Recruiting New Teachers

I got the update from the board last weekend. Here is what next year is looking like.

• Kindergarten: Pending response from current teacher
• Grade 1: Filled
• Grade 2: Has an applicant
• Grade 3: Pending response from current teacher
• Grade 4: Open
• Grade 5: Open
• Grade 6: Open
• Grade 7: Open
• Grade 8: Open
• Highschool: Filled
• Highschool: Pending response from current teacher
• Highschool: Open

So I posted an add on goabroad.com and updated our web page with the latest data.

I could really use your help. Do you know of anyone who might be interested in coming down here to teach next year? If so send them to our web site at http://www.authenticwalk.com/belize/index.php

Things in Perspective

In Bible class today we were studying about the start of the American Missionary Movement with Judson's trip to Burma. Man that guy suffered a lot. He was imprisoned at one point for 3 years in terrible conditions chained with only his beaten and whipped shoulders touching the ground, no light and the stench. For 6 years he never saw one person become a Christian. Yet in the end he led a movement that God used to lead thousands to Christ.

As I read this from our textbook I could feel the cracking sensation of the sunburn on my back. Last Saturday I was out a bit too long working on the trees and burnt myself. Monday it was almost unbearable trying to get through class. My students were quite compassionate. As I read this story I thought my sufferings are small. My pain is from my own silliness and will pass in a few days (it is not that bad), his went on year after year.

Anyhow after reading this I was really impressed by how easy I got it.

PS Some time soon I need to send you pictures of our trees...

Wall of Prayer

During staff meeting last Tuesday I shared some
of the struggles I have been having.  It seems
some of the other staff are feeling the same.  In
response we took some time and prayed about
this.  In addition the teachers are getting together
after school and praying in the middle of the field
and many of you on my prayer team have expressed
your support and prayers.

In response I sense God's presence like a wall
around the school.  It is not easy for many of us
but I sense hope rising.  Please continue to pray
for us all.

Discouraged

I am hesitant to write about things like this but what is the point of
having a support team like yourself and not sharing with you the
lows instead of just the highs.

I find teaching really hard.  I think everyone is getting tired.  We are
now almost 3/4 the way through the year and both the students and
myself wish we were done.  .

Sometimes I wonder what I am doing here,  why did I leave so much?
I came to make a difference and to help those who really wanted to
grow.  At times I do not feel wanted.  My students argue with me in
class, they get angry about how I mark, they tell me I am doing it
wrong, and the class gets out of hand.  I wish I had taken some courses
in classroom management.  They are still really good kids and to the most
part stay out of trouble, I just feel worn down inside and need prayer for the
strength to press on.  I also need help knowing which things to call for the
students, which to let go, and to embrace opportunties for life-change.

Sorry for ranting and I hope I have not dishonored my students.  Maybe
the biggest prayer I need is that I will love these students with the same
love God has for them.

100 Words Per Minute

In Keyboarding class today one of my students broke 100
WPM.  That is so incredible!  I felt inspired and since I had
not tested myself for a while I did their speed test along
with them.  That one student and I raced to beat each other
and almost tied.   For the first time in my life I got 101
WPM (less 5 WPM for errors).  I never knew I was so fast...
it was only a little while ago I thought I was doing 55 WPM,
I should have figured that after typing every day for 7 years
after that test I might have gotten a little bit better :)

Now I have to figure out what I can get my student for such
a big accomplishment.  Any ideas?

The Adventures of Cory and Chris

The Adventures of Cory and Chris
January is now over. We have been to 4 countries since the new year has begun...starting in Canada, traveling through the US and Mexico on our way to Belize. And then, just the other Sunday, Chris and I took a leisurely walk through La Union, Mexico. In Blue Creek, we live literally a 1 minute drive from the Mexican border. After paying a boatman $1 Bz to travel across the river, you arrive in Mexico.

With the change in schedules for us (whereas, we used to both go to school for 7:30am [or earlier] and both leave around 5:30 or 6pm) now, since, I am not teaching full time, we have different transportation needs and so we decided to get a bike. Gas in Belize is very expensive (about $5 a gallon) and the bike only costs $4 US to fill. We think we can ride it for about 5 days or so on a full tank (which is only about 1 gallon). It is perfect for our needs. And we can resell it in the end, probably for the same amount that we bought this used bike for. Although not common in Belize, we believe in wearing helmets!

I (Cory) am volunteering these days and enjoying it. I find that I do indeed fill a need in the school for someone to come along side the teachers and provide an extra set of hands, eyes, and help in the classroom. I have spoken with the teachers from grades 1 to 5, asking their needs and have arranged to come in during certain times of the days. For example, the grade 5 class needs some help from 8:30-9:15; the grade 4 class needs help from 9:15-9:45; the grade 2 class needs help from 10-11:30; the grade 3 class needs help from 12:30-1:30; and the grade 1 class needs help from 1:30-3. It is so amazing how God has designed it so that, I can help out in so many different classes throughout the day...what a difference I feel that I am making.

Some classes just need someone to come in and read with the kids in their reading circles, freeing up the teacher to help the other kids one-on-one with their seat work (or I can do the seatwork and the teacher can do the reading circle). Some classes, need someone to take a child or two aside, providing them with some extra practice reading time. Some classes need an extra person to come along and help the students with their math work.

Today's schedule was: 8:30-9:45 with grade 4's doing math; 12:30-1 with a grade 5 student working one-on-one with his math; 1-1:30 fifteen minutes each with 2 grade 3 students who needed some one-on-one extra reading time; 1:30-2 with six or seven grade 1's helping them to understand how to count money; 2:15-3 with three grade 1 students who needed some extra reading time. This last bunch I had a lot of fun with as we read a small story a few times, then we tried to see who could read it the fastest. We will keep record and give a prize at the end of the week. (And extra points were given if you followed along while the others were doing their verbal readings). I don't know if I have ever seen kids so excited about reading...and these are the kids who are struggling!

I am also providing lunch (for a small fee to help cover the cost of the food) on Tuesdays and Fridays. This is a big venture for me as I don't really cook that well...and yet it is an opportunity to learn a new skill. So far, I am doing well with the meals and breaking even on the money collected compared with the expenses incurred. I know what is was like as a teacher, trying to figure out what to eat for lunch everyday while living in a foreign country where food is not quite the same as you are used to in your country of origin. (E.g., in Canada I would have a sandwich for lunch practically everyday. Here, it is difficult to find good sandwich meat).

That's it for now.
Cory