a fresh start

week 2-day 1
I made a commitment last night that starting this morning I would strip my life to the basics. In prayer I let God know I would be meeting him first thing in the morning to hand him the heaviness of the day to come. I figured turning 25 was a good time to re-evaluate the times in my life that worked the best, like when I was in Guatemala and everyday I had to depend on God first. It was the most joy filled time that I can remember in my life, and I has a sense of faith that I desired at every other point in my life. Ok God, take it on.
I woke up this morning with worry boiling in my soul. I went straight to God, although I will admit I was dragging my feet a little.
Not too long after this I got the call from sub center for my position. They asked if I could report to the far south side (which would take me at least 2 hours to get to), and I asked if there was any possibility of something less far away (considering I didn't have much time to get there and that I had a long way to go). Sub center assigned me to a different school and I just took it. I got stuck in horrible traffic , got lost and ended up being a little bit late.
When I finally pulled up to the school I realized it was a school I had seen over the weekend, and when I saw it I had tucked a thought away about wanting to work there. I was pretty stressed out that I would now walk in minutes late to the beginning of this school relationship. I ended up getting to walk with the vice principal to my class room (which was in another building a few blocks away...I guess they have more than one building to house all the students). It was a pleasant walk, and she didn't seem to be in any rush as she made several stops along the way and had me come with.
When I finally got to the class I was nervous at the possibilities of what I was about to face. I walk in to the seemingly sweet faced students of this 4th grade class. They were all Hispanic from all over, Mexico, Guatemala, Puerto Rico, etc. I quickly fell in love and felt overwhelmed with a sense of belonging. They all reminded me so much of the children I loved and left in Guatemala and Venezuela.
There was a student teacher in the room with me, but she just started and was only there to observe for student hours. I quickly picked up the lesson plan, scanned it, and absorbed as much as I could so that I could begin teaching.
The day went sooo beautifully. I fell in love with the students, and they took to me very quickly. I was able to teach without any discipline disruptions, and I was able to begin to remember my love for teaching. The student teacher told me this was the best day they have ever had, that she had never seen them so well behaved...Thanks God, thanks!
Side note: the absent teacher had a daily devotional sitting on her desk...Yea, I see ya...I understand
One student kept trying to sneak me his work telling me, "take it with you, I want you to have it" I made a deal with him and photo copied it so that I could take it with. I missed out on a special secret note that was on the back one of the stories he wrote, warning:reading this story may cause laughter. I think he did that because I told him how funny I thought his story was.

My mom called me on my way home to tell me she couldn't believe that I had gone to that school because she had passed by it this weekend and thought it would be the perfect school for me, so she had said a prayer about it...hmmm

I can't explain the oddness of how well my day went, but to say that I really do believe God put me there...maybe not to put me there permanently, but maybe just to restore my faith that I need to keep pushing forward. Hearing that the students were from places like Guatemala was a great reminder that my desire for international service is closer to my doorstep than I sometimes realize.

what will tomorrow bring.....