Stomach bugs and Utila vacation

Like I did with my students last year when I was frustrated with their behavior, I asked my 5th and 6th graders to write me letters, telling me one thing they liked about my class and what they would like to be changed. I was surprised at how positive the letters were and how few complaints they had. Some students said there was nothing they would change. There were many specific comments about what they like in my class (independent reading and read aloud were two big hits, and some students said they like how I treat them) as well as some good insights into what I need to change. One point brought to my attention was how hot it is in the classroom. I'm not as bothered by heat as most people are, so I didn't realize how much it was affecting them. I'm seeing what I can do to get more fans in the classroom. I also need to put more thought into science class and devotions and find better ways to reward students who are on task and not always punish the whole class when most but not all of them are misbehaving...not easy.

I continue to be encouraged by the 5th graders: love notes left for me on student quizzes, hugs and "I love you"s throughout the school day. Also, a comment was made by a sixth grader to his mother that out of all the English teachers he's had since he started school, I'm his favorite. I'm still very frustrated with my students' behavior, though, especially the 6th graders'.

I was going to sell Tova to a student, but his family decided not to buy him when they found out he was not capable of making puppies. Another student offered to take him in and treat him as their own until I could get another house and take him back! It's more of a blessing than I could have wished for - no expenses on my part, and I don't have to get rid of my dog. I'm just praying that is works out, though. He's been there for a week, and he gets along great with their other dogs, but he's chewed apart several things in their house already :-/ There are pictures of him in his new home on my online album.

Two Saturdays ago, I came down with some severe symptoms of intestinal problems...I won't go into detail. But I went to the doctor's on Sunday and found out I had a virus and bacteria. Let's see...
2007: parasites from Bolivia
2008: rotavirus and bacteria from Honduras
2009: rotavirus and bacteria from Honduras
The strange thing is that the virus and bacteria aren't necessarily related, so I don't know how they came together both times. I'm declaring that next year is going to be a year free from stomach problems. Please pray for my physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being, because I know the three are intertwined.

Last week was Independence Week, and we had Wednesday through Friday off from school. I had wanted to go to Utila, one of the Bay Islands off of Honduras, with some of my fellow teachers, but I didn't know if I'd be well enough by then. Thankfully, Tuesday was my first day of good health, so I was well just in time. We spent Wednesday traveling by boat and ferry. On Thursday, the owner of our island inn lent us his snorkeling masks, and we found a beach and started to snorkel. We couldn't find the coral reef, so we asked a native islander for direction. She called in her son from where he was swimming, and he became our tour guide. He took us to the reef, then drove us in his golf cart to the caves where we swam some more. He brought us to a beach to see volcanic rocks, then another beach called the Iron Shore where Hurricane Mitch washed up dead coral onto the shore ten years ago. This was all free of charge. On Friday, we rented a boat to take us to Water Cay, an uninhabited island near Utila. We saw dolphins on the way - it was completely unexpected! The snorkeling off of that island was breathtaking. The whole trip, we felt like we were in a completely different country because the Bay Islands were colonized by the UK, then later turned over to Honduras. All the natives speak English as their first language, with an Irish accent. Most people speak Spanish as a second language, and only here and there did we meet Hondurans who live on the island and don't speak English. There aren't many cars on the little streets, but there are a lot of motorcycles and golf carts. You can see pictures of the trip here. I came back to Siguatepeque on Saturday, while my three companions stayed another day. An 8-hour trip turned into a 12-hour one because of a bridge that had collapsed after too much rain. Our bus was stuck in dead-stopped traffic for hours. I can't tell you how good it is to be home. And now it's back to the craziness of school, for which I need your prayers. Thank you.