Tuesday morning I began teaching English in the elementary school in San Jose. I was asked to teach the 1st, 2nd, and 5th grade classes for an hour each. Unable to communicate effectively, my first day was so frustrating. So after a bunch of googling ESL (English as a Second Language) games and ideas and having Carlos help me translate instructions to all the games in Spanish I went back to school Wednesday and it was so much fun. Prepared with plenty of games, a ball, and a bunch of songs and dances, the students and I had so much fun. I am teaching colors, number, and greetings in English right now. The kids are so eager. The school system here is a little different. The elementary school has seven grades with kids aged 4-12. 1st grade is 4 year olds. 2nd grade is 5 year olds and so on. The 7th grade teacher is also the director of the school and has been very resistent to outsiders teaching his class. All week he had me teach in all of the classes, but his. BUT on Friday he asked me to teach his seventh graders for an hour. After the hour was up the students begged me to stay longer. Jeanette pointed out to me that now the director is comfortable with us working in his class. The community here is small enough that everyone knows that Gringos (white people) are here working with the Christians in town. The director is now comfortable with Christians working in his class! Go God!!
On Wednesday and Thursday afternoons we had the kids programs. Marcello, a visiting pastor from Guayaquil, led songs and the lesson. Then we made lion puppets out of brown paper bags. So much fun!
Saturday morning was youth group. Four middle school girls and I hung out and painted our nails. We then played hand games. I was nervous about leading youth group because of my limited Spanish, but we had so much fun.
This morning, right before church started, Jeanette asked me to lead kids church. Ben Plummer, a missionary from Savannah Christian serving here for a year, and I read stories with the kids, colored pictures, and sang songs. We couldn't understand each other completely, but we had so much fun. We all laughed the entire time.
Ben said something last week that I have been thinking about a lot. In the states church and Christianity is all about ministry. It's all about getting people to the next church event, making sure the events run smoothly. But here, there is no ministry, so here it's all about people. It's all about connecting with people, getting to know them, setting an example, showing Jesus through what we do, through our attitudes, not about impressing people with a cool band and a dynamic speaker. Jesus was all about people. I want to be like that.
Life here is slower. People are never in a hurry. I'm learning the importance of noticing everyone around me and not just passing with a wave or a quick "hola", but stopping and getting to know them. I am constantly reminded that people were never an inconvenience to Jesus and they shouldn't be to me.
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