It's Christmas!

250+ kids, who knows how many
parents - one packed church

This week at school was nuts! We practiced our Christmas program every morning, supposedly starting at 8:30. (Well, we're in Antigua, so though my class was usually in place by 8:40, we never got started before 5 to 9.) Today we had a full, full church. The program started at 11:10 (not bad at all, really) and ended at 1:05. Yikes. Various mishaps and new things we never rehearsed happened, but the gospel was proclaimed, so, "Thanks be to God!"


This week Thursday was supposed to be our Christmas Olympics. The students preschool through Gr 6 divide into 5 houses - Hawksbill (Green), Frigate (Red), Ocean (Blue), Sun (Yellow), Racer (White) - and compete in races, contests, etc. Each house has approximately 50 kids and is headed by 2 or 3 teachers. Unfortunately for everyone this year, there has been so much rain that the outdoor events were cancelled. Instead, we had an extra practice for our program and then went back to our own classrooms. Miss Rosenbaum found some Minute-to-Win-it games on the internet and held a mini-olympics of her own. She then made the mistake of giving a treat (a small lollipop) to the winners. Poor suffering children who didn't win began to cry. I felt bad for a moment, then thought, "Well, here is a lesson we both can learn. They need to know that they can't win everything in life, and the world will not end if they do not receive a treat. I need to be prepared for my rewards to blow up in my face and realize that crying kids come with the territory.

Grade 2 girls, enjoying the party

Friday was our Christmas party. Here, Christmas party food is not just cookies and juice. It can include pizza, sausage rolls, patties (meat pastries), sandwiches, meatballs, chips, cookies, cake, ice cream, juice, candy... need I go on? We spent most of the 3 hour party opening presents and eating. If I had not had one of my class moms in, helping me the whole day, I would not have made it. I could have been much more organized, but another lesson learned for next year.


Friday night was our faculty Christmas party. Traditionally, the party has been hosted at someone's house with teachers each bringing something to pass. This year it was decided that we go someplace nice and eat out. This nice place was the Sandals Resort (insert appropriate ohs and ahs). We have a connection through our music minister who is a tour guide and also used to work at Sandals. We got a deal and were going to eat at the buffet. As the Lord would have it, Friday night was the only night this month they did not serve the buffet! So we were permitted to order any appetizers and 2 entrees from the restaurant menu. Then we ambled over to another part of the resort where there was a chocolate bar. To end the night, we were shown up to a conference room set aside for our gift exchange. Both Julie and I had requested and received local art to hang in our house. Now our white walls have some color!

St. John's Lutheran faculty and staff (minus a few)

I couldn't ask for anyone else to share my time here!

May God bless you and yours as we celebrate the coming of our Savior! Me? I'll be home for Christmas. You can plan on me.   =)

A Birthday Post

Yes, it was my birthday this past weekend. We began the celebrations a little early as Friday was a day off from school to celebrate National Heroes' Day (or V.C. Bird Day). We went to the beach, got grocery shopping done, went out to eat with the Johnston family. My one request was to make Christmas cookies, so Saturday morning, Julie, Cindy, Aida, Sienna, and I began a baking marathon. We did 3 batches of cut-outs, 2 batches of sugar cookies, and 1 batch of gingerbread cookies. Good thing Cindy always gives away plates of cookies as gifts, because there were a ton!

This morning, we participated in a 5K fun run, sponsored by Subway. The cookie baking crew plus baby Grady walked from the Subway in town, to the Subway north of town, then back again. At the finish line, they had Gatorades, cookies, and subs awaiting all participants! Lovely. Didn't get rained on like last week, so that was nice. Only unfortunate thing was that the 9am start time didn't happen til 9:30, and walking with a 4 year old, a 2 year old, and a 4 month old isn't very fast. We were a little late for church, but we did hear a sermon reminding us to always be ready for Christ's second coming, because God's time isn't our time.

This week at school we have been spending 1 1/2 hours every day running through our Christmas program. It will be a long program as we have not yet added the Kings Kids (our junior choir), Kids Pan (steel pan group), Dance (children of all ages, dancing to a song by Charlotte Church), the 2 congregational hymns, or the sermonette by Pastor Johnston. The program is taking the place of the 11am service. Mom told me I should eat a really good breakfast so that I'm not wasting away with hunger by the time I get home.

One of my biggest struggles is staying content with where God has placed me. It's not that I can't find things to be joyful in, wherever I am; it's just that I tend to think, "If only I had this," or "If only things were this way," or "If only I could go here, do this, etc." I get so caught up in the things I want that I forget all the amazing blessings around me. For example, I have been eagerly awaiting the 19th, the day I fly home to visit my family for Christmas. My anticipation is not going to make the day come any faster, and, quite frankly, it clouds my enjoyment of the present. These last few weeks have been so full of wonderful experiences, opportunities to grow and learn, chances to get to know others better. I'm not sure if I have made the best of these opportunities before me with my eyes on things ahead instead of things at hand. I know the Lord will continue to bless me wherever I am, and for that, I am most humbled. I pray that God will help me overcome my discontent, for my name is written in the Book of Life; past that, all things can only add to my joy.

10K in the Rain

Apparently, there is always a week in either December or January when the weather is cloudy, windy, and rainy. I would venture a guess (and a hope) that this is the week because since Friday night, we have had nothing but clouds and wetness, interspersed with clouds and humidity and clouds and torrential downpour. Saturday morning we went to town to pay bills and do some Christmas gift exchange shopping, and we got rained on throughout the morning. We were blessed enough to get a ride into town from a neighbor and a ride back from a church member.

Cindy Johnston had suggested that we train for a race. When she had originally mentioned it, she had said something about training for a 1/2 marathon in Barbados. That didn't happen for financial reasons (and laziness, too). Then we said we would start training so we would be ready any time a race popped up.(Lofty goals, never really followed through on the training part of the plan.) Sandals Resort had such a race, an opportunity to run 5K, 10K, or a 1/2 marathon (actually 15 miles, but who's counting?). The race was scheduled to start at 6a.m. at the Sandals Resort and end at several different points around the island. We decided we would sign up to run the 10K with the intent of running the first 5, run/walk the send half.

Julie, Cindy, and me, 5:30 a.m., ready for our race!

We woke up to rain and doubts that the race would be held. The start time was pushed back to 6:30. The three of us were joined by Cindy's friend (Sylvina) from her kids' swim class. At the onset of the race, Julie and I paired up and set a decent pace. About 3K in, Julie paused for a break and I continued running. I made it the first 5K without stopping. I wanted to get my time and wait around for everyone else to catch up, but the timers wouldn't give me my time as I was signed up for the 10K! I couldn't see any of the others, so I decided to start running again. I stopped 2 other times to walk a block or two, but ran the majority of the 2nd 5K. My time? 66:29. Not bad for someone only intending to run 5K without any serious training.

There were a few times during the race when I felt as if I might drown in the torrential downpours or in the rivers coursing through the roadways. I was thoroughly soaked by the end, and my clothes and shoes will probably take a few days to dry out. It was enjoyable, though. Julie finished in 72 minutes, and Cindy and Sylvina finished in 76. Both good times as they all had decided to walk. Perhaps we will do it again sometime...

Not Your Typical Thanksgiving

Yes, I had school on Thanksgiving, Black Friday as well. How did Julie and I celebrate one of America's most esteemed holidays? Let me tell you...

Feeding the sheep at
 Wadadli Nature Park

Because we were lamenting the fact that our classmates would be having days off and many would be traveling to spend the holiday with their families, Julie had the great idea to schedule a field trip for our classes. This way, we could get out of some class and still do some learning. She did all the leg work, I wrote a note to send home to parents, and Thursday morning, we headed out to the Wadadli Nature Park in 2 buses chartered from the National School Bus Service. 56 students, 2 teachers, and 4 parent chaperons walked through Antigua's version of a zoo (more like a petting zoo than the famous establishments in Omaha or San Diego).

Who wants a cute and cuddly tortoise?

We saw goats, sheep, tortoises, snapping turtles, a cow, a donkey, a horse, monkeys, parrots, parakeets, love birds, peacocks, chickens, geese, ducks, guinea pigs, rabbits, pigs, and fish. The kids were able to feed the goats and sheep, hold a tortoise, pet the horse, geese, and rabbits, and get up close a personal with the pigs and snapping turtle. Not sure how much they learned about the animals, but Miss Rosenbaum certainly learned a lot about managing a field trip, that's for sure!

Our "home-away-from-home"
 Thanksgiving dinner

Friday night, we were invited to the Johnstons' to celebrate Thanksgiving with them, the Sternhagens, Pastor Richards, and his fiancee. We split the food prep; Julie and I were in charge of bringing a salad, cranberries, and a bottle of wine. We also brought a bottle of sparkling grape juice (one from Celebrating Teachers) so the kids could have something special to drink. Everything was fantastically delicious! The most pleasant surprise of the evening was the rhubarb pie baked by Kristin Sternhagen. Rhubarb is my favorite! And to have it so far from Grandma Rosenbaum in Saginaw... what a special treat!

Just another day in paradise, compliments of the Heavenly Father. God is good! All the time!

A Time to Be Thankful

Hard to believe that the time for Thanksgiving has arrived, and yet here it is all the same. The Lord has truly given us more than we could ever ask for or imagine (Eph. 3:20). Luther summarizes things well when in the explanation to the First Article, he speaks of God preserving us by providing us, "clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and home, spouse and children, land, cattle, and all I own, and all I need to keep my body and life." This week in chapel as we were reciting this passage, I couldn't help but smile to myself as I mentally adjusted, "clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and home, Julie and kids, lawn, goats, and all I own, and every adventure God sends my way."

Here in Antigua, they do not celebrate Thanksgiving; instead they celebrate Harvest: a time to be thankful for the food we have to eat. Churches conduct food drives for those in need; the sanctuary is decorated with the food stuffs and with sugar cane. In the 8:30 service, the choir sang and my pan group played (with me on the 4 bass... might be a favorite). In the 11:00, grades 3&4, grades 5&6 sang, and one of the Kids' Pan groups played. And appropriately, Pastor Sternhagen's sermon highlight how blessed we really are.


Last weekend, our faculty participated in an event called Celebrate Teachers. Every year our Zone (kind of like a school district) puts on a dinner to recognize the teachers of the school in the zone. Everyone gets dressed up (we borrowed dresses from Mrs. Greaux), gets their hair and make up done, and looks forward to a good meal. Interesting contrast in formal/informal ways of doing things. Awards were given for everything (including to Julie and me for being new to the district) and each reward was accompanied by handshakes from 3 different people. (formal) There were also door prizes and a dance contest. (informal) It was a long evening, but it was enjoyable.

The playground that was donated to SJL, courtesy of LWMS, has finally been completed! Unfortunately, it has been rather soggy, and Miss Rosenbaum made the mistake of letting the kids go out to recess without checking the state of the grounds... so Wednesday was a very muddy day.

I continue to learn more and more about my kids, myself, my profession, and most importantly, my Savior. God is good! All the time!

Just a Short Post

• Had a nice short week of school, only Wednesday to Friday.
• Were short of water at school on Wednesday and Thursday.
• Were short of electricity at church this morning when it cut in the middle of the first hymn. Thankfully we had someone at the steel pan to continue accompanying us until Pastor Sternhagen got the generator turned on.
• Mrs. Sternhagen called me ‘little girl.’ Usually my mom calls me that. I know I’m short and look like I’m 17, but come on!
• Our lawn is NOT short. Our lawn care guy has not been here for over a month and our yard looks horrendous!
• Yesterday took a short walk into town to pay our electric bill. Purchased a painting (at a short price, courtesy of a church member) for our wall.
• Looking forward to a short call to my youngest brother who turned 18 this past Friday.
• Was reminded in church to say a short prayer of thanks for the grace God has given us.

Flexibility: a Teacher's Best Friend

The cousins, enjoying StingRay City

Last weekend I had the tremendous pleasure of hosting my cousins James and Jon Free at my home here in Antigua. We had the time of our lives! Highlights of the trip included a barbeque with the pastors and their families, a tour of the island that featured stops at Betty’s Hope (a restored sugar mill), Stingray City (see the picture), and Devil’s Bridge (again, see picture), church at St. John’s, Spanish service at Pigeon Point beach, a walk through Nelson’s Dockyard, and a visit to Shirleys Heights. Just a fabulous weekend!

               Holding 2 stingrays

Devil's Bridge

The countryside of Antigua is simply beautiful! I just know James and Jon loved their trip down here. Julie's mom was also down here this weekend. Too bad they could only stay for a few days. Perhaps our next visitors will be able to stay on this beautiful island just a little longer...
So about that flexibility...
Today is Independence Day in Antigua, celebrating 30 years of independence. This past week, there were various festivities occurring. Thursday was the annual Youth Rally when schools have off and some of the students march and salute the Governor General and the Prime Minister (or the acting prime minister if the actual Prime Minister happens to be out of the country on business). We had an Independence Programme put on by our children on Friday evening. Here's where the flexibility begins.

Some of my grade 2 girls, in national dress for the
Independence Programme

• Monday: my class is practicing for singing for church this coming Sunday, 30 October. At 8:30, I get the memo that the school will be having practice for the Programme at 9:00. Could I please send a note down to Miss Boggs so she knows? Sure...
• Tuesday: today we are going to have 2 practices because we should have started practicing last week and we need to make up the time. Unfortunately some classes showed up late and slowed things down for a bit. Then in the afternoon, I am told that I can take my class back while other classes and smaller groups practice. (In the faculty meeting we find out we will not have school on Monday! Fun, but there go some lesson plans...)
• Wednesday: throw a little bit of rain into the mix. Each run through is still taking about an hour. I have cut some classes to fit the most important things into the day, jumbled recess, snacks, and tests.
• Thursday: Youth Rally
• Friday: Chapel and practice for the programme takes a good portion of the morning. Recess, snack, and math bingo finish off the morning and we dismiss at noon. The programme is scheduled to start at 5 (though island time takes it to 5:30). Seating is completely different from anything we rehearsed during the week. We get home just before 8.
• Sunday: My class is singing. I am preparing the CD that will accompany us. The player is refusing to read the disc. Thank God for Mrs. Sternhagen! She quick grabs her husband's computer, hooks it up to the church sound system and has things ready for when my kids sing after the 1st reading. We sang the verses in the wrong order, but we made it with smiles on our faces and praise in our hearts.

And as today is Independence, I will be enjoying my freedom in Christ. God bless!