I'm in Love

It's official: I am obsessed with living in Chicago.

It has only been a few days, but I am already loving this. Our house is so much fun, we are moments from the L, my neighborhood is rich with culture, and there are just so many cool things to do around here.

I met my mentor teacher today and she is great. I got to help set-up the classroom, including labeling textbooks, making some bulletin boards, sorting library books, and covering bookshelves. Could it BE more exciting?!?!

We have class tomorrow and then we are off to the Mexican Fine Arts Museum in Pilsen. Friday will be spent getting the room ready as well. On Tuesday, I meet my students! There are 25 of them so far, and we might get more still as the week goes on.

Our landlord hasn't rigged up our wireless internet, nor do we have cable yet. However, my laptop made a sound earlier informing me that it detected an available wireless connection. God bless those who don't secure their internet so poor college students like us can bootleg it.

And to all, a good night!

Hit the Ground Running

I am back from my trip to Haiti. Lucky for me, I got sick...not malaria, but a stupid ear/sinus infection. It is awesome. Waiting for some meds. Also, I was probably supposed to be in Chicago TODAY. Oops. Oh well, can't do anything about it now. I will probably go tomorrow, then drive back home, then go back on Thursday for good. It is getting a little crazy around here. I think they have forgotten that I don't live in the suburbs like everyone else and I can't just drop everything and take a quick drive over to the neighborhood. Again, nothing much I can do about that.

The trip was great. Tons of laughs. Tons of memories. Tons of beautiful children, two in particular that I really wanted to bring home with me. I will now share a few photos. I will try to get more later.

Out like Trout

We depart for Miami in seven hours. For those of you who don't already know, I am going to Haiti for the next eight days. Nothing like cutting it close before moving to Chicago. We are leaving for STL at 11:30 and will stay the night in Miami. Then, we have a 7:30 am flight to Port-Au-Prince. With the new security measures, we will probably have to be there before 5 am. That's going to be a little painful! I think we will have a great time and hopefully do some great work. Please be praying for the seven of us going. Pray for safety as we travel, health while we stay, and opportunities to minister to the children and families of the churches and to our missionaries as well. Hope you have a great week!

Small Obsessions

So in case you haven't noticed, I have this small, but obvious obsession with all things Africa. Last night, I got an email update from Relevant Magazine. The store was having a special sale for a new book entitled Hope in the Dark. It is a collection of photographs and reflections from this guy's consecutive trips to South Africa and Kenya. It has already shipped and I can't wait! Plus, I got an Africa t-shirt with the deal as well. Check out the book at www.hopeinthedark.com. Also, funds from the book and shirt go to support AIDS awareness in Africa. I was able to download a sample chapter from the book and the photos are just amazing. I just can't wait! I think it will be a great resource and it helps support a good cause at the same time. Make sure you check it out!

Vacation Pictures

I just love these little guys. This was Andrew's first time to experience a swimming pool. He was a little skeptical at first, but really ended up liking it. Isaac mainly enjoyed walking around the pool and throwing all of his toys in for us to collect for him. However, we started practicing his counting and jumping skills. Austin loved floating in his tube and laying on the rafts. I couldn't get Ethan's pictures to post, but he and Chris tried lots of different stunts in the pool. Ethan also transformed to a small Middle Eastern child...his skin was ridiculously dark by the end of the week. We had a great time on vacation. Those boys are just too much fun!