My Trip to Iowa

Here I am riding into the sunset on a train from Ottumwa, IA. Out the window are small forest glens that are begging to be explored and enjoyed. And as the sun slants through the tree trunks I’m oh so thankful for my time here in IA. When the trees aren’t blocking the view I can see the corn and soybean fields and I smile and even tear up a bit as a remember the kindness of the farming family that took me in and taught me about life on a farm.

This past week I went to visit my friend Kristi and her family. They operate a farm in southern Iowa where they grow crops and raise pigs and cows. While I was there I helped paint storm windows, catch escaped pigs, paint the rusty parts of the barn, load pigs to sell, and add rings to a tin grain bin. I loved working outside with my hands and being able to see the work that we were able to accomplish and know that I had a good reason to be tired. I also got to know Kristi better and got to meet her family. Poor Kristi also got to answer all the questions I’ve always wanted to ask about farming but never had a chance to. Questions like: “How long does it take for the pigs to grow to full maturity?” or “What are the benefits of wrapping the hay bales in plastic?” and “What is a cultivator and how is it different from a combine?” I also soaked up a lot of information and I now know the difference between a grain bin and a silo, a rake and a disc, and that there are different kinds of tractors that are for different things. I feel like a got a crash course in farming and I loved every minute of it.

I also truly enjoyed working side-by-side with Kristi and her family and enjoying everyday life with them. I came to appreciate the Geometry in quilting through Kristi’s mom and I’m even thinking about using it in a Geometry lesson in the future. Her brother and sister-in-law welcomed me and made me feel like part of the family. And her dad encouraged me with his wisdom about life and trust in God. I will treasure the conversations we had around the table and while we were working together on a project. God definitely used them to bless me and encourage me to continue on.

So tonight, as I listen to the rattle of the train wheels and rock to its rhythms, I am thankful beyond words for the chance I’ve had to visit the southeast corner of Iowa, to see Amish and Mennonite communities up close, to tell others about my life in the Philippines and what God is doing there, to discover the joys of life in the country, to spend time with friends living new experiences and getting pleasure from old experiences, and to celebrate the love of our Heavenly Father who continues to provide for all of our needs.

Home Stretch

This school year has been an interesting one. We started out with lots of students and little-by-little, one-by-one, many have had to leave for a variety of reasons. It's been tough saying goodbye over and over and making each next goodbye feel heartfelt and not just ritual. I know that it has been way harder on my students than it has been for me.

Its already fourth quarter and things are busy. There's something happening every week from now until school is out. Weddings, Easter, International Day, Conference, SAT, Plays, Awards Night, Graduation. Its gonna be a busy quarter!

How I Love My Motorcycle!

This is my trusty motorcycle! I've learned how to pile it up with lots of stuff and how to weave in and out of traffic so I can avoid the long waits at the stop lights. It saves me money on gas mileage and it is way cheaper than taking taxis everywhere. Now if I could just learn how to drive it better so I don't end up with black eyes like these. :) Thankfully the black eyes were the worst of it (and those gave me some brownie points with my high school students - especially the boys). All I have now are some small scars on my forehead, knee, and elbows. AND some good stories to tell.

Saying Goodbye

Today I had to do something that I really don't like doing. I had to say goodbye. Of course we told each other that we would see each other again, but life is unpredictable and who knows if we will get to meet up again this side of heaven. You would think that I would have learned how to say goodbye without pain by now, but I haven't and I'm quite convinced that if I ever do, it is a sure sign of unhealthiness. But I have learned somethings through those torturous partings.

Make sure you grieve your loss. Crying like you did when you were a kid and you lost your favorite toy or were hurt feels stupid because as an adult you "should be" braver, stronger, less vulnerable. But I really do think that it helps to cry to God saying, "I've lost an important part of my life and it really stinks and I don't like it."

Even while you are (sometimes forcefully) voicing your frustration and loss, you have to trust that God is good and has good things planned for you so that you will become more like His Son. Even though you don't feel like it, trust. Don't let resentment lead to bitterness (an easy thing to type here, but a moment-by-moment decision of the will).

And my last piece of advise is to continue on with life while still giving yourself room to grieve, cry, get mad, or whatever. By turning your focus away from you and to others around you, you will see that there are others in your life that are here now and you don't want to waste your time with them.

Those are my musings on this rainy evening (like most evenings here in Davao). Good-byes stink, but being free to express my feelings for good friends and hearing their love for me can't be entirely bad.

A Productive Day

I didn't get bored once today - a rare occurrence during the summer. This morning I worked on my curriculum guides for 3 classes - Physical Science, Geometry, and AP Calculus - and we finished them! Now Dave just has to look them over and hopefully they will be done!! Then this afternoon I worked on typing up my lesson plan notes for Physical Science and I finished Chapters 1 and 2. It feels good to accomplish something. Now it is time for bed and I'm looking forward to some good rest and enjoying the pitter-patter of the rain.

Yay for Summer!

It's summer! YAY!! It's nice to have lots of time to myself and to be the master of my day, but being alone most of the day kinda stinks. I'm trying to use my summer to accomplish all those things that I never seem to have time to do when school is in - like go to the dentist, catch up with friends, write curriculum, clean my house and my classroom, etc... So this is one of the things on my list - set up a place that I can use to stay in touch with friends and family. :) Hopefully it turns out that way!

So, I got to go on a boat trip TWO days in a row and it was a lot of fun. Of course I burnt myself trying to enjoy all the sun I could get, but it will eventually fade. I like boat trips cuz I get to get away from the city, go outdoors, and enjoy the beautiful tropical scenery around me. We even saw dolphins on Friday - how cool is that! God is good!