Meet Ms. Ensing's Third Class of Third Graders :)

School officially started Thursday, August 23 (but no school August 24 because of Hurricane Isaac). 

Started the year with 12 students.

Now grew to 14. 

Let's meet them, shall we?! 

Amy

Cristal

Melany

Carlos

Lisandro

Tate

Alejandra

Herly

Matthew

Evelin

Ismael

Daniel

Camile

Marcy

They are already amazing kids! High energy, fun-loving, normal 7/8/9 year olds.  Although it'll be challenging (and what year isn't challenging when you're a teacher?!), i can't wait to see their progress at the end of the year. I keep forgetting how much they really do improve since the beginning of the year. It's so crazy!

And now, for a tour of our classroom :)

180 of the classroom, view taken from the front of room

Spelling Words board

Chalkboard

Awesome new Job Chart. Thank you Rick Morris
(and Pinterest)!

Probably the best thing ever.  My Grandma Ensing made these chair pockets that go over the chair that is attached to the student's desk.  Solution to clutter everywhere and pencils don't get lost every day! Thanks Grandma! 

Well, that's that.  Things have been going well so far.  Definitely some obstacles have come and gone, and I just have to keep remembering myself that God doesn't put things in our lives that we can't handle! 

Here's to a great school year!

Helping Evelin

This is Evelin Ortiz.  She is 8 years old and has been going to Jarabacoa Christian School since Kindergarten.  Evelin has an amazing personality, very vibrant and loves to go to school.  Evelin's mother, Claritza, is one of the cleaning ladies at JCS, who is also an incredible woman.  About three years ago, Claritza's husband died in a motorcycle accident - leaving Clartiza with five daughters to raise all by herself, Evelin being the youngest.  

Because of this huge financial burden, good affordable education was difficult to find. Jarabacoa Christian School gave Evelin the opportunity to receive this great education, with the help of a sponsor from the States.  However, JCS is now going through financial strain and most of the students on scholarships had to be dropped, Evelin being one of them.  

Ever since I met Evelin, we clicked.  She is shy at first, but once she warms up to you she will never leave your side.  When we first met she was going into first grade.  I was looking forward to having Evelin in my third grade class this year, but when I asked her mother if she was coming back to JCS, she burst into tears and said they couldn't find anyone to sponsor her this year.  

As I previously wrote in my last blog entry, I am raising support this year for my personal financial stability.  After hearing today about Evelin not being able to attend JCS because they can't find a sponsor, it is on my heart to help Claritza and Evelin - but what I have raised so far is not enough for the whole year. 

To sponsor Evelin monthly it would only cost $65/month (she gets a discount because her mother is an employee of the school), plus a one time inscription fee of around $250 for books and uniforms. 

How can you help?
First, pray.  Pray that God would financially stabilize this family and open doors for Evelin, her mother, and older sisters.  

If you feel led to help Evelin with her education at JCS, please send me an email at jessicaensing@gmail.com,

or send a check to:
Jessica Ensing
731 Amana St. #301
Honolulu, HI 96814
Memo: For Evelin

(If there is a better way send money I will update this blog)

Thank you so much for reading this. If you want to know more about this family and maybe feel led to help, please let me know! 

How GREAT is our GOD!

Back in the Dominican. 

Ready for this? 

Yes. 

I got here about two weeks ago, flying mostly first class back to Santiago (which is AMAZING, btw.  Who would have thought first class would be the cheapest flight? God definitely knew I needed that I think.) 

Here's a nutshell of my feelings during my flight.... 

worry.

anxious.

nervous.

negativity.

[insert any other emotion similar to the above]

...all about coming back to teach at JCS.

Plane lands, Brian's waiting outside.  70lb suitcases don't arrive. "We don't know when your bags will get here." GREAT. After 20 hours of traveling, we make it up the mountain to Jarabacoa, walk into my house with two new roommates.  

First day of new staff training.  I walk into my classroom to find

NO FURNITURE. NONE OF MY BOXES. 

everything is in the hall or other classrooms. 

i scramble to get the desks/furniture/boxes I need to put my school life back in order again.  

Power keeps going out.

Some boxes are missing. 

Internet doesn't work. School or at home. 

aaaahhhhhh when is this going to end?!

Everyone told me I was crazy going back to teach at JCS for another year.  All of my previous coworkers constantly asking, "are you SURE?!" and "you know what you're doing, right?" 

...Last school year was a [good word choice] challenging year for all of us.  This is basically why only four teachers are returning this year, only me going into her third year (which is the longest any American teacher has been at the school since I've been here).  

And let me say this - getting on those planes to come back here was one of the hardest things I have ever done.  This was the first time I got on a plane and actually didn't want to go to where I was landing.  

I loved working at the preschool this summer.  

I loved seeing old friends.  

I loved making new friends.  

I loved the 'security' of...America. 

God called me back to the Dominican Republic. I'm sure of it. He has reassured me of this since I've been here as well.  My new coworkers are amazing.  I love seeing how God has worked in their lives for them to come here, to serve at JCS, and I cant wait to get to know them better. So many verses in the Bible have been popping up about pursuing calm Luke 12:25-26, full submission to God John 15:18-25, having the right attitude Mark 12:41-44, having complete joy John 15:11, and remaining in love through it all John 14:15. 

I have also received some financial support and donations from people I never dreamed would think/want to help me.  I can't even describe how humbling this has been.  With tears in my eyes right now, I am beyond touched.  

How GREAT is our GOD!

This is a HUGE year for me. I have a higher role at JCS and I'm getting married. WOW. It's a year of closing chapters and opening new ones.  

Now I'm sitting here on this Thursday morning, no school today because of the presidential inauguration, my classroom is finished and decorated, school starts next Thursday, and life is good.  GOD IS GOOD. DIOS ES BUENO.

Here's to another year!

Am I ready for this? 

YES! Prayers appreciated :)

**updates and pictures about school soon to follow!

just a precious moment :)

So for the month of July I've been subbing in a 3-4 year old classroom for their lead teacher.  It was super weird to hear little kids speaking English (and/or Japanese, Chinese, Korean, and Hawaiian), and after I got over that I quickly remembered my "want" to have an Asian child at some point in my future ;) haha 


I had the cutest conversation with one of my 4 year olds and her mom today...
Anna - "Ms. Jessica is a diamond!"
her mom - "What? Oohh that must be expensive, maybe she has to have her prince buy her some diamonds, huh?" 
Me - "No, my handsome prince already gave me diamonds!" 
(flash my ring)
Anna - "wooowww!"
her mom - "and someday Anna will have her handsome prince to give her diamonds, too, and you'll get married and I will be there!" 


This was probably the most precious moment ever. Such a great mother daughter moment - you could just feel the love radiating from them as Anna's mom spoke about little 4 year old Anna getting married someday. 


So incredibly cute!

Will You Marry Me?

I'm engaged to Brian Sommer. 

OH.


MY.


GOSH.


and I'm sure you're all DYING to know the story, so here it is! :) 


[but we have to start from the beginning]

I left for Indianapolis on Tuesday, June 12 to visit Brian and his family for a few days.  After getting to know his family and the cute hippie town of Broadripple, we drove up to West Michigan to visit my family.  My mother, father, and brother were flying to Michigan for a reunion on my Mom's side of the family, so it was perfect timing for Brian to meet my family as well.  Brian and my parents spent time together at Holland beach and Grand Haven on that Friday.  
Basically that whole day Brian was acting super weird.  I mean, if you know him he generally is a goofy guy...but seriously, today was a different Brian.  He was acting nervous and silly all day, and when we got back to my grandmother's house he kept talking about how he wanted to take me "to this certain place". 

At this point, I totally knew what was coming. 


Brian and his family have been coming up to Holland, Michigan once a year since he can remember, so he kind of knows the area.  He took me through the beach cottages on the lake, walking on the sand, and to the pier overlooking Lake Michigan.  As the sun was setting, he said all these wonderful things, got on his knee, and asked the question...
"Will you marry me?"
AAHHHH!!!! 
YES!

...but he didn't have a ring. HHmmm..
* the ring he was going to give me didn't turn out to be quite right, so he said he would work on getting one the following week.
So, to make it feel more official until the actual ring was placed on my finger, we got a pretend ring from Walmart, America's finest jeweler.  Then he proposed again in the parking lot. 

Classy.


Brian left to go back to Indiana a few days later, and came back up to Michigan after my family reunion in Northern Michigan was over.  He took me back to the pier, in a "different" spot, and proposed again - with my beautiful (real) diamond ring! 

So, I got proposed to three different times in a span of 10 days. Who else can say that?!


I'm so excited to marry my best friend. I can't wait to call him my husband! :):):):):)


Let the wedding planning begin...

"Bearing Fruit in Every Good Work!"

"And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light." Colossians 1:10-12

(I'm pretty sure these verses changed my life this year)


Well, it's official. I am officially finished with my second year teaching 3rd grade at Jarabacoa Christian School. Here are some highlights to the last couple months of school...


I had a student teacher from the last week of March until the third week of May.  Her name is Alyssa Morris from Biola University, and my kids and I had so much fun with her! It was great working with her, and I hope she was able to learn a lot about not only teaching ESL students, but also living abroad and seeing how awesome it is to live that "missionary" life! A few weeks ago we had a going away party for her. Alyssa, you were so special to us! 

Alyssa and I

Miss Morris and the 3rd graders!

We also had an awesome awards ceremony with 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade - complete with RED CARPET!

Some third grade awards included....

Endy for "Best Hugs"

Angelica for "Most Likely to Speak Hawaiian Someday"

Enmanuel for "Most Loyal Friend"

....And many more!

After Miss Morris left, there weren't very many days of school left in the year.  So what did Ms. Ensing do? Last 10 days of school balloons! There were 10 balloons hung from the ceiling starting on the last 10 days of school.  Each balloon had a number on it, counting down to "1" as the last day of school.  Every day we popped a balloon and did the fun activity that was inside! 

Balloon number 9...

Make "9 more days of school" hats!

Can you guess what balloon number 2 was?

 (addressed to Ms. Ensing) "Be our teacher in 4th grade" :) 

The last balloon was a water balloon, for our water day! This was probably my most favorite school day of the year.  We started the morning watching a movie, then I chose a student to be blindfolded for the last balloon popping.  I popped the balloon over his head and got him soaked, which was SUPER fun.  We then proceeded to have a dance party for 30 minutes, involving the whole upstairs floor of students in the hallway.  Then, we all went downstairs and got everyone wet before waiting for the firemen to come and spray all the kids with their hose! 

And that's that. School's over. So fast and slow all at the same time.  What am I doing now? PACKING! In approximately 36 hours I will be at the airport in Santiago, on my way to Indiana - meeting up with Brian and his family. OH.MY.GOSH. I think I tried too hard to not "check  out" on the last weeks of school, and I purposefully tried not to be excited/nervous/anxious/relieved to go the the states after 10 months of being in the Dominican Republic.  I still don't know what to think...

Please pray that my culture shock isn't too extreme.  I will say I'm nervous/excited for a lot of things coming up this week, but culture shock really shouldn't be one of them.  BRING IT ON! 

Okay I'll stop now.  This blog is long enough :) 

Meet Honu...

Meet Honu [HO-new]...
our new class pet for the 3rd grade class at JCS! 
Honu is a red ear slider turtle, and is about 4 inches long.  I honestly have no idea if Honu is a boy or girl, but I just say "he".  He was a gift from a family moving back to the states from Escuela Caribe, where Brian works.  AWESOME!





Honu and my third graders hit it off really well.  First, during Friday Free Time last week my students voted on the name "Honu," which means "turtle" in Hawaiian (I teach my kids a new Hawaiian word every week, and I guess "Honu" for our turtle seemed fitting).  The vote was narrowed down between Honu or Lorenzo, and the name Honu won :) 



The students warmed up to him quickly.  They first observed him in his tank, and later everyone sat in a circle and watched Honu walk around (and he walks REALLY fast!).  How fun!







We hope to continue playing and learning about Honu until the rest of the school year (only 20 more school days!!!).  What a great class pet!













**Please pray this turtle stays healthy...I'm nervous about keeping him alive! 

Opportunities

Opportunities. 

God gives us so many of those "opportunities" to bless us to show His love to others huh? 

I've really felt blessed to be a blessing lately.  As many of you know, I  L O V E  to take pictures.  I had the opportunity to do some photo shoots with a few friends in the last month - one for a beautiful, amazing couple I work with that are having their first baby next month, and another photo shoot for a single mother that works at JCS, whose daughter had her first birthday party.  

First - Kristin and Dave.  Shot at Playa Cabarete in Dominican Republic - they turned out great!

For more, check out this link: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.725505783584.2144997.15302738&type=3&l=2dab483869 

Dave is the art teacher at our school, and Kristin was one of the first grade teachers (except now she's on maternity leave).  They are also both involved in a ministry called Alianza, which is a ministry to try to get young women out of the sex-trafficking industry in the DR.  They both have amazing hearts for God, and I'm so excited to meet their new baby girl! 

I also got the opportunity to photograph one our preK teacher's daughter's first birthday - Yocasta's daughter, Inessa.  In one of my blogs last year there was a picture of me holding her a couple weeks after she was born.  Now she's one year old! How crazy time flies! She is probably the happiest baby I've ever seen.

For more, check out this link: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.733939861624.2145971.15302738&type=3&l=432cfb4e59

They all turned out so well! I was so thankful I got to take these for Yocasta. She works so hard to take care of her daughter, and it made me so happy to take these beautiful pictures for her!