First week of school...check!

I, along with my students, have survived the first week of school!! Praise God!! I have a class of seventeen students - five boys and twelve girls. In my class, there are over ten different countries represented - USA, South Africa, Holland, Sweden, Latvia, South Korea, Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, and England! Such a great glimpse into the diversity God created.

Tuesday morning, the first day of school, brought a mix of emotions - excitement, nerves, exhaustion, and fear of the unknown. We had a few bumps but nothing that we couldn't handle - it was the first day after all. Figuring out where to go and what to do when you get there is what the first day of school is all about!

My students are leaps and bounds ahead of where I was expecting. On the third day of school, I was already teaching them fractions and they were completely with me! I am going to have to tailor my lesson plans quite a bit to fit these bright minds! I am grateful for a three-day weekend; due to a Muslim holiday we do not have school on Monday! Hurray :) My time will be spent resting and writing lesson plans!

God has blessed me more than I could ever have hoped for. Not only with my family here but also the wonderful community at ICS (my school). All the parents are so helpful and willing to help in whatever way I need. I am looking forward to getting to know the parents of the students in my class - one mom has already invited me out for breakfast! It is so evident God is alive and moving here. I can feel your prayers...10,000 miles away...THANK YOU!! God is so powerful!

Please continue praying for me and my students. My body is beginning to be effected by the stress and exhaustion of the past few weeks. My voice needs strength...as does the rest of me...especially my mind. Each day I come home physically and mentally drained. I never knew how tired one person can be. After an entire day of teaching, standing on my feet and talking, I am ready for bed!

I am looking forward to this next week to see what God has in store. My students and I have already had some good talks about God - we are striving to be a class that gives thanks.

Thank you again for all your prayers and support.