Christmas party

Last night was our Agape staff Christmas party, but before we the party started the ladies took some fun pictures on the beach.  I love every one of them!

Of course we started the party with food!  It was AMAZING.  Dan and Tori brought turkey, chicken, mashed potatoes, yams, green bean casserole, apple pie, the works!  Oh, and of course there was rice!  It would have been even more amazing if I could have tasted it (I haven't been able to taste my food often the past few days since I've been sick), but the texture was delightful!

After we ate, Praise, Sander, and Andrew sang some fun Christmas songs.  This is when I started tearing up because it was a happy time and I'm going to miss it when I leave in one week.  The last song was "Joyful Joyful" and we were supposed to be going around telling people merry Christmas, but I ran upstairs to try to look normal again before running back downstairs and being recognized for serving here the last four months.  I held it together okay, but I don't think I was totally tearless...

Shannon and Teresa said some sweet words and Dan presented me with a gift, which was a Starbucks Boracay coffee mug and a gift certificate for the Starbucks here which I will be happy to use this week!  We then watched a great slide show that Praise put together for me.

We ended the party with a gift exchange, which we did the same way my mom's side of the family does every year at Christmas eve where a gift can be stolen two times.  The gifts had a 100 peso limit ($2.50) and I went fifth.  I opened up a stuffed Patrick (a Spongebob character) and of course was stuck with it the whole time :)  I gave it to the little daughter of two other teachers.

This is Jhing, my co-teacher, picking out a gift.

It was a fun party!

Today at church some of the kids from the Kagban feeding site that I go to did a dance performance.  I will post a video on facebook as soon as I get the chance.  They did a great job and it was fun to be able to sit with them during worship.  I love that I've been able to build a connection with those kids even though I usually only see them once a week.  It's easy to build connections when the kids just latch on so easily!

I can't believe I'm leaving in a week.  Shannon asked me if I've made a checklist of things I want to do before I leave.  Nope!  I want this week to be like every other week, because that's what I have loved!

The sweetest "I love you"

I really have nothing new to blog about!  But, I thought I'd share a small prayer request.  I've been battling a cough/runny nose for a while now and I REALLY hope I'm better by the time I go home.  I need to be able to hold sweet Hudson, but his immune system is really low with the medicine he's on so I NEED TO GET BETTER!

I also thought I'd briefly write about a little conversation I had with one of my students this past week.  I already had a facebook status about it so you may have seen it.  I'm sure I'll come back and read my blogs someday, so I want to have a record of it!

There was one day when my bag was sitting kind of open at school and Lynnie noticed I have two phones, so she asked me why.  I told her one was so I could text people at home and one was so I could text people here.  I can't remember what exactly was said after that, but it got around to me telling her that I'd be going home soon, which I think Jhing has already told the class.

In her phrasing, she said, "But you will come here first so I will make you a card?"  That's what they did for Luke Russell before he and his family moved to Panay.  I said yes (I'll be at school a few times before I leave :)) and then I told her I would miss them all so much when I leave.  Curious what she would say, I asked, "Do you think you'll miss me too?"

She said yes, paused a moment, and said, "...because I love you."

Lynnie isn't the brightest or most well-behaved student in my class, but from the day I got here she has been the most affectionate towards me.  Her father volunteers at the school sometimes with odds and ends and also has a son in kindergarten.  I've learned that he treats his son like he walks on the moon, and I don't think Lynnie receives quite as much attention.  I'm thankful I've been able to share my love with Lynnie and I really hope especially that she has learned of God's love.

Here are some pictures of all of my precious students!

Mathew

Divine, front left, is Jhing's daughter and was just visiting.  Next is Chloe, Jamal, Eden, and Justine.

Theresa

Mark

BJ (back), Kianne, and Lynnie

Lance and Aivic.  Love this picture!

Aina Rose

Von Sandrix