Lead By Example

My heart breaks for those that do not know the healing power and love of the Lord Jesus Christ. Part of this desire to reach the lost world for Christ is why I love being a teacher. If I can have an impact on even one child who then leads by example for his/her peers, then I will have accomplished my goal (or at least one of the many).
Today one of my students asked why we get Friday off in addition to the week long spring break coming up. I explained to him that Friday was 'Good Friday' to which he responded by telling me he didn't know what that meant or why it was significant. I went on to explain why we celebrate Good Friday which in turn allowed me to share a bit about Easter with him. That's the neat thing about where I work...I may work in a public school, but as long as my students are asking the questions, I can answer them with the truth that I know about Jesus Christ.

I explained the meaning of Good Friday and Easter to this particular student. When I finished he told me he wasn't fond of Easter and that just broke my heart. Intrigued, I asked why he felt that way. The child went on to tell me that one Easter he walked into the living room to find his mom and sister watching Chukie (a scary movie about a doll), and since then whenever he thinks of Easter he sees scary images of the doll in his mind. Therefore, he does not like Easter.

I was disgusted at this point. And my mind began to spin...
1. I know the sister is not old enough to be watching that movie as it is rated R.
2. How sad that such a sacred, special day has been ruined for this boy because of an image he saw on tv or a scene he saw in a movie.
3. This child must not know Jesus Christ and his love and mercy. If he only knew what Christ had done for him, those images would be overwritten with the death of our Saviour on the cross.

As class wrapped up I didn't get to share much more with this particular student, but he's been on my mind numerous times throughout the day. As a teacher, I pray for my students. This little conversation today made it all the more important for me that praying for my students no longer an option but a priority.

As adults we have a major influence on the young children around us. Kids are always watching for our actions and reactions, and they will often follow in our footsteps. It is important that we adults set the best possible example so that we do not lead these dear children astray. Each day, I witness firsthand how children are affected by the choices of the adults surrounding them.

Ironically a friend posted this video on his facebook page today. It fits perfectly with the topic at hand. Take a moment to watch and see how closely the children in the video follow the example set by the adult they are with.

Summary

If you've kept up with my blogging, you've most likely read all of the following before. However, I typed out a summary of my four months to share at church on Sunday, and I thought since I never really did a full summary on here, I'd post it for anyone who may be interested. Read as much or as little as you desire :)

I want to start by saying thank you to all of you for your support while I was teaching in Peru; you’re financial support and prayers were much appreciated and did not go unnoticed.


I remember a year ago; I would pray each day that as I looked for a teaching job, God would make it clear just where I was supposed to be. I remember praying, “God help me to be willing to go wherever you send me.” I thought often of Isaiah 6:8 which says, “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, “Here I am. Send me!”

During the mission trip to Peru in June, I remember sitting in the living room of the mission team apartment one evening talking with Tony Troeger. I told him that I couldn’t imagine my first teaching job being overseas, but I thought I’d like to do it eventually. However, when it came time to leave at the end of the 10 days, I was torn. When we got home I knew I had to go back to Peru and I had to go back soon. There was no way I could wait until the next mission trip in 2 years.

I applied to various schools trying to find the place God wanted me while also keeping in mind my financial need and my monthly loan bills. I felt defeated as I hit one dead end after another, praying to God that if he wanted me to go he would open the perfect door. I had heard about Lima International School of Tomorrow through a friend that attended there. When I emailed them I got an almost immediate response that they needed me as soon as I could get there. Turns out the elementary teacher had moved back to Canada just days prior to my email, and they were desperate to fill the position. They offered me a small monthly salary, and I was able to raise support for the rest. I was nervous about going to a place so far from home and so different from everything I knew, but I knew without a doubt that this was where God wanted me, and I went.

The school I worked for was very different from anything I’ve ever seen before. I taught 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade in the same classroom – 31 students altogether. When I first began, I did very little teaching. The way the school operates is through individual student goals at their level. Basically that means each of my students was tested when they enrolled in the school, and they were assigned a workbook for each subject based on how they scored in that area. My students would sit in their 3 walled desk/offices and read page after page and fill in blanks in their workbooks. When they completed a workbook (about every 2 weeks) they would take a test over the book’s content. If they passed they moved up to the next book. This was not my style of teaching, and slowly over time the principal allowed me to change a few things so that I could teach an English lesson each day and do a read aloud/comprehension lesson with my students as well.

I really struggled with the program the school used, but I tried to keep my head up. The principal allowed me to make a few changes, but the basic program could not be changed. I was also able to share some American traditions with my students such as Thanksgiving and Christmas. We went on a field trip to a Petting Zoo/Amusement Park, and my students did a very good job putting on plays about the book of Acts for the school’s 15th anniversary. I knew that God wanted me in Peru, and this school was his way of getting me there.

While teaching is my passion and it was the thing that got me back to Peru, the children at the Kids Alive home stole my heart more each day. I volunteered about 2 nights a week at the orphanage helping with homework, chores, or just hanging out with the kids. I also attended devotions with the children each week. I looked forward to these nights, and sometimes I’d go over on an off night just to play. I helped babysit one day while the “mamas” went to a women’s retreat. I helped one of the missionaries teach the kids about American Thanksgiving, and we had each child make a turkey by tracing their hand on construction paper and adding colored feathers with things they were thankful for. We also prepared a Thanksgiving dinner for the children and everyone else that helps Kids Alive – there were over 80 people that shared dinner with us that evening. We made Christmas ornaments from dough and allowed the kids to paint them, and I got to see the Christmas program the children put on for their families during the December visit day.

I was fortunate to live just 2 blocks from the children’s home and about 3 blocks from the other missionaries’ apartments. No matter how often I went to the home, the kids always came running wanting hugs, piggy back rides, or homework help. (Not often do you see a kid excitedly beg you to sit with them while they do their homework.) I loved it! I would often leave feeling refreshed and energized. The joy these kids showed was humbling.

Outside of school and volunteering with Kids Alive, I met a lot of really great people and had tons of fun with my new friends. Some of the Kids Alive missionaries joined with Peruvian friends, and we had dinner and Bible study together every Thursday. I got involved in a Hillsong based church in Lima and really enjoyed the Friday night young adult meetings. I was able to go to the Independence Day parade and a Hillsong United concert. I also went to a surfing competition and saw two professional ballets – one being the Nutcracker. For my birthday, I was sung to in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, and I had cake shoved in my mouth by a few different people. Peruvians love showing off their country, so I saw many sides of Lima I hadn’t seen before. I also got to take a trip up into the Andes Mountains to the city of Huancayo one weekend. It was beautiful there!

My last week in Peru was heart wrenching. I was so excited to get home and see my family for Christmas, but I did not want to leave the kids or my friends behind. They had all taught me so much about what it means to fully rely on God and trust him with my innermost being. My friends were especially amazing that week and had all kinds of outings planned for me. A few teachers took me out to get pedicures and manicures - they’re really cheap there. My friends planned a day at the beach, but due to cloudy, misty weather we ended up going to a food festival and the zoo instead. They also had a more formal despedida or good-bye party for me where we went out for dinner and then to a friend’s house for a time of worship and prayer. Everyone said parting words to me and I too had to say parting words to them. I’ll never forget that night. The children at the home also had a good-bye party for me complete with piñata filled with candy, confetti, and baby powder. (If you went to Peru in 2007, you know what I’m talking about.) The kids all had kind words to say to me, and quite a few of them cried when telling me good-bye. My heart was broken.

Peru changed me for the better I believe. I learned to trust God a lot more than I ever had before and to allow him to be in control. I learned not to settle for complacency but to always be seeking God and growing in Him. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of my time in Peru and look forward to the day when I will be able to return.

Missions Video

I compiled pictures of my Peru trip as well as pictures of a friend's volleyball team and their trip to the Dominican Republic to produce a video for Mission Sunday at church. Watch and enjoy :)
(My pictures start at about 2:30 if you want to skip ahead; however, I would recommend watching the DR pictures, too. They are pretty inspiring!!)

If I learned nothing else during my time in Peru, I learned to be vulnerable and give my life fully to the work of the Lord. By doing so, God has been able to move in my life in more ways than I ever imagined. I've grown so much, and I've been taken to places I never dreamed of going. I have been forever changed by my experience. I'm living each day in anticipation of what God will teach me that day. It's such an amazing feeling to be held in the hands of the Father.

Reflections & Updates

I just realized I never finished typing up the 2nd half of my December Newsletter...sorry about that! I had good intentions, but as I got wrapped up in life, I simply forgot to come back and finish.

The last few months have been filled with ups and downs. Some days I love being back in the States, working in the schools, hanging out with friends, driving, and living a "normal" American life. However, not a day goes by that I don't have memories of my time in Peru and wish I could travel back. I miss the kids at the children's home. I miss my friends. I miss cheap prices, Peruvian food, speaking Spanish, walking places, and occasionally even the buses. I miss my church and Friday night young adult meetings (even though I only began attending my last 5 weeks).

For now, God has called me to remain in the States. I currently am substitute teaching in elementary schools surrounding my hometown, and during the months of April and May I will fill a maternity leave for a special education classroom. I'm not special ed. certified, but I'm excited for the opportunity to expand my knowledge and learn how to better meet the needs of these students. I feel that this will be great experience to improve my effectiveness as a classroom teacher.

I try not to allow my mind to dwell in Peru too often, but it isn't always easy. I'm praying for the opportunity to travel back in June for a few weeks to visit the children and friends. For now, I try to live each day to the fullest whatever that may mean for each specific day. I'm learning a lot and growing more each and every day personally, spiritually, and professionally. God is good all the time, and too often I do not give him enough credit. I'm looking forward to watching my future unfold.

December Newsletter

Some of you informed me that you were unable to open my December Newsletter. I decided rather than bombard those of you that could open it with the same thing again, I would post the newsletter here for all to read. I'm still working on a summary post to kind of wrap up everything that happened in Peru, but I'm struggling to put everything into words. Maybe one day it will come, but for now here's the latest update.

Lima International School of Tomorrow
After what seemed to be a very short semester, the school year concluded on December 11 for my students. This month was full of things to do at school with Christmas coming and the school year ending. Some days I did not htink my students would have sufficient time to get all of their work done. However, they chugged right along with me as I pushed them to work hard and encouraged them with behavior rewards such as swimming or shopping in the behavior store. Of my 31 students, only five did not finish the prescribed number of workbooks wich later became an exception because each of them were labeled with learning disabilities. I was very proud of my students for the hard work they put forth and the perseverance that they showed all the way to the end. When I first began the semester with them back in August, I spent many nights wondering what I had gotten myself into. My students did not listen to me, they knew hardly no English, they would not work on their wokbooks, and they were mean to each other. Honestly, I felt very defeated and had little hope; however, the last week of school, I was overcome with excitement of the growth my students had made in just 4 short months. They came so far academically, socially, and personally. Many of them were even speaking complete, correct sentences in English! The growth I witnessed in each of them was a great reminder of why I became a teacher...not because I liek to hear myself talk all day, but because of the joy of the children when they finally "get it" or the growth that can be seen after all the effort and hard work put into education.
My students were able to enjoy the swimming pool on Fridays this month, and we ended the school year with a Christmas party on the last day. We also had an awards night in which my students sang Away in a Manger and many of them received awards for completeing goals, memorizing the Bible memory verses or outstanding behavior.

Kids Alive
It was not easy to say good-bye to the kids at the Kids Alive home; many of them were asking when I'd be back and a few shed tears as I wished them farewell. However, I told them that this is not good-bye because I will see them again whether it be on earth or in heaven. These kids are precious, and I got to know each of them so much more after spending many weeks with them. They opened up a lot more than they ever had during short term trips, and their love never seemed to end. I am so grateful for the time I was able to spend with them.
This month, as any other, did not fall short of my expectations. With the school year ending, the children did not have much homework, so I was able to spend more time talking with them, playing games with them, or just sitting and being a comforting body nearby. The children did a Christmas program for visiting family members. I also helped the children paint Christmas ornaments one evening at the home of another missionary couple. We had a pinata filled with confetti for my despdida (Good-bye Party), and everyone had a great time throwing it everywhere! It was a very fun way to end a great 4 months!

To be continued...