Okay, Kim and Robin, you are not allowed to read this post until after you have visited. Otherwise it will ruin a surprise.
For the rest of you, today started out a rotten day. I don't know who I can talk to and who dislikes me these days at Buen Provecho. It makes things uncomfortable. And then someone whom I have specifically told that I am offended by the word gringo and asked them not to say it, said, "The gringos are coming for the next two weeks." I didn't say what I had planned to say because it wouldn't have done any good. The person said it knowing full well it would offend me. If I had responded to the person it would have only given them an excuse to be mad at me. But I did wait until they were done speaking, then calmly turned and left the room. And still, later the person seemed offended. Oh well.
So yeah, my day didn't start well and from there I thought it was getting worse. A lot of the older kids had today free from school because it was report card day so there were a ton of them who aren't usually in my class. Those are the ones who are normally harder to teach. And today my plan was to teach them a song in English so they can sing in English when the teams come.
The enemy was working overtime in my mind saying that none of the kids would participate, they would just complain and give me a hard time. I even considered nixing the idea of the song for today. But I really wanted our guests to see how well the kids are speaking English, and even singing in English! So I gave myself a pep talk. If I have a perky attitude, the kids follow suit. If I act too strict, they shut down. Although I was feeling solemn I knew I had to kick it up a notch in order to get the kids to participate.
I walked down to the soccer field and yelled, "Class!" then headed up to the classroom. Normally I stand and wait to make sure they come. And normally they continue to play. But today I decided I was not going to let that upset me. I expected none of them to follow for a while, then they would want a drink of water, and maybe 15 minutes later they would show up in the classroom. But no! They immediately stopped playing, walked right past the water fountain and straight to the class. That had to be God at work because it has never, ever happened before.
They settled right in with our morning devotional and things were going so smoothly I got up the courage to write the lyrics, word by word, on the board. I explained what each word meant and we practiced pronunciation. Actually, I didn't have to explain many words because the kids knew a lot of the words already, which was yet another pleasant surprise.
We started to sing the lyrics together and almost all of them sang out strong. I told the two that weren't singing they would have to sing alone if they didn't choose to sing with the group. That got everyone involved. So we sang everything a few times and I corrected the pronunciation. Then they each said/sang (their choice) the lyrics one by one. Speaking a second language out loud is intimidating. I know that. Some of the kids are better than others.
About 4 tried saying, "I can't." But by now they all know that does not work in my class and we will wait there all day until they try. So the peers encouraged the kids who were scared and everyone said the words by themselves.
Now it was time for the music. I hadn't really thought about how we would do it exactly. They already know the words in Spanish. I had only taught them the chorus in English. Let me just say, I was shocked. I was so shocked I cried.
I imagined Robin and Kim, who have known these kids for years and years, watching them sing in English with almost perfect accents. They will be so proud of the kids. And they will also be proud of the work that I am doing here in Honduras as I represent their church.
The kids loved that I cried. And it was a good cry, like I couldn't talk and had to sit down and wrap my head in my hands. They all huddled around me and hugged me and told me to go ahead and cry.
Finally when I could talk I explained to them what I was feeling. I told them I had started the day in a bad mood. I admitted that I was hesitant to teach them the song because I thought they would give me a hard time. But they have the most beautiful attitudes and because of them, I want to go on. I thanked them and told them that I always thank God that they are so open to learn. I told them that when I pray I thank God for blessing me with such amazing students who constantly surpass my expectations.
At that point Oscar, the smooth talker of the group, said in Spanish there is a saying that a student is only as good as their teacher. I told him and the class honestly, I think for me it is the opposite. They are the ones who make me a good teacher. Today is a perfect example.
We are all excited to sing for the teams that are coming. The kids say they want to learn the whole song in English, but I think it sounds cool to sing parts in Spanish too because the teams will enjoy hearing a familiar song in Spanish. We'll see. Maybe we will have some solos in English. Who knows?
I told them all they could go eat. It was late. But they said they wanted to sing more. Since there was no school today we stayed and sang.
Sometimes, if you give God a chance, He can completely turn your day around. That's what He did for me today.
Later I saw the person who had said the offensive thing to me. They were still in a bad mood. Oh well, I cannot control other peoples' happiness. I can only control my own and try my best to be a positive influence on those around me. That was my lesson for today.
I am extremely grateful for the teenagers who shine their bright lights into my life when my own is getting a little burned out. They show me love when they don't even know I am discouraged. I love them and as much I as am struggling right now with other things, they are the ones I am here to serve. They are the ones who matter. Gossip, disrespect, negativity - all of that can be driven away by God's light that shines through these kids. I have to say something we probably don't say enough. Thank God for teenagers! And thank God for placing me as their teacher.
