Monday-Friday, May 17-21

This week…I changed my seating chart so it’s a half circle type arrangement in rows. We’ll see how that works. Some kids, no matter where you put them, will do well and some will bother others and not pay attention. I just think you can never find a perfect seating chart. Wednesday we went to town and Laura Beth and I stayed in town to have dinner with two of our students who moved to another school in Gracias, Dani and Eunice. We keep in contact with them by facebook and talk to their mom every once and a while. We met them for pizza and had a nice time catching up with them. Thursday I talked to Mr. Lara about how my kids have been behaving lately. I understand that it’s the end of the year and the kids (as well as the teachers) are ready for the year to be done. But it sometimes takes me ten minutes to start class and then when I do, I keep being interrupted, thereby wasting more time. I went through minimal material on Thursday, which puts me behind in my lessons. I want to make sure they understand everything as well, but I have to keep stopping to tell someone to be quiet, sit down, sit straight, pay attention, why do you have an attitude, what’s wrong…then things don’t get accomplished. So Mr. Lara and Mr. Calderon came in to talk to them and remind them of the way they should act the last few weeks; that we’re not done yet and when it’s time to do things, do it.

During the year my kids have been working to get different phrases like GAME DAY and such. Well we have enough letters to do something, but I hadn’t decided what we would do. Laura Beth came and talked to me on Wednesday about having a picnic day with her sixth graders. Mr. Lara said it would be fine because it would be considered our field trip. So, fifth and sixth grade will be having a picnic day up in Celaque this coming Wednesday. I told them and they were extremely excited! Neither grade was too excited about having the other with them, but we both told our kids if the other grade comes, then they both get to go home early (at noon). After that there was no complaining! It should be a fun time; we just need to plan some things they can do up there for a few hours. Thursday Sarah and I were preparing dinner and right in the middle of cooking, the chimbo (gas) goes out. Awesome. We called Sonia to see if we could use her oven and brought all the food down there. Just as we were bringing things down, it started pouring rain. Then, just as we were starting to eat, the electricity went out. Sarah commented that it’s like Honduras is trying to show us out haha. So we ate dinner by candlelight and the power came back on a few hours later. We still don’t have gas, but hopefully we can take care of that this weekend. Friday finally came and I couldn’t believe how tired I was in the morning; they’re my long days at that so I was more than ready for the afternoon to come.

A few things my kids did this week…I was in charge of doing songs for chapel on Wednesday and we taught the whole group a new song. They did an awesome job helping me teach the group with motions and words. Thursday during devotionals, one of my girls (who often gives me attitude or pushes the envelope a little) comes up to me and whispers in my ear, “You are very beautiful.” I had to ask her to repeat herself because I wasn’t sure what she said at first and she did. I was slightly blown away, but it definitely made my day, especially coming from her. Often times there are moments where I realize how special my kids are and that even when I get frustrated with them, they’re still kids, growing human beings and I get to have a part in that. How rewarding...I may never see the fruit of my labor, but I think that’s something I may just have to get used to and trust God that He is using me right now and maybe later in these kids’ lives.