Have I mentioned yet that I'm obsessed with our neighborhood? It's been so good to return. As we drove down Central Ave. this evening, Tim made the point that we've got everything we need in one place--- the Honey No Grease Barbershop, a tattoo and piercings parlor, and plenty of antique stores :-)

We went by the Giant Penny (lowest end grocery store) to pick up our dog food-- 40 lbs of chicken necks. I was thrilled to discover this week that one of our school's top students works there. I touched base with her and with all the meat department guys tonight.

This is what I want: a life that takes place in one geographical location, where I work and shop and live and eat with the same people in an organic, community kind of way (I'm not sure "organic" is the right word there, but it feels good). I want to know my butcher and waiter and tattoo artist (kidding... no tattoos for me).

Speaking of neighbors, our next door neighbors (of tool shed party fame) are continuing to intrigue me to no end with their massive community of friends that come over all the time, their wonderfully surprising outfits, and the frisbee golf post-thing in their front yard. They hang out all the time outside, which means that we get to talk some, although the mosquitoes don't give me much of a chance to sit and while away the hours.  I'm eager to get some Off and get to know them, or perhaps have them over for a drink or dinner soon.

• only wrote 3 office referrals
• called no parents (parents of those three have already heard from me plenty)
• chased a student around the campus
• looked at pictures of one student's one-year-old child
• found out another student miscarried
• got called a b**** a** teacher from across the room
• got to speak in Spanish a lot
• told several students how much I appreciate their determination and believe in their futures
• enjoyed lesson planning in a quiet office after school

What a day.

Right now I'm sitting at my desk looking out the window at my eclectic and green neighborhood that I cherish so dearly. Taza is on my lap getting her snuggling in, and Ellie is lying on the floor chewing on her minty fresh rope. We're waiting for Tim to come home in 22 minutes from his job, which he is enjoying by the way.

Aaaah, a deep breath and I feel at peace. The fact that I get through these days is enough evidence for me that God is real, and getting through them still in a good mood? A miracle!

A 12th grader smacked this down on top of my overhead projector today somewhere around the 8th time I asked him to please turn around, face the front of the classroom, and focus on Spanish. The 8 requests don't seem all that shocking, but this combination of spelling and handwriting definitely caught me off guard. I expect this from 1st graders, but not seniors.

The bottom line is that basic literacy is a problem in low-income schools, and it's holding kids back from success in every subject, not just English. It's a reminder to me to work on these basics. It's not just the ESL kids (spelling "cheek" as "chick") but every one of them that needs help.

Ellie has found her best friend forever and it's not Taza. You can read more about our amazing and generous friends and how they took Ellie in for the weekend (while we went to the beach) here. Love it.

In Ellie's defense, she doesn't always look that bad around the mouth. I'm guessing she had just finished a tasty rawhide.

A student from my school was hit by 2 cars and died this morning. The scariest part is that no one seemed too surprised. They told me that it happens from time to time and then proceeded to recount one student who was shot in the chest two times and lived.

What does it feel like to be a teenager and not know if you'll make it to graduation, much less adulthood? It seems too hard, and I'm not sure what to make of it.

I didn't know quite how to handle the news in class. The students wanted to talk about it, but it didn't seem to be processing talk. More just gossip.

Who are these kids?
What do they need?
Can I offer it?
Do I want to?

I know God will show me more when I need it, but for now I feel confused.

I (Tim) am starting work tomorrow at Bank of America. A week ago I accepted a position as a Quality and Change Delivery Analyst and after a round of background checks and finger printing, I'm all set to go.

I'm really excited about this job. In many ways it feels like a gift from God. I first found out about the position in February through a friend and ever since I've felt that it would be a great fit for me and I'm thrilled that the hiring manager felt the same way. It's amazing to think that within seven weeks of being in Charlotte both Hannah and I have found jobs and they're the exact jobs we wanted while we were in Peru!

I'll be working at the heart of uptown Charlotte and taking the bus to work each day (which is awesome). In many ways the environment is a long ways away from Peru but it's interesting to think that my time in Peru, in many ways, prepared me for this position.

Thanks to everyone who has been praying for us. God has definitely answered some prayers!

p.s. If you're wondering what a Quality and Change Delivery Analyst does, I'll have to let you know. I have a general idea but it's a bit to vague to try to put into words. Hopefully I'll be able to communicate it better in a week or two.

Bad day at school today, and by that I mean that I didn't make it to my first class (8:45) before I was crying in the secretary's office and the principal offered to let me go home for the day. At least this time I knew how to handle the panic and kept my cool (ie, didn't hyperventilate).

Is the job really this hard? Maybe so. Sometimes I wonder if my fragility is more a part of reverse culture shock. When Tim came to pick me up, he reminded me that we're coming out of a culture (and certainly a school environment) where this kind of disrespect is unheard of.

As it turns out, it was a situation with an adult and not a student that set me off this morning. That's good in a sense, because it makes going back tomorrow a lot easier.

What is God trying to say to me? I had an interview yesterday for a fall position at a small Christian school. There are so many enticing things about working in that kind of environment, but the idea of losing the mission aspect of my current job leaves me a little sad. I want to make this work. I want to be successful in making a difference in the life of one child, one coworker, one parent. But if I'm hyperventilating twice a month and not making it to class, I don't see how that will be possible.

I have moments where I wonder if I will make it through to the end of the week, much less next year. My friend Jean reminded me when I started this job that I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. So I guess the question isn't so much Can I? but Should I? and Do I want to?

Four or five more weeks. I can do this. The days are spiced with sweet moments of connecting with the kids, calling parents to thank them for the support they're offering me from home, laughing with coworkers. No morning do I wake up uncertain about what I can do to follow and honor Jesus that day. I'm grateful for a job and grateful for the chance to reach out to this small population of truly troubled kids for the most part.

Still curious about what the future holds and what God is trying to say in the present. Still coveting your prayers and love as much as I did through every trial in Peru. The mission is only beginning.