Something Amazing

I've been meaning to write short post about this.

Last year my friend, Dave, who also teaches out here in Belize, had a bunch of his friends paired up with a student at Mt. Carmel High School. We would then pray for them throughout the year. I prayed for my student, L, every Monday ("Mission-Mondays"). I began to write him a letter in Spanish and I wanted my friend to help me with my Spanish but I never ended up sending it. Well, a couple of weeks ago I saw L (!!!) and I'd been praying that I would have an opportunity to talk to him. I finally had the chance and called his name. He turned and I said, "Hi, I'm Miss Bethany. Mr. Dave gave prayer partners to his friends and I got you last year. I've been praying for you every Monday for a year!" He looked surprised and he smiled and he said, "Really?" Now every time we see each other we say, "HEY!" I love it. I get so excited. The other students probably think I'm crazy haha It is simple but truly profound at the same time. Little did I know I would be able to speak to L in person and tell him face-to-face that I've been thinking of him and praying for him for a year! God is interesting like that...

The Skit of all Skits

The volunteer teachers pooled together a couple of weeks ago and we performed a skit for the students here at Mt. Carmel High School during a welcome assembly for first formers (freshman). We almost didn't do it but at the last minute we grabbed uniform shirts from students, the guys put tons and tons of gel in their hair and spiked it up, put on a chain or two, girls grabbed cell phones and mirrors, and we took some desks to act out a class scene. We did about a five minute scene where I was the teacher and the rest of the volunteers were students. They threw paper at me and chewed gum in class (the paper hit me square in the face too! Good shot).

One of the guys grabbed the microphone and says, "Meees (Miss)are you married?" which is a classic question from the students and I replied, "That is not appropriate for class young man." He then responded with, "Do you want to be married?" -Laughter- It was great. The kids were going CRAZY. Then Mr. Tom had an ipod and I say, "Mr. Tom. Is that an ipod?!" That was the cue for our music and just then Mike throws on the music and cupid shuffle starts. I turn around (facing the students) and pretend to write on a chalkboard when Mr. Dave gets up and starts doing a free style dance. The thing you have to know about Dave is that he is a ridiculously good dancer. He moves like no one I know! So the kids are SCREAMING and after a few seconds I turn around and he sits down. Then the second time, he and Miss Betsy dance together (more screaming) and I turn around and they sit down. The third time, all the volunteer teachers dressed up as students are dancing the cupid shuffle in time. I go to reprimand them but end up liking the song so we all dance together. We do the cupid shuffle for about one minute and then we got the principal to come in and say "What is going on in here?!" and we all get serious. I apologize and say the kids are "out of control today". Then the principal leaves and we all dance out. The students went absolutely nuts and were telling us how much they liked it for days! It was so great! Our fifteen minutes of fame.

Grateful Hearts

I led adoration yesterday and I want to share some snippits with you. On Sunday, the gospel was about the 10 lepers who were healed by Jesus but only one came back to give Him thanks and praise. I thought it would be good if we focused on thanksgiving to God, whom we often forget to thank (I know I do). We sang "How Great Thou Art" and then I had them write down things they are thankful to God for. I asked those from this second form (sophomore) girls class who were willing, to turn in their papers so I could share some of their thoughts with all of you. Here are some excerpts:

"I am thankful to God for each day that he gave me, for permitting my parents to be alive and to be with me, for the opportunity that he gave me, which is my education. But the most important above everything is for permitting me to be His child, for being part of Him. For changing my life and taking me to the good path with Him."

"I am thankful to God for: understanding me and forgiving my sins and nonsense."

"You can put this on your blog if you want... =)

Dear Dad, =) I'm thankful for everything! Especially the love that my friends give me. They are D, Lucia, Anne, Razieli, Jamir, Rosanny, Nigel, and Shamira. I have more friend but I thank you for these 8 the most! =) They never leave me behind and they are always there for me no matter what! =) I thank you for my Dad too. Although we are fighting right now...I love him! =) That's all...=)

Love you,
Karen "

"I thank you too because you have given me a beautiful life. Thank you very much God. Thank you for being with me in bad and good time. Love you very much Father. Thank you."

"God is the one who gives me everything so I have to thank him for everything he does for me. I also thank God for the material things He gives me, but I thank him mostly for giving me opportunities to change and to be the person that I am."

"I am thankful for knowing all volunteers especially for Mr. Ken who was here last year with us, for Ms. Brynne, for Mr. Dave, for Ms. Lucia, Mr. Tom, and Ms. Bethany. "

"I am thankful for what I have. My family life and all the wonderful things I will always going to give thanks to God because without his help I will not be able to be here at high school. I am from a poor family that we can not afford to pay for my high school. I am happy because with the help of Jesus I was able to come to high school. Thanks Lord."

What a joy to read these! These kids are so beautiful.

Retreat

Me, Mr. Tom, and 2nd form boys at the retreat last Friday. It went very well! Thank you for your prayers, thoughts, and donations that have brought me here.

To Love at All

The students here continue to amaze me and grow on my heart. This week was different from the usual because Harry, the guy who is the main Adoration person (he prepares meditations and songs, brings out the monstrance) has been sick. That meant that I was to take over adoration. It was a last minute thing on Monday so I just looked through meditations I had prepared and ended up using something that was totally different (haha isn’t that how it seems to happen?). I read through Luke where Mary says yes to the Angel Gabriel and was struck by the line “for nothing is impossible with God” especially because that is one of the few songs that I had prepared. It is a beautiful, simple, Spanish song called “Nada es imposible para ti”. I had heard it before but was reminded of it this summer when I was listening to the World Youth Day soundtrack from Toronto, which I had attended in 2002. The song really struck me and was especially moving when I looked up the lyrics:

“Porque tengo miedo
Si nada es imposible para ti? repeat
Porque tengo tristeza
Si nada es imposible para ti? (repeat)
Porque tengo dudas
Si nada es imposible para ti ?(repeat)
Ensename amar porque nada es imposible para ti
Ensename a perdonar porque nada es imposible para ti”

Which is translated:
“Why do I have fear (Why am I afraid)
If nothing is impossible for You?
Why do I have sadness
If nothing is impossible for You?
Why do I have doubts
If nothing is impossible for You?
Teach me to love, because nothing is impossible for You
Teach me to forgive, because nothing is impossible for You.”

I played this for all the classes that came to adoration during the week. The song seemed to have moved some people which is so beautiful and such a blessing. Some of the girls were tearing up after the song and another girl came to my office to get the lyrics. The song itself is really beautiful but I think the fact that it is in Spanish was very helpful as well. Though they speak Spanish and English, Spanish seems to be the language that is closest to their hearts. Normally we try to have them speaking in English as much as possible in the school but with songs we have some freedom with language. It was so moving to be playing this song for them when I was spending time practicing it at home this summer hoping to play it for these students someday! Wow.

I was also able to substitute for my friend, Dave. I showed “Theology of the Body” by Christopher West to his fourth form (seniors) class. It was really wonderful to be able to dialogue with the students in between segments and get their feedback. One young man didn’t really understand what Christopher West was trying to say and when I broke it down for him he became much more interested and even moved up closer to my laptop to hear the lecture better!

One of the female students came up to me after class to talk a little. She seems very bright and followed the lectures well. She was talking to me about love and said something like, “Love is so hard because we can give ourselves to someone and then they hurt us. I gave myself to someone (not my body) but my heart and emotions, and he hurt me in a way I never thought he would.” How true is her statement. I have been there many times as most of us have and I told her a couple of quotes that have always stayed with me. One of them is by C.S. Lewis and it begins “To love at all is to be vulnerable” and he speaks about the danger in love:

"To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket — safe, dark, motionless, airless — it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The only place outside Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers and perturbations of love is Hell."

The other quote I told her is by Mother Teresa: “I have found the paradox that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.”

As I am telling her these words, I realize that I myself need to be constantly reminded of them. Too often it is easiest for us to curl up if we are hurt after trying to love or to retreat into our shells. Yet, in reality, we must keep loving. I told her of course that if someone is really hurting her that we are not required to continue to speak to them or get beat up by them (whatever the situation may be) but we are called to pray for them and ask God to help us stay away from hatred and bitterness. It is a truly wonderful thing to being to help a student and realize that he/she is teaching me at the same time.

Friday Mass

School Mass at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in the morning on Friday. Everyone Friday a homeroom is in charge of Mass and students read, write/read petitions, and bring up the gifts



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To go or not to go

Oh to be a chaperone---that will be me this Friday. Miss Katherine, the recorder teacher, asked me if I would be willing to go as a chaperone on a bus and to a trip with the seniors. Following school Mass this Friday, we have a parade with the school around town. I will be helping students get snacks ready for everyone coming back from the parade and we will be going to a civil ceremony where seniors will be performing (on their recorders). I'm looking forward to it. I will try to post some pictures and get some more photos of places around town.

Today is Guatemalan independence day so many students are not in school (we live right on the border of Belize and Guatemala). Next Tuesday is Belize independence day so we will not have school. There are a lot of holidays lately! (I don't mind though).
:)