Wow, never did I ever realize teaching was so hard. From the beginning of December to today, I have so much more respect for the teachers who are dedicated to educating children. They have such an impact on young people’s lives and futures. What a responsibility they, and now I, have!
Our ministry is teaching three English classes three times a day for five or six days a week. My first class is 10 – 13 year olds, the second is kindergarten age, and the third is an advanced class that studies a Bible based book. It’s crazy to fathom myself as a teacher, but after 3 weeks in this village, I finally get it. I love the children and seeing them “get it”. I spend a LOT of my time explaining how to sound out letters and words. Th’s ch’s, z’s, s’s, j’s and combinations of hard sounds seem impossible at first, but after days of sticking my tongue out like a fool to over emphasize “TH”, we’ve made some progress!
I have found myself smiling inside when the children scream “teacher teacher MEEE” to answer a question or write on the board in class. I have such overwhelming joy when they chase me with a crab from the rice field, want to pass a volleyball, point to be thrown in the air, or tickle me to death at break time. Each face is precious and each one loves to be loved.
For those of you who knew me pre race, kids kinda eeked me out. I mean, I had a few I liked, but they were still a little awkward. I prayed for the ability to teach these village children and for joy in the exhausting days. What I got was God saying why sure you can have that… and an undeniable love as well! I love children and I love teaching. Hearing my teammates and the translator’s say that they learn a lot when I teach and that I have so much patience with the children really just knocks my socks off. I didn’t think I had patience. I didn’t think I could teach. I didn’t think children were my thing. I WAS WRONG, and feel so blessed.
