İCelebra la vida! Celebrate life in Spanish! There is a song
with this title here that I have been playing on repeat. You might say that I like this song, but what
is there not to like about celebrating life? I know for me I can forget
sometimes to really celebrate life. I just go on with my daily life and forget
to think about how blessed I am, or just how blessed I am to have lived another
day. People here have taught me to
really celebrate life. You do not need a
lot of things to be happy. There are so
many things to be happy about. Life
should be a celebration! In our work, we should find happiness, and we should
always look at the positives. There are
so many times where we can get caught up on the negatives, that we forget about
the positives. We need to always to remember to celebrate
life!
One thing that I am celebrating
right now is that school is back in session.
It has been in session now for a month.
I am teaching Pre-K, 1st, 3rd, and 6th
grade English, and I have recess duty for both primary and secondary school. I love being back in the classroom. The children here are always so excited to
see you in and out of the classroom. I do not know how many hugs I get in a day
from kids running up to me. We can learn
so much from these kids. Their happiness is a sign of celebration. There are so many people here who could complain
about the way they live, but I have never heard a complaint from anyone here. Their lives are not easy, yet they always
find time to celebrate!
(First Day of School Picture)
Another
thing that I am celebrating right now is that we have new tires on our truck
here. Our prayers were answered because
we can now start to go back out to the rural schools on the outskirts of
Okinawa, because we have finally gotten money for new tires on the truck. We could not go out to the different
communities because they were too bad to drive and the sisters did not have
money to pay for new tires, but thanks to a donation we were able to get new
tires on the truck. This donation came with a priest that Lorena knows from the
States who came and visited us for a week.
It was great to have him around.
He is very energetic and just a wonderful person.
I now
have my own group of 28 students for first communion and 20 students for
Confirmation. I hope that I can help
them really celebrate their faith and to learn more about what it means to
receive the Eucharist and Holy Spirit.
Remember to always celebrate
life! Celebrate it with all those you
are surrounded by! İCelebra la vida!
Below are the lyrics to the song in English:
I do not know if I dreamed,
I do not know if I slept,
and the voice of an angel
Said to tell you:
celebrate life.
Think freely,
help people,
and whatever you want
Fight and be patient.
Carry a light load
cling to anything
Because in this world,
nothing is forever.
Look for a star
To be your guide,
Hurt no one
Spread joy.
Celebrate life, celebrate life,
Because nothing is saved
Everything is shared.
Celebrate life, celebrate life,
second to second and every day.
And if someone cheats
to say "I Love You"
add fuel to the fire
and start again.
Do not let fall
your dreams to the ground
The more you love
The closer you get to heaven
Shout against hate
against lying,
that war is death;
Peace is life.
Celebrate life, celebrate life,
Because nothing is saved
Everything is shared.
Celebrate life, celebrate life,
second by second.
I do not know if I dreamed,
I do not know if I slept,
and the voice of an angel
Said to tell you:
Celebrate life, celebrate life
And leave on earth your best seed
Celebrate life, celebrate life
which is much more beautiful when you look at me.
Celebrate life, celebrate life.