Just keep going!

It's been a rough couple of weeks. I don't want to go into all of the details but here's a brief list....my uncle was diagnosed with colon cancer, a young mom unexpectedly died due to a brain tumor, my brother was in the hospital due to his heart rate being twice as fast as it should be (he was having a major anxiety attack) and my mom has a colonoscopy tomorrow to check for problems since Chris was diagnosed. I'm praying for some good news in my mom's results. Th hardest part is that I am halfway around the world. I can't be with my family during all of this and I think that's what hurts the most. I never thought I would get homesick but I think I am a little homesick. I am very excited to be ho and spend Christmas with my family.

This weekend we were finally able to have a branch temple trip. Let me tell you...the lord works in mysterious ways. The temple trip was supposed to happen in June. It kept getting pushed back. I don't think it's any coincidence that it was moved to this weekend after everything that happened. It felt really nice to enjoy the peace of the temple and to be in the company of other branch members. I really do like my branch. It feels like home. It's very small but I think that makes it even more special. I love knowing that it doesn't matter where I am in the word...the gospel is still the same and I have the opportunity to feel the spirit in an English speaking congregation. 

I keep telling myself that it's almost over. I've talked to my mom about issues with roommates and things and she reminds me that I need to focus on the kids. She's so right. I'm not here for my roommates, I'm here for my kids. It's all worth it when I walk down the stairs and hear a chorus of "Miss Kylie! Miss Kylie!" I even get that from kids that aren't in my classes. These kids are so cute...most of the time...and I wouldn't get through this if I didn't have them. 

As of right now I only have 82 days left in Taiwan and I have so much to do. I was calendaring yesterday and I only have three free Saturdays. This is going to be a busy couple of months so hopefully the time will go faster. Until next time, stay safe in America!

My new classes

So, as I've said before I started a new semester recently. My classes are going well. I feel like I'm finally getting into the swing of things. I have three classes. One is called basic reading. This consists of seven and eight year olds who are just learning to read. I really love this class because I do a lot of the same things that I did when I taught first grade in Las Vegas. I have really tried to expand the curriculum that we are given and give the kids more time and opportunities to learn through games and other activities. They seem to really enjoy it. I have six kids in that class. Their names are Rainie, Isabella, Ginny, Alston, Charles, and Ivan. I love them all. I wish I could take all of them back to America with me.

This is Ivan, Chloe, Isabella, and Charles. We were talking about huts and they were building one.

This is Isabella. A character in our book had a birthday party so we celebrated for him.

Then there are my first graders. They are crazy but I love them. I only have four kids in that class. We have a lot of fun together. We can do that because there are only four of them. Lately we've been working on a natural disasters. We have made hurricanes and tornadoes and we are working on a volcano right now. They are having fun that's all that matters right? I really do love this class. They are the reason that I teach on Saturdays.

This is Immy with her tornado.

This is Ray and Coco with their tornado.

We are also making picture memory books for our natural disasters unit this is Peko working on her

This is Ray. When we were learning about hurricanes they built their own houses and tried to knock them down with wind...aka their own breath. They actually really enjoyed it.

My fifth graders have been a struggle this semester. At the beginning of the semester I started with six kids. They keep adding more people to my class. One boy that they added is far below my other students. I have to stay after every day to help catch him up. It is frustrating when he continues to try to get me to feed him the answers instead of thinking for himself. I know he knows more than he wants me to believe. The other boy that they have added is the class clown. He doesn't listen, he is always out of his seat, and he tries not to do the work. It is frustrating because every thing he says makes the kids starts to laugh and they get distracted too. I have tried everything and I don't know what to do next. I started a new behavior system on Monday I hope that it will continue to help their behavior. I used to love going to this class. The kids are older so they know how to communicate better. Now I dread going to that class and it is the worst two hours of my day. I really hope that it gets better or the next three months will be miserable. Luckily I have a four day weekend this weekend so I will have a break from those kids. Don't get me wrong, I really do love them. They are just super stressful. Unfortunately I do not have any pictures of them this semester because class is so stressful that I don't have time or the desire to take pictures of them.

I'm sorry that I sound so whiny this has just been a stressful couple of weeks. Hopefully my next post will be happy and encouraging. Until then, stay safe in America and I will see youin 95 days! 

I love the gospel

Well not having a computer in Taiwan has proven to be difficult. I haven't written a post since Easter. Crazy! Time sure does fly by! Now I only have 95 days left until I leave this wonderful country. I can't believe it! So much has happened since I last wrote! For starters, we ended the semester, we got new teacher and I got new classes and new students. Although my classes can be difficult I still love all of my kids. They are great! My fifth graders like to challenge me but its nothing I can't handle.

Since I last wrote I also have a new calling at church. I am the primary president. Being the president can be difficult in a branch. We are very short staffed so I also double as the music leader. :) We have recently been working on our primary program songs. It's been a long, hard road for the kids to learn the songs but they are really improving. This past Sunday was a really special experience for me. We have been working on the same songs for the past few weeks and the kids were still struggling. On Sunday as we were singing the songs they sang them almost perfectly. Our hard work is paying off. As I was standing in the front of the room my eyes started to water. The spirit was so strong in those little voices. The testimonies of young children are the best that I've ever heard. I could feel their testimonies as we were singing the songs. I love my calling and that I've had the opportunity to get to know these wonderful children and I know that I will be so sad to leave them in December. At first I was a little nervous about the new calling but as I've grown to love and know the kids I know this is the right place for me. 

Being in a new place is hard sometimes so I've had to learn how to rely on The Lord. I have gained a stronger testimony since being in Taiwan. It is so comforting to know that the gospel is the same wherever I go. Although I am really excited to come home and 95 days I know I will miss Taiwan. I am excited to get back to America and get started with my "grown-up" life but this is definitely where I'm supposed to be at this point in my life. Well it's time for me to get ready for class but I will try to post an update of my kids later today. I will be home soon! I can't wait!