After sending out a letter of nothingness last week, I have been convicted this week of the awesomeness of my life. I realize spring and the season of things may have a lot to do with it, but God showed me in many ways this week that I have much to be thankful for.
My job isn’t fun anymore. It hasn’t been for a while, but this week some small victories were made. I discovered that Kerill, a child most would suspect as ADD and give up teaching to, can tell time in English better than all of his classmates. I showed the Jesus Video to my fifth graders last week when I was sick, and, while they all said they enjoyed it, today one student retold me the story of the loaves and fish – quite to my amazement. They can’t wait to see the end of the video on Thursday. The third graders just finished watching the Prince of Egypt, and when I asked them questions, they fought over who would answer, as all of them knew and understood the story. So far this week, I have had five fifth graders write an essay in English – proof that they have learned something this year! While I often feel like most of the children at the school are little terrors, I am beginning to realize that I will miss them when I leave. They have all earned a special place in my heart.
I can’t put down the Chronicles of Narnia series. I don’t know if I have ever read them before, but they must go on everyone’s to do list. C.S. Lewis was one of my heroes before I read the series; by the time I finish, he will be on the top of the list. The stories are fun and easy to read children’s stories; the significance of the symbolism in them can and should rock the faith any person who reads them. Just to feel the breath of Aslan, the great Lion (: God), to feel His breath upon my face and feel power, to romp in the grass with my best friend – I want to be in Narnia (: heaven). I have been reminded of the eternal spring that I will one day enjoy; the present one only makes me crave heaven so more.
Though I was very homesick, Easter was a great holiday. I missed my tradition of going to Kansas City to spend the weekend with friends at the Lozano’s, but God reminded me all weekend that friends back home are still there, and that I have plenty of friends here as well. On Sunday evening we planned to see Jesus Christ Superstar – I haven’t been to the theater as much as I would have liked, and this sounded like an appropriate story for the holiday. We had trouble finding the place, but the college level Andrew Lloyd Weber musical in the small theater was still an enjoyable experience. I would like to see it again, maybe performed by native English speakers and at the Schubert Theater! We enjoyed a light dinner at a Georgian restaurant together and as we walked home amongst laughter and friends, I couldn’t help but thank God for all that He has given me.
Of course, I still worry about money, about how I will survive this summer, about what to do next year, about my family, and anything else worth significant thought. Like the Israelites, whose plight seems more and more applicable everyday to me, I so easily forget where I came from, what I have been blessed with thus far, and so further doubt where I will be in a year. All is His hands, (or furry paws, if He’s like Aslan)!
Ok. I’m getting long winded again, sorry! Pray for my finances this month; a debriefing retreat we are having this weekend that another girl and I put together – that we will all have open hearts and minds and begin to prepare for heading back into the states (most girls will leave the first week in June); especially for patience as the end of the year means more cancelled classes and less attentive students; and for my health as spring means allergies means stuffy nose and chest means yuck!
Sorry to bombard you all with more reading so soon after the last one…..I’ve been pensive this week! Thanks for your responses too!
In His Paws,
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