About to enter the 4th Quarter

Another month gone as well as the third quarter of school. I'm just about two months from finishing the year here in Puerto Rico, and it seems like I just arrived. My students are working on a special parent appreciation day, and while we will show of some of the things they learned, we also have some skits planned. I'm looking forward to watching these kids use some of their hidden talents. One of my students can do a pretty good impression of President Trump, so I may have to post the video when He does his performance.

This past weekend, I was able to spend time with my aunt, uncle, cousin and her family. My cousin and I are like sisters, and I hadn't seen her in about four years. I also met her twin boys for the first time. These boys are miracles for whom we prayed for seven years. They are now two years old. This was my first real break since returning from Christmas, and it was a much needed one.

Crunch time is coming. With tax preparation, yearbook, grades, and end of the year planning, my plate is very full. On top of that, I am finalizing my plans for England and Europe. please pray as I make travel decisions. Also pray for more open doors to other countries. As of right now, I will be in two places in Romania, and one place in Poland. With all the illness and wars happening in the world, please pray that I stay healthy and safe.

Please continue to pray for the reconstruction. There will be another meeting in June to hopefully have a final decision about the continuation of the building. Right now, we need to raise the money to put on the roof to protect the completed portion against the elements. The cost is about $7,000.

I have some unspoken requests which need to be answered soon.

Thanks for the prayers, and for those who support me financially. God continues to bless as you pray and give and I go.

How fast a month can go.

I cannot believe it has been a month since I last blogged. I apologize for not keeping you up to date. Since returning from Christmas break, All but two of my students have been very sick either with flu or walking pneumonia or both. So far, I have been spared from any illness. Please pray that continues to be the case.

Earthquakes continue to shake the island; although most are 2-3 on the Richter scale, there have been a few between 4 and 5. Those quakes I can feel a little. Many public schools even in our area remained closed throughout January and the first part of February due to safety concerns. Our building were inspected in January and cleared as being safe. We began having mini earthquake drills in our classrooms, and last week, we had the emergency management come out and do a practice which including walking to a safe area down the road. The students did well in behavior as wells as in having a sense of urgency which impressed the officials. We pray we never have to utilize what we have learned and practiced in a real setting, but at least we know that we are as prepared as we can be.

Along with sick students, many of our church members suffered with the flu. Even with the number of regular attenders who were out, we ran 40-50. When everyone is well, we run 50-60. We have had several new visitors over the last month.

I now have my plane ticket to go home as well as my plane ticket to go to England. I also have a mid-July date set to be in Poland, and will be working on Romania as soon as I finalize my travel details to Poland. God is continuing to open doors and provide funds. Please pray that He will give me wisdom me as I continue to follow Him.

Yesterday was Valentine's Day. Many singles are unhappy on this day, but I had a very fun day with my students and the teens. My students had a water fight as part of their class party, and last night I held a game night for the teens. I plan to have at least two more teen get-togethers, so please pray God can use these times to encourage the teens and allow them to become closer to God and each other.

Earthquakes in Divers Places

I arrived back in Puerto Rico, Monday, Jan. 6. I was exhausted due to illness and traveling. I took something to help me sleep. I remember waking up in the middle of the night, but I didn't know what woke me. When I awoke the next morning, the pastor told me we had an earthquake. Puerto Rico has had

• 37 earthquakes in the past 24 hours-Most of these have been between 2-3 magnitude, and many have been over 4- 5 with a few above 5.
• 488 earthquakes in the past 7 days
• 1,778 earthquakes in the past 30 day
• You can track the quakes using Puerto Rico earthquake tracker online.

I can feel the tremors when the quakes are at 3.5, and the ones over 4 can give a pretty good shake. Our area so far has been safe, and school reopened this week, but the west side of the island needs prayers. Many people are living in tents due to fear that their houses may collapse. Schools, hospitals, churches have been damaged as well. We have also had a lot of rain, so I am sure living conditions are even more miserable in the tents. Please continue to pray for God's protection and help for this island.

I was able to use the earthquakes as a tool for witnessing to my students. I talked about how Paul and Silas were in prison, and God sent an earthquake. Even though all the prisoners could have escaped, none did. Paul was then able to lead the jailer to Christ. After talking about this story and the earthquakes here, I asked the students to bow their heads. I then asked if there was anyone who did not know for sure that they had received Jesus as their Saviour. One boy, who has heard me teach about salvation and heard it preached in chapel, raised his hand. Pastor Martinez spoke with him a little later in the day, and he trusted Christ. This my 4th student who has trusted Christ this year.

Please keep my nephew Emmett Croy in prayer. He was very sick as a baby, but has been doing well for a couple of years. Now, he has developed some lumps on his back, and had a full body scan today. Please pray that he does not have anything serious. Please also pray for China. Some of my friends have been asked to leave. Even though Trump is making headway with a trade deal, the government is quietly cracking down on foreigners, Christianity... Pray especially for the national leaders and their members safety.

I was able to purchase my plane ticket to England, and God blessed me with a very good deal. Please pray as I begin making travel plans with missionaries in Europe.

A new Year!

I decided to wait until all the festivities were over to recap my adventures while home for Christmas. The week before Christmas was busy as my mom and I prepared for company, shopped for food and present for our ladies' Christmas party, and spent time together. We were both sick, and eventually, my mom got so sick, that she ended up missing the ladies' Christmas party and Christmas Sunday. I handled the party without her, and although mom was missed, the ladies said they all enjoyed the party. At the end of the party, I gave a short challenge based on the lives of the women in Jesus lineage. So many were liars, some were harlots, Leah was unloved... yet God chose to have all these women be in His son's lineage. I believe He did this so we could see that God can use anyone no matter how bad they may be or the trials they have faced.

Christmas Sunday was a fun day. We had five nationalities represented in the service. The kids and a few church members presented special music with the Christmas story narrated by my dad. After church, we had a dinner and an early service where we shared blessing and testimonies.

My sister and her kids came down to spend the first three days of the week with us as well as Christmas morning. We had a good time opening simple gifts, reading the Christmas story, and eating dinner. Christmas night, I left for Boston. On the 26th, I flew out to Chicago and then took a bus to Iowa to surprise my sister who just had a new baby. I spent a week with her and her 6 kids. My brother-in-law was able to repair my laptop which was a huge blessing.

I arrived home again last night. On the plane, I was able to witness to a young lady named Megan. She did not get saved, but a seed was planted. Please pray that God will continue to draw her to him.

I leave for Puerto Rico again on Monday. I will finish out the school year there. Please pray as I still have not found tickets to England at a decent price. I try to be very careful of the funds entrusted to me by my supporting churches, so I always look for the lowest price possible. Please pray that I can recover from the sickness I've had.

Continue to pray for the reconstruction in Puerto Rico. There will be some decisions made in February. Pray that God's will be done so the work can be finished.

Home for Christmas!

This past week flew by, but it was a good week. We finished decorating our classroom for Christmas. I made over 100 cookies, and with the help of two other girls, we got them all iced and decorated. On Friday, we had a simple program for my students parents. They quoted Paul Revere's Ride, the Village Blacksmith, and sang and quoted Psalm 1. I was able to give a simple plan of salvation, so please pray that the parents and students, who are not saved, will trust Christ.

Saturday, my friend Cassie and I flew home to Maine. We had a little turbulence throughout both flights but made it home safely. There is no snow right now, but I think some is expected this week.

Today was a good first Sunday back home. We had several visitors in church. There were people from five other countries in the service. There are also several new faithful attendees.

Please pray that all goes well with my plans while I am home, and please pray that I can get my computer fixed.

Thanksgiving and Revving up for Christmas

It has been a busy, but great two weeks. My friend and I were able to take another trip to Vieques. We spent the whole day at the beach just relaxing, swimming, and collecting shells and sea glass.  This past weekend, we went Black Friday shopping, and went to San Juan and visited El Morro, took a long walk back into town, and ate at an amazing restaurant.

The week off for Thanksgiving wasn't all play. I accomplished quite a bit in my classroom with lesson planning, and decorating for Christmas. I also worked on Christmas gifts for my students and my family.

Thanksgiving was a nice day. My friend and I spent the day with friends, and enjoyed desert with the pastor's family. The weather was a little rainy at first which kept the temperatures very nice.

Please pray as we finish out the next two weeks of school. I will have parents coming to hear their kids quote Scripture and sing for our Christmas party. I hope to have the opportunity to witness to them as well.

I will fly home on December 14, so please pray for safety and good weather. Pray for my family as several are going through illnesses. Please continue to pray for two of my students dealing with health issues.

A Time of Thanks

It is hard to believe it is already November. We have one more week of school, and then we have a week off for Thanksgiving. I am thankful to be spending most of the cold months in Puerto Rico this year. Most of my family has had snow and freezing temperatures, and I have been enjoying warm sunny days.

School continues on, and there aren't a lot of "big" events going on, but I'll share some stories and prayer requests. I am learning that some of my students have an aptitude for acting. We have been reading The Prince and the Pauper which is divided into parts like a play. The kids are loving playing their parts and even put on accents.

We began science class a couple weeks ago. One grade is studying bugs, and the other is studying plants. I asked the students to bring in bugs so we could see them. We ended up with three spiders one of which had an egg sack which hatched. I was not very excited about these creatures being in my classroom. The rest of the students brought in dead bugs.

I have three students who need prayer. One girl has been ill for most of the semester. One of the boys has a back problem which is giving him pain in other areas of his body, and another boy had a bike accident and broke his arm. The school is also in need of prayer for the reconstruction project to be finished.

Thank you to all who pray for me and support me, and for those who have supported me in the past. Without the prayers and support of you, I would never be able to go and help people as I have been. I am amazed at the opportunities I have had because of people who trust God enough to entrust me with bringing in fruit their account.