The First Week of School

Michelle and I just completed our first week in the schools and living in Villa El Palqui. It was our first week on our own, having to fend for ourselves to communicate. We live in a small house at the edge of the school in Villa El Palqui. We will live there until December, so it is our home sweet home!

Monday through Friday we work in the school in either Villa El Palqui or El Palqui (a few miles away). Villa has around 250 students, with one class per grade, K-8. El Palqui has around 750 students with three classes per grade K-8. Both of these schools have English teachers, but they are still learning English themselves. Both of the schools see Michelle and I as a huge opportunity for their students and teachers to learn English conversationally and with proper pronunciation.

It is difficult for us to communicate, but as I look back over the last few weeks, we have learned a lot. The people that we work with are very patient with us and attempt as much as they can in English. In the earlier part of this past week, it was hard to see just what we were doing in a little town in the mountains of Chile. There were so many things that seemed like obstacles: we can't speak the language, we don't understand the culture, etc. Yet, as the week continued, God used little things not only to encourage us, but to help us see that He is the one that is doing the work and He wants us to be available and eager to serve in His name. Little things like cooperative students, and successful trips to buy bread, and successful conversations encourage us.

Your prayers for us are so appreciated. Everything is still so new to me that I honestly don't know what to pray for sometimes :)
*Pray for courage. We need courage in so many areas: in relationships, in teaching...
*Pray for the relationships we have begun
*Pray for us to have the attitude of Christ.

This little girl and boy are dancing the "cueca." It is Chile's national dance. You can actually see our little house in the background of the first picture to the far right (there is an open doorway..that is our front door)