Home for the Holidays

AHHH!!! One of my dearest and bestest friend Jessica Wilson is now married! We've grown up together. We've gone through many happy, sad, hard, and wonderful times together. We've had many adventures. Now life has brought Jess into a new part in life. She found prince charming, fell in love, and put a ring on it. I'm so happy for Jessica and Jeremy!
Rehearsal was smooth despite the anticipation of the big day. Jess and Mr Wilson look like they are both getting emotionally prepared.
The first dance as Mr. and Mrs. Newhouse. Such a beautiful bride - and the groom isn't too bad looking either.
It was with great pleasure and delight that I made it back and was able to participate in the wedding. (I truly wouldn't have missed it for the world!)
The lovely bridesmaids were: Marija Wilson, Me, Cheryl Benson, Abbie Elrod, and Leith Tews. Our dresses were black and stunning. I really liked them - (except for the fact that you needed a lint roller with you at all times.)
Goodbye Ms. Wilson, and Hello Mrs. Newhouse! Whoohooo to the newlyweds! December 27, 2009.

Welcome to Beaver Creek!

Well, for starters let's just say that I love Colorado! It has been a great experience so far and there is beauty everywhere! I have an awesome job and have been blessed with many amazing new friends and loving relatives! I had my first snowboarding lesson this last week and was whitewashed and bruised. However, I went out several other times during the week and learned to love it. Snowboarding motto: "no gain without pain."
I work at Beaver Creek, which is truly like a winter wonderland! There is a village with an ice skating rink and fire places surrounding. My job as the Ski School Children's Counselor is basically; registering kids up, signing kids out, getting them gear, putting on their gear, preparing food, bringing kids to class, encouraging the crying kids, and assisting the instructors, etc. Beaver Creek is the second largest ski school in the nation, next to Vail. We get an average around 200 kids a day and over 1,000 during the holidays. There are so many cool people here and I enjoy all my co-workers. We all get these cool uniforms of black ski pants and blue snow jackets, (not including all the layers underneath.)
Waking up early for work is no problem when there's a beautiful sunrise over the mountains! The real fun comes when you take the shuttle bus jammed full of people up the mountain and barely can keep your balance standing. You can see the NY mountains in the distance.
This last weekend was the World Cup for famous ski racers from all over the world! It was super cool to watch. USA placed 4th.

Pumpkins and Spice

Between making pumpkin pie and carving pumpkins we are feeling the fall spirit! The Sonntag family and I had fun carving pumpkins the other night. It was fun to see all the different faces on each one. My pumpkin (happy jack) is pictured above. :)

Colorado Beauty

I am truly living in one of the most beautiful states in the US right now! After pulling an all nighter and packing till 2:30am (with some help from a friend), I said goodbye to home and started off on a new adventure! My bag ended up weighing 49lbs. - not including my 20lbs carryon and laptop. It was hard leaving when your dad is getting all tearie-eyed before you leave. The flight was good, even though I looked like an Eskimo wearing all my winter gear around the airport. That was only because those were my heaviest items and didn't fit in my luggage bag - but were necessary. My aunt, Carol, and three cousins picked me up at the Denver airport. It was a two hour drive and on the way back we drove through the rugged desert, snowy mountains, and rainy hills. The elevation in Eagle, CO, (which is where I am living), is 6600 feet. There is nothing like waking up and seeing the sunrise over the mountains. I feel so blessed right now. Not sure if I'll move back to MN. Right now I am living with my aunt and uncle with their three kids as the adopted older sister. This is a new adventure and I am super excited! I'm also looking forward to when all my dear MN friends come and visit. I love and miss you all!

Twin Cities Marathon

This was my second and last marathon this year. I woke up at 6am after a night of no sleep at my sisters loud dorm room. My adrenaline was already rushing and I got ready, put some mascara on (because I wanted to look pretty if I died), and headed off in the cold. I didn't eat anything, which was probably stupid. There were over 11,500 people at the starting line. Suddenly we were off running through the streets of downtown Minneapolis next to the dome. My mom was running it as well, but we both have different paces and thus I lost her at mile 1. While I was running I listened to some amazing music on my ipod. However, there was also many bands that played along the run. There were so many people cheering on the runners along the race. A friend of mine was able to take my long t-shirt from later when I finally warmed up. The whole time running I was thinking: "Why the heck am I running this again?!?!" I laughed at the person holding the sign saying "YOU'RE ALL CRAZY!!!"
I kept chanting, "I hate running, I hate running, etc..." I hit the wall at mile 18 and looked down at my shoes and nearly blacked out - my right foot had blood soaking through the shoe! Okay, well I guess that's why my foot hurt a lot. Just keep running I told myself. I was ready to quit at mile 23 and no longer cared about beating my last time. Suddenly I see my good friend Lizzy, who encouraged and ran with me the last 2 miles. It was a glorious sight when the capitol was in view!
After sprinting the last hundred yards, I completed my goal and finished at 4 hours and 30 mins. My mom wasn't too far behind and finished at 4 hours and 47 mins. I was dead afterwards and hungry! People asked me, "So why did you run 26.2 miles again?" Well, because I could! You also have to be a little crazy. One of the things that keeps me running is having a passion, (not for running), but something that keeps a person running till there feet bleed.
No one ever tells you about the pain after the race. My feet were shot. I wrapped them in horse vetrap and then my mom soaked them in salt water, coconut oil, and iodine. Yeah, I admit it might have been easier to just chop off the foot. (It sounded like that anyways.) After limping around like a 70yr old for several days, I think I'll survive. NEVER AGAIN! This was my second and last marathon!

Leaving on a Jetplane

Be not dismayed whate'er betide,

 God will take care of you; 
 beneath his wings of love abide, 
 God will take care of you.

 God will take care of you, 
 through every day, o'er all the way; 
 he will take care of you, 
 God will take care of you.

I have had many farewells to my many new friends. However, it didn't hit me that I was leaving till I said goodbye to the kids at CSC. Yup, broke down crying. I will never forget them singing "God Will Take Care of You" or running to give me a group hug!
Although I have packed up my life in Cebu, a part of my heart is still there... This was truly the best summer of my life. God works in mighty ways. I was never for missions, especially overseas, but the power of Love is far greater than my self will. Looking over the past year, I am grateful for God showing me how precious life is. I will continue to live me life to it's fullest and not look back! He has brought me so far this last year.
The college girls at ETCP also had a farewell party and sang "Friends are Friends Forever." I have many notes that I am looking forward to reading on my long flight back to the USA. I will miss all the children calling out: "Teacher Stephanie!" :)
I will miss all my new friends! Teacher Michelle and Teacher Tammy - you gals are awesome! So many good memories!

"Goodbyes are not forever,
Goodbyes are not the end,
The simply mean I'll miss you,
Until we meet again..."

Don't Let Me Go...

The time has flown by way too fast! It has been a busy last couple of days! Some of the first year college students invited me for an outing at a resort.
Singing some karaoke "Leaving on a Jetplane." I can check this off my list to do this summer.
Also some practice shooting. This would fall under the category: Missionary Training.
Then we went swimming and ate a whole bunch of filipino food;which included rice, fish and pig fat.
This was the wrestling match with Uncle Paul and the 3 midgets. It was the CSC kids reward for reading a certain amount of books.
The girls at bible club celebrated my 21st birthday with some chocolate cake! :D
I have had many farewell parties with many dear friends who I am going to miss tons!
These are all the teachers at ETCP. They had a farewell party for me. It is truely amazing on how God used me in these 2 months. I hate to leave, but I plan on returning. :)

Finishing up Teaching

It has been quite the experience teaching in Cebu. Not only am I a new teacher, but this is a totally different culture. This is my grade 3 class for music theory. We have worked mainly on rhythm and counting, along with notes, time signatures and ostinato.
This is chapel hour for the kindergarden class. We have been going over the wordless book and the story of salvation.
The children love to do group hugs! (until you almost lose your balance. )
This is my amazing cebuano language teacher Anita Panita. I would have private lessons with her once a week. My cebuano has improved a lot and I was told I have an accent.
Some of my piano students from Naga village. I've had them as students since week one!
The girls dorm at ETCP college. I was invited to lead devotions and then spend the night. However, I did not realize they woke up at 4:30am. ha. It was a good experience though, and I brought American candy too (jellybellys). They loved them!
My grade 4 music theory class. For some of the classes we would work on just listening to the rhythm (and teacher). By the end they usually could clap rhythms in 2/4, 3/4 , and 4/4 time signature.

Counting the Days...

This is my last week teaching, my 2 months are almost up. Please pray for me as I get prepared to go back home. I am really torn about leaving - part of my heart will always be here. I fell in love with Cebu. Already planning my next trip out here.

Oh What Fun!

Well, this weekend I was formally invited to be one of the judges at the ETCP college student talent contest. Quite the experience and honor. I was introduced as the "import." There was everything from dancing, singing, debating, and musical instruments. Then I had a piano solo in front of the entire foreign school students, teachers, and pastors! Ah! I was a little nervous.
It was a relaxing weekend. I went for a walk around Cebu City by myself and experienced more of the culture. Still trying to take everything in. There are some things that really bother me, like people not looking where they are spitting or running you over. However, I love it here and am really sad about leaving soon. I got a ride in the horse and buggy too. (pictured above.)
Here is one of my main transportation's: Jeepney. People pretty much get packed in like sardines. It's quite the experience! Then I also had my first motorcycle ride down the crazy streets of Cebu! :D I was wearing a skirt too - and got us lost.

Man, I'm going to miss these kids! Counting the days now... September 3 is coming up way too fast!

Only 2 weeks Left!

It's hard to believe that I have only two weeks left in Cebu! I love it here, despite all the Filipino cultural experience's I've had. (They have been good and bad.) Defiantly going to leave a part of my heart here when I go. One of the adopting families bought ice cream for all the shelter kids. They were super cute eating it!
I taught all day today at ETCP school. After that I went for a run at the track here. Since my dad signed me up for the Twin Cities marathon I thought I should probably keep up my running in this 80+ degree weather.
Christine was in our Saturday Bible Club. Now she is on her way (with her sister) to Cambridge, MN! Goodbyes are bittersweet. There is nothing like experiencing seeing off kids to their new home. It is something they have always dreamed of! Here is a picture of their new family -

Weekend at CSC

Another fun weekend! I was healthy too - my last day on medz! Rode a jeepney and taxi today, taught piano, got a haircut, and attended the CSC kids presentation! Oh, I was also at a coffee shop today and two random Filipino's invited me to join them at their table to chat. They were super nice though, so no worries. :) Then I had an interesting conversation with a taxi driver about the bible and commandments.

Here are some of the musicians at CSC (Children's Shelter of Cebu). They did a great job. Teacher Francis is their instructor playing piano. A group of kids also did a fun dance to a Hannah Montana song.

Analise won the giant pizza eating contest! Our table was super fun - and full! ;)

These are some of people from a church in Lahug I teach piano lessons to. I have a busy week coming up with many more lessons!

After a long day of teaching I love coming to CSC and play with the children! The other day we played basketball and volleyball for two hours! Super fun, but I didn't think a person could sweat that much!

Telling a missionary story to the kids at ETCP (the school I teach at.) The kids listen intently and groan when I leave them at a cliff hanger ending point.