School...

4th Grade Classroom at the Transitional Orphan Village (TOV)


"Education is the strongest weapon to fight the future"


4th grade classroom...


Rules of the classroom: Wisdom, Love, Discipline,Respect, Determination and Perseverance
The classroom that Julie uses to teach her children since she can't afford to send them to school.

I walked into my classroom today fully expecting the transition to be easy....thinking I wouldn't be affected as deeply as I was from everything I'd seen and done in the past 6 days in Haiti. I woke to quietness this morning which immediately made my heart ache...No singing children in the distance, no squeals of laughter from children who've seen pain beyond description yet resilient and somehow profoundly able to give smiles and laughs that flow into the depths of their souls. I struggled, fought and battled for perspective. Spent some time reading in Phillipians and pressed on. Drove to work in quiet. Somehow couldn't seem to turn on the radio and "plug back in"....quietness is all I wanted to somehow calm these racing thoughts. Walked into my classroom & turned on all my lamps....stopped and looked around. I saw neat rows of desks, school supplies in abundance, colors, paper, a white board, a clock that told me 26 students would be walking through the door anxious to see their teacher in 30 minutes....and I burst into tears.




When will my friends at the TOV and at Julie's orphanage get the opportunity to go back to school? I have more than enough and yet we complain about upcoming budget cuts and how "unfair it is". It breaks my heart.

But God gave me a huge gift today. I went up to the office to get my mail from my mailbox and my principal noticed my arm and sent me straight to the Dr. It was originally diagnosed as shingles but I wasn't confidant with my Dr's diagnosis so I got a 2nd opinion and it was diagnosed as a type of skin reaction...somewhat like a poison ivy. I was told to stay home the rest of the day which was truly a gift. Time to process, listen to some good music and enjoy some quiet rest. Truly what my heart needed!

I am humbled.....