January 2010

Welcome to the January 2010 Installment of the Elisabeth Chronicles. It’s hard to believe that it’s already been a month since I last wrote! This past year has been amazing. It’s been a year full of changes and adjustments, for sure. But it’s also been a year full of learning and blessings.

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So far, we are 20 days into the new year, and I’ve stuck to my one New Year’s resolution. I’m keeping a journal, entitled “A Year of Thanks.” Every day I write down at least one thing I’m thankful for, sometimes adding in meaningful scripture verses or quotes. And I’ve noticed how much better my attitude becomes when I start listing things I’m thankful for. My mood lifts. I smile. I realize how grateful I really am to God and how I take so many things for granted.

I also asked my third graders to list things they were thankful for from 2009So now, for your laughing pleasure, here are some of the funniest things they came up with…

• I’ m thankful for having P.E. during 2009 because without P.E. life as I know it is over.
• I’m thankful for Christmas when I got toys and more toys and more toys and a pencil.
• I’m thankful for my family not having a dog doing you know what in the house because mom says you know what is hard to clean up.
• I’m thankful for learning to write in cursive even though humans don’t write in cursive.

Of course, there were some serious ones as well…

• I’m thankful for coming to a school now where I learn about Jesus since I don’t at my home.
• I’m thankful for celebrating the birth of the baby Jesus at Christmas in 2009.
• I’m thankful for my baby sister that was born in 2009 because I love her so very much.
• I’m thankful for God healing my mom when she had to fly to America and have surgery.
• I’m thankful that I am in a missionary family because I love telling people about Jesus.

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Upcoming Events/Prayer Requests for January:

• January 29 – February 1 – I go with 3 other missionary ladies to Tambacounda, where we’ll lead a Children’s and a Women’s Service at an Assemblies of God church there. Please pray for safe travels (approx. 8 hr. drive on somewhat rough terrains). Pray for open ears and hearts in our “audiences.” Pray for courage and God’s guidance on ourselves, as speakers.

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For those of you that already support me each month financially, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. If you do not, and would like to, please contact me at enichols85@gmail.com or call my parents at 205-225-0255 and we can tell you how to do so. Any donations you make would be tax-deductible.

Happy New Year from Senegal,

Elisabeth Nichols
enichols85@gmail.com

Don’t forget to check out my blog at http://elisabethchronicles.blogspot.com for more frequent updates.

Here is me our latest class photo (minus one student), taken the last day before Christmas Break.


Here's me with my family celebrating me being back for Christmas at one of our family's favorite places to eat -- Longhorn's


Here's me with my "baby," my beautiful lab, Allie

Busy as a Bee -- Are Bees Really Busy?

This past Monday I started back to school. This is the first time I've taken online classes, which makes me a feel both nervous and excited at the same time.

I'm working on my Master's Degree in Teaching English as a Second Language through the University of South Alabama. And I'm taking two classes -- Psychological Principles of Learning and Cross-cultural Studies for Teachers of ELLs.

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Along with these, I'm also working on my Certified Minister's License through the Assemblies of God and taking two classes through Berean School of the Bible (Global University). The classes I'm taking for these are Assemblies of God History, Mission, and Governance and Synoptic Gospels: The Life and Teachings of Christ.

I've always admired and respected the Assemblies of God and what they stand for. And I've had some great A/G "teachers/mentors" along the way, in the form of preachers (my dad being my #1), teachers, missionaries, etc. And I feel so blessed that I get to be a part of this great organization.

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I realize that this semester's going to be a bit crazy at times with teaching, attending various D.A. events (some required/some not), ministry events, and now adding taking 4 classes to the mix (not to mention spending time with friends and family -- through skype, of course). But to be honest, I like it that way. I really do like staying busy.

A Day in the Life of Moi

Here’s a glimpse into the life of Elisabeth. Why? …just because somebody asked me what my days usually look like, so I thought I’d share with everybody…

5:00 or 5:30 – Wake up. Read my Bible. Do my devotion. Get ready. Make my lunch.

6:30ish – Leave for work. I walk approximately 3 blocks to work.

Once I get to work – I put my lunch (usually leftovers from the day before or a sandwich) in the fridge, check my mailbox, and go to my classroom where I get everything ready for the day.

7:20 – On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, we have Staff Devotions. I’m responsible for doing 1 devotion each semester. Devotions usually last 10 or so minutes, followed by prayer request/praise reports, prayer, and announcements.

7:55 – The bell rings and kids come inside from playing on the playground. I usually am standing outside close to my door waiting on all my kids to arrive. Between teaching, recess, lunch, etc., I’m at school until…

3:10 – School dismisses. I have to wait until 3:30 when all my kids are either gone for the day or are in the office waiting on their parents/drivers to get there. I could leave at this time if I wanted, but I typically stay after each day to work and plan for the next day/week/etc. When I leave each day, I usually end up going out the same gate, and getting “taught” Wolof by one of the guards. This man is very patient and makes me repeat the words or phrases over and over until I get them right. I still have an incredibly long way to go, but I’ve gotten a lot better than I was when I first arrived. That’s for sure.

On Mondays, I have French class at 5:00.

On Tuesdays, I usually eat dinner with a group of girls (teachers) in my apartment building.

On Thursdays, I sometimes go to Teen Bi (community center in the area) and help in 1 of 2 classes. The first is a group of older girls learning English and crafts. The second is a group of young children learning English/playing/crafts/etc. The kids are so much fun to be around…all of them! I love going here and also getting to practice the few Wolof phrases I know.

On Fridays, I have after school library duty from 3:30 to 5:00. During this time I check in/out books, help students/teachers search for books, monitor students working/studying, etc. Then, each Friday at 5:30, I eat dinner with the other new teachers at another teacher’s apartment.

On Saturdays, I usually sleep in (7:30 is late for me), eat breakfast, and then do my devotions/Bible reading. When I’m done with that, I’ll pack a lunch and go to the school and work in my classroom (starting Jan. 11th, I’ll be working on my own personal classes – Berean and Univ. of South Alabama graduate classes too). I’ll work at the school for a few hours and then play around on Facebook, check e-mails, etc. Usually this is when I’ll skype or call my parents. Afterwards, I’ll either go back to my apartment and or go to a friend’s place and hang out/watch a movie/make dinner, etc.

On Sunday mornings, I’ll go to church at 1 of 2 places.

The first is the church service at Dakar Academy. Worship is led by a group comprised of local missionaries, teachers, students, dorm parents, etc. There is a different speaker each week. I love going to the D.A. church and getting to see/be a part of a service comprised of people from so many different denominations/missions organizations and nationalities. It’s a diverse group of believers. However we’re all they’re with a common purpose, worshipping our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The second is one of the local African Assemblies of God churches. I typically go to these with either with A/G missionaries, Tom and Marla McLane or A/G missionary, Amy Farley. The majority of these churches are in Wolof or French, with only a few having English translations. My French is getting better day by day, though, so I’m able to understand a lot more during these services. It’s amazing, though, to be in these churches, often around others worshipping in native languages other than my own and feeling the Holy Spirit move in such mighty ways.

The rest of my Sunday usually includes eating lunch, taking a nap (love those) when able, and spending time with friends or just hanging around my apartment enjoying a little peace and quiet (minus the dogs barking outside).

Of course I also do other things during the week sometimes, such as…

• I walk to one of the grocery stores near my apartment.
• I walk to the local boutique (hard to explain accurately – picture a small little enclosed structure, big enough for lots of shelves on all the walls, and room enough for 2 or 3 people tops). The boutiques usually carry fresh bread, bottles of water and coke products, and lots of other “grocery” items.
• I ride with others to Casino – a larger grocery store that has a LOT more. (Imagine going from the regular Wal-Mart grocery section to a Supercenter Wal-Mart. That’s basically the difference in grocery selections of this store and the local grocery stores that I usually just walk to.)
• I go to various sports events either at D.A. or other locations.
• I go out to eat with friends/co-workers. There are a few little places within walking distance of my apartment and the school. Then there are a few we’ll ride to downtown. There’s also an awesome ice cream place that we all like called N’ice Cream that we go to every now and then.
• I go to HLM. This is a GIGANTIC market, where vendors sale primarily fabric, but also pre-made clothing, shoes, and various other items. It’s a bit intense at first, getting used to being surrounded by all the people and bargaining for prices, etc., but I absolutely LOVE going here, just soaking it all in.  Plus I’ve found some beautiful fabric there, which I’ve then taken to a local tailor who has made me some beautiful African outfits.
• I’ve gone once shopping downtown at a couple stores there. I’ve also gone once shopping at the Artisan’s Market (African products – clothing, jewelry, musical instruments, statues, purses & bags, etc.).