I had an AMAZING day!!!!

First of all I want to thank you, because the food has been much better. Today I did have an upset stomach, but the food's taste has been much better, so thank you for the prayers!

Yesterday was by far the worst day that I have had here, I was ready to go home. I was still in a 1st grade class with 37 students and absolutely no classroom procedures or a classroom management plan set up. I also had no curriculum. It was a frustrated day to say the least.

Today was much better. My day started off with a hug from a 3 year old girl who hugged me like she had never been hugged before. I could feel that that hug meant the world to her and she did not want to let go. I sat there for probably 5 minutes hugging this little girl and rubbing her back. When I had to go, she cried, and it broke my heart. But knowing that I was able to show that girl some love made the day start off great.

The first grade teacher is back!!!! She had be start in her class for the first hour, which I didn't mind because they had just practiced the classroom management procedures enough that they started to get it. We played "Brother Marc Says" (Simon Says) and then I taught them 2 songs. "I'm Taking Home a Baby Bumble Bee" and "A Tutti Ta, A Tutti Ta, A Tutti Ta Ta". They loved it. I wrote down the words to the song for their teacher to use a different time if she wanted.

Then I started thinking. How can I make a difference in this school? How can I help these teachers? It occured to me that their classroom management is the biggest thing they have a problem with, which is why they use the stick. I have talked to the Head Master, and my host Mom (who is very high up in the school) about an idea, a new classroom management technique where the stick would no longer be needed. THEY ARE ON BOARD!!!!! I am in the process of writting a new classroom management plan that would help the teachers use different discipline techniques. This is a big change for Africa, and it will take a lot of people to go along with this change. If there is one thing that needs prayer right now, it is this. Please pray that everyone will agree to fully cooperate with the plan and impliment it in their classrooms. I am working hard to make the plan as complete as I can. I am taking many ideas that are in place right now in Rockford and changing them slightly for the circumstances here. Please pray!!!!

Thank you. I will update more soon! I get excited when my phone vibrates with a text, so please keep them coming. I need a support system and encouragement, because I don't have that here, and every text I get is a piece of encouragement for me. Thank you!