Every Day

Every day for the past 6 weeks I have woken up in my new home: Tegucigalpa, Honduras. I live in a safe (well, it’s gated anyway) neighborhood with 2 amazing roomates, Erica and Alyssa. We leave for school at 6:50 and are there until at least 3. I don’t sit down a lot during the day. 

I walk into a class with 24 hyper 5th graders each morning with nothing on my mind except the curiosity of wondering exactly how God is going to surprise me and save the day this time. It’s a strange kind of reliance when you know that there literally is nothing you can do right outside of receiving the help you are graciously offered from your Father. I’ve fallen in love with that abandonment and “stability” (most people wouldn’t see it that way, but I know it to be true), and never wish to be parted from that exhilarating feeling of trust in love. So I find my way through the day…

I say, “If I am talking right now, does that mean that YOU should be talking?” upwards of 50 times before lunch. Surprisingly and sadly, not exaggerating.

I get frustrated a lot.

But I smile a lot too.

I deal with fist fights, verbal fights, and attitudes out the wazoo. I discern the lies, find the missing notebooks, and sort out the tears. 

I make them DECLARE who they are in Christ. If I could have them stand on their chairs and shout out after me (circa WR traning camp) I most definitely would… but that breaks at least 2 of our classroom rules, so I just make them stand 🙂

We do “creative consequences”… push-ups, crunches, and group love hugs. 

My kids are hilarious. They like to dance (that makes 25 of us!). They are also frustrating, unruly, loud, and insensitive. They make me laugh, cry, freak out, shout for joy, and remember why I used to dislike kids… and they can do that all within a 40 minute window. Pretty impressive group I’ve got here, eh? I think so, anyway!

I really do love them. It’s weird. Coming from a previous ‘anti-kid’ crusader, I just never understood how you can feel so many amazing things about someone so inexperienced and often times so self-centered, especially one who comes with such (usually) sticky hands. But then last year happened. The World Race changed it all. God changed it all. And now there is this. I have been with these 24 fantastic furies for 6 weeks. That’s almost twice as long as I was with any specific set of children last year, and yet STILL, guess who loves them? This girl! And honestly, it’s just more than I imagined it would be. They are more wonderful than I ever thought possible. 

So yes, as I read back over this I realize it is probably just the life of a “normal” teacher. My sister Danielle could probably write a blog about her 1st graders and the emotions would be kind of the same plus it would be more interesting (speaking of, Yell, I think you SHOULD write a blog, because I want to read it!!)  And maybe this life here is decently unimpressive to most. I’m super okay with that! Because I spend every day learning how to love more, give more, and find more ways to listen to His voice. I am becoming more creative, more flexible, and more like my Dad. He gives me opportunities to be humble (like, every single moment because I get things wrong ALL the time), to be confident, and to be forgiving. 

Honesty check: I’m not GREAT at the teaching thing, not yet anyway. But I’m working on it. I mean, I don’t think you’ll ever find someone MORE stoked that the answers are IN the teacher’s edition of the 5th grade math books, because my goodness I don’t remember how to do ANY of this stuff! So while I may not be the best, I’m fine with that. Because despite the challenges and frustrations, I love what I’m doing. And I know I’m in the right place. Oh, wow, the perfect bliss of that last statement, “And I now I’m in the right place.” is almost beyond explanation. It’s blowing me away right now, and I’M the one who wrote it! But it’s so incredible to actually KNOW that. To be beyond certain that you are in the right place at the right time. Wow! And I thank God daily for showing me where He wants me so clearly. 

So that’s life for now… I’m working on the Spanish and someday (although not a day very soon) I may even write a whole blog in the beautiful language! I don’t have a picture with me and the whole class yet, but until I send one your way, enjoy just a few of these adorable monsters presenting their Science Fair projects and just livin it up in 5B 🙂 

Dance Practice in PE (yeap, I was creepin on them for a natural “in action” shot)

Heads Up 7Up (seriously, I don’t understand why they love this game but they DO!)

And yes, for those of you who have been asking, I live in a CITY city right now. One that has power most of the time, roads to drive on, stoplights, malls, McDonalds, and even a Wal-Mart (whaaaaaaaa?!) Most people around where I am drive cars, have homes, and eat food each day. Most people. I’m serving where God has put me. I’m looking to love ALL of His creation, from the destitute prostitute to the privileged youth of this nation. Sometimes it feels a little too much like the States for my liking, but then a cockroach crawls across my chest while I’m laying in bed (last night) and despite my knowing it should be kind of normal, I commence my girly freak out. And in the midst of my insane screaming and cursing I actually thank God for the small reminder He just gave me of where I am and how He has called me to serve Him. That’s all for now, amigos.

5B (and Honduras) rocks my socks, 

Brianna