I always used to have reoccurring dreams of going back to school. They were mostly high school time period but at times all different grades. I never thought I’d actually be going back to school let alone be a teacher, teaching cooking and art. I feel like the Lord was preparing me with all those dreams for this particular time period in my life.
I wasn’t sure what to expect but I trusted the Lord had a plan and boy he did not disappoint. Here I was thinking I’d be teaching these children, but in turn they have been teaching me this whole time. They’ve taught me how to be more Christ like in the way they smile, hug and love me as if they’ve known me forever. By sharing their snacks with me without anyone asking them to. And showing me the secret spot where the school has dogs. Side note the dogs are there to smell if a volcano will erupt. Pretty cool right and scary!!! It’s like how did they know I loved dogs, they knew because Jesus knows I do and we are all his Children. I didn’t think my heart could get any bigger from the love of these children from kindergarten age to high school age.
But then I met Juan and Emilio on the bus ride home and boy was I wrong again. My heart got even bigger! Last week I ended up getting sick at school. Once I got on the bus to ride home the boys yelled to me with huge smiles “teacher, teacher play.” I told them I was enferma which means sick in Spanish . Juan and Emilio looked at me then start caressing my head and said “I love you teacher.” My heart melted right then and there. These boys showed me what it’s like to have that childlike faith without waiving. They taught me language barrier means nothing. With love and laughter communication will never fail. That how being kind and loving is soooooooooo important in our relationships. Not just with the people we love, but the people we don’t love as well. If anything they need even more love because we have no clue what they’ve been through or what they are going through at that current moment. There’s a saying I’ve heard “Hurt people hurt” it’s not right and I’m not justifying it but maybe they just need someone to show them they care. Once we start to let our walls down we can start to see the truth about God’s word.
Matthew 5:41-48- “And if one of the occupation troops forces you to carry his pack one mile, carry it two miles. When someone asks you for something, give it to him; when someone wants to borrow something, lend it to him. “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your friends, hate your enemies.’ But now I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may become the children of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun to shine on bad and good people alike, and gives rain to those who do good and to those who do evil. Why should God reward you if you love only the people who love you? Even the tax collectors do that! And if you speak only to your friends, have you done anything out of the ordinary? Even the pagans do that! You must be perfect—just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
My last day here is Friday and it feels very bittersweet. Please pray for all the students and the teachers here. What an amazing school God has sent my team to. Can’t wait to see what he does with my last few days here.
Love, Monica
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