Jealousy. I am struggling with it.
As all my friends and family are posting pictures of pumpkin patches, corn mazes, hay rides, and fair food...I struggle. The ability to enjoy the changing of the leaves ( Gods creation at its finest) all the beautiful Fall colors, and the wonderful crisp air, the suttle scent of burning leaves and bond fires yea,

 I am missing that.
 The nights out at the fair eating things you had no idea could or ever would be fried-and actually liking it! Coffee dates at starbucks with friends on evenings that you now have to wear a coat to ward off the coolness of the NC evenings, the decorations on the dining room table that mom pulled out from the attic that just always make me smile. Its one of those special things in life that I've come to realize how blessed I have been to experience the joy of the different experiences that Southern Falls bring, until all of a sudden, that wasn't my world anymore.

Or could it be....:) Whelp, thats what I kept asking myself leading up to the month of October, and...I have decided to bring Fall to Chile :) I would not let these months pass me by, so I whipped out the pumpkins, corn, and leaf crafts...and started by having the children decorate their own BIG scarecrow.  Of course that took place only after I had read them a story and explained to them what a scarecrow actually was...and corn fields ( for they weren't aware of what those were either :)) Our scarecrows hanging outside the classroom, big and proud, may or may not stand out against the bright pink flowers hanging from the ceiling, and the other "springy" decorations.But I will not be deterred, in Pre-K...It will be Fall!!


Jack o Lantern Cookies: This past week we made Pumpkin sugar cookies with orange icing and green for the little stems. Of course the kids spent half the time eating the icing out of their individual icing cups, so some of the pumpkins that went home with them...ended up being a little sparse on the icing! :)
I am also paying close to $15 to buy a..yes ONE pumpkin ( so expensive) because it will be worth it! To watch  my little ones dive their hands into the gooey center, searching for every last seed so we can cook and paint them, while knowing it is most of their very first time experiencing the gooey mess!! I mean lets be honest, that is just an experience that every child ( and adult) should have!! Its so gross yet so fun!

"Thank you" Apple sauce and Cookies for being a great Principle

Judge after you try it: Was what I told my students as they all stared into the yellow mush in front of them. They clearly had never seen anything like it before and had no intention of giving it a try. I had decided that, if I couldn't go to an apple orchard in October, I would do something fun with apples.  If only you could of seen their faces when the finished product was placed in front of them! The home made apple sauce...I think its safe to say... was a split vote down the middle between loving it ( eyes wide, big grin, licking the bowl love it) or disliking it strongly (one bite and " No want more Ms. Candace) down to one who was on the fence. Nevertheless, it was a joy peeling the apples, tossing them into a pan, adding A LOT of sugar and Cinnamon...and having 5 cheerleaders by my side the whole time who all agreed on having a fun adventure ( hot as it may of been).

Just a few facts off:
 After learning about The Prodigal son this past week in class a mother of my student pulled me aside to tell me what little Aaron's interpretation of the story had been. " There was a father who had a son who wanted all of his money, when he got the money then he left. But he lost it all and so he went back home. But the father said he couldn't come home until He had all his money and so the son went looking for it....and found it with the pigs." How I love that he got most of the facts right, yet  missed the whole theme of the story, which was the dads forgiveness!! Oh how I love 4 year olds.

Just a few steps more: And Sonya and My afternoon of random exploration downtown, would of turned into a very uncomfortable, awkward scenario. Here is what happened. I have come to realize something about myself the more places I have been and the longer i've been alive. I love to explore old church's, and if there is one with a door open, I am drawn like a magnet to its doors with excitement. So, upon glimpsing a door of an old, beautiful catholic church open, we went for a look! We noticed right away that the candles were all lit but otherwise it was very dark, but that tends to be the look of all the Catholic church's i've explored, so we continued our entrance. As we walked into the sanctuary, right before we began walking down the isle to the front of the church....I noticed 9 or 10 people sitting in pews up at the front of the church. Yet...there again, was not an unusual site when in Catholic church's, at any given time or day. And so our perusing continued towards the front of the church. It wasn't until I noticed a little old lady, dressed in what looked to be her Sunday's Best, walk to the base of the stairs that led to the stage, that I then noticed what she was walking towards..... an open casket. We must of seen the open black shiny box at the same time because we both just froze, gasped, I turned to her and silently mouthed " Is that a casket!?!?", with our mouths open...we watched the little lady walk over and peer down into the casket with flowers, not knowing what to do next. It wasn't until we both got a surge of confidence to turn around and tip toe outside, that we exited the church safely, with no interruption to the funereal to take responsibility for!  Once we rounded a corner a good 15 feet from the church we just died laughing. No Pun intended. Lesson learned in my future exploration of old, beautiful church's, check the front of the sanctuary for any oblong objects, or excess amounts of flowers.

Just started reading the Ann of Green Gables Series and I now know why my mom tells me I always reminded her of Ann. I have literally highlighted and folded so many pages, and read different parts to my roommate that are situations, thoughts or words that I feel like are my own. It is kinda crazy. Really fun read though, I would recommend it to anyone who has a daughter that is an easily distracted, imaginary dreamer, or if you yourself are just that. :)

I wasn't going to get in the picture but he waved his gun at me to come and I honestly felt frightened to do any differently!

Fun find of the week. Carbonated Flavored water ...in cans. I thought they were cute.

The Lord will always lead you, satisfy you in a parched land, and strengthen your bones. You will be like a watered garden and like a spring whose waters never run dry. - Isaiah 58:11

New Opportunities!

The last 9 days have been, wonderful very FAST and memorable, As well as, trying, uncomfortable ( at first) and a bit tiring. :)

For starters, I was asked if I would tuitor a little boy who was in my Pre-k class last semester, as It has come out that he has ADHD and some struggles with classroom behavior, focusing in class, all of which are heightning by the lack of English he understands. SO, for an hour 2 days a week my goal is to try and help this energetic, unaware of the concept of space and how to use it appropriately, always to me...an enduring little boy. When in my classe I always had other subs tell me they didn't know how I got him to listen to me, ( said with disheveled hair and the look of exhaustion as their exiting my room :)) to which I would always think, " Man Lord, thank you for making something in this little man respond to me because I do not feel like I am doing anything at all!" Who knew that the Lord would place him in my care once again, and put the responsibility on my shoulders to offer him a chance to remain at SCA, and be able to have the chance to move up to 1st grade! Huge. Really Lord?! The girl who herself needed tutoring all through her life...even through Collage?! Your using me to now tuitor...it just doesn't make sense?!"
Today we started, and every 5-7 minutes or so I would see "that look" that I remember myself...all too well, the look of " Im now thinking of butterflies and castles though i'm looking right at you teacher". And when I saw the glazed look I would stop whatever we were working on, get up and start jumping around with him, singing songs like "If your happy and you know it" and do what I had wished some of my Humanities and Biology teachers had done in Collage. :) It woke him back up, wore the daydreaming out of him and I would have his full attention, we would sit down and he would work deligently for another 5-7 minutes! :) Bless his heart.
 Please pray for guidance on my part to know how to correctly teach and help him for only 2 hours a week, for I am really praying for a miricle in this little boys life. He has had so many testings recently, been sent to numerous doctors, finally diagnosed, and on top of that, is in a school where I KNOW how he feels all the time, " Uhh..my teacher is looking at me and talking...but what is she saying!???!"

Another ministry opportunity I had was to be able to sing with my ministry team from church ( By God's grace..in Spanish)) at a missions conference here in Santiago! What a special moment that was for me...another one of those " This is all you Lord" moments for sure.
The songs we sang were Holy Holy Holy and Imortal Invisible God -Laura Story's version. My pastor introduced me to the Conference speaker...and when he had heard of my father, it was again one of those ' Its a small world' moments as well as reminder of what gratitude I should ALWAYS haveto the Lord for the parent's who lovingly chose to give me.
After the conference a bunch of the young people from church...rode the metro back to our homes, in one big group, which always lends itself to adventures and just sweet time of fellowship with my sweet Chilean friends.

I was asked by a missionary who is heading up our ABWE Thanksgiving Retreat, if I would help lead the worship along with a few other people for that weekend get-a-way, and that made me excited!!!...Its finally worshipping in ENGLISH!!!! :)

I've learned that sometimes people just need an ear to listen to them, no opinions or side comments needed, just listening. That was something I realize needed work in my life, and man is the Lord working on me. I told my mom recently that I love skyping with her because I can just talk...and talk...and talk because I miss having someone here who I feel I can truly talk...talk..and just talk to, and who will continue to love me the same after the conversation. My mom, I realize has been that ear to me...my whole life. And I only wish I had of been that ear for her, that instead I chose to put in a comment, correct or brush off. Yikes, I hate even admiting that. But having had those reactions be what I have encountered the most, I appreciate the ear my mother offers so freely, the sensitivity to  feelings and willingness to just ..listen.
I want my room to be the room that someone knows they can walk into and have someone who cares about their life..who asks how they are doing... and sincerely mean it. Not hoping for the question to be asked in return. I am praying for Ears that listen, more.

The weeks are flying by so quickly, and I am thankful for each and every opportunity I have to spend in worship to my King, with my church family, or with my 5 ( now 6) little faces that greet me with " Goodmorning ms. Candace" every single day. The days are going to quickly, but somehow we are keeping up with the ciriculum, going through the Alphabet and at the letter "I i" and their faces are continually reflecting the light bulbs that are continually going off.

How I have been ministered to....is through the Bible stories I have been teaching my children this Semester. Stories we all "Have heard" but here recently, have been felt in the inner most part of my spirit and soul, in ways that is new, and different. David having courage to approach the giant, Ruth leaving her comfort zone in loyalty to someone she loved, and faith in God's plan, Daniel choosing obedience when He knew the consequence, Joseph...wow....choosing to deny His flesh..the strength of Character He posessed, and the favor of God that followed him through his life...because of that, as well as His willingness to forgive and choose to love in instead.
The Lord has been speaking through these stories and through the paintings we painted, the puppets we've made, or the play-dough figures that have been created, the stories seemed to just come more alive, Bible time ( may or may not) be taking up more time than it should if I stick to the "schedual". Who needs scheduals though right?! :)

On Thursday I will be cooking a couple dinner dishes for my Pastor's family as my pastor's wife fell and broke her knee.Please be praying for 2 things...

The Dinner dishes turn out edible
That Naldy recovers quickly

For now I will part by saying....Gracias De Dios.

Where would I be...But for the

Grace of God, and some good tuitors! :)

I am reminded I am not a Chilean.....

1. When I play soccer for 1/2 of the time the other young people do, AND YET...Still am awakened 2 nights in a row by the intense pain.....that was triggered by my merely rolling over!

2. When I am the only person who I have ever heard say " Man, I am so tired" at the end of a long day of Church where I know my friends were up even earlier than me, and will stay up way past the time I will gladly hit the sack! I mean truly, I cannot remember ONE TIME in 8 months I have heard ANY Chilean friend of mine utter those words...or yawn. "Do Chileans yawn?!" Is the big question...

3. When I am the only one who turns red every time I see couples EVERYWHERE who are  EXTREMELY ...shall I say...affectionate...passionate?! If you have ever said " Get a room" in the States...you would be telling those people who you thought needed a room "thank you" for at least leaving SOME things...to the room. Trust me! The other day a friend and fellow teacher, took a picture to PROVE just how much their "needing a room" is on a wholeeeee nother level! They are unashamedly everywhere too, right beside you on the metro, in front of you in line at the store, up in trees, eating, walking, driving, riding a bike,a scooter, and roller blades too ( Ok no bike and roller blades...that i've seen!) :)


4. When you realize its not the sanitation of how a food is cooked but rather, the outcome. If the chicken looks good, they eat it. Who cares that it was grilled over a grocery cart. = Things I never knew existed.

5. When I can not keep up with women twice my age at the Zumba exercise class. Really!? :) = Rhythm Deficiency

6.When My friends refuse to let me take the metro alone at night, and will go 20 minutes out of their way to ensure I arrive at my metro stop safely.

7. When I get a laugh and hear, " Candace, You look like a Gringo". ( Gringo= Foreigner) whenever I begin to think,because I feel more comfortable, I will look less conspicuous. " What if I die my hair really dark???" Nope, that didn't work either.

8. When I realised I would have to get use to the comments about my eyes....

9. Because even I myself have commented to someone who had pretty blue eyes by saying, " Ah Que Linda Ohos!" ( What pretty Eyes!)

10.When I still find myself saying " Wow you made/cooked/created that yourself??" You mean this is your first time using a Waffle maker!? ( On A side note, my parents bought my Pastor and his wife a Waffle maker because he had mentioned LOVING waffles. Yesterday We made them...and seeing my Pastors sheer delight as he ( all by himself) make the mix, poured the mix into the little crevices and then opened the lid to find fluffy, perfectly golden brown waffles, was just a joy to watch.) Something that He never would of otherwise bought or used.

11. When I still go in the bathroom stalls without grabbing toilet paper...and yes, It still makes me say " What! Their out of paper". Until I remember its quite supplied....but at the front, near the sink.

12. When As Summer is approaching I am being made more aware that their "sun burn" will look a whole better than my sunburn ever will.

13. When every time I have worship practice with the two different ministry teams the Lord has graciously allowed me to be a part of. Yea every time I try learning the songs in Spanish, that is a good....4 hours each week I will be fully aware and reminded. :)

14.When I am asked if I am way older than I am because I have short hair.  Short hair=Old

15. When every church building I see is a beautiful, well maintained, very empty... Catholic church. Definitely not in the Bible Belt here.

16. When I am scared outta my mind, drink spilling all over my shirt from jumping, at what!? Oh just people cheering in the restaurant when their Futbol team has scored. Normal.

17. When I am beginning to get antsy after sitting in the Church service listening to the sermon for over an hour and half...but everyone else seems perfectly content. = Convicted.

18. When I hear "desert" I think Chocolate, they think Fruit. = Healthy

19. When I say I would not put Coca Cola in my babies bottle...and I do not find it as vital as water.

20. When I admit I am not a huge fan of mayonnaise.

A Chilean Hot Dog!

21. When I see a Crosswalk I still find it necessary to "Look both ways".

22. When I am searching the chip isle looking for a chip that isnt a meat flavor.

There are so many wonderful differences that I am finding the longer I am here in the very make up of our cultures. From the foods we eat, to the way our bodies are made ( Rhythm ect) to the values and morals we have as a country. I am so grateful for this time to really experience a culture so very different than my own... and it is my hope  that I can take with me bits and pieces of the differences, that will better me for serving Christ, and those around me.

What a fun ride!