Finished

Today my kids wore white face paint and walked across a stage, acting out different qualities of a student who BUILDs others up.  The looked like mimes, they sounded (or didn’t sound at all) like mimes, and they did wonderfully.

 

That was it.  My last act as a teacher.  Twenty little people who I have said goodbye to and leave in God’s hands. 

 

It felt surreal today.  Did I really decide to stay and do this in August?  Has it really been nine and a half months since I first stood in front of these kids and listened to them say, “Mees, you’re young!”?  What has changed except that I have a mind full of memories and a pocketful of teaching tricks?

 

God called me here this year.  There is no doubt about that.  And He has been faithful this year. After all, He can’t deny Himself.  And I can’t speak for my students, but I know that He has worked in my heart.  One of my student’s moms came up to me today and said, “You were like a butterfly this year.  You came in as a baby and are leaving as an adult.  You blossomed.”  I don’t agree 100%, but I am different.  I did grow up this year.  Honestly, I don’t know if I like it all.

 

God has told us that in this world we will have trouble, and the New Testament is full of the church facing hard times.  This year I got a taste of what it feels like to find joy in difficulty, and I know that there is only more ahead.  That scares me.  “He cannot deny Himself.”  Trust.

Praying for the Last Three Days

Three days.  That’s all I have left.  Then I’m done being “Mees” forever.  I’m pretty nervous about the last few days because 1) I am going as crazy as my kids are 2) I have so much to do 3) I’m nervous to face parents and administration at the end of the year saying, “Well, I didn’t know a thing.  I gave it a try.  Hope I haven’t ruined them.” 

We, my students and I, need your prayers in these last three days. 

-Pray for me, that I’ll be able to tie up loose ends with my students and with the crazy amount of paperwork that comes with being a teacher.

- Pray that we would all leave this year knowing God better and growing in grace.  Pray that my students would put into effect the Bible study methods we’ve learned this year.

- Pray for sanity as we all want to be outside playing.

- Pray that I wouldn’t make this time about me but about God and His work in my students this year.

 

Thanks.  God works powerfully when His people come before Him.

Thankful for- Heather!

Who has the best big sister?  I do!

For keeping me sane, for doing devos in my classroom almost EVERY SINGLE WEEK, for loving me in spite of my often-bad attitude towards teaching.  For the thousands of papers graded!  Thank you!

I couldn’t have made it through this year without her.

Toborochi

A beautiful tree in bloom here.

Break

Sorry for the unintentional blog break.  This is what I've been up to lately:


- Applying for nine jobs
- Finishing out a school year with 20 fifth graders
- Being sick
- Taking salsa dancing classes with my Bolivian friend (So. Much. Fun.)
- Being involved in church.
- Trying to reconnect with friendships in the US so I don't feel lost when I go home
- Trying to keep up friendships in Bolivia since I will still be here for two months and since I want (don't know God's plans yet) to come back.


So, I haven't been blogging.  But I could have, if I had been inspired.  I haven't know what to write lately.  Things are not as hard as they were a few months ago, but they aren't easy either.  Some days my kids drive me crazy, and others I have a few precious moments to stop and gaze at the blowing palm trees that will only be a part of my landscape for ten more weeks.  God gives us all we need for life and godliness.

In a sense, I started true adulthood in Bolivia.  I don't know what to think of it, so I definitely don't know how to write about it.

Picture from kztv10.com

Love love love

Not blogging much the last few days because I've been doing a lot of this:

And this:

Talk to you soon!

Thankful for- Other Teachers

Pictures of thankfulness!

From left to right:
To Emilee, who corrects my Spelling books every Wednesday and is always popping in to make sure I’m making it through the day.  I have appreciated your help and kindness this semester more than you.  If God sent you to Bolivia just to help me make it through, I think it was worth it (although He has sent you for so much more).

To DPo, my lunch buddy and person I can always vent to.  Thank you for being there to talk, thank you for being so tranquila.  Thanks for letting me make fun of your Spanish.  Thanks for letting me invite myself over to hang out.  Gracias por buen tiempos!

To Ally, literacy specialist and good friend.  I love looking at your painting that is in my room, remembering that God has me right where He called me and that He will take me to right where He wants me.  Thank you for sitting with me and figuring out how I can help my kids.  Thank  you for listening to me and giving me suggestions about helping myself.  I have loved seeing your passion this year and look forward to serving with you this summer.

And finally, to Laura, the world’s best principal.  Thank you for Peanut Butter M&Ms when life is hard.  Thank you for always listening.  Thank you for being for me.  You made teaching so enjoyable for me.  Your wisdom kept me from losing my mind.  Your peace in my storms has kept me going.  Your godly example with my kids has made me smile so many times.  I respect you so very much, and I hope God makes me more like you, His servant.  Thank you especially for holding my hand in my first weeks and months of teaching.  I needed it so much.  You shine as a principal.  You should be one next year! 

Last one:  Thank you Ellen.  Thank you for listening to my fears, thank you for the work that you put into my classroom before we even knew who my students were.  Thank you for giving me advice, for understanding what I was going through.  Thank you for Skyping with me weekly, encouraging me with your words and your stories.  I can’t wait to see you face-to-face soon!

So, this is not my typical thank you post, but I wanted to recognize these wonderful people. 

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.

- Philippians 1:3-4

Am I loving my brother?

My students are learning all about Nehemiah this week, so I’ve spent the weekend reading through the first six chapters, thinking about the warrior that he was and how my kids have a lot of fighting to do.

 

This morning, my first truly cold morning in Bolivia in the last nine months, I sat wrapped up in a blanket, sipping coffee and reading chapter five.  I guess it’s confession time. I have been a lot about survival this year.  I haven’t been loving my Christian brothers and sisters like I know I should, with the excuse that I have enough to do just getting myself taken care of.

 

So it was extra-convicting to read about the Jews who were not being kind to their brothers in Nehemiah 5:9- “The thing that you are doing is not good.  Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies?”

 

The way we treat those around us is what those who don’t follow Christ see and label “Christian.”  Am I loving my brother to “prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies?”  Are you?