First Week of School

Having transitioned from youth ministry eight years ago into full-time teaching, I grew to expect the hectic pace of the opening of a new school year to leave me feeling unprepared, a bit anxious, and completely overwhelmed. 

BUT at least THOSE beginnings had the virtue of being somewhat predictable.  We'd stock up on fast and easy foods for lunches, set our alarms early, get all the kids up, dressed, fed and out the door to the van.  On the very first morning, I would always make sure we got a picture of our kids outside and ready to hit the road.

Once at school, I could count on the bells to ring every 50 minutes or so, ushering in a new group of high school students to whom I would explain the very same concepts and procedures as I had to the kids during the previous period. 

Melissa and I tend to work hard, especially that first week, but there was never much literal sweat involved.  Ever. 

This year: profuse sweating.  And that's just ONE of many differences. 

For example, no easy grab-n-go lunches this year.  I'm missing the "Lunchables"!  Melissa has to start the lunch planning  the night before.  Fresh fruit needs to be cut.  If the kids want peanut butter sandwiches, bread needs to be baking.  Water bottles need to be filled and chilled.

One morning Melissa realized that even though we had no mini bags of potato chips to throw in the lunches, she could bag up some popcorn.  So she popped some on the stove ... working by flashlight.

And why flashlight?  Well, school starts at 8:00 am and our goal is to leave the house at 7:00 am. To have time for prayer and Bible reading and finishing lunches and making breakfast and rousing the kids and getting dressed, we've been getting up a little after 5:00.  Which is actually not all that different from the past few years in Indiana, except here the power doesn't come on typically until 6:00.  A few fans and a few overhead lights are powered overnight by the "inverter" - basically big rechargeable batteries.  Sometimes the inverter runs out of juice before the generators get turned on at 6:00, so you do what you can by flashlight.

Another big difference that is tough to get used to as an American: we don't have our own vehicle.  The mission owns several trucks and vans and they are USUALLY available to us for sporadic use. But between break downs and the transportation needs of various projects going on elsewhere throughout the day, we don't have a vehicle to call our own and leave parked on the school grounds all day.  So we have been hitching a ride with Angie Bundy - our next door neighbor and our principal - who has graciously invited the six of us to SQUEEZE in to her family's Patrol with her and her four kids!  Pile in lunch boxes, computer bags, book bags and water bottles, and it gets a bit tight.  On the plus side, the Patrol has an AWESOME air conditioner!

Once at school, Melissa and I have both had to adjust to some major changes.

For Melissa: She's dealt with non-English-speaking students before, but this year she has 18 students between her first graders and her kindergarteners and Melissa is thinking that 10 of her 11 kindergarten students speak little to no English.  The first day of class ended with Melissa nearly in tears.  She was distraught over the thought that several of her students were quite naughty and nearly uncontrollable.  Many completely ignored her even when she called them by name.  But over the next few days, it dawned on her that the majority HAD NO IDEA WHAT SHE WAS SAYING  TO THEM OR ASKING THEM TO DO.  And the fact that they didn't even respond when Melissa called them by name?  Maybe because she wasn't pronouncing their names correctly!  (It turns out, for example, that Hans is pronounced Ahnz!) 

The second day, a sharp young lady who speaks English, Creole, French and a bit of Spanish was hired to work as Melissa's aid.  It's a trial run and there's question as to whether the school can afford to employ her long term, but Rose was a huge blessing to Melissa throughout the rest of the week.  We're praying that God provides a way to keep her on!

For me: I have been used to teaching high school English classes.  Now I have 5th and 6th and 7th graders for multiple subjects.  I need to brush up on my math skills and world history facts!  My students are great so far, though, and have lots of personality.  And they have surprised me with the depth of discussions we have managed in class already. 

Also new for me: having my own kids in class.  Caleb is in the 7th grade this year, Hannah is in 6th and Samuel is in 5th.  The 6th and 7th graders are with me for everything but History and I have Samuel's class for English and World History and then Samuel as an individual joins my 6th grade math class.  Hannah is taking 7th grade math and Caleb is taking pre-algebra with a couple of the other 7th graders.

Bonus challenge for both Melissa and me: the power has been going out for an hour or two at unexpected times about every morning.  If you need to make copies, access the internet, or charge a computer, you're just out of luck.  In Melissa's classroom, there are so few windows that when the power is out it gets quite difficult for students to see the work they are supposed to be doing.  And, of course, FANS are also missed when the electricity stops flowing!

 

My students - ready to work!

Samuel sits at the picnic table to do some of MY homework after school.  Got to keep the water bottle handy!

Hannah coming in from lunchtime recess.

 

The younger kids love the swings and monkey bars before the school day starts.

Principal Angie addresses my students during chapel on Friday.

Squeezing into the Patrol.  This was the end of a school day and Sarah looks like she's been through the wringer!

In the midst of all the inconveniences, we have the energy that the Lord provides and we are feeling quite at home and very blessed.  We are constantly aware of ... and in awe of ... the fact that we are here and getting started with the work God has called us to do in Haiti AND that it's only possible by His provision through wonderful, supportive brothers and sisters in Christ like YOU.  Thank you so very much!

I would appreciate your prayers for us during Week #2 - this week I add a significant duty to my schedule.  I will be teaching English as a Second Language to a group of 30 adults twice a week.  So, starting this week, on Tuesdays and Fridays I will have to hurry out of Cowman at the end of the day and catch a ride back to the main mission grounds where I will hold class from 3:30 to 5:00 pm.  It's a Bible based curriculum and the students will be from all walks of life.  I'm very excited about the chance to share God's word with them, but a bit nervous about taking on this new role!