The Ocean

This is my third week of full time teaching, and when they say full time, they mean it. Even though I literally come home around 5:30 pm, eat, plan, and go to bed.....I am LOVING teaching! I end up laughing all day long...inside and outside (even when I am trying to be serious and the "adult"). The more that I teach, the more that I realize how much this fits me and who God has created me to be. This semester has been a major challenge and struggle for me socially. A lot has changed with people and with schedules; it hasn't been easy. However, I feel that God has used this heartache for good like always. I have been able to pour my whole self into student teaching and feel like I am succeeding. It is the first time since I have been at Taylor that I have been able to just focus on my relationship with God and one thing. Being a TU student, you end up being over committed and spread too thin. I forgot what it felt like to truly give my all to something. This has been so refreshing!

This week at school I am teaching a unit on the OCEAN!!! Being a scuba diver, I am really passionate about the ocean. Also, last year for my thematic unit, I did it on the ocean. So, it has been so rewarding to get to actually use this unit and to see how the students respond to my ideas. Two days in of fun and three more to go....with a BEACH PARTY on Friday! Get excited! :)

Today my teacher was videotaping my science lesson (the second one I have ever taught...the first being yesterday) about the animals that live in the coral reef, so I was already feeling a little under pressure. Then, as I was teaching, the principal walked in and observed me. I think that it went well, and I surprisingly was not that nervous.

So, two weeks from today, I will be done teaching and on my way home to Ohio for a few days before I head to Burkina Faso. I cannot believe that I am at this point already. I know that my experience in Africa will fly by, also. Therefore, I am going to try to soak the life out of the culture, the people, teaching, and lessons and growth that the Lord has for me. Now, I will continue to pray as I wait.