up in the classroom. Obviously we haven't gotten to the part about all the pieces being equal amounts. I am learning to take little steps with the students. The fact that they are understanding anything is a great accomplishment and I find simple joy in that fact.

Nightly Ritual...

Please excuse the unflattering picture but here is me on a typical night. After I have gotten home, cooked dinner, helped with homework and managed to get all the youth out of the house, I am pretty exhausted but the night is not over. Pretty much every weeknight I get comfy on the couch with my blanket (cause it is so cold), a cup of tea and my school work. I usually have some papers or books to correct, lessons to plan or lessons to prepare for the next day. If I am not doing school work I am on the computer returning emails or updating my blog. Welcome to my evening! ;-)

Sunday Morning Surprise!

Ileni is one of the teens that lives across the street from me. I have been trying to get him to join us at youth group and church for several weeks now. He came to youth group last week but few kids were there because of the big rugby match on tv. Anyway, I asked him yesterday if he was going to join us in church this morning. He said yes but he always says yes so I didn't think much of it. I told him to be ready and we would be leaving just before eight in the morning. So at 7:15, I hear noise at the front gate. I poked my head out the window and there was Ileni, all nice looking in his good clothes, carrying his New Testament copy of the bible ready to go to church! It was so cute, but I did tell him to come back in about a half hour so I could get ready. I had to take this picture because it was so adorable to see him all ready to go!

Happy Birthday Linda!

Linda's birthday was on Thursday and we celebrated the whole day. The kids sang to Linda several times at school and so did the teachers. We had our church leadership over for tea in the afternoon and a bunch of youth over for dinner. She also recieved like fifteen cards made by the youth and children in the neighborhood. She also recieved a few presents. It was a good day.

(first picture) - Some of the youth pose for a picture with the birthday girl!

(second and third picture) - Linda opening her cards and gifts.

(fourth picture) - Maritha, Linda P. and Marta are three of our church leaders. Marta is the Pastors wife. Linda P. is also an AIM missionary who is an Afrikaaner from South Africa. She is the field leader for Linda (my housemate) and I.

(fifth picture) - Pastor Boet and Anna Marie, two of the church leaders over for tea.