Tender Mercies

So i am kind of short on time so i am going to just type my journal entries over the past couple of days. these have been the hardest of days yet so hopefully you can get a little glimpse of my day to day work.. no sugar coating here. Today in the shower I had an inspiration. I like to call it that anyway.. I don't really know, but i would love to take pictures of the students desks, campus, clothing, supplies, everything here and write Oprah. She loves Africa. I don't know if there is anything she will do for me but it's worth a shot eh? So I'm going to try... When I get home, I will let you all know if anything comes of it! But i just feel strongly that I should, I am an avid watcher so... all those hours should pay off some where ya?
Ok. so here it goes:
So my class ranges from ages 6-20. quite a range for a first grade class wouldn't you think? In America, that would be unacceptable, a 20 year old in 1st grade! Here, I figured they moved half of my class out of kindergarten because they were just getting too old and it would be awkward for kids who are the correct age (5) to be working with 20 year old. However, if a kid was delayed in America he would be worked with 1 on 1 to understand and pass the grade. here they are just moved up and even more lost. they have no 1 on 1 help so they are simply moved grades with out the knowledge and understanding to do so. That is my job as a volunteer. give these children 1 on 1 help to get to the next level because they know their material. it is a big task and I counted the hours.. I have 100 more classroom hours to make the difference.
They are so emotionally unbalanced here at the school. They are deaf, lack high education systems, most have a language barrier with their teachers and misunderstand the majority of what they are told.  Special needs and mental problems are common, they are poor and live in a third world country, and on top of it all- the majority are orphans and haven't seen their parents in years. they are beat from a young age because that is their culture. they run rampant with no one to watch them except they all know, by experience, if they break a rule they will be punished severely. they are lacking a constant authority and adult figure. they need someone making sure they are in class when they need to be because they are not responsible enough themselves- at least my class isn't. yes, i will give them credit for all being in class every morning waiting for me at 8 but i think they are only there because they will get beat if head master happens to see them. The students who want to be there and learn are remarkable, but then you have the students who don't give themselves credit for anything they do and they have no hope inside themselves. My job is to bring them that hope. how? I am working so hard here to try to make each child feel individually important. I show the kids that i care about them and hopefully that is enough for them to want to work harder. its the kids that study on their own time that are going to get anywhere. this dedication comes with age i am sure of it, but if they are unable to communicate at 20, when will they ever be able to...

The teachers, at least mine, pops off the erasers from the pencils to discourage them from erasing. she says that art is art- why try to change what you already have done. it's your own individual thing.

My P-1 teachers: Edith & Comfort

the students are so interesting to me. they won't use a pencil unless it is the one they want and is perfectly sharp and the tip of the lead doesn't wiggle. they won't share either. They are all stubborn, all i do is sharpen pencil after pencil everyday.. as my teacher says quite often "these children are very very troublesome" -Comfort.

Through all of the hardship, suffering, and differences i see here though i know that the Lord is aware of each of these children. He knows them and knows their needs. It is amazing to go day by day and see the tender mercies of the Lord whether big or small. He knows Africa.