Que pereza

One of the most common phrases used by my students is "que pereza" which means "how boring" or "I'm tired of this." As frustrating as this can be to hear when you're a teacher, I totally relate right now. I wish I didn't, but I do.
I'm finding it hard to find the balance between getting ready to go home and still be present here at school. I've lost a bit of my focus. It's not even that I'm bored or tired of this exactly, I'm just tired. Whatever the case, I refuse to let it diminish my quality of work even if my pereza (laziness) forces me to stay up all night to finish the review sheets that are oh so vital to the students' success in the exams we will have next week. Even though I'm tired and ready to see my family and friends back home, I'm going to kick myself until I finish. I will not let my laziness be an enabler of a bad test grade.

Johnson & Johnson

This is an actual conversation I had last week (in Spanish, but I'm translating it for your convenience).


"Your last name is Johnson? Johnson, like shampoo?"
'Well, yes, but no.'
"Oh. Ok Andrea Obama."

Uh...I'm not sure how we got from shampoo to Obama...but God Bless America! 
I suppose I should have seen it coming. There is something fundamentally "American" about the last name, Johnson. 
Whatever the case, it made me laugh.

Ginger-Garlic-Lemon Kick!

I'm not exactly sure what to call this concoction, so we'll just call it witch's brew. It's amazing. It's surprisingly tasty! It can probably cure anything you have that is respiratory related. I was inspired by my wonderful friend Jacinta, who has cured innumerable people through the use of her own version of this drink. I'm not exactly sure how she makes hers, because she only made it for me once, but I know the ingredients she uses so I went from there. I decided to make mine more like a tea. I like tea a bunch and I thought that it'd be nice to have something I could drink throughout the day. Here's my recipe:

Witch's Brew

Ingredients:

3-4 cups water
1 inch section of fresh ginger
2 cloves of garlic
1-2 teaspoons of crushed cayenne pepper (not powder, unless you wanna die)
4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons honey

Process:

1. Dump water into a cauldron and turn up the heat.

2. While water is coming to a boil, grate the ginger and garlic into the water.

3. Bring water and ginger to a boil and then let it simmer 3-5 minutes (by simmer I mean gently boil)

4. Bring water, garlic, and ginger back up to a happy boil and throw in the cayenne.

5. Bring down the heat and let it all simmer for 3-5 minutes.

6. Take the concoction off the heat and dump in the lemon juice and honey.

7. Stir and strain into a thermos or whatever.

8. Drink and enjoy better health.

Everything

I can't tell you how many times I've shared this with the world, but I think it's sharing again. I just can't get over how powerful this is.

Letters

I love letters. I really do. I've sent so many while I've been here. It's major progress for me. My mom used to bribe me and/or take away privileges to get me to write thank-you notes. I enjoy writing them now. I think the key is good stationary. Here, I have a great excuse to use postcards. I love using postcards. I may make my own postcards when I get back. There's just something about them that feels so familiar...It's like you're right there with the person. You get to see what they see.

But there's also this other kind of letter. It's called a fundraising letter. I plan to send out around 150 letters. Maybe more. I have 40 ready to go into the mail right now. Fundraising letters are tricky. You never want to sound desperate, even if you are. You want to capture the attention, give reasons for supporting, leave a way out if the person doesn't want to contribute, and this must be accomplished in one page. No more, otherwise you will bore your reader. No less, or the reader will assume it's not worth their time. Psychology, folks.

I hope my letter is good. I plan on spamming the world with it. In fact, yours may be in the mail within the week.

If I don't send one to you, it's probably because I don't have your address. I'm not kidding when I say I'm sending it to everyone. Spammmmm!!!!! But the good kind. It's to support a good cause.

Actually, I'm going to put my letter right here. Just in case you don't get a letter and you feel moved to contribute.

Here goes!

Dear (Handwritten name goes here)

I have been given an exciting opportunity to be a servant and a minister this year. Through the Student Missions program at Walla Walla University, I have spent the last 7 months (and will spend the following months until June) as a volunteer teacher at Centro Educativo Adventista de Monteverde in Costa Rica.

My last 7 months have been a great adventure and there is more to come. I arrived in the middle of the school year and a new one is underway. We have a new principal and I am the only remaining volunteer from the last school year. The school requests the aid of volunteers not only to help teach English but also because the Adventist community is very small. There are few Adventist teachers but despite the small community, we have been presented with a unique and wonderful opportunity.

Our Adventist school is the only Christian school in the area of Monteverde. This makes it very appealing not only because of the good education we offer, but also because of our beautiful values. More than 80% of our students are not Adventists. This is an amazing opportunity to develop relationships and spread the love of God to our students and to their families as well. 

I would like to ask you for prayer support. First, I need prayer for myself: my continued safety in my new home. Also, that God will continue to prepare the hearts of the students, their families, and the community. I know that God will use me to be His ambassador while I am here. God has given me this opportunity to share the gospel both by example and through relationships. Secondly, I need prayer that I can raise money to help the school and its students. I aim to raise $10,000 dollars. Please consider being on my prayer team for these needs.

I want you to know that the school did not ask me to send out these letters, but because I am part of the teaching team, I know the school’s needs and am acting accordingly. The money raised will be used for 2 main causes. First, a roofing project that was started last year but was never finished. The second, and in my opinion, the most important cause, is to give financial aid to students. There are many families, whom I know personally, that desperately wish to send their children to our school. Because of the high cost-of-living due to tourism, they struggle to make ends meet and paying for a private education is not an option. We never want to turn children away from our school, but without payment, we have no choice. Tuition is roughly $1300 for a year ($110/month for 11 months). It breaks my heart that these children do not have the means to receive a Christian education and it is something I want to help change.

I appreciate your willingness to invest in this ministry. I hope to raise the money by June 2012, before I leave, but a gift at any time would be great. If you decide to make a donation, your gift will be tax-deductible. Please write any checks to the Chico SDA Church and label it Monteverde Adventist School. 

Thank you for your prayer support and possible financial support as well.

Many blessings,

(My beautiful signature goes here)

The actual letter is not in italics and I included an addressed envelope to the Chico SDA Church. Being out of the country, I couldn't get US postage so I figured an already addressed envelope was the least I could do. A little nudge, so to speak.

Chico SDA Church

1877 Hooker Oak Ave. 

Chico, CA 95926