Some of you read this because you're my family/friends and you want to support me (thank you). Some of you read it because you found it by accident or it was recommended to you. Some of you are Christians and some are not. For those of you who are Christians, if you're like me, you need a reminder every now and then about what it's all about; who God is and what He is capable of. So I present to you the theology of two 5 year olds. These are words of wisdom that remind me and help me, sometimes make me think "wow, I could take lessons from that simple faith" and always make me laugh.
"The bad one wanted to sit on God's chair up there, but he couldn't because it is for God only; so Jesus threw him out and as he fell he became ugly".
The fall of the devil as told to me by one of my students.
"The bad satan will make you sad. The little red man sits on one shoulder and he makes you sad. The little green man sits on the other and he makes you happy."
This one occurred shortly after we had had a bad moment. One was trying to comfort the other. We figured out who the little red man is, but if you know who the little green man is let me know!
"The Great God better then other gods"
We were having a discussion about God, and some of the Hindu gods. The "Great God" would be the God of the Christians.
"God's house is up there. I want to go up there. How do I get up there? Can we go now?"
We were talking about Heaven and they were explaining to me where it is. Then we talked about how we get there. I did have to tell them that they can't go right now, and they really wanted to know why.
"God keeps them safe."
Noah, Daniel, Joseph... God kept all of them safe.
"Can we sing the "Big God" song?"
This is their favourite song. The lyrics are about God being strong and mighty.
"Tell me a Jesus story/This is Jesus story."
One of them loves stories about Jesus and in any story he assumes the main character is Jesus.
"Who's born in December?" "The Jesus!"
We were talking about birthdays. One of them is born in December and when I asked them who was born in December that was my answer.
These two bless me every single day, even when I'm trying not to scream. I hope that when you read this that they add something to your day too, Christian or non. Remember that if you're having a bad day or you're very stressed "The Great God" is there and will be with you.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
In Which I Long For the Cockroaches!
Warning!!! This post is going to discuss cockroaches and a very large spider. Don't read if you're squeamish or my mum!
Last night I was sitting the living room reading a book when I hear a scream from the shower. It's Jenn and at first I just figured it was another cockroach that had climbed in too. Oh, no. Next thing you know she's talking about this massive spider that's above the door, about the size of your hand. She gets out of the shower so I can see it. So at one point the two of us are standing in the shower looking above the door at this massive spider trying to figure out if we should kill it and how. Meanwhile the spider is probably looking at us, one taking its picture and one in a towel, thinking we're crazy.
Eventually we decided to get Sam and that's when the fun really begins. We decide the spider needs to die because we have no idea if it's poisonous or not and we don't really want it roaming around the house. So we get a chair and a heavy flip-flop and decide to let Sam kill it. Except she doesn't kill it. All she really does is manage to chase it into the next room and we can't find it. Finally after moving the garbage can aside we see it. Round 2 of trying to kill it. Spider wins again.
Round 3. This time we decide to try and kill it with the cockroach spray. This doesn't really work, in fact it goes under the door into Sam's bedroom. At this point there is equal laughter and screaming. So Jenn puts her clothes on and we head into Sam's room. It can't stay in there forever, mostly because we have no idea what it is. We lift up everything on the floor with two fingers till finally we see it move behind the dresser. At this point we're not sure how to stun it because it's moving too fast. In a moment of genius, clarity and/or desperation, I remember that I have hairspray and we decided to double spray it. We manage to get it on the floor and stunned with the spray. We think we've actually killed it, so Jenn goes for the broom to sweep it up. Nope, it's still alive. Round 3 goes to the spider. As it is moving across the floor, slower this time, I grab the flip flop and beat it into oblivion. Victory is ours! It only took four tries.
Quote of the night:
Sam! You have to come see this. We have no idea how to kill it!!
Me yelling at Sam to come see the giant bug.
By the way - Google tells me that the spider was not going to be our friend! So I'm glad we got it. I'll take cockroaches anyday!
Last night I was sitting the living room reading a book when I hear a scream from the shower. It's Jenn and at first I just figured it was another cockroach that had climbed in too. Oh, no. Next thing you know she's talking about this massive spider that's above the door, about the size of your hand. She gets out of the shower so I can see it. So at one point the two of us are standing in the shower looking above the door at this massive spider trying to figure out if we should kill it and how. Meanwhile the spider is probably looking at us, one taking its picture and one in a towel, thinking we're crazy.
Eventually we decided to get Sam and that's when the fun really begins. We decide the spider needs to die because we have no idea if it's poisonous or not and we don't really want it roaming around the house. So we get a chair and a heavy flip-flop and decide to let Sam kill it. Except she doesn't kill it. All she really does is manage to chase it into the next room and we can't find it. Finally after moving the garbage can aside we see it. Round 2 of trying to kill it. Spider wins again.
Round 3. This time we decide to try and kill it with the cockroach spray. This doesn't really work, in fact it goes under the door into Sam's bedroom. At this point there is equal laughter and screaming. So Jenn puts her clothes on and we head into Sam's room. It can't stay in there forever, mostly because we have no idea what it is. We lift up everything on the floor with two fingers till finally we see it move behind the dresser. At this point we're not sure how to stun it because it's moving too fast. In a moment of genius, clarity and/or desperation, I remember that I have hairspray and we decided to double spray it. We manage to get it on the floor and stunned with the spray. We think we've actually killed it, so Jenn goes for the broom to sweep it up. Nope, it's still alive. Round 3 goes to the spider. As it is moving across the floor, slower this time, I grab the flip flop and beat it into oblivion. Victory is ours! It only took four tries.
Quote of the night:
Sam! You have to come see this. We have no idea how to kill it!!
Me yelling at Sam to come see the giant bug.
By the way - Google tells me that the spider was not going to be our friend! So I'm glad we got it. I'll take cockroaches anyday!
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Gentlemen Start Your Engines...
I'm sure you're wondering where this is going. The traffic lights here countdown, and every time it makes think of gentlemen start your engines, which always makes me think of my mum. She's a huge Nascar fan.
Yesterday was adventure day. Jenn needed a bike basket so we biked to the motorcycle shop that sold them. It was quite a ways away. Then we biked downtown. We saw the river, the huge bridge and the German battleship that the Americans sunk in WWII (they left the remains in the river). We wandered away from the river a bit and had lunch at Burger King. The Whopper tastes the same everywhere. We did a bit of shopping. I bought a really cool sarong, and found some art that I loved. I'll go back for that. Downtown is alternately pretty and historical and crowded and dirty. Right across the street from the Burger King is a circular wooden church. A mosque and a synagogue sit next to each other, both beautiful and in between them is this tiny wooden shack. It's not nearly as pretty. The mosque and synagogue neighbouring each is a Suriname claim to fame. That doesn't happen very often, anywhere. But people are pretty tolerant down here; doesn't really matter what religion you practice.
In the afternoon to escape the heat, we went to the private pool around the corner. You pay about $5 US to get in. We were so excited about the water we jumped right in, thinking we'd be cooled down and refreshed. The water was about the temperature of a bathtub. It wasn't quite the cool down we were expecting. That didn't stop us though from staying in the pool for about two hours. It might not have been cool, but it was wet and that's all that matters.
Last night was movie night. Every now and then we get together and show a movie on the outside wall of someone's house. It's basically an outside room and we hook up a projector, gather up lawn chairs and feast on popcorn. It's a fun experience, one I'm glad we repeat.
That was about it for my weekend. Today is work day, and make potato salad today for tomorrow night's BBQ. We'll see if that turns out. I guess I'm going to break my 26 years of no cooking down in Suriname. Oh well, we all have to do it sometime. Cook, that is.
Oh and I'll leave you with some funny quotes from my roommates:
"This tastes awful. Want one?"
This is regularly heard, but in this case Jenn asked me if I wanted some terrible crackers.
"It smells like salt water and animal poop." "Welcome to Paramaribo."
Myself and Jenn, talking about the river.
Yesterday was adventure day. Jenn needed a bike basket so we biked to the motorcycle shop that sold them. It was quite a ways away. Then we biked downtown. We saw the river, the huge bridge and the German battleship that the Americans sunk in WWII (they left the remains in the river). We wandered away from the river a bit and had lunch at Burger King. The Whopper tastes the same everywhere. We did a bit of shopping. I bought a really cool sarong, and found some art that I loved. I'll go back for that. Downtown is alternately pretty and historical and crowded and dirty. Right across the street from the Burger King is a circular wooden church. A mosque and a synagogue sit next to each other, both beautiful and in between them is this tiny wooden shack. It's not nearly as pretty. The mosque and synagogue neighbouring each is a Suriname claim to fame. That doesn't happen very often, anywhere. But people are pretty tolerant down here; doesn't really matter what religion you practice.
In the afternoon to escape the heat, we went to the private pool around the corner. You pay about $5 US to get in. We were so excited about the water we jumped right in, thinking we'd be cooled down and refreshed. The water was about the temperature of a bathtub. It wasn't quite the cool down we were expecting. That didn't stop us though from staying in the pool for about two hours. It might not have been cool, but it was wet and that's all that matters.
Last night was movie night. Every now and then we get together and show a movie on the outside wall of someone's house. It's basically an outside room and we hook up a projector, gather up lawn chairs and feast on popcorn. It's a fun experience, one I'm glad we repeat.
That was about it for my weekend. Today is work day, and make potato salad today for tomorrow night's BBQ. We'll see if that turns out. I guess I'm going to break my 26 years of no cooking down in Suriname. Oh well, we all have to do it sometime. Cook, that is.
Oh and I'll leave you with some funny quotes from my roommates:
"This tastes awful. Want one?"
This is regularly heard, but in this case Jenn asked me if I wanted some terrible crackers.
"It smells like salt water and animal poop." "Welcome to Paramaribo."
Myself and Jenn, talking about the river.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Can you hear what I hear?
Right now it is recess and my window faces the playground. I can hear them playing. There is currently a very cut throat soccer game going on. International football clubs should start scouting on playgrounds!
I've also changed the blog format. I think I like it better then the other one. Let me know though if it is hard to read or distracting. I need feedback.
I've also changed the blog format. I think I like it better then the other one. Let me know though if it is hard to read or distracting. I need feedback.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Have you ever seen the rain?
I experienced my first Suriname rain on Monday. Some of the teachers had gone for a hamburger and we were sitting there and we heard this incredible crack. It turned out to be thunder with a bit of lightening. We decided to head back to school and we beat the rain by like two mins. But I stood and watched it out my classroom window. For about an hour it literally danced off the roof and the playground. It rains hard here. And my favourite part, it was still bright and light the entire time. And it cooled us down. It was wonderful.
There is something about rain that I love, the way it washes everything away. It seems to be a new start; a fresh beginning. It was kind of a reminder that this is my life is different now. A rain storm for my new life in Suriname. Something to wash away the North American-ness and remind me that currently I live in a small, hot country on the equator. And that I have to adapt to this culture.
Life here is really different, but I like it. It's slower, no one is in a hurry; even school doesn't start on time. Church is amazing. I went to a different church on Sunday, it was English and I loved it. It was hot, the fans worked overtime to keep the breeze going. It's above the pastor's house and it's tiny but the people were so friendly. By the end they knew my name, my occupation and so much more. I felt very welcome.
School is going well. I've read the Paper Bag Princess about a hundred times. We have a fondness for Dr. Seuss and I can tell you that I do not like Green Eggs and Ham! Here, there or anywhere.
My lack of cooking is legendary and so far I've blown up the toaster twice. I'm not allowed to make toast anymore or plug anything in! But both of my room mates have wicked senses of humour and are unphased by things like no power or water!
There is something about rain that I love, the way it washes everything away. It seems to be a new start; a fresh beginning. It was kind of a reminder that this is my life is different now. A rain storm for my new life in Suriname. Something to wash away the North American-ness and remind me that currently I live in a small, hot country on the equator. And that I have to adapt to this culture.
Life here is really different, but I like it. It's slower, no one is in a hurry; even school doesn't start on time. Church is amazing. I went to a different church on Sunday, it was English and I loved it. It was hot, the fans worked overtime to keep the breeze going. It's above the pastor's house and it's tiny but the people were so friendly. By the end they knew my name, my occupation and so much more. I felt very welcome.
School is going well. I've read the Paper Bag Princess about a hundred times. We have a fondness for Dr. Seuss and I can tell you that I do not like Green Eggs and Ham! Here, there or anywhere.
My lack of cooking is legendary and so far I've blown up the toaster twice. I'm not allowed to make toast anymore or plug anything in! But both of my room mates have wicked senses of humour and are unphased by things like no power or water!
Thursday, September 10, 2009
A Week In!
Today marks my first full week in Suriname! It has alternately been the longest and shortest week of my life.
I have gone to church in Dutch, complete with little headsets to translate the sermon into English; after which we had lunch downtown. I've played dominoes on game night, made s'mores on a Bunsen burner in the science lab. I've seen ghekos and lizards, both in my house. I've blown a fuse by using the wrong plug-in for toast! I've survived power outages, heat and even a bit of rain. I've almost completed a full week of school and we've baked cookies with the 6th grade. I've bought my first piece of Suriname clothing and 2 imported apples. Never even knew I wanted them, till I couldn't have them. And that's just a small sample.
There is so much that is different here. It's more open, but the air is more oppressive. You tell yourself that you're used to the heat, but really you're just getting used to being hot and sweaty. It's easy to bike everywhere but you have to brave traffic! I'm getting a bit bettter.
The school is so different. There aren't smart boards and wireless internet, in fact some days there are no internet. Sometimes even no power. But it's amazing too. The kids play soccer on a dirt field at recess and love it. They fight over the teeter-totter like it's the best thing on the playground and it might be. The breeze hits the playground in just the right way. I can't even describe the sensation of standing on that hot playground and then feeling the breeze blow.
The kids in my class are amazing. They are one of the highlights of my day. We baked cookies this afternoon all because we read "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" or as it is referred to in my class "The Cheese Book". There is no cheese in the book but does it matter? Nope.
I'm learning lots through this. Everything is one giant adventure, you really can't be that lost and that banana chips are the best food in the world! Seriously, there is no comparison. I've also been reading the kids stories about Joseph and Daniel and the Lion's Den and I'm re-learning that God will protect me and keep me safe. Even when I have no idea what the future will hold, it belongs to Him and He will see me through. Always, every time, all the time.
I have gone to church in Dutch, complete with little headsets to translate the sermon into English; after which we had lunch downtown. I've played dominoes on game night, made s'mores on a Bunsen burner in the science lab. I've seen ghekos and lizards, both in my house. I've blown a fuse by using the wrong plug-in for toast! I've survived power outages, heat and even a bit of rain. I've almost completed a full week of school and we've baked cookies with the 6th grade. I've bought my first piece of Suriname clothing and 2 imported apples. Never even knew I wanted them, till I couldn't have them. And that's just a small sample.
There is so much that is different here. It's more open, but the air is more oppressive. You tell yourself that you're used to the heat, but really you're just getting used to being hot and sweaty. It's easy to bike everywhere but you have to brave traffic! I'm getting a bit bettter.
The school is so different. There aren't smart boards and wireless internet, in fact some days there are no internet. Sometimes even no power. But it's amazing too. The kids play soccer on a dirt field at recess and love it. They fight over the teeter-totter like it's the best thing on the playground and it might be. The breeze hits the playground in just the right way. I can't even describe the sensation of standing on that hot playground and then feeling the breeze blow.
The kids in my class are amazing. They are one of the highlights of my day. We baked cookies this afternoon all because we read "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" or as it is referred to in my class "The Cheese Book". There is no cheese in the book but does it matter? Nope.
I'm learning lots through this. Everything is one giant adventure, you really can't be that lost and that banana chips are the best food in the world! Seriously, there is no comparison. I've also been reading the kids stories about Joseph and Daniel and the Lion's Den and I'm re-learning that God will protect me and keep me safe. Even when I have no idea what the future will hold, it belongs to Him and He will see me through. Always, every time, all the time.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Greetings from Suriname...
More detail to follow but I'm here, and it's hot. Both myself and my luggage arrived last night at midnight, got to my new house and basically slept for twelve hours. Went to school a bit this afternoon to get a tour and will be preparing tomorrow. Teaching starts on Monday!
It's very different here. There are palm trees everywhere and did I mention it's hot? Had my first bike ride this afternoon, it's not easy to bike in a skirt. But my bike has a cute little basket.
Something fun and different, I signed on to my blog account and the homepage was in Dutch! Which is cool. And a bit hard to figure out, but I'll survive.
There will be more updates as stuff actually happens but they will not super regular due to inconsistent internet.
But basically, I'm here and I'm hot!
It's very different here. There are palm trees everywhere and did I mention it's hot? Had my first bike ride this afternoon, it's not easy to bike in a skirt. But my bike has a cute little basket.
Something fun and different, I signed on to my blog account and the homepage was in Dutch! Which is cool. And a bit hard to figure out, but I'll survive.
There will be more updates as stuff actually happens but they will not super regular due to inconsistent internet.
But basically, I'm here and I'm hot!
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Take my hand, we'll make it I swear...
This is my last day in Fredericton, so this is my last post from here! All posts from now on will be in Paramaribo. (Unless am truly bored in an airport). This is kind of like a wrap up Canada post, and a bit of a thank you. There are so many people who have made this possible for me so here's a bit of a shout out/praise thing for them.
1)My parents. Without them this whole thing wouldn't be possible. At times I know they think I'm crazy but they supported me and believed in this anyway. Thank you. I thank God for you. A lot.
2)All the rest of my family. You are wonderful and you rock.
3)All the people from the church who supported me with prayer and financially. Thank you too.
4)To all my friends who believe in this and me. I appreciate it. So much. Thank you.
I'll be posting from Paramaribo. Keep reading.
1)My parents. Without them this whole thing wouldn't be possible. At times I know they think I'm crazy but they supported me and believed in this anyway. Thank you. I thank God for you. A lot.
2)All the rest of my family. You are wonderful and you rock.
3)All the people from the church who supported me with prayer and financially. Thank you too.
4)To all my friends who believe in this and me. I appreciate it. So much. Thank you.
I'll be posting from Paramaribo. Keep reading.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)