Howdy everyone!
Sorry for the delay in sending out this email. A number of things have caused this to be so late in getting sent out. Anyways, what a month this past one has been. Some amazing opportunities have come my way, but big changes have also occurred over here. The changes have affected both my personal life and my work. Some are good and some aren't so good. Even still, our Father has led me through that time and has brought me into a season of personal growth and deeper intimacy with my students.
At work, I now have no Grade 3 class (the advanced class). It happened all of a sudden and was truly sad. One day the class all went to look for jobs. By that weekend, half of the class had left to pursue various jobs; the other half decided to quit school. All of this happened without anyone telling me what was going on. I didn't get to say goodbye to many. So, a week later I get a call from a Grade 3 student who tells me that the following day will be the last day of class. I was shocked! Not only that, but it was only then that I was informed that one of my students had been in the hospital for a week because he was severely injured in an automobile accident. No one had even let me know! Plus, all of that happened in the midst of mid-terms, thus, some of my class never took their mid-term exam.
The past month also gave me the opportunity to teach local English teachers. My fellow foreign co-worker also taught them. So, I am now a little more familiar with Chinese phonetics, the subject I taught. (The closest thing in the States is phonics.) I also realized how much I prefer teaching students not teachers. All in all, this was a pretty bad experience and frustrating, but that's a rather long story. So, I tried to enjoy that kind of teaching as much as possible, but I wouldn't want to do it again. I can truly say that I am grateful for what Papa showed me through that experience and don't think I would have learned those lessons had I not taken up that opportunity.
Things with my Grade 2 classes are going better. Around the mid-terms, I started thinking about how to make it better and adapt my class to the comments and suggestions given to me. Although the classs in now in more of a routine (something I don't really care for), I have seen the students open up more and even the quieter ones start talking more. Part of that is because I do choose those students (sometimes) to give responses to in-class questions, but they are also just talking more. It has really made teaching them much more satisfying. Overall, I was very pleased with how mid-terms went even though I had to greatly assist many students with research for their mid-term which meant sacrificing lots of time. But, those are the kinds of sacrifices that truly excellent teachers make for the sake of helping their students.
Another means of connecting with my students has also opened up. After basically getting tired of eating Chinese food 24-7, I started doing a lot of cooking. It was really nice just to cook, but it also let me introduce some foods here. Thus far, mash potatoes, hash browns, chili, cauliflower with cheese (couldn't find broccoli), fried chicken, and chicken and dumplings have all been introduced and been hits. There was even a time last month when I was asked to make mashed potatoes three times! It by far is the most popular! So, at each meal I'd invite four to ten people, and then we'd chat. Those times of sharing were really nice, relaxing, and enjoyable. I plan on continuing such times as time allows. (Everything is prepared from scratch more or less. All the comforts of buying ready to cook meals in America were truly left there.)
Times of sharing continue as well here. In the past month I got to share with many university students and even with a monk. The time with the monk was really neat to say the least! Yet, these times of sharing have also ushered in great sadness. Resistance to Dad is strong here for many reasons. Some fertile soil exists, but much of it the soil here is hard as a rock and definitely needs to be broken up and softened. Only Dad can do that. More workers are needed too.
As for the personal changes, those were sparked by many things. I am still in the midst of being re-sculpted into a new pot. Definitely a work in progress, but growth has already come into my life. My joy has been revived and multiplied. My outlook on things has changed somewhat. And, I realize that I am still learning and have a lot more to learn about. I have walked through the shadow of death's valley and have been led to feast amongst green pastures. Right now, I am definitely in a season of celebration and being taught a lot about things here that will benefit those that come after me. I am sure that when I come home I will definitely be wiser, changed, and strenghened. (I'll also have some more songs to sing as Papa has given me five since I've been here.)
Having said all of that here are this month's requests:
(1) The workers here - Provision and protection are definitely needed. This is a time of major flux for all; big changes have happened, and all of us need Papa's wisdom. Two workers have yet to have much job stability here (after almost three months) and definitely need guidance.
(2) Personal wisdom - Just need it. There are many things that come to mind with this, but bottom line, I just need more.
(3) Joy during the holiday season - Lots of holidays are coming. I wanted to be here for them, but I can already tell you that I am thinking about what I'd do back home if I were there now. I want to use the holidays to teach and share, but there's so many people to teach. So, I don't know how best to use these special times to share.
(4) Continued personal changes - This is a very needed and welcomed season in my life. Already, I have seen much fruit result from Papa's changes. I don't know how long this season will last, but I want to be faithful to the end. Ask that I endure and am changed into a more beautiful daughter of the King.
Thank you all for your support. Please remember to be careful with what you write back. Please don't forward this. Look forward to hearing from you. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving too! Eat lots of turkey for me.
Enduring and sustained because He is life,
Amanda =)
