Knowing

Today I said goodbye to my dear teacher friends at CLS.  I am more sad than I can say to see them leave and our time together come to an end.  Never can I remember feeling so welcomed and accepted.  It has been a great honor and blessing to work with these amazing brothers and sisters this summer.  I have been inspired in my faith, challenged in my calling as teacher, and uplifted in my spirit through endless joking and laughter.  There have been all kinds of silly jokes between the teachers throughout the summer.  They are serious about their faith and driven in their work, but also thoroughly enjoy having a good time.  One joke we kept coming back to was "knowing."  Someone would say, "I know" and that would lead to "I know you know" and then "I know that you know that he knows"... You can see how the silliness would then continue to spiral out of control.  What amazing times of fun and lightheartedness we have shared together again this summer.  Below are pictures of the teachers playing various games during our "breaks" this summer.  Hopefully they will be able to incorporate some of these games into their classrooms this year to add some fun and excitement to the school day!

In all seriousness though, I do know a few things about these teachers.  I know that they are facing an incredibly challenging journey during the next school year.  I know that they each face difficulties with their families and finding ways to provide for those they love on their meager salaries.  I know that they will face hardships in the form of sickness, fatigue, frustration, discouragement, and many other struggles that come in the countless uphill battles that they are set to fight.  I know that they will have students in their classes who are abused on a daily basis, who go without food regularly, who have lived through unthinkable devastation, and who have sustained earth-shattering losses.  I know that the teachers will have to find ways to differentiate and teach students with diverse needs.  I know that they will have few resources and many needs to meet in their classrooms.  I know that there will be moments when they are discouraged and feel like giving up.  

I also know that these teachers have faith that can move mountains.  I know that they have such strong relationships with each other that they will not let each other fall.  I know that they will love each other and their students through any trials that they face.  I know that they will have attitudes of thankfulness, even in the times of want.  I know that they will choose to encourage and teach the children who are behavior problems in their classrooms.  I know that they will study their subjects carefully so that they will be prepared to teach their students.  I know that they will find ways to make each other laugh through the frustrating moments.  I know that they will encourage each other with truths from God's word.  I know that in every circumstance they will go to the Lord in prayer.  I know that they will make a positive impact on the lives of their students and little by little they will change the future of their country.  

There is much more I know about these amazing people, but this is a good list for now... Thank you for following along on this journey through Haiti!  Much love in Christ, Jessie