thoughts of a missionary on the island of Guam

Sunday, November 2, 2008

as the curtain closes

My time serving as a 1st Grade teacher comes to an end, and I find it hard to put into words all that I've learned.

Before being offered the position, I had been praying for an opportunity to work with children, as I haven't had much experience with kids in general. Wow! Did the Lord answer my prayer. About a month after arriving on Guam, I was offered the position of a "Learning to Read" supervisor, which means that I would teach a special segment of the students' 1st Grade year focusing primarily on learning to read. It's been 3 months, and now the program has ended, and my focus is to be shifted completely to my parents' school and my own individual studies.


Quotes:

  • "Mom- I mean oops! Hehe! Why do we keep calling you mom?" - Student, E.C. "Because you're good to us?" -Student, S.O. (How sweet is this!)
  • "I love you!" -Student, D.N.
  • "You read a word!" -Me
  • "You're a good teacher." -Student, S.O.
  • "Teacher, you look pretty." 3-year-old, N.LG.
Memories:

  • My students surrounding and literally sniffing me while I giggle and try to escape the mob
  • Carpooling with Ms. Esther while jammin' to Kirk Franklin on the way to and from work
  • The shyest girl in class, out of the blue, tackling me with a hug
  • Eating lunch one-on-one with each of my students
  • Playing "explorers" outside
  • S.H. drawing a picture of a heart, pointing to it, then to E.C, then E.C. pointing and telling on him, saying, "Teacher! He loves me!"
  • S.H. catching bugs and lizards almost at every recess!
  • Field trip to the bowling alley on Base
  • D.N. praying to receive the Lord as his personal Savior


  • Lessons:

    • Kids have a pure sense of justice and will hold you to your word
    • Kids remember almost everything
    • When working with little ones, patience is not only a virtue, it's a necessity!
    • Plan, plan, plan ahead!
    • Don't be afraid to improvise :)
    • Be flexible
    • Persevere
    • Pray
    • Love!
    What a beautiful chapter that has now closed!

    -Abigail

    1 comment:

    Susannah said...

    aw! what beyond precious memories! thanks for sharing. i know you will treasure these forever. how exciting to see what other amazing things God has in store for you this new year and time around, dear sister. :) <3 you!