2 Treasured Weeks At Home

I spent my 2 Treasured Weeks at Home making memories with the people I love, enjoying the SNOW, & eating all the yummy foods I don’t get to have in Oaxaca, Mexico.



Here are just a few pictures from my break:
*  Visiting the beautifully decorated Peddler's Village & admiring the dozens of creative Gingerbread Houses

*  Sunsets out of my bedroom window

* Christmas Morning Brunch, Gifts & Playing the new Wii

*  Fun With The Nieces In The SNOW!!!!

*  Puppy Love  <3

*  A few precious moments with my brother's family & meeting their brand new baby girl!

“There’s No Place Like Home! There’s No Place Like Home!”

From Friday, December 17, 2010 The Countdown Has Ended! I’M HOME!
I have lived in Oaxaca, Mexico for 5 months now. And, although I have quickly grown to LOVE Oaxaca, Mexico – the people of Oaxaca Christian School, the missionary families, my neighbors, the food, the scenery, etc…There really, truly is “No Place Like Home!”

It’s a fact, Oaxaca is near & dear to my heart! But, if truth be told, wherever my family is, THAT is my home! So, my home is Levittown, Pennsylvania. Up until now, the longest I’d been away from home was 10 weeks. You can imagine, I’d been counting down the days until I could go home for Christmas break!

As I waited at an exit door of the Philadelphia International Airport for my family, I saw this sign. I admit, it’s silly, but after so long away, it felt like a personal welcome back, so I took a picture!

Oh, it was so good to see that familiar van pull up! It was a nice surprise that my “baby” brother, Joe, had joined my parents to come get me! (I’m the oldest of 6 & he’s the youngest. We’re 16 years apart, so even though he’s now in his 20s, he will always be my baby brother.)

Then, they surprised me by taking me to a barbeque restaurant in Philly on the way home, called Sweet Lucy’s. My brother had discovered that place a couple of years earlier & I’d always wanted to go, but hadn’t. That night was the first time I ordered ribs & they set the standard for the future, because they were AMAZING!!

As soon as we got home to Levittown, I got bundled up & walked out in the cold weather to my sister Jackie’s house. I just couldn’t wait to see them, hug them, & spend some quality time with them!

I can’t even explain how good it felt to sleep in my own bed that night!!

“Thank you, Jesus, for safe travels home today & for blessing me with such an awesome family, who love me unconditionally! I really hope that during this break, I can see everybody on my list to catch up with their lives & to give them a glimpse of what You are doing in Mexico. Good night!”

Didn’t Pay The Bill? WHAT BILL??

From Monday, December 13, 2010

Today, I learned the hard way, that even though you haven’t gotten a bill in the mail, you still have to pay on time!



We don’t have a mailbox at my house. I honestly don’t even know if there is a “mailman” for my neighborhood? I do know I have seen guys on mopeds driving around sliding electric bills under people’s doors. I know that every now & then, there is an envelope sticking through our metal gate. I also know that every now & then, there is an envelope or a pizza advertisement on the grass in between the front gate & the front door.


Well, for the last 3 months here, I have gotten my cable & internet bill this way ~ either I’d just picked it up off of the grass or I’d pull it out from between the metal gate.


I didn’t have any tv channels or internet Saturday or Sunday. So, today, after more than an hour of trying to call the company, I finally got through. They said my service was shut off for not paying! I was shocked! I normally am really good with keeping up with bills! This company allows you to pay online, so that’s what I’d done for the last several months’ bills.


I had not received a bill “in the mail” ~ so, I had no clue I owed any money! When I explained that to the person on the phone, they had no sympathy. They just said, “Well, even if you don’t get a bill, you still have to pay.”


So, I paid the bill with him over the phone.


BUT ~ I also had to pay a reconnection fee!


Oh, what a costly mistake of waiting for a bill to come in the mail before paying it!!!

A Few Giggles From My Classroom!

From Tuesday, December 9, 2010
“Who Said That?” Here are a few random quotes from out of the mouths of my students here at Oaxaca Christian School to give you a giggle:


* My class has a 20 minute recess every morning, a 30 minute lunch & recess time, & a 40 minute outdoor gym class 3 times a week. Temperatures here range from the 60s to the 90s. So, you can imagine there are some pretty strong scents radiating from our kids! We all notice the smells ~ but, some are more vocal about them than others! One day a student shouted, “EW! Something smells like old grandmas!”


* My co-teacher had a reward system set in place before I arrived. She has the kids earn points to work towards a goal through good behavior & having their names on their papers. Once, they earned Domino’s Pizza. As each was being given seconds, a child, apparently with lactose issues, very clearly told the class, “I’m not allowed to have more than 2 pieces of pizza, unless I have a banana.”


* Prayer is an important part of our school day at OCS! For example: I pray or ask for volunteers to pray before each quiz or test. We sometimes pray to begin a subject. We sometimes pray at the end of the day. We always pray before eating. We always begin each day with a child praying. This was part of one girl’s prayer: “Dear God, I’m glad Ms. Noll is here to teach us & I hope you let her stay forever.”


* Anyone who has heard the “child’s version” of a story knows the facts are often askew from the reality of what actually happened. In school, we try to model correct behavior & language enough that they eventually will get it themselves. So, whenever we hear something positive that WE say all the time coming out of THEIR mouths, it is a blessing! When one student was really trying, but still answering the question incorrectly, I overheard the other student say, “…but that was a good try though!”


* One character trait parents & teachers attempt to instill in kids is to willingness to serve others with a cheerful heart. At least once a day, I ask for a volunteer to help with something. One day, I asked for a volunteer, picked someone, & then heard this “OH…I wanted to help! He got to help last time!”

6.5 or 6.7? Either Way...It Sure Did SHAKE Us Up!!

Dear Friends & Family,
I’ve heard it said several times that it’s actually a good thing that Oaxaca has frequent “small” earthquakes because it lets the pressure loose a little at a time & then we don’t have one HUGE one!  (I honestly don't know if it works that way or not, but it is a comforting thought!)   

Even living in the USA, you might’ve heard by now that we had another rattling earthquake here this morning? When I check my email (hotmail) & log off, msnbc.com news pops up ~ I first saw it online there.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42471662/ns/world_news-americas/


So here are the details:
It happened at 8:11 our time (9:11 EST), while I was teaching Math class in the library.
At first, we all just looked around at the shaking glass windows & the bookshelves, wondering if they were going to fall.
Once our brains realized it was an earthquake & it was continuing, we all crouched down, as we were recently taught…saying things like, "This is a LONG one!" 
One of my students said, “This is the longest one I’ve ever felt in my whole entire life!”
I guess it was probably just over a minute long? Of course, when you’re in the middle of something “scary” like that, time goes by much more slowly. But, another adult here said the same thing; that they thought it was definitely longer than a minute of shaking.


Ironically (or Providentially), for the last couple of weeks, OCS has been training staff & students on what to do in the event of an earthquake. We have been told the most recent research & our classes have been trained.
One of my students said, “It’s a good thing we just learned about this yesterday! How did they know it was going to happen today anyway?”


We are Praising the Lord that there were no injuries & no damage!


Please, continue to pray for our Health & Safety, as we live in a land with frequent “small” earthquakes!


For anyone who is curious ~ here are reports on this morning’s quake from 2 different websites.


Mexico’s national seismology service, who reported it as a 6.7. http://www.ssn.unam.mx/ go to the first tab that says "Sismidad reciente" and click "ultimos sismos"
You’ll see the details of our most recent one in RED, showing that it was larger than a 6.0.
This site is fascinating, because it reports not only the large earthquakes, but all of the seismic activity.
You can see there were already 96 earthquakes 3.0 & higher in Mexico this past week!


The USGS (United States Geological Survey) reported it as a 6.5
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/usc0002kru.php#details


Again, thank you for your concern & your prayers!
Still Counting His Blessings,
Jenn  <><

Experiencing the Weekly Community Market

from November 26, 2010
Every Friday, there is a market here in my little community of Volcanes. Since I know the market begins early in the morning, but I typically don’t get home from school until after 3:30, I always thought it would be too late to try to go to the market.

So, I was REALLY looking forward to having a day off, the Friday after Thanksgiving, so I could experience my local market for the first time!

I got my money, camera, & backpack ready; then walked down the street. As I was walking towards the market, I thought I’d invite my landlord, who has also become my friend. She answered the door, & a minute later, we were on our way to the market together.

I was SO glad that she was there, because she opened my eyes to things I wouldn’t have noticed! She explained for me what some things were. She introduced me to vendors who were friends of hers, & also believers. And, she helped me ask permission to take pictures.

(I’m so thankful that there’s a market like this in walking distanced from me! Since this first visit, I’ve gone back 6 or 7 Fridays to buy 1 dollar dozen roses, more affordable produce, & even tacos for supper!)

Here are a few pictures

to give you a glimpse of my local market:

My Thanksgiving in Oaxaca

from November 25, 2010
Many, many weeks before Thanksgiving, a friend invited me over for a mid-afternoon meal & games. I quickly accepted!

There ended up being 3 married couples, me, & 4 children there.

We each contributed a side dish or two. I used my oven here for the first time & made candied carrots & baked corn. I also cut up veggies & made a few dips & also some sugar-free jello jigglers for dessert. But my friend, our host, REALLY outdid herself! Everything was SCRUMPTIOUS, including 5 homemade pies!

In counting the things I’m thankful for about that day, I have to include the fact that I’m thankful I was able to manage getting all of that food from my house, down 2 blocks, onto the bus, survived a 30 minute bus ride, then walked & walked & walked & walked, finally finding my friend’s house! I also am thankful that I was encouraged to take home a “doggie bag” ~ I SO enjoyed eating that the next day!!

Here are a few pictures of my first Thanksgiving Day away from my family, but still surrounded by loved ones!

"Houston, We Have Internet!!!"

from November 25, 2010
I experienced yet another miracle on Thanksgiving Day!  I had been without internet for 2 weeks, but today, it miraculously began working!

I want to publicly thank my Pappa God, because James 1:16 & 17 remind us, “Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers & sisters. Every good & perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

In the last 2 weeks, I have spent more than 300 pesos worth of airtime on my cell phone with my internet company, Cablemas. (That’s about 25 dollars, just trying to get answers from the cable company!)  Finally, I asked a fluent Spanish speaker at OCS to call Cablemas for me ~ she called several times too, trying to get some answers & a commitment that they’d send someone else out.

Three different times, they sent out The Cable Guys, different guys each time. They checked the wires on the street. They checked the wires on the roof. They replaced all the wiring inside my apartment. They tested my little black box. But, they could find no reason that would be causing the internet not to work.

It was so disheartening! I spend hours every evening on my laptop, catching up with friends/family, paying bills, doing lesson planning, reading the news, etc… So, to be without internet, I was lost.

Then, suddenly, Thanksgiving morning, right when the last Cable Guys were packing up & ready to leave ~ the internet came on & stayed on!  I’m so grateful & trying to not take my internet for granted anymore!

WEEKENDS! I Heart Them!

from November 19, 2010
Some people look forward to the weekend because they’re excited about going out to eat, hanging out with a bunch of people, dating, parties, etc…

But, while I’m here, teaching in Oaxaca, I look forward to the simplicity & solitude of the weekends. 
Away from my noisy school & busy classroom & countless hours on the road ~ I read entire novels, I work on my photography, I do a bunch of cooking for the week ahead, I catch up on documenting my finances, I paint my nails, I watch old movies on tv, I listen to messages online, etc... & I stay in bed past 6am! 

I am just SO thankful for weekends ~ to recharge & to renew!

These verses from Psalm summarize the long, draining, but still joyful week I just had.

“When I said, ‘My foot is slipping,’ Your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, Your consolation brought me joy. The Lord has become my fortress, & my God, the Rock in whom I take refuge.” (Psalm 94:18, 19, & 22)

Upheld...With God's Mighty Arms!

from November 17, 2010
I wrote this on Facebook when I got home from school: I’m testifying that God upheld me today, with His mighty arms.
The Miracle of the Day = someone offered to drive me home from school today (JUST after I had taken out the $ for public transportation!) Please, continue to pray for me this week, as my co-teacher is away. And please, continue to pray for God’s provision as 2 of the families who normally give me rides aren’t available for 2 months.


Later that day, my sister (who teachs Pre-K) wrote: Preschool Joy remembers to pray for you each day, hope your week passes quickly and your travels are relaxing.


I replied by saying: I can’t even express how much I appreciate that! Seriously! About travels ~ Due to circumstances beyond my control, I was “forced” to take a taxi to work this morning. Several times during the ride, I realized I was thankful that I wasn’t riding into school with a family, because it gave me 25 minutes of “free time” where I could pray. I sure did need to prepare myself prayerfully for today! It sure was a challenging day…Then, I was just so extremely blessed when a father offered me a ride home, I almost cried. I was SO not looking forward to an hour of walking & riding buses…I had decided I would pay the 7 or 8 dollars to take a taxi & get home in half the time. Then, just as I had gotten the money out, he walked in & asked, “Miss Noll, do you have a ride home today?”

Please, continue to pray for God's provision for me, both with rides to & from school...& for finances to afford the public transportation when I don't have a ride...& for safety while I'm traveling...

Preparing for a Week "Alone"....

from November 14, 2010
I’m trying to prepare (mentally & spiritually) for a long week ahead ~ Monday is a field trip (that my co-teacher is not going on) & then she leaves for the rest of the week as she needs to go to the States to go to an ACSI teachers’ convention.

“The Lord is near to all who call on Him…he fulfills the desires of those who respect Him; He hears their cry & saves them.” Psalm 145:18-19

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory & the power for ever & ever. Amen. Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed.” I Peter 4:10-13

“God, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand. I’m an open book to You…You know when I leave & when I get back; I’m never out of Your sight. You know everything I’m going to say before I start the first sentence. I look behind me & You’re there, then up ahead & You’re there too – Your reassuring presence, coming & going. This is too much, too wonderful – I can’t take it all in!” Psalm 139:1-6

PIRATES!!!!! Aargh!!!

from November 12, 2010
in the morning, I wrote ~ Tonight is the school’s pirate-themed Fun Fall Festival.  It is the school's main fund raiser.  Somehow today I need to figure out how to transform myself into a homemade pirate with no Super Walmart, no fabric store, etc…but, only with the contents of my humble apartment.
THIS is what I came up with ~ using only a pillow case, a headlamp, a cardboard box & duct tape! 

before bed, I wrote ~ I took almost 400 pictures this evening at the Fun Fall Festival! Everybody involved did such a great job preparing for it & running it! It was SO much fun!

Here is a handful of the pictures I took,

to give you a hint of what today was like.

Getting TO Church = DIFFICULT!!!

I’ve had troubles getting to church many times here in Oaxaca!  I have tried both mototaxis & taxis, but I've gotten lost SO many times!  It shouldn't be this hard just to get to church!   

Here is an example from November 7th, when I got totally & completely lost!

First, I spent 45 minutes apparently walking in the wrong direction, looking for a mototaxi…eventually, I gave up & got in a taxi. Before I got in, I gave the driver the names of the cross streets I needed & asked if he knew where the street was. he said he did, but it turns out he didn’t. We got to the neighborhood & drove all around with him pulling over & asking a dozen different people where this street was. Finally, I recognized where I was & pointed to the correct street. At least I DID eventually get there, but I only caught the last 10 minutes of the service.

I was told by a missionary, who has lived here for about 20 years, that “Mexicans will tell you what you want to hear & not consider it lying. It is a different culture here.”


I don’t get that, seriously… I responded by saying, “Americans do that too, people here & there might be accepting of it, but it is still the opposite of telling the truth.”

The taxi drivers & mototaxi drivers have gotten lost SO many times now (AFTER telling me that they knew where the address was), that I’ve stopped asking them if they know where an address is. 

Please, continue praying for my safety...as I'm traveling alone, with these male drivers...& getting lost too often...& having no idea where I am... 

Regulating Temperatures ~ The Old Fashioned Way...

from November 6, 2010

Last night, I actually got cold for the first time in Oaxaca!
I knew it was bound to happen, as "winter" was coming...my students, who have acclimated to the weather here, have been wearing jackets for a couple weeks now.  They were SHOCKED to see me come in with a sweater today! 

So far, my only experiences here have been with HEAT!  When I was here for 7 weeks, last Spring, it was during the hottest time of the year.  It was in the high 80s to low 90s every day & didn't get much cooler at night...at least it didn't seem like it cooled down much!  Keep in mind, the only air conditioning here is INSIDE the newer CARS!  There's none in the houses.  Although the house I was staying in had a ceiling fan in my bedroom, I'd lay in bed nearly every night, sweating.  There was just no way to cool off.

Well, it's a similar issue when it's colder in Oaxaca. 
YES, it does get cool in Oaxaca, Mexico! 

Usually, I keep the windows open all night long to bring in the “cooler” breezes (making the temperature in my bedroom go down to between 75 – 84 at night). Then, as soon as I wake up, I close all the windows to try to keep the cooler air IN.

Well, last night was the 1st time that I closed the windows just before bed.

Now, at 9am, even with the windows closed all night, it is only 60 degrees inside! 

That might not seem "cold" ~ but, keep in mind that just like there's no air conditioning here, there's also no heat here.  So, the only ways to warm up are to layer your clothing, drink hot drinks, or use the oven & then leave the oven door open! 

Personally, I'm excited about the cooler temperatures coming!  Bring it on!!!!  :)