More Tales

Hello World

I'm doing a Christmas lesson this week. It's not working out like I immagined it would. It has potential, but the more I do this lesson the more homesick I get. It's strange how that happened without me realizing it. I wonder, too, if part of the downward turning of my spirits could be warfare. It is such a special time of the year, bringing unique oportunities to share JC. Come to think of it, I'm sure it's warfare. Just look at all the things I went through to get this lesson to the students:

Last week I didn't think I was going to be able to use the special room with the access to the media I needed. But just in the nick of time I got permission.
I spent two nights and a total of about six+ hours working on a powerpoint presentation with pictures for my lesson. But the night before class at about 11:30, the computer wouldn't let me save it! So I called my brother to ask what to do. He recommended emailing it to myself and access it from the room, or bringing my laptop into class and see if I could get it hooked up to the projector. When I went to email it to myself it said the file was too big. So I packed up my laptop to bring to class knowing that it would be very difficult for me to hook it up becuase of the way everything is set up in that room. There's a bazzilion wires going all over the place, and everything's in Chinese. I was the most worried that it wouldn't work because I didn't have a plan B. I spent too much time on the presentation to think of the what-if's. I didn't get much sleep that night. Early in the morning I thougt to call Brenda. I borrowed a movie from her and her USB flash drive. What a life saver!!! I didn't have to bring the laptop to class, and I was able to do the presentation. But then another problem... I had spent so much time on the powerpoint that I didn't plan out how the lesson would progress and other things I could do to stimulate the students' speaking. I'm still working on the progress of the lesson. I find myself with like 5-10 extra minutes with nothing to do. And when I'm in that posistion, 5 minutes can seem like an eternity! But it's been fun, too. The students like Christmas. They know a lot more about it then I thought they did. So that's another problem. It's nothing really new for them, so they are a little bored. So I have to think of ways to spice it up. They even know about the birth of JC!! I bought enough candy to give them each a piece. One thousand pieces of candy is a lot of candy! Each student has a number, so I draw numbers out of my Santa hat to choose which students to ask questions to. I chose one student from each class to give a Christmas present. I made coppies of Christmas music for them. What a great way to get wrship music in their hands!
A couple students have already given me Christmas gifts! One even knitted me a scarf! It's so nice. What a sweetie!

I'm still having a little trouble with the stalker woman. She always waits for me at the school gate. We've told the gaurds to not let her inside. Martin tells me she goes to our restaraunt every day to ask him where I am. Maggie told me that she is a dangerous person and to stay away from her. So I've been layin low these past days. I don't want to go out much til I think she settles down. Just today I saw her, but was able to get away. School had just gotten out and there was people everywhere, and bikes and cars and in the busy hustle I just said hello to her and went on my merry way. She would've chased me down, but she was on a bike and couldn't get around the traffic. I feel so bad avoiding a person so much like this. But I really don't trust this person, and she might con me into doing all kinds of things with her if I pay her too much attention. What a crazy situation. I'd really like to have a friend... but this lady is too shady.

Well, it's true. I am homesick and a bit lonely. But I have not forgotten how good the Father is to me. I've been listening to KTIS almost every day. Lovely Christmas music! And I heard this beautiful story by Paul Harvey that I would love to share with you. It's not the same without hearing it straight from the mouth of Paul Harvey, but it's great nonetheless. Merry Christmas.

http://www.powerline.org/documents/1723.htm

P.S. Thank you for always remembering me in your prayers. Every day there are battles!