Last week, I, Kelly, started a new and exciting chapter of my life: teaching at the Mitcha School! For those of you non-Lubangans (hmm ... not exactly sure what you call someone from Lubango) ... Mitcha is an area of Lubango where there is a missionary compound. We do not live on the compound, but several of the missionaries here do--MAF missionaries, SIM missionaries, CEML staff, and a few Angolan families. There is also a little school there, run by Ms Helena, wife of one of the MAF pilots. The school has about 20 kids, and is one of two English schools in town! And now there's a new (volunteer) teacher there ... me!
I was pretty pumped to see the school when we first arrived in Lubango with the thought that one day, I would help out there. It's five rooms in total (including the bathroom) and the kids study using the A Beka and University of Nebraska distance-learning curriculum (that's homeschooling curriculum, in case you were wondering.) All but two of the students speak Portuguese as their first language--so not only are they pushing through some pretty tough independent learning but they are doing it all in a second language! WOW!
Needless to say, they sometimes need help--especially when the kids are all different ages and all different grade levels. I've been helping out three times a week in the mornings, which is not a lot (I'd like to be there every day), but with Marcel working every day and Ethan still so young, it's a start. That being said, we are open to more teachers--so if you want to come teach short or long term on a volunteer basis, LET ME KNOW! We WANT YOU! Added bonus: you can learn a new language while you're here!!!!
While I'm at the school, Ethan hangs out with Siena (Helena's daughter) and Tia Bemvinda, our lovely Angolan caregiver! He has actually adapted super well to being away from Mom--better than I could have hoped. He naps and eats well, and doesn't cry when I leave him. Hooray for small victories!
Over the past months, we've had some awesome opportunities to see just how beautiful our little corner of Angola is. We've seen waterfalls, termite mounds, spectacular lookouts, sunsets, and even chased a zebra (not in the wild, but it was also not behind a fence!)--all within <100 km of Lubango! Angola is God's country--but don't just take our word, come see it!
Finally, Marcel has been very busy at the hangar! It's amazing just how much work is needed to keep three planes running! As Marcel likes to remind me, he's the plane doctor--just like our surgeon friends here, he's got a very difficult and specialized job--and sometimes he has to get right inside the plane! This week's scars and scratches prove his dedication to the job.
Here's a few recent(ish) pics to end off this post:
 |
| Our family at Cristo Rei, which overlooks the city of Lubango. |
 |
| Next to Cristo Rei, the LUBANGO sign--actually considerably larger than it appears! |
 |
| There--now you can see the two icons that overlook the whole city. |
 |
Forgot to mention, but we've been loving our church. And our church
loves to love people. Sharing the gospel and a Christmas party
in a rural village where one member has formed a close relationship with the people. |
 |
| Been loving the pomegranates from our front yard. This is Laurindo, one of the MAF staff here. |
 |
| Great look going on there bud! |
 |
| Waterfall! |
 |
| Ethan sitting and picnicking behind the waterfall! |
 |
| Moving around like crazy! |
 |
On a recent visit to a friend's place, we had the opportunity to briefly chat
with this family, of a Southern Angola tribe. |
 |
| The Mitcha School where I am teaching! |
