SUNday!!!

Yesterday was sunny here. The sun rises again today.
Below is a picture of what I am doing right now.

Eden Simmons House Tour

Come and visit my house by watching the video below.

Warning: Images in this video may disturb you. This video is NOT recommended for children under the age of 16. It was an unusually sunny day here putting Eden into an excited/weird/happy/Richardsimmonsy mood when recording.



I apologize.

Newsletter 2: A Bunch of Lists

Hello Friends!

Let me tell you the things I have learned these last few weeks:

• students at the school I work at are not afraid of stopping by their teachers' homes and staying to chat for over an hour just because they are in the neighborhood
• over 7 people can fit in a taxi
  

• new kindergarteners need to learn that throwing scissors is "not ok"
• my favorite flavor of ice cream is sold here and can be obtained within walking distance of the school (I wasn't sure which list to put this statement under)
• God has taken away my old life and all the things I once looked to for satisfaction only to show me clearly the depths of satisfaction I can find in serving and knowing Him (Isaiah 19)

Pray for me:

• as I decide which church I ought to attend
• as I build relationships with the parents of my students
  

Praise God for:

• the loving staff at the school
• the joy I have getting up every morning and going to work

Because of His grace and through His grace I serve Him.

Thank you all for your care,

Eden

Isaiah 55

1 "Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.

2 Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.

3 Give ear and come to me;
hear me, that your soul may live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
my faithful love promised to David.

Taxi drivers: the World's Underecognized Thespians

I was traveling back home after taking Dale to the airport to fly her out of my life. On the way home I realized how enjoyable it can be to barter with taxi drivers…

Eden: Good evening. How much does it cost to get to…(my destination).
Taxi Driver: (looking a little sheepish) Oh, only 25 little soles…
Eden: (puts on a face of shock) 25 soles??? I normally pay 10.
Taxi Driver: 10? Why that’s so low! (tries to look like I beat him) 20 then.
Eden: (laughs) I won’t pay any more than 15
Taxi Driver: Oh but the traffic!
Eden: 15 is very reasonable
Taxi Driver: Oh but its so far away, Senorita! 18 then.
Eden: 15 and no more.
Taxi Driver: (laughs) Ok then, 15.

Hearing about the taxi driver’s family and business on the way back was just as entertaining - a conversation worth every centimo.

2 Bedtime Stories

Story 1:

Not long after school started, a new student joined one of my classes. She had not yet had the chance to purchase a uniform. For a week she came into class sporting clothes in her own unique style while the rest of the class donned the regular uniform… until today.

I laughed when one of the students noticed and said in a lifeless voice, “You are one of US now.”

Moral: Studies show that uniforms enhance learning. No studies show that uniforms enhance the feeling that you are a part of a creepy cult…yet.


Story 2:

One of my students is forever tired. Every morning it’s the same: he comes into my class, sits down, and then falls asleep on his desk until the bell rings and class starts. I pass him in the hall and he yawns. His name even sounds like the word “Yawn.”

One morning I needed a model for class and asked for a volunteer. No one wanted to be a model. Then, I decided it was time to utilize my sneaky emergency plan.

I held up a blanket and pillow, “this will be for a longer pose, so whoever wants to do it gets to lie down.”

Yawn, expression unchanging, turned around slowly, and rose his hand.
I smiled a crooked smile.


Moral: There is always a way to use the shortcomings of others’ to your advantage.



A photo of the teachers and administration of ICSL is now available! Just look below:

Their Creepy and their Cooky...

Yes, I too am now a fan of yearbookyourself.com.




Wow. Joel should have grown up in the 70's - he can don a turtleneck and long hairstyle like none other.

Maid for us

We have a maid. Her name is Elida. She is about 4'10." She likes to iron.

She comes to our house twice a week.

She washes our sheets, irons them, and puts them on our beds nice and neat.


She rearranges our shoes so that they are not in a jumbled mess in the closet.
She will make us supper.

Sometimes, when she irons pleats in our jeans, she will make us laugh.

When she is done ironing, she puts our folded clothes in piles for us to put in our drawers.
We love Elida.


Quote of the week:
Roomate: (walks in to the room) Guys.....
Rest of us: What?
Roomate: (whispers) So I was just upstairs and Elida ... well ... she even irons our ... UNDERWEAR!!!

Newsletter 1

8-07-08

Hello from Peru!

Today it was both rainy and sunny even though it never rains in Lima and is rarely sunny at this time of the year: fitting weather for my first day of teaching which was full of ups and downs.

I experienced classes of wide eyed kindergartners, over enthusiastic 7th graders, and down-to-earth 12th graders. Already I am beginning to know which students will flourish with whatever assignment they are given, which students will require extra grace, and which students are spiritually lost.

With all of this in mind however, I am so excited about this year. I am a new and unprepared teacher. However I have been learning that though I am the authority in my classroom, God is the one who is ultimately in charge of what happens in it. The unexplainable successes I experienced today are His fault.

So please continue to pray to the one who is in charge on my behalf.

Thank you!

Eden

PS: You know you just became a teacher when… you have a student request you as your friend on facebook. My roommates (also first year teachers) and I are going to start competing and seeing how many students we can get as fb friends. I will keep you informed.

attached photos:
1. me modeling the smocks my grade school students will wear and
2. a panoramic view of my brightly colored art room.

You know you have lived in Peru 3 weeks when:

• You don't stop yourself from kissing your American acquaintances on the cheek when you greet them.
• You start kissing other things

(wait! I can explain! This old Peruvian guy was telling me I had to do it - you can see him in the picture inwardly laughing at how he made the crazy americana do whatever he said).


New experiences this week:

• When you go to a Peruvian grocery store right as it opens, all the workers stand on each side of the entrance in two lines, saying good morning to the first customers. (Customer service is excellent here, so I wasn’t too surprised).
• Speaking of the grocery store. Dale and I learned to watch out for stocker stalkers (I don’t think excellent customer service includes following you home to make sure you make it ok – needless to say we took a different route).
• I had my first taste of wine – at church. I guess they thought they should use the real thing for communion.

Below is a picture of 3 teachers I will be working with being sneezed on by a llama - I did not take the picture but wish I had.