Rejoice With Those Who Rejoice

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

~Romans 12:15~

  

...Does this include, "Get sick with those who get sick?"  If so, I'm on the ball... :)

For the last few days I've been handing cough drops to two brothers who seemed to be really suffering from a cold.  This morning I woke up stuffy and achy, but made it to school, where I found nearly half the kids stuffy and achy as well.  I'd send them home so as not to infect others - but when we all live in the same place, that doesn't really help much.

I'm thankful that this seems to be an illness that passes within a few days, but your prayers for the health of the kids and staff here would be much appreciated.  Meanwhile, I'll keep a box of tissues handy. :)

In other prayer requests... We are in need of more staff here at the home.  Main needs include teachers for the new school year, house parents, and cooks.  Please support us in prayer for this, that God would send His workers - and that they would listen and say yes! :)

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Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  

Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.  

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  

Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, 

but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. 

Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.  

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

~Romans 12:9-18~

Are you ready?

Last Thursday and Friday, Civil Protection team from the nearby town come train us in emergency preparedness.  We covered topics from earthquakes to fires to first aid.  While it was time consuming, it was also very interesting and helpful.  I now feel confident in training the students in earthquake safety, and I've used a fire extinguisher!

The First Aid was mostly a review for me, as I've worked in schools where that training was required.  But as it turned out, my first aid knowledge has been really put to the test this week.  Coincidence?  Hmmm...

I've had students come to me this week with I-don't-know-where-this-came-from cuts, someone-accidentally-stabbed-me-in-the-head-with-their-pencil wounds, and a gushing-like-a-geyser bloody nose.  When I saw one kid carrying another kid towards me during recess yesterday, I thought "Seriously?"

Some of the kids have commented that I should be a nurse.  While it's nice of them to think so, I mainly respond with a laugh and a "no."  I can say with a fair amount of certainty that I am not called to be a nurse.  I'll deal with what I have to, but most injuries really gross me out.

I also began to teach the kids about earthquake safety.  This is something I've been wanting to do for over a year, so I'm very glad that we're finally getting it done.  I went from class to class on Monday, explaining the students what Civil Protection taught us to do and trying some practice drills.

Today I walked into a math class and announced, "This is a practice, an earthquake is beginning."  I'm happy to report that nearly all the kids remained very calm and got into their safety positions - granted, with a lot of giggling, but I think further drills might get that out of their systems.

I hope that we never really need to use this earthquake knowledge - that a "big one" will never come to Oaxaca.   But meanwhile, we will try to prepare ourselves as best as we can.   I will continue to pop into classrooms to do earthquake drills - and based on past experience, we may have enough smaller earthquakes to keep us on our toes anyhow.

Day of the Teacher

You are the best teacher I have had.

Happy Teacher Appreciation Day from Mexico!  While teachers in Oaxaca and Mexico "celebrate" the day with marches and blockades, our three teachers here at the home join with the staff as Civil Protection trains us in how to be prepared for emergencies.

I used one of my English classes this week to have the kids make thank you cards for their teachers.  I didn't give them much direction beyond, "Make sure your paper goes in this direction" and "Write something nice about your teacher." 

I was very impressed with the results, and I share some of them here.  May the teachers out there also feel appreciated through the sentiments of our students - just please be patient with the run-on sentences. ;)

You are the best teacher I have had.  Thank you for the discipline that you give me.  I do need it a lot. "I love you."

Thank you for your help and thank you because you give me classes and you teach me good things, because this can help me when I'm older and thank you for taking care of me during recess and I hope that you have a good Teacher's Day and that you can enjoy it.

Thank you for everything, Teacher, for your learning and correction.  You are special.

Happy Teacher's Day!  Thank you for your advice and your teachings and for the punishments and reports because they help me.

You are always peaceful.

Thank you for taking care of me and helping me in everything, and I thank you for loving me.

You are very special, and never think otherwise.

Making Friends

This week we had special visitors during English class.  Certain missionary kids from around Oaxaca were having a 3-week home-school focus on being friends, so they wanted to come to the children's home to make friends with our students.

Though many of our kids seemed very stiff and awkward with the visitors, they tell me they really enjoyed it all.  I forget sometimes how little contact these kids have with community outside the home.

At the end of our time, I surprised our kids by asking them to sing the song they've been learning - Bless the Lord.  While very shy about it, they did very well.  One of the visiting mothers picked up my camera and took some pictures, and I'm glad she did.  I just didn't realize how we kind of looked like the von Trapp family up there :).

Bashful

We've had some popular elective classes, and some not so popular.  Cooking, sports, and computers are amongst our most preferred by the students.  Advanced math... not so much.  However the two students who chose that one both improved greatly in their regular math classes as well - so, bonus for them.

So it was that, when a teacher came to me about a class to help the timid kids be less timid, I wasn't sure it would really catch on.  As a formerly painfully shy child, I had a feeling a public speaking class wouldn't be real appealing to them.   I asked him to personally invite the timid kids we'd identified - and to try to make it sound as fun and exciting as possible.

To my surprise, most of the students he invited decided to give it a try.  I've been making rounds every afternoon to check out how the different electives are going, but I stayed away from his class.  I didn't want to undo any confidence he had built up in them within the safety of their little group.

Today, however, I decided to stop by and check things out.  I took a seat as they practiced their final presentation.  First up was the shyest girl at school.  I can usually only hear half of what she says when she talks to me.  I've noticed her improving somewhat while taking this class, but just this week she came and asked me something with her teeth clamped shut the entire time she spoke.  Sadly, she is also dealing with being bullied, so that doesn't help matters at all either.

The dynamic teacher got up front and welcomed everyone to the presentation (everyone being me...), introduced the student as a rising star and invited her up.  She got right out of her seat, walked forward with confidence and took the microphone from him.  She went on to share about herself and her dreams for the future.

Though the mike wasn't actually turned on, I hear every word she said.  She had a smile on her face and her voice never wavered.  I practically couldn't see her through the tears that had filled my eyes.  As we applauded and she took her seat, I heard a little shout of joy/triumph bubble out of her.

I love these moments.  The weeks are long.  The days are hard.  But these little moments are such blessings.  I hope that you can see the little moments in your day too.

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Since one of the girls in the class melted down the last time I tried to take a picture of her performing, I didn't even bring my camera to this class.  So I'll take this opportunity to share some pictures from the other electives instead. :)

Basketball has become more popular than soccer here!

Computer class.

These kids are working on German!  I'm impressed.

Cooking class.  Several of our kids would like to be cooks when they grow up.

And baseball.  It is amazing how much they've improved.

Signs of Spring

It's kind of hard for me to identify the changing of seasons here in Oaxaca.  There are always beautiful things in bloom.  But, as the calendar told me spring was approaching, and as the jacaranda trees began their gorgeous purple stage, I just had to take some pictures of the beautiful spring foliage around the home.  I share them here in hopes that you will enjoy it as well.