Friday Forgiveness day!June 2017

Friday forgiveness day 

   While teaching a 10 year-old class and Cailene was randomly asked if it hurt to get her ear pierced. She said yes it did and Miguel, only half listening said , " Teacher, did you say you have a tattoo?"  Cailene said, "no, I said my piercing hurt" Meguel with relief in his voice commented, " I thought you said the tattoo hurt and my religion teacher told us that all who get a tattoo are going to hell and I didn't want you to go to hell."   Cailene told the class that God is a God of love and forgiveness and there is nothing that we say or do that God won't forgive if you ask for forgiveness.  Another student said pitched in and agreed that God  is a God of love and forgiveness. The first student agreed and gave the example that if we offend someone God still forgives us. The class grasped the concept of Gods limitless love! 

    As quickly as the subject came up it was over an English class continued.   We praise God for these seeds we get to plan for the questions that come up in the guidance we are able to give our students.   After all life is a classroom and those who remain teachable are always learning.

 There's a lot of research on working with people trapped in the poor mentality which presents a different set of challenges.  This month is single mom we have been having clean the school in exchange for English classes for her two children withdrew her kids from the school.  Her 10-year-old daughter decided she didn't want to study or do homework.  The mom didn't want to insist she do homework or clean her room, eat with her mother serves or do public school homework.

Because the mom didn't finish high school herself, education isn't important and she doesn't choose to put in the effort to bring her kids to school even though she had a great opportunity. 

 We are very disappointed and had several talks to encourage her. Basically she doesn't want to take the time to facilitate her kids learning and she would rather have the whole day Saturday off without any obligations.  So with all the many success stories we have shared and we are very grateful for, there are also some disappointments. This is part of the circle of life. 

 Our school was inspected by the Costa Rica government approval committee. They left us with a list of things we need to do to get the school up to their codes and handicap accessible. When we complete this list they will come and re-inspect us. This added layer of certification and accountability is a wonderful new opportunity for our small rural school to reach out to the community. We appreciate your prayers as Cornelio plows through the volumes of paperwork to complete this process. 

 Cailene is now 4 months  along in her pregnancy and they are eagerly awaiting new baby mid November!

Mekhi's  New favorite thing is to ride his small bicycle that doesn't have pedals he just uses his feet to walk on the ground  and can go pretty fast.

May cheer!

May is here and we want to share some cheer! We are expecting our new addition to the family the beginning of December! We are so happy for this pregnancy.

 

Its rainy season and there has been lots of thunder. Our dogs are always outside except when there is thunder and they are inside on the kitchen floor.

People are like garbage trucks. They carry frustrations, disappointments and anger. Soon it gets all piled up and people feel like they need to dump it on someone else. Don't take it personally. Don't let their garbage get on you or let it fall on others. Learn to smile and let it roll off you. Be like a duck in the water and let the water just roll off you back. Let the garbage, words and actions just roll off your back.  Shake it off. Smile, Love those who treat you right. Pray for those who don't. Life is 10% what you make of it. 90% of how you take it. Stay positive. 

This week Cornelio and I took the government’s highest certification test. The test involved going into a room and two teachers role played as students. I was given a subject to teach and had 40 min to write a lesson plan and then had to present the lesson and teach for 30 minutes. To pass one has to score at least 90% It was the biggest professional challenge I have ever had. Lots of interaction and feedback. Praising God we both passed the test and the government has certified us to teach all levels using their material and we can now offer this at our school. In the future some students can get a government scholarship to take classes. This is a huge step for the school and we are so excited. Please pray for all the upcoming paper work and upgrading of the school to meet codes and requirements.

Blessings,

Cornelio, Cailene and Mekhi

April 2017

April is a month of celebration as we continue to celebrate in the gift of Jesus’ sacrifice and salvation for each one of us.

 

Butterflies can't see their wings. They cannot see how beautiful they are. Our students are like that butterfly. As teachers we like the challenge of trying to help them see their worth, their beauty and their potential.

 

This is the ladies group that Cailene started. Cailene is teaching them how to knit so they can sell their products and have their own income. They are learning how to knit their first hats.

"Faith is like Wi Fi, it’s invisible but it has the power to connect you to what you need"

Rick Warner said, "I was asked what is the best translation of the Bible? My answer was when you translated into your life. If you're not translating God's word into your life you're not studying the Bible the way God intended."

How do you see God using the Bible to transform your life?

May God bless you and encourage this month!

Cornelio, Cailene, and Mekhi

March Collage 2017

We took a day trip hike up the creek.          This spider was in our living room.  

We are teaching the emotions: happy, sad, angry, mad, Our students drew a face on a balloon make a face showing each emotion. It was a fun hands on activity and great way to practice review the emotions.

 Cornelio built a chicken coop and Mekhi enjoys feeding them. 

Cailene started a music group. It is made up of friends from different churches. The purpose is to get together and practice worship songs. The group enjoyed getting together so much they decided to make this a monthly event. They look  forward to learning new worship songs and helping each other be accountable to practice music and to be praying for each other.

Cornelio was the translator in some classes for martial arts. 

''If you would like to contribute to our school here's how. 

Thank you for your support!

ONE TIME DONATION

MONTHLY SUPPORT

Option 1 : $10.00 USD - monthly  Option 2 : $25.00 USD - monthly  Option 3 : $50.00 USD - monthly  Option 4 : $100.00 USD - monthly  Option 5 : $200.00 USD - monthly

 

February 2017

Valentine’s Day is just a day that
give each of us a time to express love and appreciation to the people God has put into our lives.

We try to give our students a craft to make a card for their parents and others who have encouraged them. We think gratefulness is a taught thing and must be practiced and students show ways to express gratitude. In this busy world of texting and immediate gratification taking time to personally make an effort to give a personal card with words of love and appreciation is becoming a lost art. This goes for all ages and parents not only appreciate this but are taking it a step farther and in a few cases doing it themselves.

Cornelio encourages others also and it is through his exercises and teaching self discipline and being a strong male role model that opens hearts and minds to receive what Jesus wants us to be using all our skills and all our talents and bettering ourselves so we can be more productive and helpful to our family and friends. It is not about just our self, it is about growing the ones around us that gives us true happiness and a feeling of purpose and self worth. This must be taught because our human selfish nature wants us to stay self absorbed. We are grateful for this new out let to reach a mostly unchurched group. Lots of conversations and many questions from these young men in training.

Lets take extra time this month and purpose to thank several people and share our heart felt gratitude. We want to tell them how thankful we are for how God used them to encourage and love us when we needed it most. 

 .