Best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral, winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most joyous traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, but with respect for the religious persuasion of others who choose to practice their own religion as well as those who choose not to practice a religion at all;
plus,
A fiscally successful, personally fulfilling, and medically uncomplicated recognition of the generally accepted calendar year 2006, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of the other cultures whose contributions have helped make our society great, without regard to age, race, creed, color, religion, national origin, disability, political affiliation or sexual orientation.
(Disclaimer: This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for him/herself or others and no responsibility for any unintended emotional stress these greetings may bring to those not caught up in the holiday spirit.)
Friday, December 15, 2006
Monday, December 04, 2006
You'll never see me again.
I figured that heading would be better at getting your attention. ;-)
Anyway, I'm thinking about the comming summer and what things it might hold. Right now I'm hoping to stay here for language school. The only question is where this is going to happen (In Tegus, on the coast, or in Costa Rica).
Right now the most likely option is for me to stay here in Tegus and go to a language school somewhere in town for 4 hours a day. Also I might be taking classes with a lady here at school who teaches Peace Corp "troops". She's really good, but she usually makes $20 an hour during her holidays through that program. That's perfectly normal on a US salary, but it's crushing on a Honduran salary like mine. (I make around $3-4 an hour and that's considered a great paycheck here).
But this would still be the best for a lot of reasons, the main reason is because I would also be helping out here at the school ands still getting paid (plus have housing). I would be helping out with administrative type duties, namely scheduling and who knows... maybe even screening new-student candidates. That would make me extremely happy. I know I'm very young and inexperienced, but I like helping out with the more administrative duties.
I've noticed that I'm not as much of a teacher as I thought I was. I'm definitely, and without a doubt, made for choirs and to be a choir director, but that's vastly different from teaching in a classroom type of environment. Especially when I have to make up the curriculum myself. That's tough. But the planning and dreaming and other things that go along with the administrative side of things are right up my ally. I don't know exactly how much I'll be allowed to be involved in all this, but I definitely want to get involved as much as possible.
Things with the Philharmonic Chorus are also going well. Guess what happened in practice yesterday! Never mind, you'd never guess even if I gave you 20 chances. I led the rehearsal for about 1 hour and thirty minutes. Now that's a lot "huger" than you might think... I mean, even if the chorus isn't as great as some of the ones that I've been a part of in college, it's still a huge thing because I don't know Spanish barely at all. So even though at this point in my Spanish career I should be in the depressing stages of making a huge fool of myself... I've still been given honor and respect. It's more kindness than I could bear. And it sure was fun.
Well, I need to go now,
--
Jason Scott Vawter
Anyway, I'm thinking about the comming summer and what things it might hold. Right now I'm hoping to stay here for language school. The only question is where this is going to happen (In Tegus, on the coast, or in Costa Rica).
Right now the most likely option is for me to stay here in Tegus and go to a language school somewhere in town for 4 hours a day. Also I might be taking classes with a lady here at school who teaches Peace Corp "troops". She's really good, but she usually makes $20 an hour during her holidays through that program. That's perfectly normal on a US salary, but it's crushing on a Honduran salary like mine. (I make around $3-4 an hour and that's considered a great paycheck here).
But this would still be the best for a lot of reasons, the main reason is because I would also be helping out here at the school ands still getting paid (plus have housing). I would be helping out with administrative type duties, namely scheduling and who knows... maybe even screening new-student candidates. That would make me extremely happy. I know I'm very young and inexperienced, but I like helping out with the more administrative duties.
I've noticed that I'm not as much of a teacher as I thought I was. I'm definitely, and without a doubt, made for choirs and to be a choir director, but that's vastly different from teaching in a classroom type of environment. Especially when I have to make up the curriculum myself. That's tough. But the planning and dreaming and other things that go along with the administrative side of things are right up my ally. I don't know exactly how much I'll be allowed to be involved in all this, but I definitely want to get involved as much as possible.
Things with the Philharmonic Chorus are also going well. Guess what happened in practice yesterday! Never mind, you'd never guess even if I gave you 20 chances. I led the rehearsal for about 1 hour and thirty minutes. Now that's a lot "huger" than you might think... I mean, even if the chorus isn't as great as some of the ones that I've been a part of in college, it's still a huge thing because I don't know Spanish barely at all. So even though at this point in my Spanish career I should be in the depressing stages of making a huge fool of myself... I've still been given honor and respect. It's more kindness than I could bear. And it sure was fun.
Well, I need to go now,
--
Jason Scott Vawter
Monday, November 20, 2006
Thanksgiving
Right now I've got an unexpected free period after a morning of sub-ing during my usual free periods. I think me and the guys are going to have Thanksgiving with some friends from the International School, and then we decided we're going to make it a point to watch one entire football game as a continuation of the tradition. It'll probably be the first whole one that any of us have watched for a few years. But that's just what Thanksgiving's about, you know? ;-)
Thursday, November 16, 2006
DETENCIONES
So I was in charge of after-school detention today... which was pretty fun. I must say. There were so many kids that we had to split it up. Mr. Reconco took half of the kids and I had all the kids that I gave detentions to. It was great to see Mr. Reconco having his kids do exercises. He was hard core. And it was the bomb. While he had his kids under physical diress, I put mine under mental diress and had them write a huge four page paper in English in less than 45 mins. I kept telling them that if they didn't finish, I would give them another detention for not following directions. I'm so mean... it was great. ;-) After that, I had the class write a letterof encouragement to Ms. Godoy in Spanish which I will give her tomorrow.
I hope she enjoys it a lot more then they did!
(heh heh)
I hope she enjoys it a lot more then they did!
(heh heh)
Saturday, November 04, 2006
Sunday, October 29, 2006
It's pronounced MOATZART!!!!!!
I haven't really done anything too interesting this weekend, but I did do something extremely interesting this past Wednessday. I don't guess I've said anything about that yet have I?
Last Friday I went to a tiny benifit concert that was held at someone's house and met someone who told me about another conert. It was a girl who has been here for the last four years with her husband and they had found out about a concert on Wed. She invited me to come. It was a concert of the Honduran National Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir performing Mozart's Requiem.
By the way, even though you're only reading inside your head please pronounce that Moat-zart (WITH A "T"!!!!)
Sorry... now where was I? ;-) It was a pretty good performance and it was wonderful to see something of which I had been a part of on the other side at Lee University. I'll have to be honest... it could have been a lot better. But I still wouldn't have traded the experience for the world. It was wonderful! I tried my best not to sing along, but I got caught a couple of times. I have this deep affenity for the choral parts. The other's don't interest me very much... not even the vocal solo portions. But those choral parts are just absolutely astounding! Mozart ( Moatzart) was amazing!
PS- For an indepth theological discussion on my future mate, please read the post below.
Last Friday I went to a tiny benifit concert that was held at someone's house and met someone who told me about another conert. It was a girl who has been here for the last four years with her husband and they had found out about a concert on Wed. She invited me to come. It was a concert of the Honduran National Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir performing Mozart's Requiem.
By the way, even though you're only reading inside your head please pronounce that Moat-zart (WITH A "T"!!!!)
Sorry... now where was I? ;-) It was a pretty good performance and it was wonderful to see something of which I had been a part of on the other side at Lee University. I'll have to be honest... it could have been a lot better. But I still wouldn't have traded the experience for the world. It was wonderful! I tried my best not to sing along, but I got caught a couple of times. I have this deep affenity for the choral parts. The other's don't interest me very much... not even the vocal solo portions. But those choral parts are just absolutely astounding! Mozart ( Moatzart) was amazing!
PS- For an indepth theological discussion on my future mate, please read the post below.
Your Shack, My Shack, and a Bungalow
As for those rumors about me praying "theologically correctly" here's the deal and what my quandary was all about:
I heard a great sermon last night right before I wrote to you. It was not great because of something the pastor did or said, but rather because of what God said to me and showed me. The pastor used three or four different texts, but one of them was from Daniel during the story of "your shack, my shack and a bungalow". We as "modern" Christians are so quick to focus on the first part of the three Hebrew children's answer to the King. You know, the part where they in a valiant, ready-to-die-for-the-cause way say that "the God we serve is able to save us". We even like to focus on the second half of their kingly slap in the face: "But even if he does not". But the part that we modern Christians most conveniently forget is the most powerful and fiery part wedged right in between those to anemic quotes. "and he will rescue us from your hand, O king."
God showed me last night that I am quick to believe in a god that can do anything, but who rarely does anything. It's easy for me to say (believing with all my heart) that "with God, all things are possible." But in practice, I follow it with a quick "but nothing is probable" under my breath. But that's just not how things are supposed to work. I can't have on one hand a belief in a God that can do anything and yet believe that He refuses to do most things. If I'm going to call His power limitless, I have to follow it up with a faith that acts on that belief. The three Hebrew children didn't wait for God to tell them that He was going to save them before they made such an audacious claim. And all the people who come to Jesus in the gospel accounts don't simply believe that He was able... they also had to believe that he would. It was a double faith. It was a HIGH-risk faith; they had a lot to lose emotionally. What would happen if they were believing in the wrong thing? ( i.e. believing in the miracle instead of the Miracle Giver)
And for the past year, I've been thinking the same things. I've been afraid that having faith of that kind was too dangerous emotionally. I mean after all, I had burned myself once already thinking that God was promising something to me that wasn't really mine. I substituted my voice for His and the change was so subtle I never even knew it. That's why I was so badly hurt. And that's precisely the HIGH risk that is involved here. We moderns want some deep assurance that it's actually God's voice that we're hearing, but it's hard to "step out in faith" if it's something that you know so surely. On one hand we criticize Gideon for not believing the first time, but on the other... we don't step out on our own ever.
~Entonces~
So that's what I'm doing... sort of. I'm stepping out in a very HIGH-risk faith that God has "someone" for me and that He is going to send her soon; just as soon as He is done preparing her for me, and me for her. It's HIGH-risk because there is a chance that He wants me to remain single. But it's not something that I am able to consider at this moment. Right now I am calling to Jesus blindly as He passes by and believing that if I can just reach Him, He will intervene in this situation and that my prayers will matter and that they will influence His hand of blessing. There is no room for me to believe that it's possible that this is how He wants me to remain. That type of doubt is even more dangerous at this moment. I'm risking enough as it is.
I heard a great sermon last night right before I wrote to you. It was not great because of something the pastor did or said, but rather because of what God said to me and showed me. The pastor used three or four different texts, but one of them was from Daniel during the story of "your shack, my shack and a bungalow". We as "modern" Christians are so quick to focus on the first part of the three Hebrew children's answer to the King. You know, the part where they in a valiant, ready-to-die-for-the-cause way say that "the God we serve is able to save us". We even like to focus on the second half of their kingly slap in the face: "But even if he does not". But the part that we modern Christians most conveniently forget is the most powerful and fiery part wedged right in between those to anemic quotes. "and he will rescue us from your hand, O king."
God showed me last night that I am quick to believe in a god that can do anything, but who rarely does anything. It's easy for me to say (believing with all my heart) that "with God, all things are possible." But in practice, I follow it with a quick "but nothing is probable" under my breath. But that's just not how things are supposed to work. I can't have on one hand a belief in a God that can do anything and yet believe that He refuses to do most things. If I'm going to call His power limitless, I have to follow it up with a faith that acts on that belief. The three Hebrew children didn't wait for God to tell them that He was going to save them before they made such an audacious claim. And all the people who come to Jesus in the gospel accounts don't simply believe that He was able... they also had to believe that he would. It was a double faith. It was a HIGH-risk faith; they had a lot to lose emotionally. What would happen if they were believing in the wrong thing? ( i.e. believing in the miracle instead of the Miracle Giver)
And for the past year, I've been thinking the same things. I've been afraid that having faith of that kind was too dangerous emotionally. I mean after all, I had burned myself once already thinking that God was promising something to me that wasn't really mine. I substituted my voice for His and the change was so subtle I never even knew it. That's why I was so badly hurt. And that's precisely the HIGH risk that is involved here. We moderns want some deep assurance that it's actually God's voice that we're hearing, but it's hard to "step out in faith" if it's something that you know so surely. On one hand we criticize Gideon for not believing the first time, but on the other... we don't step out on our own ever.
~Entonces~
So that's what I'm doing... sort of. I'm stepping out in a very HIGH-risk faith that God has "someone" for me and that He is going to send her soon; just as soon as He is done preparing her for me, and me for her. It's HIGH-risk because there is a chance that He wants me to remain single. But it's not something that I am able to consider at this moment. Right now I am calling to Jesus blindly as He passes by and believing that if I can just reach Him, He will intervene in this situation and that my prayers will matter and that they will influence His hand of blessing. There is no room for me to believe that it's possible that this is how He wants me to remain. That type of doubt is even more dangerous at this moment. I'm risking enough as it is.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
!!!!!!PICTURES!!!!!
;-D
Ok, finally.... here are all the pictures I can get to you. If I had a camera (hint, hint) I would try to take more, but as it is, I'm dependant on my roomates to take the pictures, download them to their own laptop, then upload them on their own website before I can ever start to do that exact the same process all over again for my own website.
Anyway... enough complaining, right? Here are some pictures, and I'll do my best to caption all of them that I can... but some of them just wouldn't do you any good because I'd have to be there pointing at your screen for you to see what it is I'm talking about...
From the top and left to right...
#1-I borrowed a camera and took this picture because of the amazing tree in the background. If you look right above Brian's head (orange shirt), you will see a tree limb way behind him that's as big as most tree trunks. This limb extends more than 40 feet away from the main trunk before lessening in size. It's so huge in person, and it's mind boggling to think that it hasn't fallen off it's trunk because of it's weight.
#2- Look out ladies... your prince is here. May I introduce Daniel White on his too short stallion.
#3-Daniel again. This is his camera... he has a right for the pictures to be about him. Besides... I got to frame the photo. It didn't come out quite like I had planned, but oh well.
#4- It's a long way down. Before the archeologists changed the course of the Copan river at the beginning of last century, it came right up to the base of this city's most important buildings due to an ancient earthquake and other natural causes.
#5-Stud muffin Number 1 with the beautiful Carolyn beside him. In the back you can see the king's house: tall and impressive, but very tiny at the top of it all.
#6- An alter carved by the last king (or was it the 13th?). If you can see it, it depicts the first king handing off his septir to the "current" king. It would be better if I could point for you...
#7-The great temple... restored (or at least peiced back together). It would have orriginally been covered with a type of plaster/stucco.
#8-Another side of the king's house (these pictures are backwards cronologically, by the way). If you look at the part that just looks like a pile of rocks... that's what the whole site used to look like when it was found orriginally. No stone was where it belonged. The trees tore through the place once the people left due to a severe famin. (I would venture to say it was a direct punishment from God the Father).
Also, (same picture) if you look at the little door at the bottom, that's actually a door to one of the MANY tunnels underneath the city. All the excavation is now done underground during the dry season (our Spring). There are around 8 km of tunnels. Two are open to the public, but many have said that they are interesting but simply not worth the $12 (that's a dollar sign) intrance fee.
#9-Studmuffin Number 1 again, with his sidekick, Brian Goetsch.
#10-"Wow... they do exist!" And it's so strange to see something alive that's naturaly that brightly colored. It's so impressive to see in person. The Maccaw is the National bird of Honduras and is protected. There were about 10-15 right by the park's gate that just hang around because they are continually fed. It was quite amazing to see them flying around.
#11- In the background is the little Catholic church. It's not that old; only around 1890... but picture worthy anyway. This is the modern day town of Copan. It's just a few miles from the archaeological park.
Monday, October 16, 2006
Trip to the Mayan Ruins of Copan
So... the trip was great. After we went there and saw all there was to see, I realized... I never (I mean never) would have seen any Mayan ruins if I hadn't been living here in Honduras. It just made me think about the blessing of being here. We did the whole trip for around the equivalent of $150 (that's a dollar sign ;-). Which was a little much... but when you think about the experience... it was well worth it. There was $30-35 for a bus ticket both ways and then $6 a person per night at the hostel we stayed at (which was SWEET). The meals (even the most expensive) were always less than $5. Actually, the most expensive thing was the park and museum entrance fees. It was really interesting, although it reminded me a lot of Space and Rocket center in this way: once was more than enough. We also paid for a guide, which was well worth it... otherwise we would have walked around without a clue. The museum was good, but not nearly as informative as it could have been. Then again, maybe they just don't know all that much about the Mayans. Even so... it seems that when you have a HUGE museum that I can walk through in about two and a half hours and still have time to read every plaque thoroughly... it's sort of lacking something. ;-) But it really was great.
The current day Copan was a beautiful small town with tons of things to offer, and one of the days we went horseback riding for 3-4 hours. It was pretty sweet. I liked it until the end when we started to "canter" and I had the acute realization that there were a thousand problems with my saddle and started to wonder if I would ever have kids. I was in pain. Ha... But the sights were wonderful! This is such a beautiful country, Mom! I wish I could spend more time enjoying it.
We rode the bus up there and back. It was like a really nice Greyhound service, but it took a long time. The trip was around 7 hours. It would have been nice to make the drive ourselves, but we're not allowed to take the car very far outside of the city. (It's a good and reasonable rule.)
Later yall!
The current day Copan was a beautiful small town with tons of things to offer, and one of the days we went horseback riding for 3-4 hours. It was pretty sweet. I liked it until the end when we started to "canter" and I had the acute realization that there were a thousand problems with my saddle and started to wonder if I would ever have kids. I was in pain. Ha... But the sights were wonderful! This is such a beautiful country, Mom! I wish I could spend more time enjoying it.
We rode the bus up there and back. It was like a really nice Greyhound service, but it took a long time. The trip was around 7 hours. It would have been nice to make the drive ourselves, but we're not allowed to take the car very far outside of the city. (It's a good and reasonable rule.)
Later yall!
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
A second year?
Hello blogging world!
Did you miss me? I hope so. ;-) Sorry for not writing in a while, but things have been very busy with the starting of this new club and all. I've been thinking about a lot of things lately... to say the least. Of course I know that will surprise some of you who thought that and pensitivity (fancy word for thinking) on my part was a rare occurance to say the least. ;-)
The club is going very well for those of you who wanted to know. There are many bumps and roadblocks that need to be smoothed over whenever you start such a grand thing from scratch. But these are being worked through slowly, and it's nothing too unexpected. In general, I'm thrilled that the kids are so excited about it, and more and more things start heading in the direction of a choir. I'm surprised at how many of them are so eager to sing. Boy, is that a blessing!
This weekend me, the guys, and Carolyn are all going to go to see the Mayan ruins at Copan. We've got a long weekend; today's "Friday" for those of us lucky to live in Honduras. I'm not sure what holiday it is, but I'm not complaining! It's so good to be out of college and actually have random, one or two day breaks in the school schedule! (Ha, ha, you college suckers! ;-)
I have been asked many times (it's almost a constant question) how long I plan on staying, and my answer has been the same every time. Below are some of my thoughts on the subject as written in a letter to Pastor Bill Strickland, who is the missionary in charge of all goings on here at CEAD. He's a higher up at AG WM (in charge of something...) as well, and spends most of his time in Springfield, even though he's still a missionary here. He replied fairly... no, very quickly, to my letter. He wants to talk in person, and I'm very excited of the prospects of meeting with him on this issue when he returns at the beginning of this next month. Anyway, the letter is below.
Pastor Strickland,
I pray things are well with you up in Springfield right now! The following is an email that is very important to me, though it is unfortunately long for you to read. If you are better able to read it at some other point when you have more time, I am more than patient to wait for your thoughts in this matter. I thank you for taking the time to read it.
~
I am writing to let you know of my desire to plan for a second year here at CEAD while also to ask for guidance in doing so. The longer I am here, though I realize 2 months is still a very short time, the more my heart is for this place and it's people, culture, and language. I have a great desire to learn Spanish and am strongly considering spending some time at a language school this coming summer. Also, in my many talks with Ms. Godoy and through my limited (though cherished) interaction with the music of this culture, I am realizing more and more of the country's deep need and readiness for more comprehensive training in music, both scholastically (through this specific school), as well as non scholastically (whether through the church's music academy or otherwise). I see a white harvest field for people to be touched and moved towards God by more formal music--both band and choral--and I also know that Ms. Godoy is also greatly hoping to start a band.
During the past few weeks I have also had the opportunity to start a high school music club here with an emphasis on student leadership, percussion, and choral training (my personal favorite). It is because of the natural fragility of a structure such as this coupled with it's immense benefit to the students that I desire to keep teaching for more than a couple years without interruption.
All the above was simply explanation of the issue, but now my question comes to light: I would like to come back for a second (and most likely third or fourth year), but I'm unsure as to how. In speaking with Mr. Turner, Mr. Harrison, and Ms. Veith on the matter, they gave me what advice they could, but then advised me to talk with you.
I understand that I could come back almost indefinitely as a new MAPS assignment every year, and there are benefits to this I suppose. But since I'm strongly considering a longer time, I am hoping you might be able to help advise me about becoming an MA.
I know this seems early to be talking about something this far away, but I am simply hoping to better plan. I will have an opportunity to be back at my home church during Christmas time as I plan to return for graduation from Lee University. This would be a great opportunity for me to either raise money for the music program here or to start raising money for a second year should this be necessary. This is my main reason for talking with you so soon about my return. If you had some time to spare, I would love to sit down and ask questions in a more direct manner, but I figured a long email would better enable you to read and answer in your own time and with whatever appropriate amount of prayer you find needed.
Thank you so much for your time here. Once again, I realize this is almost oppressive in length, but I hope you will forgive me. My heart is here; I am simply looking for guidance in how to plan, should that (planning) even be necessary.
With a grateful and thankful heart,
Jason Scott Vawter
Did you miss me? I hope so. ;-) Sorry for not writing in a while, but things have been very busy with the starting of this new club and all. I've been thinking about a lot of things lately... to say the least. Of course I know that will surprise some of you who thought that and pensitivity (fancy word for thinking) on my part was a rare occurance to say the least. ;-)
The club is going very well for those of you who wanted to know. There are many bumps and roadblocks that need to be smoothed over whenever you start such a grand thing from scratch. But these are being worked through slowly, and it's nothing too unexpected. In general, I'm thrilled that the kids are so excited about it, and more and more things start heading in the direction of a choir. I'm surprised at how many of them are so eager to sing. Boy, is that a blessing!
This weekend me, the guys, and Carolyn are all going to go to see the Mayan ruins at Copan. We've got a long weekend; today's "Friday" for those of us lucky to live in Honduras. I'm not sure what holiday it is, but I'm not complaining! It's so good to be out of college and actually have random, one or two day breaks in the school schedule! (Ha, ha, you college suckers! ;-)
I have been asked many times (it's almost a constant question) how long I plan on staying, and my answer has been the same every time. Below are some of my thoughts on the subject as written in a letter to Pastor Bill Strickland, who is the missionary in charge of all goings on here at CEAD. He's a higher up at AG WM (in charge of something...) as well, and spends most of his time in Springfield, even though he's still a missionary here. He replied fairly... no, very quickly, to my letter. He wants to talk in person, and I'm very excited of the prospects of meeting with him on this issue when he returns at the beginning of this next month. Anyway, the letter is below.
Pastor Strickland,
I pray things are well with you up in Springfield right now! The following is an email that is very important to me, though it is unfortunately long for you to read. If you are better able to read it at some other point when you have more time, I am more than patient to wait for your thoughts in this matter. I thank you for taking the time to read it.
~
I am writing to let you know of my desire to plan for a second year here at CEAD while also to ask for guidance in doing so. The longer I am here, though I realize 2 months is still a very short time, the more my heart is for this place and it's people, culture, and language. I have a great desire to learn Spanish and am strongly considering spending some time at a language school this coming summer. Also, in my many talks with Ms. Godoy and through my limited (though cherished) interaction with the music of this culture, I am realizing more and more of the country's deep need and readiness for more comprehensive training in music, both scholastically (through this specific school), as well as non scholastically (whether through the church's music academy or otherwise). I see a white harvest field for people to be touched and moved towards God by more formal music--both band and choral--and I also know that Ms. Godoy is also greatly hoping to start a band.
During the past few weeks I have also had the opportunity to start a high school music club here with an emphasis on student leadership, percussion, and choral training (my personal favorite). It is because of the natural fragility of a structure such as this coupled with it's immense benefit to the students that I desire to keep teaching for more than a couple years without interruption.
All the above was simply explanation of the issue, but now my question comes to light: I would like to come back for a second (and most likely third or fourth year), but I'm unsure as to how. In speaking with Mr. Turner, Mr. Harrison, and Ms. Veith on the matter, they gave me what advice they could, but then advised me to talk with you.
I understand that I could come back almost indefinitely as a new MAPS assignment every year, and there are benefits to this I suppose. But since I'm strongly considering a longer time, I am hoping you might be able to help advise me about becoming an MA.
I know this seems early to be talking about something this far away, but I am simply hoping to better plan. I will have an opportunity to be back at my home church during Christmas time as I plan to return for graduation from Lee University. This would be a great opportunity for me to either raise money for the music program here or to start raising money for a second year should this be necessary. This is my main reason for talking with you so soon about my return. If you had some time to spare, I would love to sit down and ask questions in a more direct manner, but I figured a long email would better enable you to read and answer in your own time and with whatever appropriate amount of prayer you find needed.
Thank you so much for your time here. Once again, I realize this is almost oppressive in length, but I hope you will forgive me. My heart is here; I am simply looking for guidance in how to plan, should that (planning) even be necessary.
With a grateful and thankful heart,
Jason Scott Vawter
Monday, October 09, 2006
Things to do
Well, I guess I would be cheating to say my Spanish isn't getting better; it is... but not very quickly at all. I'm really hoping to get a host home sometime soon. I'd at least like to secure one for next semester even if I don't leave the house for this one. I'm really considering staying another year... but I don't know what it will take or how it will happen. I'm trying to talk to the other missionays around me and ask for their advice and wisdom on the subject. We'll see how it goes. :-)
I'm driving a bit, and this past Saturday I drove to Cleo's home with the rest of the guys. We ate at her two room house, and she was just so incredibly kind. She has a kitchen area, and a bedroom area; both unthinkably small. She doesn't have a bathroom or a closet or anything else. Her house reminded me of Grandpa's bedroom with stuff everywhere, of course it all has it's place and it's by no means purposely cluttered... but it's very different.
I've been trying to go with Dave Turner on all the Sunday's that he preaches at a little church. He's trying to get the name of Teen Challenge out and he gets to do that by preaching and making friends. Sort of an easy job if you look at it that way, but he has a thousand other things to do as well, and there seems to be many more obsticals than oportuntities. So far, he's only been in the city. There are opportunities to go on medical missions and other things for me, but so far I haven't gone on one. I want to though!
I could have chosen to go on a Royal Ranger outing this comming weekend (it's a holiday, 4-day weekend), but I feel it very necessary to learn more Spanish before I become involved. I would really like to go to language school this comming summer. We'll see.
Well, so much to do and so little time!
I'm driving a bit, and this past Saturday I drove to Cleo's home with the rest of the guys. We ate at her two room house, and she was just so incredibly kind. She has a kitchen area, and a bedroom area; both unthinkably small. She doesn't have a bathroom or a closet or anything else. Her house reminded me of Grandpa's bedroom with stuff everywhere, of course it all has it's place and it's by no means purposely cluttered... but it's very different.
I've been trying to go with Dave Turner on all the Sunday's that he preaches at a little church. He's trying to get the name of Teen Challenge out and he gets to do that by preaching and making friends. Sort of an easy job if you look at it that way, but he has a thousand other things to do as well, and there seems to be many more obsticals than oportuntities. So far, he's only been in the city. There are opportunities to go on medical missions and other things for me, but so far I haven't gone on one. I want to though!
I could have chosen to go on a Royal Ranger outing this comming weekend (it's a holiday, 4-day weekend), but I feel it very necessary to learn more Spanish before I become involved. I would really like to go to language school this comming summer. We'll see.
Well, so much to do and so little time!
Random stuff
As a fully hired teacher, one gets housing paid for as well as one plane ticket (round-trip) a year and a nice little nominal salary (around $500 a month). However, student teachers (like me) have to pay for their own air-ticket and we are supposed to get paid less. However, my paycheck at the moment is really comperable to the other NA's down here.
I'm not sure how long I'm going to stay here yet. My heart is here, but I'm waiting for God to open doors or shut them, one of the two. I'm currently speaking with my mentors about staying a second year, but this MAPS assignment is usually just for one school year. I think I read somewhere that second year teachers get a $100 a month raise, and although that's still not above the "poverty level" in the U.S., it's a 20% increase over the first year... and I don't know of anywhere else that tops that type of percent-increase. ;-)
The experience is something I wouldn't trade for anything. The city of Tegus is dirtier than I would have hoped... tons of smog and dirt and trash, etc. But then again, I haven't been to any truley big city in the US that doesn't have those things except maybe Boston. Most cities are by deffinition dirty. Of course it would be nicer in the country, but then again, there wouldn't be much opportunity to teach at a large city school if I was in the country now, would there? All around though, it's absolutely beautiful. I'm in love with the people, the culture and the language... and like I said, I would love to stay longer.
My favorite thing about student internship here is that I'm not really doing a student internship! I love the fact that this is actually my first job and that I'm not putting an entire semester of my carreer into building a music program that I will never be able to pour into again. I like the freedom of not having a guiding teacher, even though that makes it a little harder for me to get area-specific advice. But that doesn't bother me too much since I'm constantly emailing my college professors at Lee.
I'm not sure how long I'm going to stay here yet. My heart is here, but I'm waiting for God to open doors or shut them, one of the two. I'm currently speaking with my mentors about staying a second year, but this MAPS assignment is usually just for one school year. I think I read somewhere that second year teachers get a $100 a month raise, and although that's still not above the "poverty level" in the U.S., it's a 20% increase over the first year... and I don't know of anywhere else that tops that type of percent-increase. ;-)
The experience is something I wouldn't trade for anything. The city of Tegus is dirtier than I would have hoped... tons of smog and dirt and trash, etc. But then again, I haven't been to any truley big city in the US that doesn't have those things except maybe Boston. Most cities are by deffinition dirty. Of course it would be nicer in the country, but then again, there wouldn't be much opportunity to teach at a large city school if I was in the country now, would there? All around though, it's absolutely beautiful. I'm in love with the people, the culture and the language... and like I said, I would love to stay longer.
My favorite thing about student internship here is that I'm not really doing a student internship! I love the fact that this is actually my first job and that I'm not putting an entire semester of my carreer into building a music program that I will never be able to pour into again. I like the freedom of not having a guiding teacher, even though that makes it a little harder for me to get area-specific advice. But that doesn't bother me too much since I'm constantly emailing my college professors at Lee.
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
The first meeting!
Yesterday, I had my first club meeting, and it was a whole lot more disorganized than I wanted it to be. I got discouraged because it seemed like my students weren't taking it seriously and that they were just there because they wanted to do something extra after class and hang out with their friends. In all honesty, that's a perfectly good reason to be involved... so long as they respect the others around them and are orderly and not overly talkative.
But halfway through, during the 10 min break they voted on (getting them to vote is like pulling teeth!)... I got alone with God and reminded both of Us that He put me here and that I knew (or know) this was something He wanted me to do, and that I can't do it without his strength and Wisdom! Well, fortuneately after the break we were able to elect the majority (if not all) of the student leaders that I felt the club needed. And, as soon as that was over, I dismissed the club so that I could meet with my "Executive commitee" for the first time and explain their duties to them.
As discouraged as I was after the first full club meeting... I was triply more pumped and excited during our short Exc. meeting! Things went so well, and I was more than reasured that there were students who wanted this to be something productive as well. I feel like the student leaders that I have are both responsible and excited about starting this new club... and even better than that: they were just as frustrated with the lack of discipline as I was. This of course will be fixed very shortly. ;-)
I must admit however, out of all the elected officers I have I exercised "veto power" on one: my secretary. I don't think my club quite understood how important the secretary position is going to be (I have no doubt that it will actually be more important to me than the president)... so after the voted, I didn't allow them to see the results and told them that we would go on to voting on Tresurer. Afterwards, I picked my own Secretary. Probably my smartest move yesterday, right next to actually having an exc. meeting.
Disapointment has been turned back into excitement... Now... if I can just feed that excitement into all my classes... ;-)
But halfway through, during the 10 min break they voted on (getting them to vote is like pulling teeth!)... I got alone with God and reminded both of Us that He put me here and that I knew (or know) this was something He wanted me to do, and that I can't do it without his strength and Wisdom! Well, fortuneately after the break we were able to elect the majority (if not all) of the student leaders that I felt the club needed. And, as soon as that was over, I dismissed the club so that I could meet with my "Executive commitee" for the first time and explain their duties to them.
As discouraged as I was after the first full club meeting... I was triply more pumped and excited during our short Exc. meeting! Things went so well, and I was more than reasured that there were students who wanted this to be something productive as well. I feel like the student leaders that I have are both responsible and excited about starting this new club... and even better than that: they were just as frustrated with the lack of discipline as I was. This of course will be fixed very shortly. ;-)
I must admit however, out of all the elected officers I have I exercised "veto power" on one: my secretary. I don't think my club quite understood how important the secretary position is going to be (I have no doubt that it will actually be more important to me than the president)... so after the voted, I didn't allow them to see the results and told them that we would go on to voting on Tresurer. Afterwards, I picked my own Secretary. Probably my smartest move yesterday, right next to actually having an exc. meeting.
Disapointment has been turned back into excitement... Now... if I can just feed that excitement into all my classes... ;-)
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Re:
Hey Mom,
I hope you're feeling a lot better today; headaches stink! I'm sorry I haven't written in a while, but the internet's been down here for a few days. Sounds like you've had a lot of fun recently. I'm so glad Barry seems to be fitting right in! I didn't do much of note this weekend, but it was still fairly relaxing, and that's always wonderful.
But let me tell you about Cleo, the wonderful lady from church that cleans our house. She is so amazing. She's a maid here at the church and the school and she works very hard for very little pay. Actually, the average pay for a maid here is around 100 Lmp. per day, which translates to around $5. Not much at all. But she's so wonderful. She come to clean our house after she gets done here at the church on Mondays and Wednesdays, and she also comes by on Saturday mornings. In all, she only works at our house for about 8 hours a week, but yet she does so much!
Yesterday I told the guys that I've decided on Mondays and Wednesdays I need to come straight home from school. Teaching can really take a lot out of you, both emotionally and physically, but it's nothing compared to what a maid does on a daily basis. And yet, I've never seen Cleo without a smile. She's so jubulent and joyful all the time! And whats better about it is that when I come home after a hard, draining day at school, she is there smiling and greeting us, "Hola Meestehr!" She's so kind and funny! She's always ready to laugh (in an encouraging way) as well, whether it be at one of us or at our broken, messed up Spanish. She is such a blessing; more than I could express or know. She keeps saying that we are a blessing to her; but it truly is her that's a blessing to us. I personally think that she's a thousand times better at cleaning my mind of worries and being an encouragement to me than she is at cleaning the house. And based on her stellar abilities and endurance that's second to none when it comes to cleaning... that's saying a lot! She's truly one of the best women I know.
Now if only she were a generation younger and spoke English better (or at all) ...
;-)
Much Love!
Jason Scott Vawter
I hope you're feeling a lot better today; headaches stink! I'm sorry I haven't written in a while, but the internet's been down here for a few days. Sounds like you've had a lot of fun recently. I'm so glad Barry seems to be fitting right in! I didn't do much of note this weekend, but it was still fairly relaxing, and that's always wonderful.
But let me tell you about Cleo, the wonderful lady from church that cleans our house. She is so amazing. She's a maid here at the church and the school and she works very hard for very little pay. Actually, the average pay for a maid here is around 100 Lmp. per day, which translates to around $5. Not much at all. But she's so wonderful. She come to clean our house after she gets done here at the church on Mondays and Wednesdays, and she also comes by on Saturday mornings. In all, she only works at our house for about 8 hours a week, but yet she does so much!
Yesterday I told the guys that I've decided on Mondays and Wednesdays I need to come straight home from school. Teaching can really take a lot out of you, both emotionally and physically, but it's nothing compared to what a maid does on a daily basis. And yet, I've never seen Cleo without a smile. She's so jubulent and joyful all the time! And whats better about it is that when I come home after a hard, draining day at school, she is there smiling and greeting us, "Hola Meestehr!" She's so kind and funny! She's always ready to laugh (in an encouraging way) as well, whether it be at one of us or at our broken, messed up Spanish. She is such a blessing; more than I could express or know. She keeps saying that we are a blessing to her; but it truly is her that's a blessing to us. I personally think that she's a thousand times better at cleaning my mind of worries and being an encouragement to me than she is at cleaning the house. And based on her stellar abilities and endurance that's second to none when it comes to cleaning... that's saying a lot! She's truly one of the best women I know.
Now if only she were a generation younger and spoke English better (or at all) ...
;-)
Much Love!
Jason Scott Vawter
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Introductions (and the new teclado!)
Ha,
Love you Dad... Don't worry, I'm forwarding this entire message to my blog as we speak. I'd hate for the world to be uninformed; you know? ;-)
Dave Turner (40s?) is the missionary that's here with his family in charge of things were Bill Strickland (70s?) sort of left off. Pastor Strickland is still actually in charge, but he runs things from Springfield. Marie (the wife) is a 6th grade teacher here at the school and Jason (son) is in 5th grade, while Rachel (daughter) is in 7th. Rachel reminds me a lot of Stacey; Anna's said the same thing. My roomates are Daniel and Brian and I've never felt so short in my life! They are both around 6'3"; I feel like an ant. If I had a camera, I would send more pictures! I promise. It would be so cool.
As things are right now, I have so much work to do. Although Dave is in charge of Teen Challenge down here (or at least he sort of is), he took my 11th grade bible classes from me the other week. I really liked them a lot (they were the best behaved and most eager students), but I'm actually glad now that I don't have them just because of all the things that I have to do! I'm sort of looking forward to the day that I have all my elementary classes done because it will lighten my load even more and allow me to focus on this afterschool club.
Dad, just so you know, I leave the orrigonal headings on the letters because it helps my blog readers understand a little more of the context of the message when they know who it was orriginally written to. Although, I think you might be right about including last names and exact monitary values. That wasn't my smartest move ever. Hmm. We'll have to think about that one.
The school just got the new keyboard yesterday! And it's great and I'm really happy about it. It's about the absolute nicest home-keyboard that money can buy. The only thing is that I don't know whether the school actually bought that with their own money or with the money that I gave them... that money was supposed to be separate, but we'll see I guess. I need to have a meeting this morning. It really is a nice keyboard though. It has midi and all kinds of newfangled things. The only thing it doesn't have that I've seen recently is a USB port... but it has midi instead, so that works out just fine. Besides... I don't have a computer. :-(
Oh well.
I love you very much Dad!
Yours,
Jason Scott Vawter
Love you Dad... Don't worry, I'm forwarding this entire message to my blog as we speak. I'd hate for the world to be uninformed; you know? ;-)
Dave Turner (40s?) is the missionary that's here with his family in charge of things were Bill Strickland (70s?) sort of left off. Pastor Strickland is still actually in charge, but he runs things from Springfield. Marie (the wife) is a 6th grade teacher here at the school and Jason (son) is in 5th grade, while Rachel (daughter) is in 7th. Rachel reminds me a lot of Stacey; Anna's said the same thing. My roomates are Daniel and Brian and I've never felt so short in my life! They are both around 6'3"; I feel like an ant. If I had a camera, I would send more pictures! I promise. It would be so cool.
As things are right now, I have so much work to do. Although Dave is in charge of Teen Challenge down here (or at least he sort of is), he took my 11th grade bible classes from me the other week. I really liked them a lot (they were the best behaved and most eager students), but I'm actually glad now that I don't have them just because of all the things that I have to do! I'm sort of looking forward to the day that I have all my elementary classes done because it will lighten my load even more and allow me to focus on this afterschool club.
Dad, just so you know, I leave the orrigonal headings on the letters because it helps my blog readers understand a little more of the context of the message when they know who it was orriginally written to. Although, I think you might be right about including last names and exact monitary values. That wasn't my smartest move ever. Hmm. We'll have to think about that one.
The school just got the new keyboard yesterday! And it's great and I'm really happy about it. It's about the absolute nicest home-keyboard that money can buy. The only thing is that I don't know whether the school actually bought that with their own money or with the money that I gave them... that money was supposed to be separate, but we'll see I guess. I need to have a meeting this morning. It really is a nice keyboard though. It has midi and all kinds of newfangled things. The only thing it doesn't have that I've seen recently is a USB port... but it has midi instead, so that works out just fine. Besides... I don't have a computer. :-(
Oh well.
I love you very much Dad!
Yours,
Jason Scott Vawter
Monday, September 25, 2006
Great things happening!
Hey Ms. Peggy!
First of all, I need to let you know that since I figured most of this email is stuff others might like to know about, I'm posting it on my blog as well. Although, I'd never publicly display you're writings back to me unless you asked. ;-)
Anyway, so this weekend was amazing. Actually, it was Sunday that was the best. I went to church on Saturday night becuase that's when we have a translator so we can understand. But because we (my roomates and I) had invited our gaurd to church with us, we decided to go on Sunday morning as well. Well, we showed up and never did find him (we figured he had forgotton or something), and the other guys left after the service had been going for a little while. All the services are the same, one on Sat. and three on Sun. I stayed simply because I was on the first row and because I was enjoying it. But the strange thing was that I was getting a lot more out of it this second time around. Although I didn't have the earbud translator, I did have someone sitting next to me helping me get the general jist of the sermon... and I had heard the same one the night before anyway.
Well, our gaurd did show up, and what's more is that he went forward at the altar call to give his heart to Jesus. Once I made sure what the call was about (I didn't just want to assume that it was a call to salvation), and that it would be ok for me to go up and pray for him (some churches in the states have specific people for that and don't like their teritory encroached upon), I did. It was so great to know that he had come and that something had happened in his life.
We'll God had been sort of moving me during the sermon to pray for the music club that will be starting tomorrow here. I'm really feeling that this (the music club thing) is what I was called here for. I felt like it would be good for me to go to the room where it would be and pray for a little while. Now, praying outloud, by myself is something that I'm not real good at. I especially don't feel the proper grasp of any language (especially english) enough to think of things to pray about. But God gave me plenty of things to pray about! I really felt both that my prayers were being heard and that it was specifically God (the Holy Spirit) praying through me.
But before I went to prayer, I tongue-in-cheek asked Carolyn (the Missionary Assistant here) if she wanted to join me. I fully expected an answer that was both encouraging and politely excused herself, such as, "Good idea! you go ahead, but I've got a meeting though," or, "I've got something I need to to here". I mean really, who ever says, "Sure, I would love to!" to an invitation to a prayer meeting? Ha... such an oxymoron as a Christian...
Well, although she ended up getting tied up in something else, just the fact that she was willing and wanted to was extremely encourageing; encouraging in such a way that I didn't even know I needed. I ended up praying by myself, which was very good, productive and fruitful (if only for me :-), and then afterwords, I joined her (and my roomates) in praying for a friend of hers that needed some help on a difficult issue. It was so wonderful.
At around 4, Carolyn Veith, Dave Turner and I went to a small church up in a little town on a hill right at the edge of Tegus. It was a very encouraging, albeit athletic service. ;-) They had every type of music you could imagine, although it was all canned. I was surprized that they played the canned stuff seeing as how their praise team was all dressed up in ther uniform(!) and ready to go. This church was in the middle of one of the poorest neighborhoods in Tegus, but yet had such an amazing sound system with many mics and even a cordless. Hugh JBL speakers... all kinds of stuff. I couldn't help but notice the difference of the inside of this church from it's neighboring homade shacks and homes and the dirt roads around it.
Well, God really worked through the church and ministered to me. Of course I felt like everyone was looking at the North Americans in the front, but it didn't really matter. At one point they played the song "You are good, All the time". If you don't know it, it's a very high energy song out of texas somewhere. Well, it was in Spanish of course, but then the second verse was in English! It was amazing, because it's really been one of my favorite songs and I was singing it in English anyway because they didn't have an overhead for me to look at or anything. My favorite part is when it says, "People from every nation and Tongue, from generation to generation..." It's just so awesome because it reminds us that we are in the same group of people and spiritual "linage" as the apostles and Paul and such, but it was doubly powerful to me because it was both in Spanish and English... it was just amazing.
Well... I just wanted to let you know what's been happening. I hope you haven't been turned off by my incesant use of the word, "Well".
Well... ;-)
(just kidding)
If you and the youth group would pray for this club, I would so greatly appreciate it! It has so much potential and stuff, and it's so hard to guess how it might end up going, but I'm ever so excited nonetheless.
My English is getting worse and worse. I need more coffee.
;-)
Yours in Christ,
Jason Scott Vawter
First of all, I need to let you know that since I figured most of this email is stuff others might like to know about, I'm posting it on my blog as well. Although, I'd never publicly display you're writings back to me unless you asked. ;-)
Anyway, so this weekend was amazing. Actually, it was Sunday that was the best. I went to church on Saturday night becuase that's when we have a translator so we can understand. But because we (my roomates and I) had invited our gaurd to church with us, we decided to go on Sunday morning as well. Well, we showed up and never did find him (we figured he had forgotton or something), and the other guys left after the service had been going for a little while. All the services are the same, one on Sat. and three on Sun. I stayed simply because I was on the first row and because I was enjoying it. But the strange thing was that I was getting a lot more out of it this second time around. Although I didn't have the earbud translator, I did have someone sitting next to me helping me get the general jist of the sermon... and I had heard the same one the night before anyway.
Well, our gaurd did show up, and what's more is that he went forward at the altar call to give his heart to Jesus. Once I made sure what the call was about (I didn't just want to assume that it was a call to salvation), and that it would be ok for me to go up and pray for him (some churches in the states have specific people for that and don't like their teritory encroached upon), I did. It was so great to know that he had come and that something had happened in his life.
We'll God had been sort of moving me during the sermon to pray for the music club that will be starting tomorrow here. I'm really feeling that this (the music club thing) is what I was called here for. I felt like it would be good for me to go to the room where it would be and pray for a little while. Now, praying outloud, by myself is something that I'm not real good at. I especially don't feel the proper grasp of any language (especially english) enough to think of things to pray about. But God gave me plenty of things to pray about! I really felt both that my prayers were being heard and that it was specifically God (the Holy Spirit) praying through me.
But before I went to prayer, I tongue-in-cheek asked Carolyn (the Missionary Assistant here) if she wanted to join me. I fully expected an answer that was both encouraging and politely excused herself, such as, "Good idea! you go ahead, but I've got a meeting though," or, "I've got something I need to to here". I mean really, who ever says, "Sure, I would love to!" to an invitation to a prayer meeting? Ha... such an oxymoron as a Christian...
Well, although she ended up getting tied up in something else, just the fact that she was willing and wanted to was extremely encourageing; encouraging in such a way that I didn't even know I needed. I ended up praying by myself, which was very good, productive and fruitful (if only for me :-), and then afterwords, I joined her (and my roomates) in praying for a friend of hers that needed some help on a difficult issue. It was so wonderful.
At around 4, Carolyn Veith, Dave Turner and I went to a small church up in a little town on a hill right at the edge of Tegus. It was a very encouraging, albeit athletic service. ;-) They had every type of music you could imagine, although it was all canned. I was surprized that they played the canned stuff seeing as how their praise team was all dressed up in ther uniform(!) and ready to go. This church was in the middle of one of the poorest neighborhoods in Tegus, but yet had such an amazing sound system with many mics and even a cordless. Hugh JBL speakers... all kinds of stuff. I couldn't help but notice the difference of the inside of this church from it's neighboring homade shacks and homes and the dirt roads around it.
Well, God really worked through the church and ministered to me. Of course I felt like everyone was looking at the North Americans in the front, but it didn't really matter. At one point they played the song "You are good, All the time". If you don't know it, it's a very high energy song out of texas somewhere. Well, it was in Spanish of course, but then the second verse was in English! It was amazing, because it's really been one of my favorite songs and I was singing it in English anyway because they didn't have an overhead for me to look at or anything. My favorite part is when it says, "People from every nation and Tongue, from generation to generation..." It's just so awesome because it reminds us that we are in the same group of people and spiritual "linage" as the apostles and Paul and such, but it was doubly powerful to me because it was both in Spanish and English... it was just amazing.
Well... I just wanted to let you know what's been happening. I hope you haven't been turned off by my incesant use of the word, "Well".
Well... ;-)
(just kidding)
If you and the youth group would pray for this club, I would so greatly appreciate it! It has so much potential and stuff, and it's so hard to guess how it might end up going, but I'm ever so excited nonetheless.
My English is getting worse and worse. I need more coffee.
;-)
Yours in Christ,
Jason Scott Vawter
Friday, September 22, 2006
A short picture album!
What you see here is a clear example of three guys just suffering for Jesus. Oh the pain, the torture, the agony we all go through on a daily basis. I'm telling you: we all need serious prayer. Please remember the three of us as we continue to place the gospel first and leave our worldly desire for comfort and peace behind us.
Thursday, September 21, 2006
The first month or so...
Hello friends and family,
TA DA!! Here it is: the long awaited correspondence! I'm very surprised that I haven't heard back from more of you, asking to cancel the "subscription" to this wonderful newsletter. Just remember, it's never too late... ;-)
Money Stuff:
The first two months here in Honduras have been great. Much thanks is still due to my friends and family that have already participated in the funds drive for the music program here at CEAD. Through you're generosity, at least $3,500 dollars have been raised so far! Special thanks there go to Central A/G in Huntsville as well as First United Methodist Church in Cleveland for there support and use of the building.
However there is also some surprising new news that has me as excited as I can possibly be. First of all, one of my college professors, Dr. Linda Thompson, has arranged for Lee University to donate some used Orff instruments! This is possibly one of the best things that could happen because once they come in, it will allow the students to be involved with real musical instruments in an easy, efficient and fun way of producing music. For those of you who don't know, these instruments are very expensive and my guess is that all together they are worth between $1,000 and $2,000!
And running a close second in the realm of great news is that CEAD Christian School might be buying themselves a keyboard for the music program. This would be an immense blessing because it would allow that first amount of money ($3,500) to used elsewhere. And that amount will stretch so much further than if it had been used on a single keyboard!
Learning Spanish:
I hadn't really thought that I've learned much new Spanish since I've gotten here simply because I'm really only relearning words that I should have remembered from one of my four classes in the subject. However, thinking back to my experience on the plane ride from San Salvador to Tegucigalpa, I couldn't speak more than one or two coherent words to my seat partner. And last night, I was actually able to hold a decent conversation with the guard at the gate of my neighborhood. I'm actually very pleased... so long as the listener is extremely patient, there is quite a lot that I can get across and/or understand.
I'm currently taking some Spanish lessons with 2-3 wonderful young ladies, and although they are definitely "taken", they have many ideas for potential "novias" for me. They're worse than my uncles! ;-)
School:
Here at the school, things continue to plug along. I'm learning more and more about the balance of planning and flexibility, and it's an ever increasing learning process for me. Fortunately, my teaching load isn't too heavy, and I do have quite a few planning periods. If all goes well, this next Tuesday I will be starting an after school "music club". It's main purpose will be to provide a choir for special occasions. But I just couldn't bring myself to call it a choir knowing that would scare away some great musicians that I've already met. Besides... hopefully this will be much more than just a choir!
I'm also hoping that through this music club, I can be better able to teach student leadership and well-rounded-ness of music. But much remains to be seen since we haven't even begun yet! ;-)
Tegus (Tegucigalpa):
Although this is one of the most beautiful places I could ever possibly have come to, the city itself is not unlike many large cities in the US: dirty. But oh, you should see it at night! It's so beautiful. Tegus has about one million inhabitants and yet it doesn't seem much bigger than Huntsville, AL. This is probably because a large majority of it's inhabitants live on the outskirts of the town, closely packed together in small shacks and huts that they themselves have pieced together. Although I seriously doubt there are more cars here than in Huntsville, traffic is MUCH worse. It's sort of funny as well though. Huntsville takes in almost the entire county in it's vast suburban sprawl, but Tegus is very small indeed. I believe I can get almost anywhere in Tegus simply by driving 5-7miles any direction. Now, the time that it would take me to get there is much longer due to the traffic, but the size and area of the city is small.
The Spiritual:
The "Spirit Realm" (Oooo, spooky subject, I know) is much more readily recognized here. People in general (both Christians and non-Christians alike), are consistently convinced of the power and influence of spiritual things and beings. In a way, just this one thing is so much better than the "American Way". Americans are so ready to discount it all together. Even though Christians in the US are willing to say that the spiritual realm is real, very few actually live and act as if it is. Even in their daily speech, no one mentions the hidden spiritual intent and degradation behind certain advertisements or activities. It's as if they really don't believe it truly exists.
But here, things are vastly different. No one doubts a demon's power or ability to ruin someone's life or control their body should they so allow it. We Americans are often afraid to even talk about the Devil for fear that we will be giving him more credit than he deserves. How foolish! Look around! He doesn't need credit; he has results. It's high time we denounced him, and started actually talking about and fighting this battle we are in. Or is it not really an important battle?
Conclusion:
But alas, I digress. I hope this letter find all of you well and strong in the Lord. Be assured that things are going very well for me here and that this is exactly where I need to be. You and I can question my mental cunning and prowess ;-) ... but I will not question my calling.
Ever your servant in Christ!
--
Jason Scott Vawter
-Iota, Chi, Theta, Upsilon, Sigma
PS-please don't forget to feel free to opt out of this newsletter... it won't hurt my feelings a bit. *sniff sniff* ;-D
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H >>
H>>
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<< H
<<< H>>>
<<< <H >>>
<<< <H> >>>
<<< H >>>
<<<<H>>>
H
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I have a blog about my Honduran adventures that's open to comments from the public. It can be found at http://afishymusicmachine.blogspot.com, and I'd be honored if you stopped by.
TA DA!! Here it is: the long awaited correspondence! I'm very surprised that I haven't heard back from more of you, asking to cancel the "subscription" to this wonderful newsletter. Just remember, it's never too late... ;-)
Money Stuff:
The first two months here in Honduras have been great. Much thanks is still due to my friends and family that have already participated in the funds drive for the music program here at CEAD. Through you're generosity, at least $3,500 dollars have been raised so far! Special thanks there go to Central A/G in Huntsville as well as First United Methodist Church in Cleveland for there support and use of the building.
However there is also some surprising new news that has me as excited as I can possibly be. First of all, one of my college professors, Dr. Linda Thompson, has arranged for Lee University to donate some used Orff instruments! This is possibly one of the best things that could happen because once they come in, it will allow the students to be involved with real musical instruments in an easy, efficient and fun way of producing music. For those of you who don't know, these instruments are very expensive and my guess is that all together they are worth between $1,000 and $2,000!
And running a close second in the realm of great news is that CEAD Christian School might be buying themselves a keyboard for the music program. This would be an immense blessing because it would allow that first amount of money ($3,500) to used elsewhere. And that amount will stretch so much further than if it had been used on a single keyboard!
Learning Spanish:
I hadn't really thought that I've learned much new Spanish since I've gotten here simply because I'm really only relearning words that I should have remembered from one of my four classes in the subject. However, thinking back to my experience on the plane ride from San Salvador to Tegucigalpa, I couldn't speak more than one or two coherent words to my seat partner. And last night, I was actually able to hold a decent conversation with the guard at the gate of my neighborhood. I'm actually very pleased... so long as the listener is extremely patient, there is quite a lot that I can get across and/or understand.
I'm currently taking some Spanish lessons with 2-3 wonderful young ladies, and although they are definitely "taken", they have many ideas for potential "novias" for me. They're worse than my uncles! ;-)
School:
Here at the school, things continue to plug along. I'm learning more and more about the balance of planning and flexibility, and it's an ever increasing learning process for me. Fortunately, my teaching load isn't too heavy, and I do have quite a few planning periods. If all goes well, this next Tuesday I will be starting an after school "music club". It's main purpose will be to provide a choir for special occasions. But I just couldn't bring myself to call it a choir knowing that would scare away some great musicians that I've already met. Besides... hopefully this will be much more than just a choir!
I'm also hoping that through this music club, I can be better able to teach student leadership and well-rounded-ness of music. But much remains to be seen since we haven't even begun yet! ;-)
Tegus (Tegucigalpa):
Although this is one of the most beautiful places I could ever possibly have come to, the city itself is not unlike many large cities in the US: dirty. But oh, you should see it at night! It's so beautiful. Tegus has about one million inhabitants and yet it doesn't seem much bigger than Huntsville, AL. This is probably because a large majority of it's inhabitants live on the outskirts of the town, closely packed together in small shacks and huts that they themselves have pieced together. Although I seriously doubt there are more cars here than in Huntsville, traffic is MUCH worse. It's sort of funny as well though. Huntsville takes in almost the entire county in it's vast suburban sprawl, but Tegus is very small indeed. I believe I can get almost anywhere in Tegus simply by driving 5-7miles any direction. Now, the time that it would take me to get there is much longer due to the traffic, but the size and area of the city is small.
The Spiritual:
The "Spirit Realm" (Oooo, spooky subject, I know) is much more readily recognized here. People in general (both Christians and non-Christians alike), are consistently convinced of the power and influence of spiritual things and beings. In a way, just this one thing is so much better than the "American Way". Americans are so ready to discount it all together. Even though Christians in the US are willing to say that the spiritual realm is real, very few actually live and act as if it is. Even in their daily speech, no one mentions the hidden spiritual intent and degradation behind certain advertisements or activities. It's as if they really don't believe it truly exists.
But here, things are vastly different. No one doubts a demon's power or ability to ruin someone's life or control their body should they so allow it. We Americans are often afraid to even talk about the Devil for fear that we will be giving him more credit than he deserves. How foolish! Look around! He doesn't need credit; he has results. It's high time we denounced him, and started actually talking about and fighting this battle we are in. Or is it not really an important battle?
Conclusion:
But alas, I digress. I hope this letter find all of you well and strong in the Lord. Be assured that things are going very well for me here and that this is exactly where I need to be. You and I can question my mental cunning and prowess ;-) ... but I will not question my calling.
Ever your servant in Christ!
--
Jason Scott Vawter
-Iota, Chi, Theta, Upsilon, Sigma
PS-please don't forget to feel free to opt out of this newsletter... it won't hurt my feelings a bit. *sniff sniff* ;-D
H>
H>>
H >>
H>>
<<H
<< H
<<< H>>>
<<< <H >>>
<<< <H> >>>
<<< H >>>
<<<<H>>>
H
\//
I have a blog about my Honduran adventures that's open to comments from the public. It can be found at http://afishymusicmachine.blogspot.com, and I'd be honored if you stopped by.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Re: birthday
YEA!!!
Thank you so much Mom! Actually, I was just thinking about saving money yesterday and trying to figure out how much I had and how much it would take to save up for some specific things. I really want to go to language school next summer (if it's ok with God ;-), and it will be expensive. But if He works it out, I might just be able to make it there with savings from my salary as well as the couple of personal gifts that I've gotten from some people already. But just so you know, I'm going to save it at least for a little while. If language school ends up getting paid for through some other means, or if I start getting paid a higher salary (which is a VERY big possibility [pray, pray pray!!!]), then I'll see what other wonderful thing this could go towards. Thanks so much Mom!
I just got the check from FUMC this past weekend and I've just sat down and talked with Ms. Godoy about it. God is so good! He couldn't have put me in a better place to start my teaching career. It's so comforting for me to know that I don't have to "waste" time student teaching and building a program over which I will have no control three months for now or in a place that I couldn't do any real long-term good. This is right where I need to be. Ms. Godoy is so supportive of the music program as well (she's the main and only principal now that Mr. Harrison is back in the states at another job). And she's so ready to get this thing on it's feet. When I went in to talk with Ms. Godoy about the check, I also let her know what other money I had to go towards the program. I'll have to be honest: I was a little worried that she might be resentful or that someone might think, "That money would be better used elsewhere; I wish they had just given it to the school and let the school decide where it should be used." But she wasn't like that at all! In fact, it was just the opposite; she was glad it was in my account because she wanted to make sure that it was used specifically on the Music program! It really is a blessing to be here!
I'm still not exactly sure where all this money is going, but I know that if God has provided it, He will show me the place to use it most effectively. And let me tell you, even if $3,400 isn't a lot of money when you think about a $4,000 piano or a $5,000/yr music library budget... $3,400 without a current place to spend it is a whole lot better than having an idea of where to use $500, but no actual money!
Also, I talked with her about getting a band teacher here, because that's really where her heart is. She wants to start a band program at CEAD much like the other ones around town. First of all, let me tell you: it wouldn't be hard at all to be the "best" in town. It would take work, no doubt, but the best in town... nay, the best in the country is really about as good as the best middle school band in Alabama. I guess that's sort of an assumption based on the fact that I've never seen the best middle school band in Alabama, but I dare say it's a safe one nonetheless.
Anyway, I talked with her about getting a band student teacher her even as soon as this next semester, and she's all for it. I was worried that it would be too soon and that the interests would be conflicting (too many music teachers and not near enough money to allow one to teach solely music), but she was all for it. I'm going to start writing some letters to colleges asking for a band student who is ready to student teach. We'll see what comes of it, but I've been given the authority to offer the position since we have a place for them to stay and they would be paying their own plane ticket anyway. I don't know how much they would be prepared to pay as a stipend, but she said it would great to have someone here. Actually... she was eager to have someone here.
Mom, I'm so blessed. Thank you so much for all that you and Dad have done to pay for my time at Lee and stuff. If I had debt right now, I wouldn't be able to be here as a teacher. I honestly couldn't be here doing the work that I know without a doubt God wants me to be doing, if you and Dad hadn't paid for my school in it's entirety. Thank you so much.
Well, I have to go teach!
With all my Love,
Jason Scott Vawter
Thank you so much Mom! Actually, I was just thinking about saving money yesterday and trying to figure out how much I had and how much it would take to save up for some specific things. I really want to go to language school next summer (if it's ok with God ;-), and it will be expensive. But if He works it out, I might just be able to make it there with savings from my salary as well as the couple of personal gifts that I've gotten from some people already. But just so you know, I'm going to save it at least for a little while. If language school ends up getting paid for through some other means, or if I start getting paid a higher salary (which is a VERY big possibility [pray, pray pray!!!]), then I'll see what other wonderful thing this could go towards. Thanks so much Mom!
I just got the check from FUMC this past weekend and I've just sat down and talked with Ms. Godoy about it. God is so good! He couldn't have put me in a better place to start my teaching career. It's so comforting for me to know that I don't have to "waste" time student teaching and building a program over which I will have no control three months for now or in a place that I couldn't do any real long-term good. This is right where I need to be. Ms. Godoy is so supportive of the music program as well (she's the main and only principal now that Mr. Harrison is back in the states at another job). And she's so ready to get this thing on it's feet. When I went in to talk with Ms. Godoy about the check, I also let her know what other money I had to go towards the program. I'll have to be honest: I was a little worried that she might be resentful or that someone might think, "That money would be better used elsewhere; I wish they had just given it to the school and let the school decide where it should be used." But she wasn't like that at all! In fact, it was just the opposite; she was glad it was in my account because she wanted to make sure that it was used specifically on the Music program! It really is a blessing to be here!
I'm still not exactly sure where all this money is going, but I know that if God has provided it, He will show me the place to use it most effectively. And let me tell you, even if $3,400 isn't a lot of money when you think about a $4,000 piano or a $5,000/yr music library budget... $3,400 without a current place to spend it is a whole lot better than having an idea of where to use $500, but no actual money!
Also, I talked with her about getting a band teacher here, because that's really where her heart is. She wants to start a band program at CEAD much like the other ones around town. First of all, let me tell you: it wouldn't be hard at all to be the "best" in town. It would take work, no doubt, but the best in town... nay, the best in the country is really about as good as the best middle school band in Alabama. I guess that's sort of an assumption based on the fact that I've never seen the best middle school band in Alabama, but I dare say it's a safe one nonetheless.
Anyway, I talked with her about getting a band student teacher her even as soon as this next semester, and she's all for it. I was worried that it would be too soon and that the interests would be conflicting (too many music teachers and not near enough money to allow one to teach solely music), but she was all for it. I'm going to start writing some letters to colleges asking for a band student who is ready to student teach. We'll see what comes of it, but I've been given the authority to offer the position since we have a place for them to stay and they would be paying their own plane ticket anyway. I don't know how much they would be prepared to pay as a stipend, but she said it would great to have someone here. Actually... she was eager to have someone here.
Mom, I'm so blessed. Thank you so much for all that you and Dad have done to pay for my time at Lee and stuff. If I had debt right now, I wouldn't be able to be here as a teacher. I honestly couldn't be here doing the work that I know without a doubt God wants me to be doing, if you and Dad hadn't paid for my school in it's entirety. Thank you so much.
Well, I have to go teach!
With all my Love,
Jason Scott Vawter
Monday, September 18, 2006
Food
Mom,
Thank you so much for the letter and the accrostic! I hope things are going well with you.
Erudite? You really think so? ;-) Ha!
Mom, I'm going to have to be honest with you... I haven't said much about the food because I feel guilt about it. Please don't be insulted right now as I come clean, but I just have to confess: I've actually told a few people that I like it even better than my own mother's cooking.
I know. I'm so sorry. ;-D
I hope you're not too devistated.
The normal food here is called "tipico", and although they always use it as a noun, it actually translates to "tipical", as in the tipical Honduran food. And let me tell you: it's amazing. I could eat it all day long. Although I've been praying that I wouldn't be continually hungry down here, and I think God's helping me out. As far as I know, I haven't gained a whole lot of weight or anything, but that's a miracle as far as I'm concerned. ;-)
There is plenty of fresh fruit and vegitables and you can get all of it that three guys could possibly eat in one week for less than 5 dollars (Lps. 100). By the way, Lps. doesn't have anything to do with a turntable... it's the abreviation for Lempiras.
The best is the avacados!!! Amazing, and they just eat them raw with a meal here. The only problem is that any fruit or vegitable you eat has to be pealed or washed with bleach water in order to remove the parisites. I've been slowly trying to imunizize myself to some degree... and so far I'm not dead, but you might want to pray. ;-)
My roomates and I have decided that although avacados are fattening, any fat you can get from a plant must be the "good" kind. So we continue to feast away. Daniel White (roomy) is a great cook as well, and he has made some awesome food for us since we've been here. Also, our cleaning lady who's the BOMB (Cleo _____) is also an amazing cook and makes some of the best Honduran dishes. The other day she made us some Tilapia that was amazing. I'm not a huge fan of fish, and it didn't help that I got the privalege of watching her clean them (inside and out), but other than that, it was a great meal! ;-)
Well, I want to write more, but I really have to go to class. I love you Mom!
-Jason Scott Vawter
Thank you so much for the letter and the accrostic! I hope things are going well with you.
Erudite? You really think so? ;-) Ha!
Mom, I'm going to have to be honest with you... I haven't said much about the food because I feel guilt about it. Please don't be insulted right now as I come clean, but I just have to confess: I've actually told a few people that I like it even better than my own mother's cooking.
I know. I'm so sorry. ;-D
I hope you're not too devistated.
The normal food here is called "tipico", and although they always use it as a noun, it actually translates to "tipical", as in the tipical Honduran food. And let me tell you: it's amazing. I could eat it all day long. Although I've been praying that I wouldn't be continually hungry down here, and I think God's helping me out. As far as I know, I haven't gained a whole lot of weight or anything, but that's a miracle as far as I'm concerned. ;-)
There is plenty of fresh fruit and vegitables and you can get all of it that three guys could possibly eat in one week for less than 5 dollars (Lps. 100). By the way, Lps. doesn't have anything to do with a turntable... it's the abreviation for Lempiras.
The best is the avacados!!! Amazing, and they just eat them raw with a meal here. The only problem is that any fruit or vegitable you eat has to be pealed or washed with bleach water in order to remove the parisites. I've been slowly trying to imunizize myself to some degree... and so far I'm not dead, but you might want to pray. ;-)
My roomates and I have decided that although avacados are fattening, any fat you can get from a plant must be the "good" kind. So we continue to feast away. Daniel White (roomy) is a great cook as well, and he has made some awesome food for us since we've been here. Also, our cleaning lady who's the BOMB (Cleo _____) is also an amazing cook and makes some of the best Honduran dishes. The other day she made us some Tilapia that was amazing. I'm not a huge fan of fish, and it didn't help that I got the privalege of watching her clean them (inside and out), but other than that, it was a great meal! ;-)
Well, I want to write more, but I really have to go to class. I love you Mom!
-Jason Scott Vawter
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Talking in Class
So... I think I've figured out a strategy that works so much better! (as far as talking goes at least)
At the end of last week I was not feeling well physically and I was having trouble stopping the talking as well. You know what I think the main problem was? I think I was too much of a softy. Yeah... I never thought of myself as a softy before, but I think I was, or am, but at least I'm changing.
My new philosophy is, "I only ask twice". It's quite simple, but sometimes it's hard for me to follow through. I may ask the class once to be quiet and then after that, I give "personal invitations" to those who still talk. Anyone who talks after they've had a personal invitation gets a short paper.
This is actually a lot easier for me to follow through with as well. With the detentions, the kids just don't care, but while they don't think a detention is anything big, I do, which leaves me to feel purposely guilty for giving such a (in my mind) severe punishment when I've only asked twice before. But in this new program that I've made for myself, it's so much easier. The first step is a simple paragraph (4-5 sentences) of an apology and an explanation for what they did. It also gets recorded in the grade book, so if they don't turn it in, they get docked points. The detention system here is constructed to purposely affect the student's "behavior" grade at the end of the quarter. And although I won't be giving detentions, this new personal system of mine will also affect the grade. Depending on how satisfied I am with the apology and it's "sincerity" (which is a very big word for an ESL student), I will forgive them completely and they will get a "good" or "satisfactory" grade for that paper. However, if the apology isn't satisfactory enough for me, I will give them a lower grade on it, and it will be averaged in with the rest of their classwork.
Come to think of it, this could work for "participation" as well... hmm. I think I'm liking this more and more. ;-D **evil and maniacal teacher laugh**
;-)
Oh come on now... you know you would too...
Actually, today was my first day to implement this new little system of mine. And even though it was the day right before a patriotic holiday, it was my best day yet. What's even stranger about this was that my last period class got so into playing the game I had for them, that they didn't bug me even once that it was time to go. I was VERY pleasantly surprised. Actually... I think 8th B is my new favorite class. They were so wonderful. HA... It was great.
Let me tell you one more thing that they did. Many times you have students and teachers coming around to make random announcements during your class, but at this school, it's up to the discretion of the teacher whether or not they want to let someone make an announcement. My general policy is that teachers can, and students can't. Unless I'm not busy at all, I don't let students say anything. Hey... they should be in class anyway. Well, I had some seniors come around this last period and they knocked on the door. I was in the middle of something, so I ignored them, but they kept knocking and actually came on in because they thought I couldn't here them. Well, when I stopped, I asked them to leave and denied them permission to make the announcement. But since they were so insistent and generally whiny I let my class decide. I told them I had a game for them, and this would be taking time away from that, but if they wanted to hear the announcement, they could. "NO!" they roared. It was awesome! I was quite flattered, and after I shut the door, I told them they were my new favorite class. The best part about it was that as soon as I asked them to be quiet (right after their "roar", THEY DID! I was so amazed. It was awesome. Amazing. Absolutely my best day ever. (so far at least ;-)
So fan-base, anything new happening in your corner of the world?
Monday, September 11, 2006
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Uniforms and "Music Literacy"
My weekend was fairly non-eventful. We went to a different market that was not very spacious, but deffinitely had much to chose from! It had just about everything the first, larger market had, but it was just in a much tighter space.
My Mom was writing about choir uniforms at Grissom and stuff and it made me think about my soon-to-exist choir here; they wouldn't even need uniforms because the school already wears them, so they deffinitely wouldn't have to do anything extra.
Uniforms are thought of very differently down here. In the States, no one likes them. Everyone is an individualist and would generally not wear a uniform of any kind. Even if it's something as simple as jeans and a matching shirt, you'll have trouble getting everyone on board unless they really like the group that they are involved with. Here it's just the oposite. Uniforms of any kind show that the person belongs to some sort of group. You generally don't ask your student base to wear a uniform... they ask you to provide them with some uniform to buy. They (generally) want to wear one... even if it's something as simple as a Pizza hat and polo, or a maid's vest... everyone is generally "uniform friendly". People may forget to wear their uniform, or they may not have a clean one today, and every once in a while you have someone who would like to be different (or generally stubborn about anything), but mostly there's no problem. I would like to have a choir that wears something special, but I don't have to worry that they won't already look the same. And it's also nice to know that I don't have to worry if I do find something else for them to wear... most of them would be pretty warm to the idea. Pretty cool, I think. (at least from this top side of things). Maybe I'd be against uniforms if I were on the student's side, but from this side, it sure is nice to know that most of them like them!
Talking about Grissom Choir gets me wishing... I sure hope I can teach these kids how to read music fairly quick! I want to teach them so much about music and making good choral sounds, but it seems like it all hinges at the moment on their ability to read! If I can just get them to read basic music and to follow a melody line, then I think I'll really have accomplished something. I would really feel bad if I taught them a song (some choral song) without at least most of them being able to read music. Of course their will always be mistakes, but even making tons of mistakes is vastly different from not knowing how to begin at all.
My Mom was writing about choir uniforms at Grissom and stuff and it made me think about my soon-to-exist choir here; they wouldn't even need uniforms because the school already wears them, so they deffinitely wouldn't have to do anything extra.
Uniforms are thought of very differently down here. In the States, no one likes them. Everyone is an individualist and would generally not wear a uniform of any kind. Even if it's something as simple as jeans and a matching shirt, you'll have trouble getting everyone on board unless they really like the group that they are involved with. Here it's just the oposite. Uniforms of any kind show that the person belongs to some sort of group. You generally don't ask your student base to wear a uniform... they ask you to provide them with some uniform to buy. They (generally) want to wear one... even if it's something as simple as a Pizza hat and polo, or a maid's vest... everyone is generally "uniform friendly". People may forget to wear their uniform, or they may not have a clean one today, and every once in a while you have someone who would like to be different (or generally stubborn about anything), but mostly there's no problem. I would like to have a choir that wears something special, but I don't have to worry that they won't already look the same. And it's also nice to know that I don't have to worry if I do find something else for them to wear... most of them would be pretty warm to the idea. Pretty cool, I think. (at least from this top side of things). Maybe I'd be against uniforms if I were on the student's side, but from this side, it sure is nice to know that most of them like them!
Talking about Grissom Choir gets me wishing... I sure hope I can teach these kids how to read music fairly quick! I want to teach them so much about music and making good choral sounds, but it seems like it all hinges at the moment on their ability to read! If I can just get them to read basic music and to follow a melody line, then I think I'll really have accomplished something. I would really feel bad if I taught them a song (some choral song) without at least most of them being able to read music. Of course their will always be mistakes, but even making tons of mistakes is vastly different from not knowing how to begin at all.
Well, thats how things are in Honduras... ;-)
Thursday, August 31, 2006
First Day of Class
Just finished my first full day here at the school and things went rather well. It was exhausting with the 5th and 6th graders, but things are getting better. I am perfectly clear in my thoughts on why I never wanted/want to teach elementary or middle school.
But on the other hand, my 11th grade (Senior) class surprized the heck out of me today when I went in there. It was my first class to teach (ever in my life...) and I was a good bit nervous before I went in, but at the same time I was glad to be dealing with older students first. Things went well until I mentioned that I was planning on having them read the whole New Testement during the year. I was prepared to explain to them how short it was and how it will be an easy read, especially since I'm letting them read it in Spanish. But that wasn't their complaint! They complained that they always study the New Testament. I quickly asked them what they would like to learn and they started in listing things. I was pumped! The want to learn about Revelation, the History of the Israelites, ect. Just the fact that they want to learn anything has me more than pumped! I'm excited. I mentioned to them that I would consider having them read through the entire Bible, but that I wasn't ready to drop the New Testament for the Old just yet... and they were cool with that! That deffinitely knocked my socks of!
...So whether the other 11th grade class is as excited about it as they are or not, we're going to have fun and we're going to read the whole thing. I know it's a big bite to chew, but it's really not all that bad. I'm going to keep from giving them any other homework during this time (though I never told them that) and in reality, they are only going to be reading around 38 chapters a week. Of course that sounds like a ton, but it's really not all that much. Divide it by 7 and you have less than 6 a night. Which is extremely light reading when compared to reading some other novel over a month or War and Peace over the course of a year... Not bad at all. Without a doubt, I'm excited. I really am.
In all reality, I'm more excited about Bible than I am about Music. I would love to teach them so much in music, but it's just dissapointing thinking about how much they know right now. And the fact that they're not separated at all into levels of knowlege is even worse. I have pianists right allongside people who can't seem to keep a steady beat or match pitch up a scale. Right now, general knowledge of the Bible seems to be a much more tangible goal than starting a choir.
Henoch (his name is from the Bible-->Enoch), the guy who teaches elementary music here, is all excited about the choir for the Bilengual school competition, and I am too, but he's all ready to bite off a huge 8 part peice (Great is thy Faithfulness) and try to learn it, and the more I get to know the students and the fact that they really can't read music yet... the more I begin to wonder... am I here for Bible or Music? I don't know.
Apparently the Choir can be auditioned, but I still don't know if we'll find many students at all that can read music. I'm also at a loss as to how to make music fun with simply making music isn't quite yet possible! Ugh. I wish they already knew more. I wish I better knew how to break things down. I feel confident that I can teach (i.e. break things down) for students who know more... but I'm still unsure how I'll manage breaking things down so far that even I can't understand the relation of the minute part to the whole. I guess we'll have to see. So much to do...
I hope all is well with my blogging fan base (however minute that may be ;-).
Adios!
But on the other hand, my 11th grade (Senior) class surprized the heck out of me today when I went in there. It was my first class to teach (ever in my life...) and I was a good bit nervous before I went in, but at the same time I was glad to be dealing with older students first. Things went well until I mentioned that I was planning on having them read the whole New Testement during the year. I was prepared to explain to them how short it was and how it will be an easy read, especially since I'm letting them read it in Spanish. But that wasn't their complaint! They complained that they always study the New Testament. I quickly asked them what they would like to learn and they started in listing things. I was pumped! The want to learn about Revelation, the History of the Israelites, ect. Just the fact that they want to learn anything has me more than pumped! I'm excited. I mentioned to them that I would consider having them read through the entire Bible, but that I wasn't ready to drop the New Testament for the Old just yet... and they were cool with that! That deffinitely knocked my socks of!
...So whether the other 11th grade class is as excited about it as they are or not, we're going to have fun and we're going to read the whole thing. I know it's a big bite to chew, but it's really not all that bad. I'm going to keep from giving them any other homework during this time (though I never told them that) and in reality, they are only going to be reading around 38 chapters a week. Of course that sounds like a ton, but it's really not all that much. Divide it by 7 and you have less than 6 a night. Which is extremely light reading when compared to reading some other novel over a month or War and Peace over the course of a year... Not bad at all. Without a doubt, I'm excited. I really am.
In all reality, I'm more excited about Bible than I am about Music. I would love to teach them so much in music, but it's just dissapointing thinking about how much they know right now. And the fact that they're not separated at all into levels of knowlege is even worse. I have pianists right allongside people who can't seem to keep a steady beat or match pitch up a scale. Right now, general knowledge of the Bible seems to be a much more tangible goal than starting a choir.
Henoch (his name is from the Bible-->Enoch), the guy who teaches elementary music here, is all excited about the choir for the Bilengual school competition, and I am too, but he's all ready to bite off a huge 8 part peice (Great is thy Faithfulness) and try to learn it, and the more I get to know the students and the fact that they really can't read music yet... the more I begin to wonder... am I here for Bible or Music? I don't know.
Apparently the Choir can be auditioned, but I still don't know if we'll find many students at all that can read music. I'm also at a loss as to how to make music fun with simply making music isn't quite yet possible! Ugh. I wish they already knew more. I wish I better knew how to break things down. I feel confident that I can teach (i.e. break things down) for students who know more... but I'm still unsure how I'll manage breaking things down so far that even I can't understand the relation of the minute part to the whole. I guess we'll have to see. So much to do...
I hope all is well with my blogging fan base (however minute that may be ;-).
Adios!
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Re: guess what I found?
Cmd. Gebhart,
It's good to hear from you too!
I just finished attending a Royal Ranger night, and I am pumped. I'm really still not sure how much I'll be able to be involved until I better learn the language (which might take a year...), but I'm very excited to be back into Rangers.
They're still under the old system down here, and I'm not talking half old, I'm talking, back with the Pioneers, Straight Arrows and all that stuff. Pretty cool, if you ask me. They should be getting into the new (current) program very soon because apparently it has just finished being translated (I'm assuming Jeff Cooper is to thank for that?). Anyway, I would love to learn whatever you might be able to send me with that CD you were talking about.
Apparently there is a Camporama coming up this October for Honduras around the same time that the Fall "roundup" is happening in AL. I really hope that I get to go. I'll be on vacation then and can go with them if they have room or will let me. I miss it so much! I can just smell the campfire now... ah. (maybe even some $10,000 wood too ;-)
In case you want it, my small post address (for letters and small boxes) is as follows:
Jason Vawter
CEAD Christian School
TGU 000158
P.O. Box 025387
Miamia, FL 33102-5387
(There's no need for international postage or anything like that)
It's good hearing from you, and thanks for adding me to the email list!
Yours in Christ,
Jason Scott Vawter
It's good to hear from you too!
I just finished attending a Royal Ranger night, and I am pumped. I'm really still not sure how much I'll be able to be involved until I better learn the language (which might take a year...), but I'm very excited to be back into Rangers.
They're still under the old system down here, and I'm not talking half old, I'm talking, back with the Pioneers, Straight Arrows and all that stuff. Pretty cool, if you ask me. They should be getting into the new (current) program very soon because apparently it has just finished being translated (I'm assuming Jeff Cooper is to thank for that?). Anyway, I would love to learn whatever you might be able to send me with that CD you were talking about.
Apparently there is a Camporama coming up this October for Honduras around the same time that the Fall "roundup" is happening in AL. I really hope that I get to go. I'll be on vacation then and can go with them if they have room or will let me. I miss it so much! I can just smell the campfire now... ah. (maybe even some $10,000 wood too ;-)
In case you want it, my small post address (for letters and small boxes) is as follows:
Jason Vawter
CEAD Christian School
TGU 000158
P.O. Box 025387
Miamia, FL 33102-5387
(There's no need for international postage or anything like that)
It's good hearing from you, and thanks for adding me to the email list!
Yours in Christ,
Jason Scott Vawter
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
guess what I found?
Hey Cmd. Gebhart and Wild Bill!
Guess what I found Cmd. Gebhart? Your business card; it was still in my pocket, just waiting for me to email you. Ha. I'm so slow sometimes. :-)
Well, guess what I'm going to be doing tomorrow night? I'm going to be getting involved with the Royal Ranger outpost here at CEAD Church! I'm really excited about it because I actually thought I wouldn't be able to be involved until I got a lot more Spanish under my belt so to speak. I just wanted to write and tell you that because I'm really excited about getting back into Royal Rangers after my four year period of Ranger starvation. ;-)
Apparently they are still getting ready for the new program down here. I wish I knew more about it so that I could possible better help them, but I'm sure they are good on their own. I just want to be as helpful as possible.
Hey Cmd. Jorgensen, could you add me to the email list for the TV Section again? I'd appreciate it. And Cmd. Gebhart, I would love to be on the FCF one if there is one. I just found the TV Sectional website for the first time and think it's really amazing. Now I really want to go to Farm Day! (Isn't is a little early this year?)
Yours in Christ and double brotherhood,
Jason Scott Vawter
Guess what I found Cmd. Gebhart? Your business card; it was still in my pocket, just waiting for me to email you. Ha. I'm so slow sometimes. :-)
Well, guess what I'm going to be doing tomorrow night? I'm going to be getting involved with the Royal Ranger outpost here at CEAD Church! I'm really excited about it because I actually thought I wouldn't be able to be involved until I got a lot more Spanish under my belt so to speak. I just wanted to write and tell you that because I'm really excited about getting back into Royal Rangers after my four year period of Ranger starvation. ;-)
Apparently they are still getting ready for the new program down here. I wish I knew more about it so that I could possible better help them, but I'm sure they are good on their own. I just want to be as helpful as possible.
Hey Cmd. Jorgensen, could you add me to the email list for the TV Section again? I'd appreciate it. And Cmd. Gebhart, I would love to be on the FCF one if there is one. I just found the TV Sectional website for the first time and think it's really amazing. Now I really want to go to Farm Day! (Isn't is a little early this year?)
Yours in Christ and double brotherhood,
Jason Scott Vawter
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Plenty of new material!
For my avid fans... many new posts below. I'm sure there is something you like that awaits you! ;-D
Yours in Christ,
Jason Scott Vawter
Yours in Christ,
Jason Scott Vawter
What wonderful food!
God is so good to me! This trip to Honduras or Job or missions opportunity or whatever you may please to call it, has been just what I have needed. God has shown me so much grace through this opportunity and He is daily reassuring me of His calling upon my life.
This morning (and many times as of late), I have been focused on the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit and what the Bible says about them as apposed to what we humans have said (consciously or otherwise) about them. So often we are quick in thinking that the Holy Spirit "manifests" itself in certain predictable ways. Where does this come from? Where does the "Doctrine of Falling out in the Spirit" come from? I can assure you that it is nowhere in the Bible! It is not listed among the gifts of the Spirit or any such place in Acts or any of the epistles. We make things up.
Please don't get me wrong; I completely affirm that many of these "manifestations" that we have mentally categorized and even canonized in our pentecostal upbringing are from God (or at the very least started that way). But often times we have so separated the gift of Baptism in the Holy Spirit from it's job and purpose and fulfillment in our lives that we have such a purposeless and meaningless Christianity. Pastor Cymbala (of the Brooklyn Tabernacle) writes much about this in his book Fresh Power.
First of all, where does this gift come from? (And by gift, I'm speaking of any manifestation of the Power of the Holy Spirit, whether spoken of specifically in the Bible or otherwise) Without a doubt it comes from God if it is good and not false!
Secondly, for what purpose is it given? FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE KINGDOM!! These gifts are not in anyway for ourselves and our own selfish gain! How selfish and piously self-righteous of us to say that the very Power of the Kingdom of God is for our own purpose or to make ourselves feel good, and yet have no change in the very character and nature of our church body? How utterly foolish!
How can we possibly divorce this Power from it's specific, unalterable purpose in the Kingdom of God? If we are Baptized in the Spirit, where is the fruit of that encounter, that indwelling? We can rest assured that God's Power is not something that is purposeless. I submit to you this test when someone claims to have been Baptized in the Spirit or filled with God's Power: Where is the fruit of that Power? What is that Power for? And how can someone have (or exhibit) power without it being for some purpose?
~
This is what I have been begging from God. I so greatly and desperately want this power! And God forbid that I should want it for the same reason that many in the American Pentecostal church have wanted it. God forbid that I want it for the same reason that Simon (the former sorcerer), who was a Christian, wanted this power! I want it for the very purpose that it was first given out; to expand the Kingdom of God.
I don't have to wonder if there is some gift that God has for me that might help me as I do my best to fight for His Kingdom... I know so! I know that there is a Power which is real and genuinely supernatural which God does want to give to me. So many times we want to lesson this Power and say that it is nothing more than the Power of the conviction of sin which all sinners must have before they are brought to Christ. And for sure, that is a part of this Power; and for sure, that is supremely supernatural. But what else is there? Doesn't the very definition of the word "Supernatural" denote something so much deeper and stronger and higher and wider and even more tangible than that? Love is a very wonderful and Holy thing... but when I look in Webster's dictionary or do my best to study some foreign, Greek term... doesn't the word mean more than that? Doesn't it have some better significance than a simple encounter? I have to admit that even the most "simple" encounter with God is most definitely supernatural, but I also am forced to believe that the supernatural doesn't stop there.
And I so desperately want it. I so desperately long for the fullness of the gifts of the Spirit and all of them! Not for my own sake, but for the very sake of God Himself! Isn't it His kingdom that I desire to preach? Isn't it His Kingdom that I am [hopefully] working so hard for? If I have something for myself, what good is it? What possible purpose can it serve? Only a simple, finite, minute purpose which diminishes to nothing in the grand scheme of eternity.
No! I refuse to believe that I am worth anything apart from God Himself. And likewise, there can be nothing in my possession which is of any use or any purpose large or small when it is serving some purpose of my own. Things are only worthwhile when they are in service to my Lord and Savior. What other purpose is there? What else is there to live for? Nothing!
But at the same time; what wonder and majesty and mystery and bliss there is in the service of Him who calls us! Oh how beautiful and grand a purpose for which we are made! How wonderful He is, and how blessed we are to be allowed in His service!
A blessedly clam day (before the storm?)
Yesterday was such a great day!
It was one of those days where it seemed like I got so much done with not too much effort. I love those type of days!
It started out nice and late; I slept in and for the first time since we've been here, my roommates woke up before me. They were surprized. ;-)
After lazing around for a little while, we moved two refrigerators for Mr. Harrison and for the Turners. All that before lunch. After a fine, lazy, make-your-own Saturday lunch, we went to the market and down downtown (El Centro). It was just me and the two guys, so I sort of got to show them around the different things that Carolyn had shown me. It was a beautiful day and the downtown area is just so beautiful to me anyway (in a dirty, grungy, hidden beauty sort of way). I loved it. We also went to the market, like I said, and bought 5 dollars worth of fruits and vegetables which actually should last us for a good while (at least a week or so). It's really surpizing how cheap things there are. They also have a little meat market with just about anything you want, but if you want to buy something there, you probably want to get there a little sooner, like Friday when they open up. That way, the smell of day old carcasas sitting out and dripping blood won't make you want to throw up. (nice little word picture, don't you think? ;-) It really is a great experience, though.
We were done with all that and back before 2:30 in the afternoon (or a la tarde for those of you who care). We sat around at the school appartment for a good while before going back to our house and making supper. After that we decided we wanted to go out on the town for dessert. We came back to school to invite Carolyn and Anna to come with us, but we couldn't find Anna. We went to Baskin-Robins (for the first time in my life) and had some downright great ice-cream. The only downside was that the price was very similar to the state-side price (expensive) when at the other fast-food chains you can usually get a soft-serve cone for around 25 cents. And boy does it tast good! (even if they do make it a little hollow on the inside ;-)
We talked there and had a great time.
Speaking of which, the other night three girls from International School came over to the house and we all had a good time. Wait, I already wrote about that didn't I? Yeah, I guess so.
Oh well. Oh, I forgot, we went to church last night instead of today, so that's why I've got the entire day today off! I think I'm going to write a little next about some of the things I learned this morning in my devotional time. God has been so good to me. My only real other goal for today is to get my lesson plans and syllabi finallized for tomorrow. (a little late to have them copied and handed out, I know, but oh well...)
It was one of those days where it seemed like I got so much done with not too much effort. I love those type of days!
It started out nice and late; I slept in and for the first time since we've been here, my roommates woke up before me. They were surprized. ;-)
After lazing around for a little while, we moved two refrigerators for Mr. Harrison and for the Turners. All that before lunch. After a fine, lazy, make-your-own Saturday lunch, we went to the market and down downtown (El Centro). It was just me and the two guys, so I sort of got to show them around the different things that Carolyn had shown me. It was a beautiful day and the downtown area is just so beautiful to me anyway (in a dirty, grungy, hidden beauty sort of way). I loved it. We also went to the market, like I said, and bought 5 dollars worth of fruits and vegetables which actually should last us for a good while (at least a week or so). It's really surpizing how cheap things there are. They also have a little meat market with just about anything you want, but if you want to buy something there, you probably want to get there a little sooner, like Friday when they open up. That way, the smell of day old carcasas sitting out and dripping blood won't make you want to throw up. (nice little word picture, don't you think? ;-) It really is a great experience, though.
We were done with all that and back before 2:30 in the afternoon (or a la tarde for those of you who care). We sat around at the school appartment for a good while before going back to our house and making supper. After that we decided we wanted to go out on the town for dessert. We came back to school to invite Carolyn and Anna to come with us, but we couldn't find Anna. We went to Baskin-Robins (for the first time in my life) and had some downright great ice-cream. The only downside was that the price was very similar to the state-side price (expensive) when at the other fast-food chains you can usually get a soft-serve cone for around 25 cents. And boy does it tast good! (even if they do make it a little hollow on the inside ;-)
We talked there and had a great time.
Speaking of which, the other night three girls from International School came over to the house and we all had a good time. Wait, I already wrote about that didn't I? Yeah, I guess so.
Oh well. Oh, I forgot, we went to church last night instead of today, so that's why I've got the entire day today off! I think I'm going to write a little next about some of the things I learned this morning in my devotional time. God has been so good to me. My only real other goal for today is to get my lesson plans and syllabi finallized for tomorrow. (a little late to have them copied and handed out, I know, but oh well...)
To Whom it May Concern
Just so my loyal fans know... the reason I post a letter that I write to someone specific (i.e. my mom or Dr. Thompson) is because I feel that it might have information which others in my gigantic fan base might like to know. And also because I'd rather not write it all again. So feel free to comment when you see a letter not written to you... because in reality it is. ;-)
Saturday, August 26, 2006
New Keyboard?
Mom,
Thanks so much... I'm sorry, I didn't get to that sooner. I tried to fix it myself but it just didn't work out. I don't know why.
So, I hope the countertops are going to look good. Have you enjoyed eating out so far?
Me and the guys went to El Centro today and bought some food at the outdoor food market. We got quite a good bit of stuff (fruits and vegetables) and paid less than 5. Of course, we had to pay almost that much for transportation there and back, but it's still a pretty good deal for what we got.
Last night Daniel got in touch with a friend from his college that is working at a different school down here and us three guys went out with Erin (his friend), her two roomates, and Anna. After we had supper, we came back to the appartment and sat around and talked for a while. The three girls were here last year and had some cool stories. It was really a lot of fun. Erin reminded me a lot of Amber Flora-Holmquist from Camp last summer.
I really hope I start learning much more Spanish! I feel so deprived of knowledge.
So how's my computer doing? Is it still alive, or has it finally fallen to peices?
The church is actually going to buy a keyboard for the school, which is very nice, but I don't know when it will be bought or what kind it will be. The way they were talking though, I might be able to spend that $3,400 on something else... who knows? God is good, and I trust that He's taking care of things.
I hope it all works out. First day of school is Monday, but it's more like a short open house. The first real full day is Thursday. I can't wait to finally be with the students.
I Love you a lot Mom; tell the rest of the family I Love them as well,
Jason Scott Vawter
Thanks so much... I'm sorry, I didn't get to that sooner. I tried to fix it myself but it just didn't work out. I don't know why.
So, I hope the countertops are going to look good. Have you enjoyed eating out so far?
Me and the guys went to El Centro today and bought some food at the outdoor food market. We got quite a good bit of stuff (fruits and vegetables) and paid less than 5. Of course, we had to pay almost that much for transportation there and back, but it's still a pretty good deal for what we got.
Last night Daniel got in touch with a friend from his college that is working at a different school down here and us three guys went out with Erin (his friend), her two roomates, and Anna. After we had supper, we came back to the appartment and sat around and talked for a while. The three girls were here last year and had some cool stories. It was really a lot of fun. Erin reminded me a lot of Amber Flora-Holmquist from Camp last summer.
I really hope I start learning much more Spanish! I feel so deprived of knowledge.
So how's my computer doing? Is it still alive, or has it finally fallen to peices?
The church is actually going to buy a keyboard for the school, which is very nice, but I don't know when it will be bought or what kind it will be. The way they were talking though, I might be able to spend that $3,400 on something else... who knows? God is good, and I trust that He's taking care of things.
I hope it all works out. First day of school is Monday, but it's more like a short open house. The first real full day is Thursday. I can't wait to finally be with the students.
I Love you a lot Mom; tell the rest of the family I Love them as well,
Jason Scott Vawter
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Scholastic Observations
Dr. T,
That letter was possibly the most patriotic I've ever had. Long live America! ;-)
I've just created a new blog that can be found at http://jasonscottvawter.blogspot.com. Oh how original and creative I can be. :-)
Our lesson plans for this coming week (all two of them) are due tomorrow, so I'm going to try and finish them tonight... we'll see about that. As soon as they are complete I will post them.
As for extra instruments, a thousand things have been floating through my head. There are so many things that I would like to do and so many possibilities. Apparently the bilingual schools have a choral competition every Christmas, which is making me more and more excited as I think about it. Also, though they're aren't many instruments down here, I have been highly thinking about a sort of impromptu rhythm band of sorts. It would be a lot like Stomp and there is so much opportunity for the kids to learn rhythm this way.
The one thing I really need is a piano or nice keyboard for the school.
I was mistaken about one thing before I came, they have had a music teacher here in the past, but they haven't been very active... he taught a work-from-the-book type of class... many people have complained of the ensuing boredom. Also, there is a music teacher here currently for elementary portion of the school. He's Honduran and although he has haltering English, I'm already enjoying working with him.
The church is most likely going to by a simple keyboard for the music classroom here which will be great this semester. Actually... I have, to use at my own discretion, around $3,400 for this very purpose which has been given to the School through donations I did my best to solicit. I am eager to use it, but I want to buy what will serve the school best, and since there aren't very many music stores here (see my blog on this issue :-), I have been told it might be better to fly one back here when I return after the Christmas break. My bags will be light then and I should have room. I'm wishing for a Clavinova type, but who knows what will happen.
Speaking of which, if you know someone who is looking to "upgrade" their electric piano and wouldn't mind selling a nice used one to a fledgling music school in Honduras... we're definitely looking for one! ;-)
Ok... I guess I need to start working on my lesson plans. So much to do!
Yours in Christ,
Jason Scott Vawter
That letter was possibly the most patriotic I've ever had. Long live America! ;-)
I've just created a new blog that can be found at http://jasonscottvawter.blogspot.com. Oh how original and creative I can be. :-)
Our lesson plans for this coming week (all two of them) are due tomorrow, so I'm going to try and finish them tonight... we'll see about that. As soon as they are complete I will post them.
As for extra instruments, a thousand things have been floating through my head. There are so many things that I would like to do and so many possibilities. Apparently the bilingual schools have a choral competition every Christmas, which is making me more and more excited as I think about it. Also, though they're aren't many instruments down here, I have been highly thinking about a sort of impromptu rhythm band of sorts. It would be a lot like Stomp and there is so much opportunity for the kids to learn rhythm this way.
The one thing I really need is a piano or nice keyboard for the school.
I was mistaken about one thing before I came, they have had a music teacher here in the past, but they haven't been very active... he taught a work-from-the-book type of class... many people have complained of the ensuing boredom. Also, there is a music teacher here currently for elementary portion of the school. He's Honduran and although he has haltering English, I'm already enjoying working with him.
The church is most likely going to by a simple keyboard for the music classroom here which will be great this semester. Actually... I have, to use at my own discretion, around $3,400 for this very purpose which has been given to the School through donations I did my best to solicit. I am eager to use it, but I want to buy what will serve the school best, and since there aren't very many music stores here (see my blog on this issue :-), I have been told it might be better to fly one back here when I return after the Christmas break. My bags will be light then and I should have room. I'm wishing for a Clavinova type, but who knows what will happen.
Speaking of which, if you know someone who is looking to "upgrade" their electric piano and wouldn't mind selling a nice used one to a fledgling music school in Honduras... we're definitely looking for one! ;-)
Ok... I guess I need to start working on my lesson plans. So much to do!
Yours in Christ,
Jason Scott Vawter
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
:-p
So much to do, and so little time!
Actually, I'm not extremely busy, but busy enough, you know? Today I almost finished making my wall posters. I made them in faith that I will be given a room to hang them up in... we'll see. Actually they're building three classrooms out back and one of them should belong to me, but they have to finish before I can move in :-)
I'm getting more and more excited. I still don't know how much I'll be living on (money) or exactly what grade levels I'll be teaching or my schedule. I do however know that I'll be teaching Bible, which is fairly exciting.
Actually, it's all exciting for me.
PS- Was that enough details, Mom? ;-)
Sunday, August 20, 2006
How Quick the Pace!
So, is Barry Childers going to try and join a choir or something? Maybe a club? SINFONIA!!!!! (sorry, that just sort of slipped... :-)
This weekend was a blast. I asked Carolyn Vieth, the Missionary Assistant that's been here for two years already (she's slightly older than you, Mom) to take me to El Centro (the town square) and show me around some more. We had a lot of fun walking around and seeing the different things that there was to see. We actually got stuck in a staircase; it was hilarious! We went in this hotel to see if we could go to the top and look out. Well, first we tried the elevator, but apparently it only worked one floor at a time; how odd. But once we got to the 6th floor (out of 10), it wouldn't take us any higher. We think it was broke or something. Anyway, we got out and looked around at some beautiful carved doors, but there wasn't any windows in the hallway. So instead, we tried one of the staircases. Well, apparently we picked the wrong one! This one only had doornobs going in to the staircase. You couldn't leave it without walking all the way to the bottom! Ha, we laughed about that for a good while.
Carolyn (by the way, you've ruined me mom; it's so hard for me to respect my elders by calling them what they asked to be called instead of inserting an "insulting" Ms. or Mrs. in front of their name. Oh well.)... so Carolyn is such a wonderful lady, and so wize. She reminds me a little of Cmd. Gebhart though; she sure likes to talk, and though both her and Cmd. Gebhart have a thousand extremely exciting and interesting stories their audiences haven't heard, they often don't mind telling the same ones over again if you don't remind them you've "already heard that one." ;-) I love it.
Well, last night, when we got home, she told me a lot about how she got on the mission field and how God has and is using her. She's really becoming quite an inspiration to me.
God may not have me here for a long time, but I know that there are many things that He wants to teach me here. I also know that I am to do my best to learn Spanish (and why not, with all the beautiful young female teachers out there ready to help me? ;-).
Competition
Competition really gets the best of me sometimes; even if it's only imagined competition. I get easily intimidated and quickly want to give up. And at the moment, God has surrounded me with both real life examples and plenty of "friends of a friend" who are quicker and better at picking up and learning the Spanish language and at picking up and understanding musical things as well. And the odd part about it is that these are people who are much more gifted at music than me, but yet God has them doing something else with their life; and these are people apparently much more gifted with Spanish than me, but who may not be using it once they leave at the end of this year. But God has reminded me that it doesn't really matter how much he gifts another person or whether they are going to use those gifts or not; He hasn't left that for me to wonder or exclaim about. He has only shown me what He want's me to do and some of the ways he wants me to use the gifts He has given me.
So much to learn! And how quick He has set the pace! But with His help, I know I can keep up!
This weekend was a blast. I asked Carolyn Vieth, the Missionary Assistant that's been here for two years already (she's slightly older than you, Mom) to take me to El Centro (the town square) and show me around some more. We had a lot of fun walking around and seeing the different things that there was to see. We actually got stuck in a staircase; it was hilarious! We went in this hotel to see if we could go to the top and look out. Well, first we tried the elevator, but apparently it only worked one floor at a time; how odd. But once we got to the 6th floor (out of 10), it wouldn't take us any higher. We think it was broke or something. Anyway, we got out and looked around at some beautiful carved doors, but there wasn't any windows in the hallway. So instead, we tried one of the staircases. Well, apparently we picked the wrong one! This one only had doornobs going in to the staircase. You couldn't leave it without walking all the way to the bottom! Ha, we laughed about that for a good while.
Carolyn (by the way, you've ruined me mom; it's so hard for me to respect my elders by calling them what they asked to be called instead of inserting an "insulting" Ms. or Mrs. in front of their name. Oh well.)... so Carolyn is such a wonderful lady, and so wize. She reminds me a little of Cmd. Gebhart though; she sure likes to talk, and though both her and Cmd. Gebhart have a thousand extremely exciting and interesting stories their audiences haven't heard, they often don't mind telling the same ones over again if you don't remind them you've "already heard that one." ;-) I love it.
Well, last night, when we got home, she told me a lot about how she got on the mission field and how God has and is using her. She's really becoming quite an inspiration to me.
God may not have me here for a long time, but I know that there are many things that He wants to teach me here. I also know that I am to do my best to learn Spanish (and why not, with all the beautiful young female teachers out there ready to help me? ;-).
Competition
Competition really gets the best of me sometimes; even if it's only imagined competition. I get easily intimidated and quickly want to give up. And at the moment, God has surrounded me with both real life examples and plenty of "friends of a friend" who are quicker and better at picking up and learning the Spanish language and at picking up and understanding musical things as well. And the odd part about it is that these are people who are much more gifted at music than me, but yet God has them doing something else with their life; and these are people apparently much more gifted with Spanish than me, but who may not be using it once they leave at the end of this year. But God has reminded me that it doesn't really matter how much he gifts another person or whether they are going to use those gifts or not; He hasn't left that for me to wonder or exclaim about. He has only shown me what He want's me to do and some of the ways he wants me to use the gifts He has given me.
So much to learn! And how quick He has set the pace! But with His help, I know I can keep up!
Friday, August 18, 2006
Nix on the Road Trip
Nix on.... sort of looks like "Nixon" when it's on paper, doesn't it?
Well, I'm starting to read C. S. Lewis's Mere Christianity. I didn't know this before I started reading it, but it actually wasn't begun as a book, but rather as a series of candid radio talks straight from Lewis himself. I sure would like to hear those! Wow... anyway, he was asked by BBC to try and explain Chrisitanity in a very simple form. As he says, he wasn't chosen because he was one of the best minds of his time but rather because he was completely unexperienced in deep theology (more or less).
Well, in all honesty, in some odd way, his writing style reminds me a lot of Hugh Grant's lines and humor in Two Week's Notice. It's so funny because of how blatent he makes things and how he talks all the way completely around an issue making the other view point seem so "silly" as Hugh Grant might say. It's really good, and I'm only through with "Book I" which as far as I can surmize is about the first three radio shows. Honestly, it's really good. It's a little long, but I can't wait till he starts talking about Christianity; so far he's just been explaining the meaning of the universe. Pretty ambitious, don't you think?! And yet, he doesn it so well... ahh... :-)
Oh well, if you get a chance, read it. And if you have extra money lying around, buy his space trilogy and give it to me for Christmas... I really think it would be as interesting as all get out (nice little Southern slang there).
By the way, all you advocates of the "Real" South: try Honduras for a while. Talk about a wonderful climate! It's been in the 70's almost the entire time I've been here. A few times it might have reached a blistering 80 degrees, but hey, it's all part of the deal.
Oh and pray for me; it's so tough here, suffering for Jesus with the geccos and iguanas and palm trees and cacti and blue skies and... well, you get the point; it's just tough.
;-D
Well, I'm starting to read C. S. Lewis's Mere Christianity. I didn't know this before I started reading it, but it actually wasn't begun as a book, but rather as a series of candid radio talks straight from Lewis himself. I sure would like to hear those! Wow... anyway, he was asked by BBC to try and explain Chrisitanity in a very simple form. As he says, he wasn't chosen because he was one of the best minds of his time but rather because he was completely unexperienced in deep theology (more or less).
Well, in all honesty, in some odd way, his writing style reminds me a lot of Hugh Grant's lines and humor in Two Week's Notice. It's so funny because of how blatent he makes things and how he talks all the way completely around an issue making the other view point seem so "silly" as Hugh Grant might say. It's really good, and I'm only through with "Book I" which as far as I can surmize is about the first three radio shows. Honestly, it's really good. It's a little long, but I can't wait till he starts talking about Christianity; so far he's just been explaining the meaning of the universe. Pretty ambitious, don't you think?! And yet, he doesn it so well... ahh... :-)
Oh well, if you get a chance, read it. And if you have extra money lying around, buy his space trilogy and give it to me for Christmas... I really think it would be as interesting as all get out (nice little Southern slang there).
By the way, all you advocates of the "Real" South: try Honduras for a while. Talk about a wonderful climate! It's been in the 70's almost the entire time I've been here. A few times it might have reached a blistering 80 degrees, but hey, it's all part of the deal.
Oh and pray for me; it's so tough here, suffering for Jesus with the geccos and iguanas and palm trees and cacti and blue skies and... well, you get the point; it's just tough.
;-D
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Road Trip!
Look! A picture of me in Honduras! Don't you just love the wonderful scenery and beautiful greenery?
Things are going very well down here; both classes and lesson plans are starting to fall into place. And with plenty of time to spare! Apparently classes don't fully start until the 29th. Cool. My roomates are planning to use their extra time this weekend to go to the coast. I hope I'm able to go with them!
We'll see. :-D
PS- Plenty of new info below for hungry readers!
Yea for my computer!!!!
Hey Mom!
First of all: I found this wonderful girl today! She's so beautiful and wonderful. She acts with such purity of heart and vividness of soul. I can't wait to send you a picture of her. I really want you to have a chance to meet her. She's so wonderful! I wish I could better explain her to you. I don't want to step out on a limb emotionally yet, but I'm seriously asking God about her.
But as to what you said earlier, YES! I would love my keyboard, and I think it would be almost necessary! I hope the extra money that has come in would be helpful in shipping it.
I've been asking to use the nice KORG keyboard in the church, but every time I do so, I have to ask the Music Minister, Aldo, to stop whatever he's doing and open the sancuary, turn on the lights upstairs, get a pair of headphones, etc. etc... It would be horrible to do that every day (sad for both him and me).
I'm so glad to hear that my computer is alive and well!! The Lord is Good. I'm hoping that maybe when it comes back working, my palm will work better as well (it's been very slow lately... so much so that I've decided to stop using it for a while). It's also apparently unwise to carry around something that expensive down here.
I'm wondering if maybe FUMC would think about sending the money they recieved through Central... if they would agree to that, it would make things much easier for me here. I'm going to email Mr. Harrison and see exactly what the other options are. I'm so glad that they were so helpful in collecting money for the School here!
If you are able to mail my keyboard and computer in some way other than extremely slow, I think I would like to have that good set of headphones with them, or maybe even both of them (the ones that were on "my" desk in that room which is probably since been swallowed up by some other purpose...).
Thanks so much! Things here are going very well; apparently it's going to be about two weeks before school starts here! Things will start getting under way not this Monday, but the next, and the first real day of school will be the following Thursday. That's plenty of time. I'm getting a much better idea of what to plan for musically in class as well as in my bible classes. I'm going to have more middle school classes than high school, but down here there is only "elemenary" and "high" or rather "secondary" schools. So in their minds, anything above 6th grade is a secondary level.
With all this extra time, Brian and Daniel (my housemates) are thinking about taking a trip to the coast this weekend. I'm going to have to check the bank account, but I deffinately want to go! It's so beautiful down here, but I don't know what will be within my small budget. I actually still don't know what I'm getting paid... :-I
hmm...
I should find that out as soon as possible. Teaching here is deffinately not about the money (though I'm still getting paid better than many of the other teachers), but it will be important for me to make sure I can manage on whatever I'm given!
PS- As for the girl I was talking about earlier... yeah right.
;-) she may exist, but I haven't yet met her.
First of all: I found this wonderful girl today! She's so beautiful and wonderful. She acts with such purity of heart and vividness of soul. I can't wait to send you a picture of her. I really want you to have a chance to meet her. She's so wonderful! I wish I could better explain her to you. I don't want to step out on a limb emotionally yet, but I'm seriously asking God about her.
But as to what you said earlier, YES! I would love my keyboard, and I think it would be almost necessary! I hope the extra money that has come in would be helpful in shipping it.
I've been asking to use the nice KORG keyboard in the church, but every time I do so, I have to ask the Music Minister, Aldo, to stop whatever he's doing and open the sancuary, turn on the lights upstairs, get a pair of headphones, etc. etc... It would be horrible to do that every day (sad for both him and me).
I'm so glad to hear that my computer is alive and well!! The Lord is Good. I'm hoping that maybe when it comes back working, my palm will work better as well (it's been very slow lately... so much so that I've decided to stop using it for a while). It's also apparently unwise to carry around something that expensive down here.
I'm wondering if maybe FUMC would think about sending the money they recieved through Central... if they would agree to that, it would make things much easier for me here. I'm going to email Mr. Harrison and see exactly what the other options are. I'm so glad that they were so helpful in collecting money for the School here!
If you are able to mail my keyboard and computer in some way other than extremely slow, I think I would like to have that good set of headphones with them, or maybe even both of them (the ones that were on "my" desk in that room which is probably since been swallowed up by some other purpose...).
Thanks so much! Things here are going very well; apparently it's going to be about two weeks before school starts here! Things will start getting under way not this Monday, but the next, and the first real day of school will be the following Thursday. That's plenty of time. I'm getting a much better idea of what to plan for musically in class as well as in my bible classes. I'm going to have more middle school classes than high school, but down here there is only "elemenary" and "high" or rather "secondary" schools. So in their minds, anything above 6th grade is a secondary level.
With all this extra time, Brian and Daniel (my housemates) are thinking about taking a trip to the coast this weekend. I'm going to have to check the bank account, but I deffinately want to go! It's so beautiful down here, but I don't know what will be within my small budget. I actually still don't know what I'm getting paid... :-I
hmm...
I should find that out as soon as possible. Teaching here is deffinately not about the money (though I'm still getting paid better than many of the other teachers), but it will be important for me to make sure I can manage on whatever I'm given!
PS- As for the girl I was talking about earlier... yeah right.
;-) she may exist, but I haven't yet met her.
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