Worst Day of the Year

It wasn't a bad day at all. It was a great day, with great kids, and lots of fun things to celebrate the end of the school year.

I don't know if my brain ever really shut down last night, and by 4:30 this morning I was wide awake. As I laid in bed I couldn't wrap my brain around the fact that "today is the last day of school". I got up early and went to school to take care of some last minute things.

The kids all showed up at 8, quite excited for the movie (though they didn't know what we would be watching), and heavy-laden with snacks and kool-aid. Before the movie, we reviewed our Time-Capsule documents from the first day of school and took some time to reflect and write how we'd grown over the year. We also measured to see how much we'd physically grown! One boy grew 3 ½ inches!! (And one girl, besides myself, did not grow at all.) It was really neat to see the kids excitement over how much they'd learned and grown this year. We also had our last time to share prayer requests. Their hearts are very compassionate, and it was so neat to hear them bring up their concerns: sick family members, family/friends affected by the tornado(s) in Missouri and now beyond, conflicts in North Africa and the middle east, and praises for a good year of school. As they prayed, I just silently wept and smiled, thanking God myself for such a beautiful year and such sweet children.

The surprise movie was "Horton Hears a Who" as Horton was our class mascot this year. During the movie I happened to look up as one boy was about to crawl on his desk, and appeared to be reaching out for the girl in front of him. I was about to stop him, when another boy drew my attention to what was going on. There was a grasshopper in the girl's hair! She didn't know - so the boy was trying to grab it before it made a scene! He was very successful and took the little green guy outside and let him fly away. The whole situation made me smile.

After the movie, we did some final clean-up and then we watched the DVD I made for the kids. It consists of several short video clips I took of them throughout the year, and one slideshow with all my pictures of them. I cried - they laughed! But it was good - crying through the slideshow helped me make it through our last class prayer.

We went to our final elementary chapel at the end of the day. Each class chose a favorite song to share - my class chose 'To God be the Glory'. Yep - love those kids! And, the other classes made cards for my kids and said a special prayer for them as this was their last elementary chapel as next year they will be in middle school! It was a very special time.

The goodbyes weren't so hard after that - lots of good hugs. I will some kids tomorrow night at graduation and have to say goodbye again, but I know it will be ok. I spent the afternoon packing and cleaning up my classroom. It was a little overwhelming to see it so bare and empty, but still simple and beautiful. I will miss my class very much.

So no, it was not a bad day, but it definitely was the worst day of the year!

To God be the Glory

To God be the glory, great things He has done

So loved He the world, that He gave us His Son

Who yielded His life an atonement for sin

And opened the life-gate that all may go in!

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the earth hear his voice!

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the people rejoice!

Oh come to the Father through Jesus the Son

And give Him the glory, great things He has done!

Great things He has taught us, great things He has done

And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son

But purer and higher and greater will be

Our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see!

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the earth hear his voice!

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the people rejoice!

Oh come to the Father through Jesus the Son

And give Him the glory, great things He has done!

Leaving

Hold My Heart - Tenth Avenue North

How long must I pray, must I pray to You
How long must I wait, must I wait for You
How long 'till I see Your face
See You shining through

I'm on my knees
Begging You to notice me
I'm on my knees
Father, will You turn to me, yeah?

One tear in the dropping rain
One voice in a sea of pain
Could the Maker of the stars
Hear the sound of my breaking heart?

One life is all I am
Right now I can barely stand
If You're everything You say You are
Would You come close and hold my heart?

I've been so afraid, afraid to close my eyes
So much can slip away before I say goodbye
But if there's no other way
I'm done asking why

So many questions without answers
Your promises remain
I can't see but I'll take my chances
To hear You call my name
To hear You call my name

One tear in the dropping rain
One voice in a sea of pain
Could the Maker of the stars
Hear the sound of my breaking heart?

One life is all I am
Right now I can barely stand
If You're everything You say You are
Would You come close and hold my heart?

Hold my heart
Could You hold my heart?
Hold my heart

Arms that Hold the Universe - Fee

I know it seems
Like this could be
The darkest day you've known
But believe you me
The God of strength
Will never let you go
He will overcome, I know

And the arms that hold the universe
Are holding you tonight
You can rest inside
It's gonna be alright
And the voice that calmed the raging sea
Is calling you His child
So be still and know He's in control
He will never let you go

Through many dangers, toils and snares
You have already come
His grace has brought you safe this far
(And) His grace will lead you home

And the arms that hold the universe
Are holding you tonight
You can rest inside
It's gonna be alright
And the voice that calmed the raging sea

Is calling you His child
So be still and know He's in control
He will never let you go

You can hope, you can rise, you can stand
He has still got the whole world in His hands
You can hope, you can rise, you can stand
He's still got the whole world, the whole world in His hands

And the arms that hold the universe
Are holding you tonight
You can rest inside
It's gonna be alright
And the voice that calmed the raging sea
Is calling you His child
So be still and know He's in control
He will never let you go

He will never let you go

(He's) Still got the whole world in His hands
in His hands, yeah
Still got the whole world in His hands

Countdown

May. My last month in Rwanda. In four weeks I'll be in London. In five weeks, California. Until this weekend I have tried to avoid the thoughts of packing and good-byes that must come soon, but I believe it is time to prepare for these realities.

Why I am sad:

I am leaving a beautiful country and city, with no current plans to return.

I am leaving students who have impacted me far greater than I could have ever expected. They are each a joy and blessing that will forever be precious memories for my soul. God sure knew what He was doing when He put us together for this year.

I am leaving a community of brothers and sisters who have shown me love, generosity, and friendship. I am grateful to have shared this year with men and women who are like-minded, and like-hearted, though we come from different backgrounds and experiences.

I am leaving a place where it is easy to remember and depend on God daily in all of life’s circumstances. Life is easier here (and by easy, I do not mean convenient!), as there is less noise and materialistic distractions. It has been a good rest for my soul to not have to daily fight my own culture.

Why I am excited:

I am coming home to my dearly missed family and friends. I am so grateful for their love and support while I have been off on this adventure for 10 months.

I am going to travel a lot over the summer to see many loved ones, attend weddings, and see many beautiful places in the US.

Food! American food! And by American, I mean Chinese and Mexican! ;)

I love the ocean, and I can’t wait to go walk the shores and listen to the waves again.

It is a sure thing that this year has changed a lot about how I view the world, and has challenged me to grow in many ways. I am excited to see how I can use these experiences to further the purpose of my teaching and life back home.

I knew this school year would go fast, and indeed, it speeds on!

Blessings~