School days... :)

So we’ve had 8 days of school so far... and I would say it has been quite the rollercoaster.

Day 1: SURPRISE… my students don’t understand anything I’m saying in English! YES! ☺ Break out every Spanish phrase and translation I got, cuz I’m translating everything today! Haha Even though I felt like it was chaos… Sara, our teaching coach here at school, explained that as long as no major blow out occurred… it was a success…. So, Day 1, chaos=success??? Sure.

Day 2-4: Routines are being established… less chaos each day. I’m learning about each student. I have a GREAT group of kids… lots of really good kids who want to do well. One who LOVES to talk alllllllll the time. Even if he’s not talking to someone ☺ and one who LOVES to touch things and move… he now has a beanie baby tiger to pet during group time. It really is a great group of 18 students and I’m excited for the year.

Day 5: Whooooaaaa. What did I get myself into? It finally hit… Most of my students, although good kids at heart, come from very little structure and have not been ingrained with the belief to follow instructions and obey an authority figure in their life. Looking back on this day, I also think I had expectations for these first graders that were way beyond their age and maturity level which caused a great deal of frustration in me. On top of everything, I don’t speak their language and without my words, I felt powerless as a teacher.

By far, the hardest day I’ve had here.… and ironically, it was one of my favorite days here. It was a favorite because I was humbled so quickly and reminded so clearly that I am not the one in control or able to teach these students. It is ONLY through the Lord working through me that any change or impact will be made in these students’ lives. I know I needed to go through the process of humbling and the pain of realizing that I can’t do it myself in order to discover the beauty of God’s grace and power. I feel like it is in these hard turbulent times, the most beautiful things come.

A picture in God’s creation: I was just sitting by a river today where there was a bunch of rapids and little waterfalls. Now, I have always been completely fascinated by waterfalls and the power of the rushing water because I believe it show’s God’s power. But today, as I sat there watching the sheer power of that water, I saw it as a picture of the lesson I learned last week… that the beauty of these waterfalls comes from the turbulence of the rapids. That it is through the hard times that God is able show his power and might and ability to turn the most turbulent situations in our lives into beautiful things. What a great thing.

Day 6-8: Thank you Lord that I’m not in this alone and that You love these kids more than I could ever comprehend or know. Help me Lord to see them through your eyes and to be your vessel in growing, teaching, and investing in their lives.


Interesting facts:
• I currently have 52 mosquito bites on my body… 37 of which are on my ankles or feet.
• I’m sitting with Brian (the fourth grader I live with) who read that last statement and said, “you need to put one million mosquito bites”… because I have so many. ☺
• I have a class pet, his name is Mighty Mouse. He helps my kids learn and he keeps my feet from touching the floor when I am planning. ☺
• I sometimes have guests in my bedroom… and get to sing “La Cucaracha, la cucaracha… Na-na-na-na-na-na-na” while celebrating my new friends.
• I LOVE LOVE LOVE my job… and my house… and my co-workers and am reminded in the small things that I am exactly where God wants me right now.

I pray all is well with you and that through the all times in your life, especially the turbulent ones, you will find the peace of God to be real and powerful in your life.