I'm back!

 

Well, hello! These past few weeks have gone by SO fast! I can't believe today marked the start of the fourth week of school. It just doesn't seem real! So many things have happened within the past few weeks, I'll try and catch you up.

First of all, teaching has been going so much better! Thank you so much for ALL of your prayers! God is so faithful! I have been continuing to pray for more wisdom and strength throughout the day -  I need it! However, classroom management has been a lot easier than that first week (code word for that week: the dark ages). God surely does move mountains! I have continued to pray for more and more supernatural love for the sweet children that I'm working with and God has definitely been supplying that! I love these precious kids so much and couldn't imagine NOT being their teacher! My life has been blessed and enriched in every sense of the word by these dear children.

Children can teach us so much if we let them. I know these words to be true, because I have seen it happen within my own life these past several weeks. If you're ever having a rough day, talk to a child. You will come away more blessed than when you came! I love the sweet innocence of childhood: the big bear hugs, the enormous squeals of laughter, the genuine smiles, the list could go on. Children are the most sincere beings on the planet! My students continue to show me the importance of not holding back and loving life on a day to day basis, as we are not promised tomorrow. How different would our lives be if we took a few minutes to talk to an old friend, call a loved one, or stop to encourage someone, "just because"? Try it. I "dare" you. :)

I have felt so much more connected to my students the past two weeks. The first and second weeks were still a time of adjustment for both my students and for me. They were getting used to "Miss Beka" and so was I! Praise the Lord for His grace and His strength - - to Him be all the glory! A few moments that stuck out to me over the past several weeks were when a few little girls in my class picked me flowers over break and insisted that if I wanted more they would "definitely get more." :) So sweet! I also noticed the kids started paying more attention in class, started giving me more hugs at the end of the day, and made time to share with me about the simple things going on in their lives. One little girl stopped me while I was teaching one day and proudly displayed a new, missing tooth! Priceless! There is never a dull moment being a teacher, that's for sure! And I wouldn't have it any other way.

 

On a personal note, I celebrated my twenty-third birthday this past Saturday! I can't believe that I'm almost in my mid-twenties! When did this happen and how can I make it stop? ;) The day before my birthday all the students made me cards - - it really was the sweetest thing! I made everyone sit in a circle and then I opened up each card like a little gift. The kids l-o-v-e-d it and roared with joy when I opened each one. I started tearing up towards the end and the kids all exclaimed, "It's YOUR BIRTHDAY! You can't CRY!" That's right! What a bunch of cuties. I truly felt loved and I remember looking around the room and thanking Jesus for the opportunity to teach such precious children. Each one is a gift in my life!

 

 

I ended up celebrating my actual birthday at the village with the children. I must say, it was definitely a special birthday! A traditional Honduran custom is to crack eggs on the birthday person's head and the kids DID NOT want me to miss out on that one. ;) The boys at the boys house gently cracked the eggs and poured a little flour on me -  - but the girls - - - they mean business! After I was at the boys house I made my way to the girls house and couldn't believe the amount of eggs the girls had nor their stances. They were ready and man did they smash those eggs on my head! At least a few of the girls stuck around to help clean me up afterwards ;)

On this past Sunday my new roomie and "sister" came - - Mercedes! I am thrilled to be spending the year teaching alongside this awesome gal! She brings so much energy, joy, and laughter to the house. She really is a blessing and I know her 5th and 6th graders will love her as much as I do!

Please continue to pray for me and my students! Your support and resources are vital to this ministry  - we can't do it without YOU! I'm praying that Jesus will bless you in a special way and will encourage you to pursue Him with reckless abandon - just like a child! “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:3

 

May God bless you!

For the children,

Beka

 

 

First week: I'm a teacher!

Hi friends and family,

I've decided to start a blog which will follow my journey this year as a missionary teacher to Honduras!

I'd love for you all to come along with me on this adventure and this is one great way for you to do that.

It's been three weeks already in Honduras - - can't believe how fast the time is flying by. I have a feeling this school year will fly by even faster! This past week was my first week as a teacher. It was definitely a crazy ride, but I am so thankful for a God that promises to "never leave us nor forsake us." I definitely depended on Jesus and needed Him for every moment as I experienced the amazing and yet bumpy ride of being a first time teacher!

Before I tell you more about my week, I'd like to talk to you more about the program we're using and what my role is. First of all, this school uses the ACE program, which is a Christian approach to learning and stresses the importance of character building. This program uses "paces" which are subjects that each of the children completes individually as some may be in different levels of math, science, reading, and so on. I am there to help the children in these subjects and to make sure they are testing and scoring correctly. I not only help with paces, but I teach the elective classes for my second graders. I also help teach two electives for the first graders! The electives I teach are agropecuaria (agriculture), art, music, and physical education.  I am excited to be teaching this program and to be helping train future leaders for Honduras! This country needs to start rebuilding from the ground up - and part of that is by training future leaders to spark change in a country that desperately needs to be revamped. 

Tuesday was my first day - - it was definitely a blur! I have helped teach sunday school, taught CEF summer Bible clubs, and grew up with six children, but being a teacher is a whole different experience! My past experiences and background have helped me as I become a teacher, but this week was a learning experience as I navigated the classes and the students. Part of my biggest hurdle on Tuesday was classroom management. It sounds so simple but it is something that can make or break a classroom! After class on Tuesday, I prayed for the Lord to give me wisdom as I learn what it means to run a classroom efficiently and create a fun environment at the same time. I also asked for advice from my director here as well as friends/family that gave me great perspectives, fun ideas, and sound wisdom. The following days were a lot better as I implemented some wisdom given to me and prayed in situations when I didn't know exactly what to do, but I knew that God does! 

Something that stood out to me last week during one of my quiet times was 1 Corinthians 13. This chapter speaks about the importance of love and truly encouraged me as I felt discouraged at some points. I remember feeling so exhausted and overwhelmed on Tuesday night as I cried out to God and said, "God, I just graduated with a PR degree. I've had business management and communication classes - this is over my head! I don't have enough knowledge!" But then, as I read that chapter, the verses stuck out to me like never before. Please take a moment to read that chapter and then come back to my blog. As I read the verses, my heart was touched. It doesn't matter how much knowledge or experience I have, I will learn...but what does matter this year is showing my students God's love and just loving them. God knew I needed to read that chapter...and at that moment...and He helped me to refocus my gaze back to Him and back on His mission. He took my discouragement and replaced it with joy and peace! I know that everyday has it's own set of problems, but I know that we serve a Savior that is living and is on the throne....and with Him, "ALL things are possible."

I am teaching a beautiful group of children with a range of ages! They range from six years old to ten. I have five children in my second grade class and the other children are from the community. They are so sweet - a lot of them give me back their worksheets after they are done as a gift. Please pray for wisdom, motivation, and peace in their hearts and minds as we start week two already. :)

Please continue to lift me up this week, too!  I am excited to jump back into the classroom and help my students learn more about Jesus and learn more in their classes!

Love you all - thanks for your support across many miles! Praying for you!

In Him, 

Beka