actually teaching...

wow!!! TODAY - as every day - was fun! and CRAZY.. and exhausting... today was the first day of class... yesterday we had the students register and did placement testing to see what level class they would be in.. we have 54 students..!! and i think 6 classes.. then we had a full afternoon/evening of music, games, skits, videos and loudness ! they really loved it.. then we broke up into our class groups to get to know each other... (i was really intimidated... i have advanced and they really are.. ) it went very well and we all felt better after getting our feet wet.. this morning they came back for actual class.... this is what we prepared for !! and boy were we prepared! haha... of course, we had no idea what it would really look like till we got started... it was great... all of the teachers (me, too) and all of our students are really loving it!! we feel very much at home here, and the language barrier is not as scarey as it was .. we are learning some Polish (the Polish students and youth from the church love teachign it to us and laughing at our pronunciation... there are so many consonants) .. i know that our actual teach time will go by SO quickly now.... we are already wishing we had longer. we are just finishing up today... after starting 13 (14) hours ago... pretty much nonstop hangin out and being ACTIVE...... LOL.... if i dont lose weight on this trip it will be ---- well... lets just say i wont be happy... we are walking what seems to be miles and miles every day and climbing steps multiple times a day, and ... DANCING a lot! (that mostly means jumping around for me...) i'm pretty wiped out today and we are going to get back and get an early night tonight... that means about midnight if we are lucky.

tonight was cowboy theme night... we actually brought 6 large cans of chili from AZ ... we brought about 70 cowboy hats.. tons of bandanas...the works... they have quite a picture of Arizona now! it was a smash hit teaching them line dancing! so many tight friendships are being made.. the Poles are seeking out their Ameircan friends when they come in the door.

thank you so much for prayer.... God has been TRULY blessing our time here... it is SO exciting to see our students reaching out and loving on the Polish students.. some of the students felt stressed and nervous about coming but after about the first hour.. they were playing 4square or spoons or learning new dances or learning slang from our students, or just talking to each other and definitely having fun... some of the classes are challenging.. like the beginners -- Dustin is teacing the beginner class.. and the students dont speak ANY english.. but he and our students are doing great with them... its so nice to watch how God works... Megan has an intermediate level class and she also needs to have an interpreter in the class, as her students are not that willing (or able) to speak and understand much. she came out of her classroom with a huge smile and has had great success already.

One of the best things is that i have been told by so many of the people here (Daniel and Iwona who are the missionaries here, Peter and Monika who are the Youth Pastor and his wife, and many of the Polish families that we have met here) that this is such a blessing and they are so impressed with our students! They cant believe how engaged the students are and how much love they are showing every student they come in contact with... they are also so respectful and polite and friendly --- what a compliment to Highlands and our students' parents !!! truly ... praise God.

we have been eating like kings... more of God's abundant blessings. two of the women who have been helping out and spending time here invited to spend the night at their flat... i'm honored... and i'm hoping maybe the last night here, i can do that.

We are thankful every day that we are here and that we are part of this camp... also.. i am sleeping through the nights.. (of course they are very short.. it gets dark around 10 or later and light very early...) we get to bed between 1-2 and up by 7. so thank you again for your prayers.

well.. we're getting out of here soon... sorry i cant put any pics on .. i am hoping to be able to tomorro night.. if i can find the connection thingy somewhere in town.