ABC 123

What an amazing week!! I have been having so much fun! I feel like I am finally in my element and doing something that is the perfect fit!  The first 4 classes in Alajuela have been amazing.  I can actually see growth already in some of the people in the class and their faces are bringing me such joy!  I am so excited for Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays!!  The first two weeks we have been working on letters, letter sounds, numbers, days of the week, months, dates, colors and shapes just to kind of get a basic knowledge of the language.  Although many of the people in my class have taken English classes before and have a pretty good understanding already of the material that we have been covering I have been giving the classes in English so they are getting accustomed to hearing the language and speaking with the right pronunciation....well, Georgia pronunciation anyway.  I'm not really sure I can call the "the right pronunciation" :) I felt like it was better to get them hearing the language with things that they already knew a lot about so that as the weeks get more complicated in subject matter they are at least used to me speaking in English for explanations.  I think it is really helping them to think more in English and less in Spanish during the class!
So far we have had 8 people consistently coming to class.  There are a couple more that are interested but have had trouble coordinating classes with work or school schedules.  We have been singing songs and playing games like we are all little kids, but it has been so much fun, and I really think that the people in the class are having a good time...they keep coming back anyway.  Some are even inviting friends!
Friday we have our first test, so pray that it doesn't scare anyone too much!  Pray that my comments and corrections would be given in an encouraging and loving way so that I would reflect the Lord in all aspects of my teaching, and that they would be comfortable trying in all circumstances even if it does mean that they make mistakes.
Here are some of the pictures of our fun so far:

These are all the notebooks, pencils and papers for our first day!

This is our "please make Taylor a good teacher" prayer! :)  

Micheal and me dancing the letter sounds

Everyone else dancing the letter sounds :) Precious!

Everyone tired from dancing! 

I also found out on Friday that I would be teaching English in Limon on Saturday as well.  I knew that these classes were going to start soon, but what I didn't know was that they were going to start the next day!  These classes went really well too.  The group in Limon is a little younger.  I'm not exactly sure, but I would say that probably everyone in the class in under 20.  They were a little more nervous to begin than the class in Alajuela because we hadn't done the interviews and really gotten to know everyone ahead of time, but after the first few minutes they were ready to go, and they were a little sad when the class was over.  We had people calling the church all afternoon after the class saying that they would like to attend the next class!  This Saturday we had 8 people, but we are expecting almost 20 people for the following class.  We may have to break this group up into two smaller groups...how exciting!!!  Because I am only in Limon every other weekend we are going to try to do classes on Saturdays and Sundays for an hour and a half each.  If this doesn't seem to be working we may have to go to Limon more often, but we are going to try this for now!  

Here are some of the pictures from Saturday:

First 15 or so minutes...intense, scared, confused faces on the right

Intense, scared, confused faces on the left....

Everyone beginning to loosen up a little with some partner games!

I am just soooo excited!  These classes are going so well, and I finally feel like I am absolutely without doubt in my element!  Please continue to pray for this ministry and that it is absolutely that before anything else.  I don't want these to be just English classes.  I don't want to just be a teacher.  I want to be an instrument, so please pray that God would be able to use me as such. Pray that I would open myself to being a vessel for His plan, His word, and His work.  Pray that I would be a reflection of the Lord in class, out of class, on the bus, walking down the street, in the supermarket...everywhere I go and everything I do!

Saturday night in Limon we had a youth concert that was amazing!  There are some things that are still really hard for me to understand and loud people on microphones and loud songs are two of those things, but you didn't need to understand any words to be able to see what the Lord was doing in this place Saturday night.  The church that I have been working with in Limon invited youth from two other churches to come and join them for a night of worship.  There was all types of music...rap, roots, reggae, and even some Hill Song!  But everything was christian and to see people from all different backgrounds, all different interests coming together and blending their outside passions and their passion for the Lord to lift Him up was just amazing.  I have a couple of pictures and a video.  I know that you can't see anything on the video, but listen carefully to the song! 

The youth standing in front of the church

The speakers

Then the lights went out for the concert, but just listen....

:)

I also got to help with Sunday school in Limon this weekend.  I am learning a new definition of the word "help" here.  When someone asks you to "help" them in Costa Rica please know that they really mean "will you do this...maybe even by yourself" haha!  Again, someone asked me on Saturday night to help with Sunday school the next morning; Remember, I am in Limon, not at home, so all I have is my backpack with clothes and shoes.  I said sure, and I was super excited.  Then Sunday morning came and all of the little kids were sitting around and the other teacher asks me, "so, what did you bring for them to do?" Ahhh!! hahaha!  So we did a little improvising, and came up with a lesson on prayer really quick.  It ended up going well, but just so you know next time someone asks me to help I am definitely asking for clarification!  Anyways, here are some pictures of our fun on Sunday morning:

Our introduction prayer and talk about prayer

Tutti ta, tuttie ta, tuttie ta ta :)

Where I was supposed to be in charge and totally dropped the ball! :)

P.S. The ant infestation problem has subsided a little but it has only opened the door to bigger problems!  I will keep you updated

Jonathan cleaning my super small pile of ants!

My new problem! :)

Thank you all so much for all of your prayers during my first week of classes.  Please continue to pray both for me and for all of the people who come.  Pray that the Lord would be able to use this as a ministry tool and that God would be able to use me in a strong way through these classes!  I love you all so much!  Thank you for everything!