It's a Small, Small, World!

I can definitely say that my world has gotten much, much smaller in just the last week.  Along with still working on Child Sponsorship for SCORE, relationally, my focus went away from 117 families to 31 kids and their families, my Bible Study moms (4 of whom have kids in my class - AWESOME), and the 5 little girls whom I have grown to love over the last 9 months.  May God continue to bless my life, humble me, and teach me through this life that He has given me.

First... 

I can officially say...

that teaching first graders... 

in my second language... 

in another country... 

is possibly the hardest thing that I have ever done.  

And, truthfully, it is only by God's grace that I am surviving it.  

“My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.  2 Corinthians 12:9

FACTS

• My class has 31 kids in it, although all have not yet attended on the same day.
• The kids in my class range from 5 years old to 7 years old.
• I teach and the kids learn in a really tight space where there is not much room to move around, no room to sit on the floor, and kids bump into each other often.
• At least 3 of my kids are a true challenge, lacking respect for me and most other authority.
• About 5 more of my kids can't sit still, have deeply rooted emotional problems, and in general are just difficult.
• Most kids, like the rest at Emanuel House, come from a 1 parent home, live with a grandparent, or are taken care of by someone else because their true parents abandoned them or have died.
• Most of the kids have parents who do not have a job.  Those who do then are pulled away from being with their kids to supervise them at home -- thus causing discipline issues at school.
• All but one of my kids cannot read and are slow in learning the alphabet.
• Over half of my students cannot spell their names and struggle even when helped.
• Most of the kids (if they did not attend Emanuel House) would not eat more than 1 meal a day and some would not eat every day.
• Many of the kids come from violent families or families where drugs are an issue.
• Most kids have parents who believe in God, but do not follow Jesus nor consider Him to be their personal Savior.
• I have to ask God each and every day for patience and then more patience. And yet, some days that patience is really, really tested by those hard kids.

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. Romans 5:3-5

Most of my class - in front of our classroom.  Emanuel House kids are provided with uniforms and recently received new shoes as well.  

We all have lots of personality and fun making silly faces.

PRAISES

• Most of the kids come each day eager to learn and excited about incentives for good discipline.  I have even heard some stories from parents that their child begged to come to school after being sick the night before.
• Even though my teaching methods are a bit different, kids seem to be learning some.
• I had a day alone without help this past week, and I survived it!
• I have help from some kindergarten teachers from the states - and thank them for ideas like "the quietest mouse" when waiting for the bathroom, lots of movement, and the curriculum worksheets.
• I have seen some kids who are learning their sounds and letters and numbers.
• Most kids love to listen to books and some even can answer comprehension questions about them.
• The kids (all of them -- even the difficult ones) love to help!
• I had a successful parent meeting on Tuesday with most of the parents present and an after meeting meeting for the parents of some of the most difficult kids.
• I am getting more organized with planning and learning how to do activities without making so many copies, as that is a limitation.

This is me talking to parents and showing them discipline charts, math games, and reading strategies that I am using to teach the basics.  I also explained to them that I moved here because of my great love for the Lord.  I hope to spread to to the kids a love for learning that will one day help them to read the Bible and be disciplined in following Christ!

SOME UPDATES FOR MY REGULAR READERS
The 5 little girls whose mom passed away a little over a month ago, have now come to be a part of Emanuel House.  Although they are not living here permanently, four of them started coming here each day at 7am, showering, participating at Emanuel House, learning about the Lord, attending school in the afternoons, and then heading back to a neighbor's house in the early evening.  This change all started this past Monday.  The girls seem happy, and are well fed, clean and excited to be back in school.  (Last year, only one semi-consistently went to school.)  May the Lord continue to be with all of us during this transition.  And, I praise the Lord for changing their father's heart to be able to come here as they are now.  Please pray for the next to youngest girl, Rosalía, who has been in a nearby city since the day after her mom passed.  Please pray that she will come back this weekend and join her sisters at Emanuel House next week.

 

Thanks to a donation, we are able to help all of the girls with regular needs including food, clothing and school supplies.  Ranyelis and Ruth Esther started attending the school this past Monday at the school across the street.  They will go each day from 2:00-5:15pm.  

We still have not officially purchased the land for future EH projects, but are ready to do so.  The land is still being saved for us, thanks be to God.  There have been some snags along the way.  Please continue to pray for this process and that everything will go through okay.  It is probably one of Mirqueya's biggest concerns right now.

We are still praying for funds for the building that will add 4 larger classrooms (YAY!) to Emanuel House.  To my knowledge, people have given / pledged about $33,000 in gifts towards the classrooms.  Building will begin after we have raised the $52,000 needed to build the classrooms.  Thanks to all who have given!  If anyone else is interested in helping out, please send a tax-deductible gift for the Emanuel House Building Project to SCORE International at www.scoresponsor.org or to POBOX 9994, Chattanooga, TN 37412. Or feel free to call 423.894.7111. I am happy to answer any questions via email at acorinnechristian@gmail.com.

Thanks for your prayers for:

• my continued spiritual growth, time with the Lord, and understanding of His Word.
• patience and creativity with my first-graders who struggle with discipline / authority.
• me to depend daily on Him and glorify Him in all that I do.
• discernment & patience regarding the little girls' living situation.
• regular rest and renewal and continued good health.