"I love you, Teacher"

Children are a wonderful gift. I always learn something when I am around a child. Every time my Children disobey I think about my relationship with God. When I first started teaching English in Korea, about a year ago, I had one little boy that was just a very hard child. He was three. He did not like school. He did not like English. It was my constant frustration. He spit in my face, hit me a couple of times, pinch me and anything else to make it quite clear he did not like me or anything related to what I did. I gained much patients from this little boy. I was reminded on the day that the little boy spit in my face that while on the cross Jesus was spit on. Matthew 26:67 "Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him," I too "spit" in Jesus' face, and I argue with him almost everyday; yet God loves me unconditionally. The Happy ending of this story is that the little boy and I eventually became friends, No better then friends... We are buddies. now he is one of the sweetest little boys. My co-teacher and I were patient with him and we won him over to the "sweet side." About 6 months later that same little boy would press his little face next to the window and wait for me to get to work before he would go play with his friends. He could not speak much English but He learned "I love you, Teacher!" and would tell me over and over. I also learn about God when my kids do sweet things, like Today. Today, I went out to eat with some of my kids from school and their parents. I teach 7 year olds English. Some of my Children gave me love letters! One little boy gave me a present of perfume. :) It was a hard year in Korea but it was all worth it when that same little boy reached up and held my hand and say "I love you teacher!!" As much as this sweet story made me feel un speakable joy. What also God must feel when we reach out to Him and say here is my hand hold it just because “I love you!”

A Little out of Tune

My school did a music performance today. All the kids had to learn a new song. My classes' song was really really long and very hard. I rather enjoyed teaching them and practicing with them because of my background in music. Some of the kids found very hard. We practiced and practiced. One little girl was still quite pitchy.

So when she got up to sing yes she was out of tune but she remembered all the words. There was a lady behind me who was was clearly frustrated with the little girl's rendition of the song. This lady having no connection with the little girl, began keep time very loudly hoping that the girl would do it the "correct" way. After putting up with this for about two minutes I gave the "teacher glare." That look of "you know what you are doing and it needs to stop right now." I had the sudden "mother bear" mentality of don't mess with my kid. It is truly amazing how fast you can fall in love with kids. EVEN if they are out of tune!!!

A Little of the Good Stuff

I eat lunch with my kids at school everyday. After watching me for a few months they have picked up on the fact that I don't eat certain foods cause it makes me sick... mainly wheat. yesterday, I overheard one of them talking, "Don't give Teacher chocolate. It will make her sick." Apparently they have decide that I can't eat any of the good stuff: bread, cake, cookies and chocolate. On that note one of my 7 year olds told her mom that I couldn't have cake and her mom brought my class a cake that had no wheat in it. This was one of those big tall cakes too. A couple of layers. Her mom told my co- teacher it was "Just so I could have the good stuff." isn't that sweet?