Place your VOTE, AGAIN!

Last year I asked you to place your vote on different blogs that my students at ACS created. It is that time of the year again, and if you have any extra time on your hands, it would be great if you could do it again!
This year there are two grade 8 Technology classes and their blogs have just been opened to the world. Now the competition begins and there is pizza going to the winning team! Does this all ring a bell from last year?

Sooooo...with that said would anyone interested take a quick look at the 2 different blogs which the eighth graders created and see which one you think is the "coolest". My definition of "coolest" would be: interesting and clear theme, reader friendly, aesthetically pleasing. The students were pretty psyched about the project so it would be great to have your opinions. Don't worry about being too picky or not picky enough. The students are aware that this is simply the competition portion of the project and that they were to meet clear requirements given to them on a rubric beforehand and I will be giving them their grades.

Thanks for helping out, the kids will love it. I am going to tell them on Monday who has won. Again, thanks for taking the time.

Here are the blogs They are both the same, except for the class name. Below, use the below url, but to see the other site imput techeightb
http://techeighta.blogspot.com

From Out Of The Darkness, There Is Light.

It sounds as though everyone was able to enjoy the classic Ohio holiday to commence the Season of joy and tidings; I have to say a bit of me sighs....how nice. The lack of snow muffles my excitement and awareness of the ensuing holiday season, yet people's continued correspondence and my wonderful Bolivian celebrations breathe in the holiday hope and giddiness which is always ignited this time of year. It is as though I can hear the faint whispers of "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" in the distance and think Aunt Pat must be in the next room. (Or maybe just it's my itunes! )
As I reminisce through the updates of others, I was able to spend the long weekend resting in a quaint hotel in Sucre, Bolivia's historical and judicial capital. The colonial town has a heavy Spanish feel from its roots, ornait in its archetecture and its entirety garnished in a soft white...beautiful-- Peaceful. On our second day, Jessica and I went into Potosi, a mining town and the "center of it all" in its origin....Quite a different feel as this, the old backbone of Bolivia and come to find out to some extent Spain, surviving on the fortune of the "Red, Silver Mountain" mines and the over 7 million lives that have been lost in it as well as others. Our taxi driver´s father being one of the many lives lost when our driver, now 23, was only 2. He left behind 7 children. Our tour guide's father also lost his life to the complications of 30 working years within the heart of the "Red, Silver Mountain" which holds its presence within the seal of the country.
With a guide, we entered into one of the mines...an active one at that....There was an explosion only 6 meters from where we were. In all reality we were headed straight for the explosion. Thanks to the fact that God gave me the courage of a lame bird we were spared...if I were to have found my bravery I would have been stuck and mamed...I was on my belly trying to slither through a hole 2 and a half feet in width and not much more in height, only a mere 22 plus meters down into the mt. Death was a bit too close for comfort. (Don't worry mom....We're A-O.K. no fears) An experience I am sure will never be fleeting; impressive and enlightening. What life is like for people born into different cultures. As this was not enough, did I mention that as we slowly but surely ventured into the mountain some refer to as "hell" we were surrounded by, touching and breathing in Arsenic and Aspestis.
We were within the mine only one hour-- others do this everyday, all day, 6 days a week with hope for fortune... During the three centuries of Spanish rule the royalty brought in African slaves after the indigenous workforce was depleted! And again I dare ask: "Why are we so blessed...and who is to say that others are not? But again....why us?"
I am thankful, for my life and this eye-opening experience shedding light upon the many blessings which I begrudgingly take for granted each day.
As my eyes were continually opened to new information of life throughout time and geography, I felt the Lord leading me to the decision to stay yet another year to experience the vast culture of this 'quiet' nation. I simply find myself feeling as though there is so much more here for me, and a need to expereience it, not leave with unfinished business. Only He knows. And with the clarity he sent me, I am sure he will lead me onward.
No matter the country or the culture though there is always time to ring in the season with an apropos viewing of the one and only family favorite, "The Christmas Story...." Tis the Season...and it is. Happy and Merry to you all as we are so blessed. And my father would say or sing...."Hide it under a bushel? NO! I'm gonna let it shine!" Let the joy of your life shine this season, shine into the lives of others and brighten their days and evenings to come. For the single ray of a miner's helmet will forever guide me back to path of gratitude.

As I sit...

Airports are portals...more than just from country to country, state to state or city to city, but into the hearts and minds of people everywhere. The latter may be the most "terrifying" of them all. Oh, how being surrounded by diversity, culture and beauty can be so compelling, thought-provoking and enriching. Yet, somehow, adversely, the opposite can be the byproduct--a piercing spoken word, a cold stare and unashamed contemptuous body language bringing shattering effects upon a moment of carefree expression.

And she continues to dance. In ways, I am envious.

There was a young woman, I am guessing in her twenties dancing with fluidity throughout concourse C of Charlotte's Douglas Airport. Her conscious and spirit-filled movements lofted through the concourse as a fragrance...yet an unnerving freedom began to permeate throughout the on-lookers. Murmurs, laughter, pointing...Whom is it that is so concerning and what is it that has such a suffocating grip upon the viewers of such a carefree demonstration?

I quickly found the looks sickening. Why? I find it troubling to even find words for the animosity that was growing from deep within me. How quickly we are as humans to leap to conclusions, judgments and finalizing verdicts. It was as I could hear the gavel strike. This young woman had no right to be breathing our air...Harsh...I think so, and somehow from her lively, expressive dancing and consequential judgments placed upon her because of it rapidly the conversation spread to political spin and discord that equally made my stomach turn. Not that I know, but from my short stop in concourse C, I am going to gather that N.C. is not a blue state. Funny how one can discovered such things in a very short period of observation.

Then the worst came like a flood; it wasn't the arbitrary comments from those around me, but my own personal discord and angst rising up from my core. This young woman's verdict had been given: judge, jury and executioner...if her fate was that of the people around her, the future would be less than bleak. Yet my judgment, my own condemnation was rising and I very harshly was brought into my own reality. How was all of what was inside of me any different from what was being spewed from the jesting crowd within the concourse? Nothing...and of course I didn't entirely stay silent...just trying to balance out the crowd...

Like a whisper from my inside:
"From the overflow of the mouth, the heart speaks." I wonder how I am doing.... what does my heart look like? I wonder how we are all doing. Do we only see demographics, nationalities, cultures? And are we only examining with skepticism? What is the state of this place? Where are we and where are we to go? I pray that the Lord would bless and teach us all...for it is only him who shows unconditional love and grants us true acceptance which is clearly not a top priority, begrudgingly, even for me I suppose.

I pray for more: for more of what we seem to be lacking...ears to hear, eyes to see, a heart full of love for all. Patience. Compassion. Zeal. I pray that I would be stripped of my own biases, my own angst, the ugliness of my soul that not even I want to examine or acknowledge. I pray it would all be stripped from me and this world and that one day we might see one another not from afar, but from a common ground of humanity.

Time Flies; Memories Made. A Home Solidified.

Time does fly and things do change, sometimes more quickly than we are all aware. Spring/Fall (depending on the hemisphere) as well as Summer/Winter for the most part are a mere memory. It has been a blessing to see friends and family in multiple locations under a magnitude of circumstances. Moreover, what a beautiful thing it has been to introduce my American family to those of my new-found Bolivian family. I had the awesome opportunity to bring my parents down to Bolivia for a quick, yet priceless and precious visit to my new home. We enjoyed time of relaxation and as well as a whirlwind of introduction in Calacoto for a bit over a week. Mom and Dad were able to walk the streets, grace the hallways, corridors and classrooms of ACS and sip the coffee of Alexander's, my favorite cafe here, just a few blocks from my home. I would be remiss to not mention our eventful jaunts in the taxis throughout the city and watching the blazing fire down the street from my apt.
We were also blessed with a wonderful car trip to the Cumbre with friends. The Cumbre, which there are a couple is a peak outside of the city where one is able to take in the beauty of the vast and barren countryside. The mountains take your breath away if the altitude has not already, which will happen as you ascend to this beautiful place.
There were many wonderful memories made while Mom and Dad were here and hopefully many more to come in the future!

As time has past and I have time to take a moment to reflect upon my last year, I can only come to one conclusion...a place of peace and blessing which words to some extent can not grasp. Bolivia and its people which emulate its beauty have stolen my heart. One is truly blessed to have a place with people whom love and support; a place where there is rest and peace. I can't even begin to explain what it is like to have two places that I can consider my home, full of love, joy and peace. To have both overlap, even for a short period of time, was a breath of serenity.
To live and live joyously is a gift in which I try to remind myself each day to grasp and not simply realize, but appreciate and share. Simplicity of daily life is nothing to take for granted or diminish in value, but cherish. Maybe these are the finer things of life that I am just beginning to conceptualize. I pray that all may know this truth and be able to relish and rest within it.

"Be still and know that I am God." Your whispers grace us throughout the mountains as they gently resonate within the breeze.
It is here my heart finds rest.

I hope each of you are blessed to find your Bolivia. You are always welcome to visit mine.

Many Blessings

Time has surely passed since my last update of life, yet the last couple of months have been a blessing in time. Spring break has come and gone and it was an amazing experience staying here in La Paz and just being local and seeing daily life here without being at school. I found that I truly do love it here for what it is, just simple life here, I truly enjoy it. I wondered earlier in the year when the bubble would pop, and I would just want to go back home. Or when the "new and exciting" would wear off and I would wake up to "real life". I think I have awakened and I am still just as enamored with this place and what God is doing here. Moreover, I find myself stopping, astonished that the Lord so divinely would bring me here and not only touch my life, change me and teach me, but use me as the answer to others' prayers. The Lord's work is so mysterious.
Within the last 2 months I have been working with my 7th and 8th graders on a major project, "Voices of Our Youth". As in years past, I had students write, "If I could tell the world..." journal entries. This year they ended up turning into persuasive speeches. Both the 7th and 8th grade presented these speeches in January. Before I knew it, I was sitting in the back of my classroom with goosebumps and tears welling up in my eyes over what these young hearts were saying. Surpassing the actual speeches, the students' interactions and dialogue they were having with one another blew me away. With this my mind and heart began racing and "Voices of Our Youth" came to be.

All Grade 8 students were put into pairs and were assigned to research a nonprofit organization of their choice and write a one page abstract outlining its origin and purpose. (Great way to introduce citations and research) The second part of the project was to evaluate the current work of the organization and how the student thought the organization could improve based on his/her research. Throughout the process the research was turned into a persuasive speech to be presented to the class. The top 3 speeches would present to the 8th grade, the top 2 to the 7th and 8th grade and the winner would be the benefitting nonprofit of a middle school arts evening..."Voices of Our Youth" . This would be a night of what the student thought were important...if they had a captive audience, what would they like to say? Of course they could do this in any format...speeches, poetry, dance, music...etc.

A local nonprofit, Para Los Niños, ended up winning (which was awesome). They are a nonprofit focused on helping the orphaned children of La Paz. They are actually located in a local orphanage, Virgen de Fatima, so the entire 7th and 8th grade got to visit the orphanage and see where the money would go and what the organization was all about. Certain students were brought to tears as they played with the children they encountered at the orphanage. Not one of the students was not with one of the kids of Virgen de Fatima--it was beautiful.
After such an experience, the project really took off. Students had all chosen different committees to be on and work began. Within roughly two months, (from the beginning of the research to now) tickets and promotions were made in tech classes, over 50 different local companies were contacted, 32 making donations, over 200 tickets were sold, 20 performances took the stage and close to $2,000 was raised to benefit the children of Virgen de Fatima Orphanage. Amazing. Thursday evening was truly breathtaking as I watched middle schoolers voice their hearts and minds, igniting an audience into laughter as well as bringing them to tears as the unselfishly came together and gave of themselves for the less fortunate children of Bolivia.

It's been powerful to watch the Lord work through the willing.

Place your VOTE!

Hello All! My 8th graders just finished a blog project, which is also a small bit of a competition! (There may just be pizza on the line.)
Sooooo...with that said would anyone interested take a quick look at the 3 different blogs which the eighth graders created and see which one you think is the coolest. My definition of "coolest" would mean, interesting theme, reader friendly and clearly, aesthetically pleasing. The students were pretty psyched about the project so it would be great to have your opinions. Don't worry about being too picky or not picky enough. The students are aware that this is simply the competition portion of the project and that they were to meet clear requirements given to them on a rubric beforehand and I will be giving them their grades.

Thanks for helping out, the kids will love it. I am going to tell them on Monday who has won. Again, thanks for taking the time.

Here are the blogs They are all the same, except for the class name. Below, use the below url, but to see the two other sites imput tech8b or tech8c
http://tech8a.blogspot.com

Thanks again.
You can comment here!

Back in Action

Back, off and running. As with every beginning of the year, things get going and you just hold on...no difference in Bolivia. It was wonderful being home, comforting, loving, refreshing...and also assuring. I loved beginning home and with that I knew that I was meant to come back. It has been a blessing to be in Bolivia and it remains that way since my return. It has been nice getting back into the swing of things, seeing everyone and exchanging holiday stories. Bible Study with the girls has started, the book study I am in is rolling and track has officially begun. A friend of mine, Jessica, and I are coaching distance and had a turn out of 15, which I was thrilled with. It will be a much different dynamic, as we may only be able to meet for practice 3 days a week. Carnival is also quickly approaching and with it, all the craziness. I look forward to all the cultural festivities!!!! It is all coming quickly, as some of the festivities begin tomorrow.
Lots of rain here, it pours, it's sunny (enough to burn in you a matter of minutes) then rain, rain and more rain...it's the only place that I know of that you need to have sunscreen, sunglasses, an umbrella and multiple layers every time you go out. It's sounds kinda bad, but of course sometimes it is so sunny, but raining. weird. Come, visit, check it out for yourselves!