The Beard is Back

Hey everyone!  Last week was fun.  2 days of class then I went on Octavo Aventura with the 8th graders.  Class on Monday and Tuesday was pretty lax so I played musical chairs with my 7th graders.  Whoever is out has to conjugate an irregular verb.  Good stuff.

My post from last year's Octavo Aventura trip had a lot of details so I'm going to be brief here.  It's a spiritual retreat that involves lots of outdoor team building challenges.  There is also a lot of singing and dancing which started before we left the school.

The retreat takes place at a YMCA camp on Guayapolis Beach.  It's a beautiful place, but it was a little cold this time around.

They split the two classes into 5 tribes named after the tribes of Israel.  This year I was in charge of Levi.  We had a great time!

My presentation was on the love of God.  I recruited 6 members of our high school leadership team to perform a skit to Lifehouse's song called Everything.  It was great.  If you haven't seen the skit, check it out here.

Partly because the winter is starting, partly because I want to look older, but mostly because I want to sleep an extra 10 minutes in the morning, the beard is back.  All the members of the Pastoral Staff at San Nicolás have beards too so I fit right in.  Here I am with my bunk mate for the 2 nights at the Beach, Profe Juan.

I want to throw in a shout out to two awesome women in my family.  To my mom Mary Jo, a very happy Mother's Day!  You're amazing, thank you for everything you've done for me.

And to my sister Josie, who graduates from Notre Dame this coming Sunday.  I'm so proud of you, you're going to do such great things out in the world!  Give her blog some love.

I wish I could give both of you a hug!  Know that I'm thinking of you down here in Chile.  Love you both!

Lots of plans in the works for upcoming travel.  Snowboarding, Bolivia, Lake Titicaca, Peru, and Machu Picchu are all in the mix!  Stay tuned for more.