The Kids are Here!

After 3 days of school, teaching has proved to be a good challenge. I definitely have had my share of feeling overwhelmed but I am enjoying my little ones, as well as the diversity within my classroom.

I have 27 second graders this year who represent 8 nations (America, Canada, Switzerland, Australia, England, China, South Korea, and the Philippines). How neat is that? I will be working in some time too for students to share lives and stories each week for sure. I also have 8 English language learners who will be interesting to make adjustments for.

Although everything can feel like a lot, it has been really good to realize that I need to lean more heavily on the Lord. Along with the challenges of my first days of teaching, there has been many moments of smiles and laughter.

One of my second graders likes to smell my hair while the class is lining up. He once turned to the little boy behind him and told him that my hair smelt like strawberries and that he should pick one :) (Luckily he decided otherwise). Another time, one of my little Korean boy asked me if I was drinking coffee. He then said, "Um, aren't you too young to be drinking coffee?" After I told him that I am an adult which means I am allowed to drink coffee, he said, "Well I don't think you are old enough, your hair isn't gray." Ah the things kids say and do! :) Its the little things that count.

Today we received our first "rain day" (a day off after just 3 days of teaching) from all the flooding happening around the city. It has been raining pretty solidly for the past week or two. Although I am really grateful for a day off, my heart goes out to all the squatters and people who have their homes flooded around Manila. There are parts that are harder hit than others; fortunately we live up on a hill and haven't really been touched. Please pray for the people who have had to leave their homes and for the people who have been affected by the rains. Thank you!