A Note From Lisa

Things that have made me smile.

2008-10-06T12:09:00.007+08:00

1. Adam and I went to a Friday night high school football game and many of our youth kids came up and talked to us.
2. Being able to hang out with Megan and Malerie twice in three days.
3. The Brewers made it to the play-offs.
4. Going to Salisbury with Adam and Megan to spend a gift card at Bed, Bath, and Beyond.
5. Only 25 days until I get married!
6. Having Communion at church.
7. Finding out my brother and nephew can make it to my wedding all the way from Alaska!
8. My wonderful fiance letting me watch Amazing Race and Army Wives all in the same night when he could have been watching football!
9. Laughing with good friends at movie night. Touchdown! :)
10. Monday night family dinner at my parents.

My Time Away

2008-08-12T03:58:00.013+08:00

For four weeks this summer, I had the privilege of once again traveling to Bangkok, Thailand. I was there in the summer of 2006 to start my master's degree. This time I went to finish my master's degree. Philadelphia Biblical University has an amazing education department that allows teachers living overseas to travel to either Bangkok, Thailand or Kanderam, Germany to work towards a master's degree in education. At the time I started I was teaching in Mongolia, and it was a great opportunity to start my degree and receive credits for renewing my teaching certification without having to travel all the way back to the States. This last year, I was in Delaware and was able to commute up to the main campus in Langhorne, PA (about 15min. north of Philly). The Lord blessed me and allowed me to go back to Bangkok this summer to graduate with my original class! It was so neat to catch up with them and to see Bangkok again! I'm including some pictures to allow you to catch a glimpse of my stay!

Thailand

2008-08-12T03:58:00.010+08:00

The school

My classmates

The Floating Market

I was introduced to yummy Lebanese food!

The gardens are beautiful!

And of course rainy season!

The Big News!

2008-06-12T02:24:00.007+08:00

Yes, two posts in the same day! Amazing isn't it! Well, I do have some news to share with everyone. I am engaged! Many know that I have been dating Adam since October. We meet last summer at church. He is originally from Wisconsin and moved to Delaware in May '07 to take the associate pastor position at my parent's church. I was in Mongolia teaching missionary kids and moved back to the States in July '07 to work on my master's degree. I started attending church with my parents. We met their and became friends. In October we began dating. I went to Wisconsin to meet his family the end of January. The week after Easter, he came down to North Carolina to meet my extended family and down to Toccoa, Georgia to meet some good friends of mine from college (I lived in Toccoa for five years going to college and teaching). While in Toccoa, he proposed and I accepted! We will be getting married on November 1 at our church here in Delaware. We are so excited and blessed! It's amazing to look back and see how the Lord brought us together at just the right moment!

At the moment we are here with the church. We work alot with the youth group and the 20's (college and career type group). We're open to going overseas at some point to work at a school or moving on to another church. We're waiting and seeing what the Lord has in store for us!

The Substitute

2008-06-12T02:24:00.003+08:00

Okay, So maybe blogging wasn't the best thing for me to start up! It takes me months and months to write a single blog! These last few months have been pretty busy and I'll get into it all in the next few blogs--it's going to take a few!

One thing I have been doing over the last year is substitute teaching. Its much different then regular teaching. No lesson planning, no paper grading, no staff meetings, no parent/teacher conferences, etc. After four years of having to do everything, it was quite refreshing! Plus, you got to see many different classrooms and see how different teachers run their classrooms. You get to meet many different kids of all ages.

I did most of my substituting in the same district. I pretty much rotated between four elementary schools. One of the schools was a special education school. I was their ALOT because it's so hard for them to find substitutes. What a joy to work with these kids. Kids with all sorts of disabilities of all ages attend this school. I was a little nervous at the beginning, but once I got going and got to know the kids and staff, it really was a joy to go and be with these kids for a day. They are very loving and accepting of everyone. I enjoyed it alot and learned so much about disabilities and special education. This school also has off site classrooms around the district for kids who aren't as severe. Another school I was at quite a bit was for one of these off site classrooms. It was neat to see how the kids interacted with other kids and how they were mainstreamed into a "regular" classroom setting.

There were two other elementary schools I was at pretty regularly. It was neat to be able to get to know some of the kids. They have pretty good memories and it's neat to be able to talk to some of them in the hallway or the cafeteria after you've subbed in their classroom. There was one class that I became the regular sub. for. I was in there five or six times over the year and they became "my kids".

I will be subbing again next year. I would like to continue on in this same district, but I am moving and it will be a longer commute to the schools. With the gas prices as they are, I'm not sure it's the best thing. I'll have to see how it goes. I will be starting over in a new district and it's going to be a whole new system to learn. But, I'm sure the Lord will provide!

Seven Facts About Me

2008-01-20T02:55:00.000+08:00

The Rules:
1. Link to the person who tagged you (Amy) and post the rules on your blog.
2.Share 7 facts about yourself.
3. Tag 7 random people at the end of your blog and include links to their blogs.

Here Goes!

Fact #1: I LOVE chai tea!
Fact #2: I saw Phantom of the Opera (on stage) for the first time a week ago and loved it!
Fact #3: In August, I will have a new neice or nephew!
Fact #4: I can play the flute.
Fact #5: I HATE eggs!
Fact #6: I pull on my ears when I am tired.
Fact #7: I'd like to ride on a hot air balloon.

Lisa Who?

2007-12-17T02:51:00.000+08:00

Wow! Has it really been three months since I've last blogged? It doesn't seem possible--life has just been flying by. Much has happened in such a seemingly short period of time. God has truly blessed me these last months and I am so grateful for His provision and care in my life!

First, I have finished my first semester of school and have done well. I had two classes this semester. The first one was Philosophy of Education, which I loved. The professor was amazing and we had some great talks about teaching and incorporating our faith into it. The second class was Intro. to Second Language Acquisition, which I didn't like quite as much but it was still enjoyable. It was a class about how people learn a second language and to teach a second language. It was a very busy semester with ALOT of reading, writing, and studying. But, I made it through and have gotten back in the swing of being a student again. My next class is a Winterium class starting January 3. It's Global Trends in Education and I'm looking forward to it very much--getting into my concentration and passion a little bit. :)

Second, I have been truly been blessed by my church up here. I was a little iffy about not having a Church "home" up here in the north. Well, the Lord has blessed me with an amazing church that has truly become home. The Lord has challenged me through the teaching and they have welcomed me in with open arms. I have made several very good friends that have made my life so much fuller and sweeter. I have gotten involved with the Pioneer kids club teaching first and second graders on Wednesday nights and helping with the youth here and there when they need me. It's been fun to get to know these kids and see how they are growing. It's been a little out of my comfort zone to jump right into it, but I'm glad I did. They are a joy to work with! I have also just started heading up the Alliance Women's group here. It's a group of women that get together once a month to pray and support our missionaries. I'm very excited about this because I know what an important ministry it is!

The third will come as a slight surprise for most, but it's a good one. I am dating someone! His name is Adam and is the assistant pastor at church (Yes, a pastor! I can just hear all the gasps!). We met at church back in July and became friends. Then about two months ago, we started dating. We've been enjoying getting to know each other and just waiting and seeing where the Lord leads.

One bittersweet thing has come about in all of this. Over the last few months, I've been praying about going back to Mongolia next summer. It's been a difficult decision, but the Lord has very clearly closed the door on Mongolia. He still is leading me overseas, but not back in Mongolia. It's a bit sad as I miss my kids ALOT!! To realize I won't be going back to them is hard. But, I know that the Lord has other things and will lead me when the time is right. Please pray that I will be able to truly trust God and seek His face!

For the moment I'm enjoying being home and with my family for the first time in four years! Yea God!

The Drive Through

2007-09-20T01:17:00.000+08:00

Drive through windows are very common. They're everywhere. I have seen them at resturants, banks, dry cleaners, and pharmacys. Last night I saw a new one. I was dropping off a book at the Kent County Library via the book drop (it was after hours). Now, this is a library that I have just "discovered'. It has recently moved to a new building that is bigger and more easily accessible to the general public (meaning, closer to MY house). I also recently found out that I can use my Dover Library card at the Kent County Library. This makes me happy knowing I now have TWO libraries close by to explore. Well, as I was driving out, low and behold I found a drive through window on the back of the building!!! There was a sign that explained that you could use the window to drop off books, or to pick up books (call them in early or just show up and wait). Now, I do understand that if you know what book you want, it can be easier to call ahead and have it ready to zip right through to pick it up. My point is, WHAT FUN IS THAT? The fun of going to a library is to be able to explore. To be able to go around and study the books, see what is new, see what you have missed before, and just to be able to be surrounded by a million great books. I love going in and finding things I wasn't expecting. I always come out with more then I went in to find. Finding a drive through at a library is a little disappointing. Everyone should have the experience of walking through the rows of books and losing track of time because there is just too much to see. Try it, it would definitely be worth it!

Life is a Highway......

2007-08-31T23:42:00.000+08:00

I have seen the highway much more then I prefer over the last eight weeks. In those eight weeks I have visited six different states--Delaware, Pennsylvania, Alaska, Washington, North Carolina, and Georgia, and have driven through countless other states. I thank the Lord for allowing me not to get lost, and for allowing my car to make it to each destination. I tend to worry about getting lost quite a bit as I'm not good with directions and maps (on my list of qualifications for a husband!) and my car is to the point of wanting to die at any moment.

Despite my directionally challenged, car encouraging (think, The Little Engine that Could) driving, it was a wonderful time of catching up with family and old friends. I was able to spend time with people I haven't seen in two, sometimes four years. I was able to meet my beautiful nephew, spend time with spouses and children of friends who I haven't met or known very well before, hang out with friends and family reminiscing about times past and catching up on their lives, worship in my own language, and just see what God has been doing in the last couple years! It's been wonderful and I thank the Lord for allowing me these weeks to play before having to settle down with school.

There's No Place Like Home

2007-07-14T05:18:00.000+08:00

Wow! It's good to back--really good! The last two months have been crazy. Finishing up school, packing, saying good-byes, parents visiting, touring Beijing, getting home, unpacking, doctor's appointments, saying hellos, etc. I've got some more traveling to do. In the next month I'll be in Alaska, North Carolina, and Georgia. I can't wait!! I'll be able to see my brother and sister-in-law whom I haven't seen in four years, meet my nephew and see some good friends. I'm so psyched! :) I was ready to be back and get going on all of this craziness.
It is odd though to be driving again, to have a Super Wal-Mart right up the street, to be able to understand what someone is saying the first time around, to have toilet paper in the bathrooms, and probably most of all to be living with somebody again (don't worry it's my parents!). Give me a couple more weeks to have everything sink in a little bit more of being in a life that is totally different then the one I was living for the last four years.

7 Wonders of the World

2007-07-13T10:35:00.000+08:00

It was announced over the last week in Portugal that there are 7 new Wonders of the World. Six out of the seven Ancient Wonders have all disappeared (the pyramids in Egypt are the only Ancient Wonder that still exists) and so seven new ones have been pronounced. Check them out at http://www.new7wonders.com/. I would have liked to see the Stonehenge listed, but the masses have spoken. :)

Darhan MK School '03-'07

2007-06-09T22:40:00.000+08:00

For the last four years I have had the privilege of teaching the eleven students shown above (four girls are shown in both pictures). I have seen them grow in so many different areas and it's been a joy to watch. They have really been the ones doing the teaching and have pushed me to grow and become a better teacher and person. As I am preparing to leave and begin a new part of my life, I look back and see how God has blessed me through each one of them. I have been honored to teach them and be a part of their lives for a short time. I will miss them terribly and they had better keep in contact with me! :)

The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make His face shine upon you and give you peace.

And may you love Jesus more then anything else!

I love you guys!

Miss. Lisa

2007-06-05T19:52:00.002+08:00

I would like to introduce my nephew, Micah Lawerence Sevast. He was born to my brother and sister-in-law, Michael and Julie Sevast, on May 29, 2007. Welcome to the world little one!

The Lord bless you and keep you;

the Lord make his face shine upon you

and be gracious to you

the Lord turn His face toward you

and give you peace.

Numbers 6:24-26

Snood

2007-06-05T19:52:00.000+08:00

Does anyone remember the computer game, Snood? It's a tetras like game that was really big when I was in college. I haven't played it in probably a couple years. Well, a student of mine came in to school one day a couple weeks ago and was talking about this game she "just discovered" called Snood!! Well, I immediately jumped on the computer that night and downloaded Snood. Now, I find myself re addicted to it. How did I live without Snood for all those years? :)

Happy Spring!

2007-04-14T13:04:00.000+08:00

Usually people get pretty excited about spring to arrive. I know I do--warmer weather, blooming flowers, school ending, etc. But since coming to Mongolia the excitement has toned down little bit. Spring isn't particularly a pretty thing here. The other seasons can be beautiful, but spring is a little off. This is when the country turns into one big mud puddle because of all the melting ice and snow. This also when the dust storms arrive. Just out of nowhere comes wind and dust. Your house will be filled with dust for two months. AAA!!

It can get pretty the closer to summer it gets. It does get warm. And GREEN! That is something to get excited about-- green instead of white or brown. This is also the time when Mongolians get a moving itch. Mongolians are a nomadic people and this is the time to start moving to the spring/summer spot. It's pretty cool to watch a Ger be taken down, moved, and put back up. The picture above is of a Ger being moved. The town in the background is where I live--Darhan. Don't think I could do it--moving every season. But in a way I do---I move in God's seasons. When one season ends, He moves on to another season. Huh.

Bayasaa Part 2

2007-03-16T21:06:00.000+08:00

I wanted to give an update on Bayasaa. A couple posts ago I wrote about Jeremy and Krista Fields adopting a Mongolian girl named Bayasaa. Well, it has finally gone through!!! Yea!! Bayasaa came to live with the Fields this week--just in time for her 2nd birthday today. We're all pretty excited about it. There are still a few things to do to finalize her citizenship--she'll be able to have duel Mongolian/American citizenship. But all in all--it's done! Yea God!

Introducing.....

2007-02-20T15:21:00.001+08:00

I'd want to take a chance and introduce the C&MA team here in Mongolia. The picture on the top is the team at Thanksgiving. There are six older (between 7th and 11th grade) children who are were at boarding school in Taiwan at the time of that picture. The picture on the bottom is of those six older kids plus a few of the younger ones.
I have the incredible privilege of working with some pretty amazing people. They have huge hearts for God, and for people, particularly Mongolia. I love to see them in action as they share God's love with the people surrounding them. I have learned so much about how to really serve and to love people from watching them. They have challenged my faith in the Lord--to grow, be stretched, and to KNOW the living God. I am grateful that I have had the privilege to work with them for the last four years. They have filled my life with joy. I look back and see the years filled with potlucks and movies, joy and pain, tears and laughter, business meetings and prayer gatherings, spontaneous times of worship, camp-outs and on and on. I have grown because of them. I have been pushed outside of my comfort zone because of them. I am not the same person I was four years ago, and much of that is because of them. I praise God for this blessing.

Happy New Year!

2007-02-20T15:21:00.000+08:00

This week is Lunar New Year. People all over Asia are celebrating. Here in Mongolia it's called Tsagaan Sar--White Month. It started on Sunday and will carry on through Tuesday or Wednesday. It's amazing to see Mongolians get ready for it. This is the most important holiday of the year. It's like Christmas for them. For a couple weeks ahead of time, you can see Mongolians outside beating their rugs, crowding into the market to buy POUNDS of meat and gifts, getting out their dehls (traditional clothes), and getting ready for the general mayhem of the holiday. The first day of the holiday is mainly for the family and the next few days is for friends. You visit houses, eat tons of botz (a meat dumpling which they'll make a couple thousand of), drink gallons of salty milk tea, receive gifts (the host family gives out gifts to all visitors), and move onto the next house. It's a great time to visit and see family and friends you might not see the rest of the year.
I had the privilege of visiting the small town of Zunghara. Myself and four of my teammates went Sunday morning on the train--a three hour trip. We visited our small church and then spent the afternoon visiting the homes of the church members and then raced back for the evening train to head back home. It was a very long day but rewarding to have spent time fellowshipping with teammates and new friends. Since I had no school on Monday and Tuesday because of the holiday, I was able to visit some homes of a few friends here in Darhan. At the end of the day, I am tired but blessed to have been able to be welcomed into the homes and lives of people I have the privilege to call not only friends but family in Christ.

Snail Mail

2007-02-17T13:54:00.000+08:00

You know there is nothing like good 'ole snail mail. It's so sad that it's going out of fashion. There's nothing like going to the post office and finding out you have a letter. That special feeling---holding on to something that somebody actually took the time to sit down and write, put in an envelope, take to the post office and spend money on to mail to you! How great is that! I love letter writing--unfortunately I along with so many other people don't keep up with it because of technology. There's just something about sitting down and writing to someone in your own little style. I love the pens, stationary, stickers, etc. that can go with it all.
This is something that I have always done with my students. Teach, or try to, the art of the letter. It started out as a language lesson, but has evolved into a life lesson. We write to friends, family, kids at boarding school, missionaries, pen pals, etc. Many of my kids (well the girls) share in the love of all things stationary, so it's not a big jump to actually use that love. It's been great to share in their joy of getting a letter back from someone, and then wanting to sit down and write right back to them. It's a fun thing that we can all get into. Something that we, for a minute, can share with the old days (it's a great lesson on the Pony Express) before text messaging, blogging, e-mailing, chatting on IM, etc.
My challenge to you is to actually take that break from technology, sit down with a pen and paper, and write some words to an old friend. Possibly you'll get a letter back and be able to share in that special feeling of getting a letter.

Bayasaa

2007-02-04T21:20:00.001+08:00

This is Bayasaa (Buy-sa). Two of my teamates, Jeremy(shown in the picture) and Krista Fields, have been in the process of adopting her for the last year and half. It's been a long, hard process because the requirments are always changing. They are finally in the last stage--waiting for the last commitee's approval. After that they can go to the American Embassy in Seoul, Korea and get the last bit of paper work finished. The Fields hope to have the approval by the time they head to the States for the summer, so they can do the paper work in Korea on the way. Please join in our prayers that the approval will happen! Also, pray for a smooth transition for Bayasaa. It will be quite a change for the whole family, and I know they will appreciate all of our prayers in the coming months.

P.S.--Thanks to all who helped me put my first picture on the blog!

Pictures

2007-01-12T17:27:00.000+08:00

Okay, here's the deal. The reason I do not have pictures on my blog is.........I have NO IDEA how to do it. I've been on the help page and I don't understand it. So, someone should write, or better yet call, or even better come over and explain/show me how to do it! :)

It makes me sad because I love pictures. I love taking them, looking them, going through old ones and reminiscing about the time they were taken. Most of all, I love picture frames. LOVE them! I have so many picture frames. Much more then I will EVER need. If you ever need to give me a gift--just give me a picture frame.

P.S.--Just to let you know it is currently -38 Fahrenheit here.

Renascence by Edna St. Vincent Millay

2006-12-30T21:06:00.000+08:00

The world stands out on either side
No wider than the heart is wide;
Above the world is stretched the sky,-
No higher than the soul is high.
The heart can push the sea and land
Farther away on either hand;
The soul can split the sky in two,
And let the face of God shine through.
But East and West will pinch the heart
That can not keep them pushed apart;
And he whose soul is flat--the sky
will cave in on him by and by.

This is the last stanza in "Renascence" by Edna St. Vincent Millay. It has stuck with me ever since I first read it a few years ago. I think it's beautiful. The whole poem says a lot about people (and God). I recommend you read it if you can.

Much Ado About Nothing

2006-12-29T14:09:00.000+08:00

Well, that was Christmas in Mongolia. Christmas is not celebrated or known very much here. It has gotten more recognition over the years because of the Western/Christian influence, but it's not a big deal. December 25 is just another day. But it's really nice to have a quiet Christmas to be able to really focus on Christ. There isn't all the hoopla and commercialism around it. We can sit back and really have Christ as the center. I'm going to go through culture shock next year when I'm back in the States for the holidays and have to rush around and worry about presents, family gatherings, etc. I like to be able to just relax and have a day to really be able to worship.
Now New Year's is a whole different story! That is where the hoopla is--fireworks, food, presents, decorations, gatherings, etc. It's fun to have a chance to party a little after the rest and quiet! :) Plus it gives us a little extra time to listen to Christmas music. :)

I have had the last two weeks off of school. It's been great! This first half of the year has been incredibly busy and crazy. School wise, I do believe this has been the hardest year yet. It's never ending. We had a three day weekend at Thanksgiving, but it was full of Team meetings and gatherings. So, it's been nice to have two full weeks of nothing. I spent a week in the city with some friends and then the last week at home. I love the peace and quiet of being home. On January 2, I'll head back into school and into the second half of craziness. But, you know I wouldn't trade this for anything. It's been a huge blessing. I'm learning how to ask for help, and that it's not a weakness. All in all I'm thankful for the craziness and noise as much as I am thankful for the peace and stillness. Who would have thought.

Tagged!

2006-11-04T22:03:00.000+08:00

I've been tagged by my friend Amy to do this. It's my first time doing it. If you haven't been tagged, please take it and do it anyways! I'd love to hear/read your answers!

1. Three things that scare me:
- Being lost--especially in the middle of nowhere by myself.
- Rodents
- Intruders

2. Three people who make me laugh:
- My student, YeBin
- My friend Junhy
- The actor Steve Zahn

3. Three things I hate the most:
- Eggs
- Dirty/messy homes/schools
- Last minute changes

4. Three things I don't understand:
- Science
- People who don't discipline their children
- Words to a lot of rap/heavy metal songs

5. Three things I'm doing right now:
- Typing this out
- Drinking iced tea
- Washing clothes

6. Three things I want to do before I die:
- Visit New Zealand
- Ride in a hot air balloon
.- Visit Prince Edward Island and go to the Green Gables house that was used in the movie Anne of Green Gables

7. Three things I can do:
- Play flute
- Do cartwheels
- Live alone in another country

8. Three ways to describe my personality:
- Introverted
- Home body
-Laid back

9. Three things I can't do:
- Roll my r's
- Roll my tongue
- Do the Star Trek Volcan sign with my hands

10. Three things I think you should listen to:
- God.
- Children (you should listen to Kathy Koch as she talks about this!)
- Friends who practice worship music on guitar (I've had the privilege of living with or near people who played guitar and helped to lead worship. I love to listen to them as they sat on the couch, their bed, on the porch, etc. and practiced songs to lead in worship.)

11. Three things you should never listen to:
- Chinese Opera
- Mongolian hip-hop
- Peer pressure

12. Three things I'd like to learn:
- To play guitar
- To play the piano
- Sign Language

13. Three favorite foods:
-Mexican
- Hamburgers
- Chili

14. Three beverages I drink regularly:
- Sweet Iced Tea
- Coke/Vanilla Coke/Cherry Coke
- Water

15. Three shows I watched as a kid:
- Cosby Show
- Whose The Boss?
- Saved By the Bell

16. Three people I'm tagging (to do this):
-Mindy

Open House

2006-11-03T21:47:00.000+08:00

Today was the first Open House of the year. Open House happens four times a year--at the end of each quarter. It is a time for me, the teacher to give out report cards and talk to parents about how their child is doing in school. It is a chance for the students to show off how they are doing in school. We say verses, sing songs, recite poems, play games, perform skits, and at the end have a snack and fellowship time together. It's a great time for us all to get together and see what has been going on with the kids and each other. The kids did great today. We said the books of the New testament, sang a couple songs, played some review games, and performed a short skit of Pocahontas and John Smith. It was really great. I'm so proud of them. Yea to them!
This theme of Open House is something that God has actually been speaking to me about. The fact that I need to have and be more of an Open House. I tend to hold back and not talk about what's really going on. I also tend to be more of a Martha when it comes to having people in my home--I worry to much about having it clean and fixed up, whether I have enough food, etc. I am trying to take it slow and be more open with my home and life. Now, I don't think I need to totally change, but their does need some change of letting people know who I really am and what's going on with me. It's really tough to change, but when God starts to speak, then something needs to happen. Having an Open House with God is more important then staying comfortable.

Auntie Me!

2006-09-28T21:14:00.000+09:00

As of May 2007 I will be officially Auntie Lisa! Isn't that great news. My older brother and his wife, Mike and Julie, will be having a baby! Yea for them! :)

New Name Anyone?

2006-09-24T14:07:00.000+09:00

I admit that I swiped this off my friend Nikki's blog. I thought it was hilarious, so I decided to put it up on my. Pick one and share!

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet and current street name)-Asher Cedarfield

2. YOUR "FLY Guy/Girl" NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your middle name)-E.Daw (I'm using my first name Elisabeth on these and not my nickname Lisa)

3. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal)- Blue Elephant

4. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born)- Dawn Greensboro

5. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first name, first 2 letters of mom's maiden)- Sevelsi

6. SUPERHERO NAME: ("The", your favorite color, favorite drink)- The Blue Margrita or The Blue Tea (my understanding is drink is referring to alcholic, but I'll put both alcholic and non-alcholic on this)

7. NASCAR NAME: (the first name of both your grandfathers)- William Larry

8. FUTURISTIC NAME: ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne and the name of your favorite kind of shoes)- Moonlight Keds

9.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother & father's middle name )- Dawn Lawarence

School Days

2006-09-10T13:21:00.000+09:00

Don't you love the beginning of school? New pencils, changing leaves, notebooks, chalkboards, seeing old friends, etc. How lovely! On August 28 I started my first day of school for the year. Amazing how this is my fifth year of teaching. Where has the time gone? This year is going to be very challenging. I have nine students in four grades. That alone would not be hard, but I also have different levels of student learning within a grade plus different levels of English. They know English, but they're all not on the same level. It's going to be a roller coaster of being able to fit all of these together. Fortunately I have an assistant this year! Yea for Kristen! She is a God send! Thank you for coming to my rescue! Even with the difficulty of teaching this year, I know that I will love it. I love working with MK's (missionary kids). They're a breed all of their own. I have so much fun with them. They have so many experiences, and look at the world so different then I do. It's a learning process. Thanks to them for teaching me!

Moving

2006-08-16T17:22:00.000+09:00

Today I moved into a new apartment. I've spent the whole day moving things, cleaning, unpacking, sorting, exploring, etc. It's been fun. I've found that I hate the packing and moving. I do however love the unpacking. There's this strange relaxing element about it. To be able to in some small way change your life. Your able to rearrange, and start new and fresh. Okay, so I'm only moved next door, but it's new and different. I like it. I also like having all the people come over and help. Some clean, some unpack, some carry, and some sing and dance. It's all done in about three different languages. How cool is that. I could do it once a year. It helps that I don't own anything. I think I'm going to make pasta and watch What A Girl Wants in my new apartment today. :)

Brokedown apartment

2006-07-29T17:04:00.000+09:00

I'm going to just rant for a minute here. I hate it when things break down. How inconvenient! I have just spent the last hour cleaning up a flooded kitchen because the water hose in the washing machine has a hole in it. I was not happy! I also have a broken window, a leaking ceiling from the upstairs apartment's bathroom, and an out of wack dresser drawer. I just don't understand how things know to start going all at once! It'll take at least a week to get everything back in order. I know that it's part of life and particularly more so in Mongolia. Just a little frustrating to deal with. I guess I'm still more American then I thought---things shouldn't break down and if they do break down, it needs to be fixed right away! How aggravating is that thought! :)

Asia

2006-07-28T22:31:00.000+09:00

You know one thing I really like about Asia is it's diversity and it's samness. I just got back from spending four weeks in Thailand and it's really different then Mongolia. It actually has water close by, and shock of all shocks--fruit! I loved it. The last week I was there, I sat on the beach eating fruit. It was wonderful. It is also very humid, where as Mongolia is very dry. Thailand relies a lot on plants. Mongolia depends a lot on animals. Motorcycles are everywhere in Thailand, but not really in Mongolia. So there are many differences. But there are many likenesses. Family, respect, hospitality, superstitions are all very important in both places. They both have people that they idolize. In Thailand, it's the king. In Mongolia, it's Chinggis Khan. It's amazing how they can be so different, yet so much alike. It's really cool. I'm sure it's like that everywhere. I just noticed it between these two countries.

Rainbows

2006-06-19T20:16:00.000+09:00

Rainbows. The sign of God's promise to never destroy the world again by flood. They are so beautiful and a simple reminder of God. Mongolia gets some beautiful ones. They come at the most unexpected times. People can be a lot like that. Beautiful, unexpected blessings. The Lord has given me many of these rainbows throughout my life. What amazing gifts people can be. At the risk of having this turn into a book dedication or acceptance speech for the Oscars, I won't make a list. I couldn't possible remember them all. Thanks to many people who have become my "rainbows". You are beautiful reminders of God.

Summer's Arrival

2006-06-02T22:21:00.000+09:00

Summer is officially here! The grass is green, the trees are full with leaves, it's light until 10pm, and the fields are full of plastic bags! During the winter, you forget how much dirt and trash are covered up. A lot like people huh? Isn't it sad how much we cover up and hide from each other? Wouldn't it be nice to just be real with each other. I don't know if I can handle it.

Mongolia always marks summer with Children's Day on June 1. It's a huge event. Schools are closed, businesses are closed, candy and ice cream are freely given, and the parks are one huge party. There's rides, games, food, horses and general chaos. It's really fun. They try to put up some new playground equipment every year, but it doesn't always happen. This year they had a really nice play area with swings, slides, monkey bars, see-saws,etc. My school went and spent most of the time on that. It's just incredible how many people turn out. Streets are blocked for it. Girls in puffy bows and fancy dresses. Boys with bb guns and water guns. It's a madness that means summer is here!

I also had the experience this past week of going to a Mongolian circus. It wasn't quite like the circus' we had in the States but it had some resemblences. There was a clown, magician, acrebatics, and a small bear that could do some tricks. It had a lot of traditional Mongolian dancing, and singing. It was something fun and different to do for the evening.

Finally, the real reason that I know summer is coming----the last week of school is here! One last week before the warm days of having to not be in the four walls of school. :)

A Jolt

2006-05-19T20:17:00.000+09:00

You know how sometimes you just get joulted to realty? That not everything is good and happy. We live in a very imperfect world. I was thinking today that it was such a great day--beautiful warm weather, green grass and colorful flowers coming up, a half day of school, my friend Nikki visiting, my good friend Mindy getting married tomarrow, etc.
Then during the afternoon I come to find out that a family is living in a man hole right outside the school. I couldn't even imagine this kind of a living. They are a beautiful family who are thankful to have a place to go to at night. It's just mind boggling to think that here I am with so many things and an apartment all to myself, and here's this family who's living in a hole in the ground. So many times I complain about this or that and they chose to be thankful to have this little spot to call their own for the moment. WoW! Who am I?
This is a commom thing. I hear of it often, but this is the first that I have seen it. It is a jult to be sure. Lord help to not ignore and push aside but to remember and act.

The Amazing Race

2006-05-10T19:31:00.000+09:00

Okay, for anyone out there who doesn't know me---I love the Amazing Race. I've been a fane from the beginning. I really like the concept of traveling around to different countries and having to do different things in each place. Forget the money--I would do it just to do it. I would really like to just travel, see new places, do new things, and meet new people. I think I would be scaried to make a fool of myself or more importantly, God. You get tired, stressed, rushed, etc. and things happen and I think I would be able to handle them well. But sometimes you just don't know until your there. The important thing in it is to have fun and totally enjoy the people, the scenery, and the adventure of it all. So, if anyone's interested in partnering up to do it--let me know okay? :)

Festivals!

2006-05-06T11:40:00.000+09:00

I was talking to some friends last night about things we missed from the States. I would have to say one thing I miss is Festivals! I know it's so wierd. I didn't go to that many when I lived there, but not having any around to go to makes me miss them. There are a few here, but not as many and not quite like in the Sates. I really like festivals and their are so many to choose from.....Fruit Festivals(Peach Festival), Music Festivals, Animal Festivals(We have the Chicken Festival in Delaware), Machine Festivals(Tracker Shows, etc.), etc., etc. You don't even have to be interested in that thing---like I don't like Tractors---to fully enjoy the Festival. There's always the flea market, arts & crafts, side shows, food, games part of it to enjoy. I love going to them with some friends and just meandering around and seeing what's there. You never know what you're going to find or who you're going to run into. So, next time I'm in the States, Festivals here I come! Anyone want to join? :)