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