Hola, friends.
I'm so sorry that it has taken me so long to post any updates from Bogotá. I definitely feel like I hit the ground running (with staff training at ECA and then the start of school) and then I started to feel like if I blogged or wrote an email update it would have to be a mile long to fit everything in...and I don't think everyone has the time to read that. Of course I still want to share what's happening here, though, so I'm going to try to make this manageable. This post will consist of some pictures with short blurbs, hopefully giving a few glimpses of what life is like for me here.
School
I often can't believe it, but I actually have a classroom! You should have seen me when I saw the sign outside the door that says "2nd Grade, Miss Sickles." And more importantly, there are 22 second graders who started school on August 7th, and I am blessed to be their teacher. I have to be honest that I am feeling a lot of challenges in my role as a first year teacher, especially in a culture different than my own, but I love the group of kids and El Camino Academy, and am praying that God will grow me this year through the joys and challenges.
(P.S. These pictures were taken before school started, so the room looks different now, but these at least give an idea!)
Living Situation
I get to live in an apartment in the northern part of the city with the lovely ladies pictured above...from left to right they are Lauren, Megan, and Allie. Lauren and Megan have served at ECA for a year already, and Allie and I are newbies. There is plenty of silliness and frequent jam sessions at our apartment, but these girls are also already a huge spiritual encouragement and I'm really blessed to have them. (And thanks Allie for the photo snatched from Facebook!)
Impressions of Bogotá
This picture was taken from a moving bus, but it at least gives some idea of how sprawling Bogotá is, and the fact that mountains are visible from most areas in the city (I LOVE that). There is still so much of the city that I haven't seen, and I have much to learn...I have seen very wealthy parts of the city and also played with kids who live in a very poor neighborhood where prostitution is tolerated and common. I am meeting wonderful and loving people and also learning how to be street-smart on public buses. I have learned more of the history of this country with deep wounds but have also seen how God is at work here. More on all of this later, but please pray with me that that work will continue and that the Lord will use me in it however He sees fit.
Prado
Last weekend was a long weekend due to a Catholic holiday on Monday, so a number of ECA teachers traveled to another departamento (equivalent of state...Bogotá is in Cundinamarca, for your geographical knowledge) called Tolima to stay in a place called Prado. It's officially about a six-hour drive, but it took us closer to ten due to traffic on Friday night. It was worth it, though, because the place was breathtaking. The weekend involved rustic accommodations, one bat scare, lots of sunscreen and bugspray, time spent with new friends, our own church service with a few local believers, lots of swimming, boat rides, and some cliff-jumping (I only did the last thing once, and not from very high, but still). After a whirlwind start at school with training and teaching, I was thankful for the chance to marvel at God's creation. He is so, so good.
Prayer Requests
I could go on sharing for awhile, but like I said, I want to keep this manageable. Those of you who pray, please pray for me in the following ways:
*For my teaching and my students. Please pray that God will grow me in the ways needed for these precious kids to be taught well...I need patience, discipline, wisdom, and love from Him in my heart to do this. Pray that our group will be closely knit together with love.
*For ECA. Pray that God's work will be done here, and please specifically pray that God will bring a high school Social Studies teacher to the school to fill a position that is still open. (If any of you reading are interested...let me know!!!!!!)
*Please pray that God will strengthen my relationships here, both with fellow missionaries and new Colombian acquaintances.
*Please pray that I will find a church to get connected with.
*Finally, please pray that I will be more faithful than I have been in keeping in touch with my network back home!
I really am so thankful for all of you. As always, please email or comment with any questions for me or updates from your end of things.
Bendiciones,
Kelli
I'm so sorry that it has taken me so long to post any updates from Bogotá. I definitely feel like I hit the ground running (with staff training at ECA and then the start of school) and then I started to feel like if I blogged or wrote an email update it would have to be a mile long to fit everything in...and I don't think everyone has the time to read that. Of course I still want to share what's happening here, though, so I'm going to try to make this manageable. This post will consist of some pictures with short blurbs, hopefully giving a few glimpses of what life is like for me here.
School
I often can't believe it, but I actually have a classroom! You should have seen me when I saw the sign outside the door that says "2nd Grade, Miss Sickles." And more importantly, there are 22 second graders who started school on August 7th, and I am blessed to be their teacher. I have to be honest that I am feeling a lot of challenges in my role as a first year teacher, especially in a culture different than my own, but I love the group of kids and El Camino Academy, and am praying that God will grow me this year through the joys and challenges.
(P.S. These pictures were taken before school started, so the room looks different now, but these at least give an idea!)
Living Situation
I get to live in an apartment in the northern part of the city with the lovely ladies pictured above...from left to right they are Lauren, Megan, and Allie. Lauren and Megan have served at ECA for a year already, and Allie and I are newbies. There is plenty of silliness and frequent jam sessions at our apartment, but these girls are also already a huge spiritual encouragement and I'm really blessed to have them. (And thanks Allie for the photo snatched from Facebook!)
Impressions of Bogotá
Prado
Last weekend was a long weekend due to a Catholic holiday on Monday, so a number of ECA teachers traveled to another departamento (equivalent of state...Bogotá is in Cundinamarca, for your geographical knowledge) called Tolima to stay in a place called Prado. It's officially about a six-hour drive, but it took us closer to ten due to traffic on Friday night. It was worth it, though, because the place was breathtaking. The weekend involved rustic accommodations, one bat scare, lots of sunscreen and bugspray, time spent with new friends, our own church service with a few local believers, lots of swimming, boat rides, and some cliff-jumping (I only did the last thing once, and not from very high, but still). After a whirlwind start at school with training and teaching, I was thankful for the chance to marvel at God's creation. He is so, so good.
Prayer Requests
I could go on sharing for awhile, but like I said, I want to keep this manageable. Those of you who pray, please pray for me in the following ways:
*For my teaching and my students. Please pray that God will grow me in the ways needed for these precious kids to be taught well...I need patience, discipline, wisdom, and love from Him in my heart to do this. Pray that our group will be closely knit together with love.
*For ECA. Pray that God's work will be done here, and please specifically pray that God will bring a high school Social Studies teacher to the school to fill a position that is still open. (If any of you reading are interested...let me know!!!!!!)
*Please pray that God will strengthen my relationships here, both with fellow missionaries and new Colombian acquaintances.
*Please pray that I will find a church to get connected with.
*Finally, please pray that I will be more faithful than I have been in keeping in touch with my network back home!
I really am so thankful for all of you. As always, please email or comment with any questions for me or updates from your end of things.
Bendiciones,
Kelli
