Joy Restoration

This is going to probably sound crazy to you...But, Oh, how I have missed being around middle school students! God called me in that direction for a reason. I don't know exactly why, but I do know that He has given me a heart and passion for that age group. I am currently teaching 4th and 5th graders and am internally reminded of how much I miss the middle school students that I student taught last semester and also those who I mentored all last summer at camp. I bring this up because a young married couple who are teachers at my school have youth group one Friday night a month at the school. Some of the students are current students at the school and some of them were there last year, but aren't this year. This past Friday night, I joined in and participated in one of their youth groups...it was so much fun! A few of my colleagues and I volunteered to be in a skit, which brought me back to my good ol' days of being on Zeteo. Being around these middle school students restored a joy that I had been missing by teaching upper elementary. It's been a slight struggle this year because I am not meant to be an elementary teacher. After this year, I would prefer to never be an elementary teacher again....it's just not meant for me and it's not where God has called me to be. I accepted the position because there wasn't a middle school opening at the time. I figured it wouldn't be all that bad since 5th grade is part of my degree and I really enjoyed teaching that age group in Belize. It's not that I don't like my students...because they're pretty cool little people. I just don't really like teaching that age group. So, please keep that in your prayers as I continue to persevere. Pray that I continue to look on these students with the eyes of Christ and will be an influential example to them. They need Jesus' love in their lives and I have had the opportunity to share some of that love with them since the beginning of the year. God has also opened doors for me to talk with them about Him. May He continue to open those doors and gates!

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers! God Bless!