Hola! I am writing everyone from Chile! Currently, I am working at an English Speaking School down here. I will be here for 2 more weeks. I have been here two weeks, already....and JUST NOW...I am starting to be homesick.

I am living in the Andes mountains with a wonderful family who takes me out to eat, travels with me, and treats me like one of their own. I have two little sisters who live with me...their names are Fernanda and Renata. They are four years old and two years old. I love them so much.

I have been horseback riding, hiking, and two days from now will be white water rafting. There are many shops I am loving to visit as well. So many great things to buy.

This experience is BY FAR the hardest thing I´ve ever done...because I am without my husband....I don´t know spanish....I am teaching in a class that does not understand my english because I don´t have a spanish accent....

BUT...this experience has been one of my greatest blessings...seeing kids wanting to practice their english with me...loving on all the children.....and being a part of their classrooms.

It's been too long-- An update on my life

I've finished my student teaching of 10 weeks. I laughed, I cried, I PASSED. It's a bittersweet feeling knowing that I will never have the same students again, but the next classroom I set foot in---I will be earning money.

Speaking of that--- I have been subbing for 5 days now. Next week, I'm booked at River Valley Middle School as well. Come January, I have a 2 month sub job in a 5th grade Language Arts classroom. I am soooo excited to have my own classroom (even just for 8 wks).

As soon as my sub job at that school is over~ I'm off to Chile for a month working with an English emersion school! I'm soooo excited! I just paid for my plane ticket the other day----and I just can't wait for this new and exciting experience---living with a Spanish family, learning Spanish, and taking in the beauty of the Andes!

Yep, I'm going to be a Master's of Education grad come this upcoming summer! Wish me luck!

Let me know how all of your lives are holding up, k?

A Lot of Mixed Emotions

Dearest Readers~

Yesterday, I found out that I was accepted into the Chile '08 program for my Master's of Education degree. This means I am heading off to Chile in March of next year. I am sooooo excited to teach over there, learn of their culture, and have a great ending to my college career.

However, yesterday, I also found out that my youth pastor's nephew had his leg chopped off by a lawnmower. Our church family is going through great grief as this poor five year old boy is having to have a prostetic limb. Please remember the Osbornes.......

Also, I had a divine conversation with a friend. We had not had a heart to heart in years.....even though we saw each other every day at our college. The thing is, he's not doing well spiritually. By this, I mean, he defends sin. He admitted he's not living the life God intended for him....and THAT, in my opinion, is a huge tragedy. He was a friend to my brother growing up. My brother's life, too, is a tragedy that was chosen.

Here's where I find my fault: I wished I would have prayed more. Maybe.....if I had taken more time out of my day......to speak words to an all-powerful God.....God would have spared my friend and my brother from their unfullfilling lives. Maybe if I would have not have thought of myself less......I could have changed some of their warped thinking. Maybe.....I just don't care enough.

I think I've learned a lesson today.

Take a look at the pics on this site!

Hello everyone! I know you've been waiting for this a looooong time, so we finally have a website (built by yours truly) to show all that's been going on with our house in Indiana. There are pictures, updates, and the story of how this house is going to help us be missionaries in lands overseas.

Here's the site:

projectmacedonia.hobbies.homepagenow.com

Just cut and paste and put in your address bar!

Currently, Colin and I are enjoying being counselors in Oklahoma. It's trying, but so rewarding. God is blessing us as well as our campers. Keep us in prayers.

Love you all--

Deana

ALMOST DONE....

I took the last of my Praxis tests this past Saturday. I wrote for two hours straight for my Principles of Learning and Teaching test......wasn't hard...mostly common sense....but LOTS of writing. My generalist test, though, Social Studies and Math was pretty hard. I just pray I passed that one!

I only have four more weeks of classes. Thank You, LORD! Then, I do my student teaching in the fall. I'm so excited to plan my lessons and actually be in a classroom.

EXCITING NEWS:

Next summer, Colin and I (along with other missionary friends Ben and Cindy) are going to Macedonia on a mission trip. We will be going to a school and seeing if Colin and I would be a good fit there. We will also be visiting churches to see if we could help them as well. Basically, this trip will be to see if we want to be permantly stationed in Macedonia. Cool, eh?

How are we funding this trip? We are flipping a house, then selling it to get a portion of the money! We will be working on it for several months.....starting this weekend.