Refreshed.

There are times when you don't realize how tired or warn out you are until you get the chance to rest and you remember what it feels like to be refreshed.

This last week Faith had a break and some friends and I took a quick little get away. It was such a blessing and I have returned so refreshed! I wake up in the morning again and can't wait to get to school. Who would have known how much of a blessing a fourth grader could be. By the end of the break I missed them and couldn't wait to get back into the classroom.

Before break we had parent teacher conferences and I was able to meet with all my students' parents and get to know them a little. It was so great to hear a little about their minitries and all that they are doing. After feeling nervous for them and even getting a rough start, I left conferences feeling encouraged and excited for the rest of the year. I wanted to thank all those who were praying for them, they couldn't have gone better!

The next day some other teachers and I then left for Puerto Galera where we were able to relax and enjoy the white sand beaches, fresh air, nature, and all sorts of activities! What an amazing opportunity! God has been so good to me, and I have learned so much about God, myself and doing ministry in another culture. As many frustrations as I have had here I have grown more in love with this country and the people here.

I have felt blessed this week with friends, conversations, my students, and as I sit here and listen to the thunder outside my classroom I am reminded of the power of our Lord. Growing up in the northwest I have never heard thunder like in the Phils. My God is a God who is more powerful than the typhoons that come and go and more powerful than the circumstances that come in my life. Lord help me become a better servant of yours. Make me a better example to my students. You are higher than any other, and I praise you for your blessings that you bestow upon us.

This is Tamaraw, the resort we stayed at. Loved those lounge chairs...

We went on this great hike. At the top there was this amazing waterfall! Swimming never felt so good.

Parasailing with my friend Kelli. This was so fun, and the views were gorgeous.

We were so excited to go banana boating...and we thought we were so tough.

But banana boating is much harder than you expect. I swallowed more salt water that week than I have ever in my life.

SIKE...

Alright... I think I'm starting to get it... you can NEVER rely on anything in the Phils. Is that why everyone kind of jokes about island culture?

I stayed at school til about 6 30 last night getting ready for parent teacher conferences (and good thing I did). Since I worked extra hard I was able to sleep in a little and feel rested for my 7 parent teacher conferences today. But trying to be the extra prepared teacher I started heading out the door at 7:30 (half hour before my first conference). I decided it would be a good idea to get there set up a little and feel relaxed by the time I get I started. SIKE! It's like the Phils wanted to say, "Just when you think you're safe Meg, you can't get too comfortable here!"

If you've been reading my blog I mentioned we had some car troubles awhile ago and we just got our car back last week! So helpful to have my own wheels. However this morning I get down there turn the key and ..you guessed it, nothing. I laughed! I am getting so used to this I actually laughed out loud! "Are you kidding me!"

I ran over to the guard and asked the guard if he could jump my car, as he thought about and wondered what he could do (it felt like he was really taking his time, I'm sure he enjoyed the gringo going crazy), he then told his buddy to get his jumper cables. The guy took what felt like forever! When he came back he handed me the cables and said, "mam' you need a car." haha oh my goodness. I was like, "well the only car I have is dead, can you help me." I now only have 15 minutes to get to school, and I have texted three people who have not yet replied.

So the guard finally realizes I'm starting to freak out. I don't have my boss' number and I can't seem to get ahold of anyone (my phone wouldn't let me call anyone only texts'? never had that happen to me) So another guard finally comes with his car, and they proceed to jump my car. We sit there for about ten minutes trying to jump them, and then he simply drives away... "Where are you going!?" haha he just left, and then his friend said , "too dead mam'" oook...

So thank you and sorry at the same time to the Clinton family who live in my condominium. I knocked on their door to ask the huge favor that they drive me to school. Obviously they had not been awake for long, and were not prepared to be doing any favors so early in the morning. But they saved my life and lent me their car.

I only got their five minutes late, and luckily since I stayed late the night before I was ready for my seven conferences. Only eight more to go tomorrow... and I've arranged for a ride. Just in case.

Phils, your amazing. I can't believe all that has happened to me in the last three months. More in those three short months than in my last three years in the states. And when I tell this story to my fellow missionaries they grin and shrug simply stating that, "only in the Philippines."

A New Concept

It's funny to discover whats in and whats out in kids' world as well as the things that they don't quite get...yet.

First of all I should say that this conversation that happened wasn't totally off subject. But my kids definitely know how to get me off on a rabbit trail. They're filled with curious questions, and then when you add an American teacher, Filipino and Korean students to the mix we're always asking each other questions.

I was sitting with a small group of students and we were doing a guided reading group (where we read a book together and I ask them questions helping them to search deeper into a text). This week we were talking about connections and reading a book about Cesar Chavez who was a union worker during the 60s. We were talking about how during that time America was prejudiced against people with darker skin and it was so funny to hear the kids asking questions like, "why would they think that people with dark skin are bad?" or "why did they have to use different bathrooms?" This concept was so foreign to these kids and they had obviously never really talked about racism (some of them had never heard of the term).

Then one of my Filipino boys started talking about he was getting darker. I looked at him waiting for a further explanation when he proceeded to tell me about how every morning he scrubs himself with his whitening bar soap but nothing happens. I asked him why he wanted to be whiter and he couldn't answer. Then one of the other students asked, "Miss Cosper I heard that Americans want to be dark, is that true?" Haha I was like, "Why yes they think your guys' skin is beautiful and would love to look more like you!" They all laughed and replied, "well why don't you care about being dark Miss C?"... "How do you know I don't care?" I wondered. "Well your not dark..." I explained to them that it was nearly impossible for me to get any darker than I was now. This was kind of hard for these kids to understand. They have grown up in the sun and have never had to worry about burning.

While living in the Phils I have not had to worry about being tan at all! I am no longer looked down upon for being so pasty white, in fact I find people staring at my white skin! haha I have discovered though that I need to be careful when I'm buying soap because there are so many that are made in order to whiten the skin, and Lord forbif my skin getting any whiter!

A Video I made for Alderwood Student Ministries.. Thought you guys would enjoy it!

Like rain in the desert.

I felt like I needed to update you on my miserable week. I feel like I couldn't just let you keep on thinking my week got worse and worse, in fact just the opposite. When I got home from work on Friday I was blessed to an evening with our makeshift Fall.

In the good ol' Phils we lack the changing in seasons and so for those of us who enjoy the cold crisp air, smell of fallen leaves, pumpkin spice, and the sparkle of jack-o-lanterns we really miss out. So, my creative and giving friend Katy tried to re-create a Fall atmosphere as much as possible (this is very difficult to do in the tropics).

That morning she first made us home made pumpkin spice lattes, which were tasty, but a little "grittier"

than I remember... Then Katy rushed home during lunch to turn on her air con in order to get her small apartment cold enough that we could wear sweaters and feel a "chilli breeze" during dinner. When we got home my room mate and I bundled up and headed down stairs into our "fall season". With the help of five apple spice candles, four fans, air con, spicy chicken chili, and Remember the Titans (a fallish movie about Football) it felt for just a moment that we were enjoying a dinner among friends one fall night. What a wonderful reminder of how great friends are.

Just when I have felt like I was wandering in this desert God has blessed me with rain! I was so refreshed by hanging out with people who have become dear friends in my life. Another praise is the internet at my house is working! After three months of trying to get in touch with the internet provider and however many hours I have spent waiting on the phone they came and fixed it for us! It's something little but was so exciting and encouraging!!

As I was talking to one of the other teachers today I was telling her how I felt bad blogging about my hard times. She reminded me that when we tell others how we are really doing( the good times including the hard times) those back home can more specifically pray for us. After a hard week God has reminded me of how faithful He is and I wanted to say thank you to those who have prayed and continue to pray for me! I am so encouraged today. Even though at times I feel like things are not going the way I want them to, God is Faithful.

Here are a few pictures from our Fall Fest...

This is our clay pumpkin... if you tried to carve a pumpkin in this weather

it would probably rot by the next day.

My cute room mate, Ruth and I all bundled up.

Our wonderful hostess, Katy.

This me enjoying fall! What you can't see in this picture is the two fans pointed right at me. The jacket only lasted about an hour and then I started to sweat. But it was one fun hour!