Alarm at 5 in the morning, coffee at 6, the first school bell at 7 and the last at 5pm, Monday through Friday.
This is my schedule
Kindergarten for the first half of the day, then off to 1st grade, then 5th grade, and last period with my 2nd graders.
Teaching English is hard work. I barely get back to my room and plop on my sleep pad and a fan blowing on my sweaty face after a long day at school. I take my days off quite slow and do not venture off as I did previous months. I’m always desperate in need of AC and good caffeine J
Not going to lie, but this month is HARD physically. I am wiped. We have 140 kids ranging from kindergarten to high school. I’ve also gotten sick and been up all night throwing up.
But this is not a complaint
Every morning when my students rush in the room, attacking me with bear hugs, smiles and “Teacha, teacha, we missed you!”
Although they suck every energy I have in my body, I know it’s worth it. I break up fights, separate chit chatters, sneak a chocolate in my mouth, and I keep going!
Being the only Christian school in the province, our ministry host is surviving on pure donations. The school is surviving donation to donation. Half the kids come from an orphanage.
One particular boy named Adam broke my heart. On the orphanage’s website he was one of them that was featured and had a story of how he was found. He was found in a dumpster as an infant, while his mother was digging in the trash for scraps of food. She handed baby Adam over and said she couldn’t take care of him any longer.
Adam is one of the brightest and smartest kids in my class. He strives to learn more, and always tends to help me around the class.
EVERY MORNING he runs to me as I walk in the distance to school to give me a hug and walk alongside.
Many others have heart breaking stories like Adam. They all make it worth it. The sweat, the frustrations, my tiredness, my patience. I’m more than privileged to work in this school and help in any possible way.
I may only be here for one month, but other volunteers and world racers will come and fill our place, and through that, these kids are not only taught English, but the true love of Christ.
These kids have HOPE regardless of where they were found.
