Happy Fake Friday everyone! I call it Fake Friday because at last, we don't have school the next two days! After nearly 3 solid months with only one day off school everyone is ready for it- teachers and students alike. I am exhausted, and though today might only have been Wednesday, it felt more tiring than most real Fridays. The temps soaring into the upper 90's everyday with high humidity to match is certainly a contributing factor to the fatigue, but the relentlessness of the job is a big part. Luckily, the next few weeks are peppered (okay, heavily salted) with Thai holidays and it feels like we barely go to school in April. I'm pretty okay with that ^___^
Tomorrow's the big day that I fly to Singapore to visit Uncle Pong and Aunt Choon and their kids. So you're going to have to pardon the lack of blogs in the immediate future in anticipation of the blogs-to-come about my trip, 23 years in the making.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Monday, March 26, 2012
It's a small soup
It's a small soup around here, and the world that we call international Christian education is a small soup as well, which I guess is my way of saying, "It's a small world after all" without getting the song stuck in my head.
Here are a few examples to illustrate these points:
One. I live on campus, making the soup very small indeed. The place is crawling with students all the time, as you might expect. Sometimes my interactions with them are quite amusing. Today, as I arrived home from grocery shopping, two of my students were loitering outside the building where I live. "Hi Miss Clare," one of them calls cheerfully to me, "I was just talking to [insert friend's name here] about fractions." Riiiiight. The perfect welcome home from the grocery store.
Two. On Saturday I was at Nak Suu and was invited to hang out with the staff who run it at their dance off/ fundraiser Saturday evening. So I figured I'd go and support them and the outreach trip they are going on next month. Well, their turn out was kind of low, except for the fact that the directors' kids invited all their friends. The directors' daughter is in my class. So there I was, doing the dance off thing, while being cheered on by a group of my lovely students.
Three. I was sitting at a sidewalk cafe yesterday afternoon, in a neighborhood downtown. Across the road was HOBS: The House of Beers yes Mike, we can go when you are here). I look up and see a group of farang (foreigners) walking in- among them a girl who looked very familiar... finally I was able to place her. She teaches at a NICS school in SE Asia and I recognized her from the pictures of a friend who also worked at that school. Maybe this week is their spring break??
Four. We were talking at a department meeting the other day about people on our staff who had taught together previously- in other countries. You'd be amazed at how many their are. While I never taught with any ICS staff, there is another new teacher here who used to teach in Suriname with my former roommate from Argentina (who is now teaching in Kenya...).
It's a small, small soup.
Here are a few examples to illustrate these points:
One. I live on campus, making the soup very small indeed. The place is crawling with students all the time, as you might expect. Sometimes my interactions with them are quite amusing. Today, as I arrived home from grocery shopping, two of my students were loitering outside the building where I live. "Hi Miss Clare," one of them calls cheerfully to me, "I was just talking to [insert friend's name here] about fractions." Riiiiight. The perfect welcome home from the grocery store.
Two. On Saturday I was at Nak Suu and was invited to hang out with the staff who run it at their dance off/ fundraiser Saturday evening. So I figured I'd go and support them and the outreach trip they are going on next month. Well, their turn out was kind of low, except for the fact that the directors' kids invited all their friends. The directors' daughter is in my class. So there I was, doing the dance off thing, while being cheered on by a group of my lovely students.
Three. I was sitting at a sidewalk cafe yesterday afternoon, in a neighborhood downtown. Across the road was HOBS: The House of Beers yes Mike, we can go when you are here). I look up and see a group of farang (foreigners) walking in- among them a girl who looked very familiar... finally I was able to place her. She teaches at a NICS school in SE Asia and I recognized her from the pictures of a friend who also worked at that school. Maybe this week is their spring break??
Four. We were talking at a department meeting the other day about people on our staff who had taught together previously- in other countries. You'd be amazed at how many their are. While I never taught with any ICS staff, there is another new teacher here who used to teach in Suriname with my former roommate from Argentina (who is now teaching in Kenya...).
It's a small, small soup.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
A few of my favorite things...
The past week to 10 days here could be described in one wonderful word: routine. Lots of different pieces of life have fallen into place that has given my days a rhythm they've not had before in Bangkok, and it's been really nice. This week I had a chance to sit and reflect on some of my favorite things about living in Bangkok:
- Fruit. I love that a variety of fruit is available nearby peeled and sliced and ready to go, all for a great price. The fruit stand just down the street from school is one of my favorite stops. Quick, easy, cheap, and healthy.
- Riding on the back of motorcycles. I love that this is a regular part of my life. I love that last week I had 8 mototaxi rides in a matter of 3 days. I love it's just part of my routine now.
- Starting to speak and understand a bit of Thai. Usually this is pretty limited to giving directions to taxis or ordering food, but today I was able to talk to the woman who cleans my house and arrange for her to come on a different day this week- and I did it all by myself :) With language learning being so full of frustration and misunderstands, one of my favorite things is definitely speaking and being understood or hearing and understanding.
- Seeing God at work in hearts and lives. I love the moments where I can see or learn about what God is doing in my students or in people who are exploring who God is at my church or in the kids at Nak Suu.
- Friendships. I love the people in my life who encourage me, listen to me, share their lives with me, and spend time laughing with (and occasionally at) me.
- The heat. I know, it's crazy hot here. 90's and humid all the time. The sun is wicked intense. You can't go anywhere without sweating. And sure, I would love a few beautiful sunny warmish but not blazing hot days, especially as we head into the hottest month of the year. But really, I have no complaints. I never wear socks or proper shoes. I never need mittens or long underwear. I can feel my nose at all times. My skin, nails, lips, and hair don't dry out. Bliss.
- Public transport. I like using the skytrain and buses and taxis and my own two feet. I like that I am able to get around pretty well on my own. I love that I never have to drive!
- Nak Suu. This next month is summer break for Nak Suu, and I'll miss it. I like the regular part of my life that it has become. I made a commitment to help out for one semester, but I don't really see myself stopping. I like teaching these kids English. I like learning their names, being able to talk to them more as I learn more Thai and I teach them more English. I like running around on the rugby field with them from time to time. I like their eagerness to work on their "th" sounds. I like hearing them pray, hearing them talk about their faith in the living God.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Apartment Hunt Continues...
I feel a little bit like I am in an episode of House Hunters International, except that I don't have a real estate agent running around doing the hard part narrowing down the list for me :( What I do have is an awesome friend who called the phone number I saw on a sign and set up an appointment for us to see an apartment today. The location of this one was fantastic, but the unit itself wasn't great. It would be workable, but the main thing was that it didn't really have closets and the AC units were ancient. A few other tiny things made it not really worth the price. So then we walked circles around the entire complex looking for "For rent" banners and called one place- but it was already rented. There are lots of studios available and a number of 2 bedrooms for sale, but no other 2 bedrooms for rent that we could see. We went in one of the buildings because my friend that lives in that building mentioned some units with signs on the interior doors, but we didn't see any on the 2 bedroom units. I am so grateful for a friend who was happy to go looking with me- makes it fun instead of a chore and makes the decision less weighty when there is someone to see and evaluate with me. Plus, then we were able to go for Frappe-something and dinner after :)
So, hopefully one of these days I'll find a 2 bedroom unit that's in decent shape that doesn't have a view of my place of work.
So, hopefully one of these days I'll find a 2 bedroom unit that's in decent shape that doesn't have a view of my place of work.
Friday, March 16, 2012
Everybody's Got Their Thing
This week I have been strongly reminded of a phrase that my friend and I coined in college: Everybody's got their thing. We say this because we realized that each of us, every single one of us, have issues that we deal with in our lives. We all have struggles or situations or events that can affect who we are and how we interact with the world around us.
We say this for several reasons. First, on the days or at the times when we have to deal with our "thing" and we are tempted to feel sorry for ourselves, we remember that everybody's got their thing. And although another person may not have to deal with our exact situation- be it medical or familial or financial or emotional or whatever- we are not alone in dealing with something. When you're the only one with a "thing" it's easy to fall into self pity. But when everybody's got something, there's no wallowing.
We also say this because remembering that whomever we are dealing with (or having trouble dealing with, as the case may be) mostly likely has a "thing" in their lives, makes it easier to deal with them. Maybe it's an underlying issue between them and God that they need to work out with him and we need to not let ourselves get dragged into it. Or maybe it's a situation that for whatever reason has flared up in their life and beneath the surface they are dealing with more than we imagine. Thinking this way helps me to give grace- to the grouchy cashier or the sassy student or sullen waitress or distant friend- when I would otherwise get irritated. It also helps me when I'm in conflict with others to remember that their actions or reactions that may hurt me are often based in their own issues, and not based on me.
And lastly, it helps me build friendships in community. It's funny how God works- I'd been thinking about this a lot this week and then it was the topic of our morning devotional today. I love having friendships where we can lean on each other- when the things I deal with flare up, I can talk to them or cry with them or pray together, and when they have bad days they can come to me to talk or pray. But when we try to live in "island" worlds where we don't have struggles, don't have bad days, don't have "things" we deal with in our lives, true community isn't possible. I read a great Henri Nouwen quote this morning about how no one person is able to hold us up, but when we are able to fall back into a community they are able to support us. What a testimony it would be if the Christian community were able to live that out!
I'm sure as the years pass I'll come up with even more great applications for it- until then, just remember, everybody's got their thing.
We say this for several reasons. First, on the days or at the times when we have to deal with our "thing" and we are tempted to feel sorry for ourselves, we remember that everybody's got their thing. And although another person may not have to deal with our exact situation- be it medical or familial or financial or emotional or whatever- we are not alone in dealing with something. When you're the only one with a "thing" it's easy to fall into self pity. But when everybody's got something, there's no wallowing.
We also say this because remembering that whomever we are dealing with (or having trouble dealing with, as the case may be) mostly likely has a "thing" in their lives, makes it easier to deal with them. Maybe it's an underlying issue between them and God that they need to work out with him and we need to not let ourselves get dragged into it. Or maybe it's a situation that for whatever reason has flared up in their life and beneath the surface they are dealing with more than we imagine. Thinking this way helps me to give grace- to the grouchy cashier or the sassy student or sullen waitress or distant friend- when I would otherwise get irritated. It also helps me when I'm in conflict with others to remember that their actions or reactions that may hurt me are often based in their own issues, and not based on me.
And lastly, it helps me build friendships in community. It's funny how God works- I'd been thinking about this a lot this week and then it was the topic of our morning devotional today. I love having friendships where we can lean on each other- when the things I deal with flare up, I can talk to them or cry with them or pray together, and when they have bad days they can come to me to talk or pray. But when we try to live in "island" worlds where we don't have struggles, don't have bad days, don't have "things" we deal with in our lives, true community isn't possible. I read a great Henri Nouwen quote this morning about how no one person is able to hold us up, but when we are able to fall back into a community they are able to support us. What a testimony it would be if the Christian community were able to live that out!
I'm sure as the years pass I'll come up with even more great applications for it- until then, just remember, everybody's got their thing.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Pi Day Fun
For those of you who are not aware, today is the mathematical holiday Pi Day. Obviously, it was created by an American who wrote the date 3-14 and not 14-3. But I choose to celebrate it in 14/3 countries nonetheless. As a math teacher, we have to take our holidays when we can get them.
I make a big deal out of Pi Day in class. We spend most of the period measuring circles- their circumferences and diameters and seeing if we can be accurate enough to divide and get π. We talk about the special qualities of π and its role in mathematics. And then the real fun begins. I ask for parent volunteers to send in a pie (or as was the case for many non-pie folks in Thailand, a round cake) and usually we have 2-3 per class, which the kids are able to eat while I read them the book Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi. There's a whole series of Sir Cumference books, about him and his wife, Lady Di of Ameter and their son, Radius. But the best part of all is that before I give them their pie, I make them sing. No singing, no pie.
In the past I have had two Pi Day songs to torture them with, but this year I found a third one. "Happy Pi Day to you" is sung to Happy Birthday, O Number Pi is sung to O Christmas Tree (imagine, O number pi, O number pi, your digits are unending...) and then my newest addition is sung to Jingle Bells. The chorus goes like this:
Pi Day songs
all day long,
O what fun it is,
to sing a jolly pi day song,
in a fun math class like this!
I so dearly wish I'd been able to get video of the kids sheepishly (or perhaps for some 6th graders, not so sheepishly) belting them out in order to get their slices of pie. Pi Day is fun, but exhausting. I didn't see one of my math classes today, so they celebrated yesterday, but that still left 4 rounds today of circles and measuring and reading and singing and serving and cleaning up pie.
Coincidentally, today also happens to be Albert Einstein's birthday. Oh, and my sister's birthday too, lucky girl :)
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Gizzard on a stick
It all started with a concert, well, less of a concert and more of a worship night. It was at this church in the middle of no where, with Martin Smith (former lead guy for Delirious, if you know them), really expensive, and on a school night, but was also quite worth it. But this post is not about the worship last night, great as that was. This post is about gizzard. On a stick.
So my friend is a just a little, shall we say, obsessed with Martin Smith, so she wanted to get there early to try and get his autograph, etc. I went early with her because my choices were go early with her or wait for our other friends and possibly be late. So I chose early, obviously. After we got there and checked out the scene, we needed to get some food. We walked down a soi that had lots of food vendors, but my digestive system has been less than agreeable lately, so we were looking for a slightly higher quality guarantee than vats of chicken feet on the side of the road. There was none to be had, so we stopped in at the Thai stand-by-food-center: 7-11. On the walk back, my friend mentioned that one of her favorite foods was gizzard. I told her about how in my family, gizzard was not something you eat, it was something that you took out before you cooked the bird, and then you chase someone around the house with it- preferably a younger brother.
And so it came about, that on the walk back, we passed a stand with gizzard, so we got some for me to try. Street food, yes, but it's actually usually the fruits or veg that make you sick, and I'm not even sure what's been making me sick lately. And there I am, walking down some street in who-knows-where Greater Bangkok, eating gizzard, on a stick.
So gizzard is ummmm, a bit crunchy. It doesn't really have the texture as meat. It wasn't bad, the way kidney is bad. But I don't know that it's going to become a staple in my diet.
So my friend is a just a little, shall we say, obsessed with Martin Smith, so she wanted to get there early to try and get his autograph, etc. I went early with her because my choices were go early with her or wait for our other friends and possibly be late. So I chose early, obviously. After we got there and checked out the scene, we needed to get some food. We walked down a soi that had lots of food vendors, but my digestive system has been less than agreeable lately, so we were looking for a slightly higher quality guarantee than vats of chicken feet on the side of the road. There was none to be had, so we stopped in at the Thai stand-by-food-center: 7-11. On the walk back, my friend mentioned that one of her favorite foods was gizzard. I told her about how in my family, gizzard was not something you eat, it was something that you took out before you cooked the bird, and then you chase someone around the house with it- preferably a younger brother.
And so it came about, that on the walk back, we passed a stand with gizzard, so we got some for me to try. Street food, yes, but it's actually usually the fruits or veg that make you sick, and I'm not even sure what's been making me sick lately. And there I am, walking down some street in who-knows-where Greater Bangkok, eating gizzard, on a stick.
So gizzard is ummmm, a bit crunchy. It doesn't really have the texture as meat. It wasn't bad, the way kidney is bad. But I don't know that it's going to become a staple in my diet.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
And the transition goes on...
The longer I am in Thailand, the more I realize how lucky I was in my transition to Argentina. I have always known that it was an easy one and that it went really smoothly. Until now, however, I didn't fully realize just how good I had it. It's just as well they came in this order, four and a half years ago I don't know that I could have withstood this, and that may have been the end of my missionary-teacher career. This time around, I am seven and a half months in and I continue to feel the pitches and rolls of transition, and it's not unusual. Nor is it going to stop me. I've (mostly) quit analyzing what has made the difference in the two transitions as I continue to adjust and find my place at ICS and in Bangkok, and as I learn each day more and more where my strength truly lies.
This morning I had the chance to skype with my amazing sister (thanks to a day off school due to a Buddhist holiday today) and we were remarking about how in three short months I'll be home and have the first year under my belt. Hard to believe that the 3rd quarter at school wraps up next week and we will soon be on the homestretch. My experience in Buenos Aires was that going back for the second year was harder than the first arrival: things weren't new and exciting anymore- it was just work. But I'm hopeful that my resettlement next August may prove to be different, especially if I can get some of the hurdles of moving (such as getting internet and wifi set up in an off-campus apartment) out of the way before I leave in June.
Last night, since it was a fake-Friday night, my friend and I had dinner and tea at a Moroccan tea house downtown. Under the glow of lantern light and mosquito repellent we talked and laughed and cried until way past my bedtime. In an outdoor courtyard where the warm summer night was able to curl up around us, we encouraged one another and prayed for each other as only God could have ordained. It doesn't take the transition away, but it was a powerful reminder of many of the things I love about being here and doing what I do.
This morning I had the chance to skype with my amazing sister (thanks to a day off school due to a Buddhist holiday today) and we were remarking about how in three short months I'll be home and have the first year under my belt. Hard to believe that the 3rd quarter at school wraps up next week and we will soon be on the homestretch. My experience in Buenos Aires was that going back for the second year was harder than the first arrival: things weren't new and exciting anymore- it was just work. But I'm hopeful that my resettlement next August may prove to be different, especially if I can get some of the hurdles of moving (such as getting internet and wifi set up in an off-campus apartment) out of the way before I leave in June.
Last night, since it was a fake-Friday night, my friend and I had dinner and tea at a Moroccan tea house downtown. Under the glow of lantern light and mosquito repellent we talked and laughed and cried until way past my bedtime. In an outdoor courtyard where the warm summer night was able to curl up around us, we encouraged one another and prayed for each other as only God could have ordained. It doesn't take the transition away, but it was a powerful reminder of many of the things I love about being here and doing what I do.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Something new everyday
We've all heard the phrase, You learn something new everyday, right? Your first year in a new country, this is most definitely true!
Last Friday I learned about a new food, I guess, I think, it's a fruit? It's actually quite unlike something I've tasted in nature, and is similar to a paste that you would find inside a candy or sweet of some sort. It all started when one of my students gifted me with a bag of these things that looked, well, a bit like big turds. He told me that they were sweet and little sour. He also told me what they were called, but that I don't remember. I had him show me how to eat one, since I had no idea what I was doing. He kept telling me that they "would be good with my tea". My sixth graders sure have caught on well to my love of tea- funny, most of my students catch on well to this...
Anyway, he showed me how to open one and then peel back the string that surrounded it and then eat the sweet sticky paste-like substance off the seeds on the inside. A fun snack, but I must say, it's a lot of work for just a little bit! And, you really have to be willing to get pretty sticky :)
Last Friday I learned about a new food, I guess, I think, it's a fruit? It's actually quite unlike something I've tasted in nature, and is similar to a paste that you would find inside a candy or sweet of some sort. It all started when one of my students gifted me with a bag of these things that looked, well, a bit like big turds. He told me that they were sweet and little sour. He also told me what they were called, but that I don't remember. I had him show me how to eat one, since I had no idea what I was doing. He kept telling me that they "would be good with my tea". My sixth graders sure have caught on well to my love of tea- funny, most of my students catch on well to this...
Anyway, he showed me how to open one and then peel back the string that surrounded it and then eat the sweet sticky paste-like substance off the seeds on the inside. A fun snack, but I must say, it's a lot of work for just a little bit! And, you really have to be willing to get pretty sticky :)
 |
| Opening the pod |
 |
| Peeling back the string, what is left is what you eat, minus the giant seeds underneath. |
Saturday, March 3, 2012
All that glitters aint gold
A blur of thoughts on Nak Suu, giving, receiving, and coming home covered in glitter.
After two weeks off Nak Suu, we were back today, but in a new location. Our old field closed, and while this field is nicer and closer, it does mean we need to make some adjustments. For example, instead of sitting at tables while I taught, the kids sat on tarps on the ground. In some ways I really liked this- they were closer to me and during the other teaching times, I could sit more closely with my group. The littlest kid, Film, kept leaning on me- mostly because he wanted me to give him "points" on his little card that they can earn prizes for, but still, it was cute. I liked sitting right there with them. Plus, being on the tarps made it easier for the kids to practice some of our new English words today- run, pass, kick, etc. all used for rugby. But is presented challenges as well- like kids turning around or not listening or laying down and this led to some rather defiant behavior that we don't usually see. After having some issues with respectful behavior in one of my ICS classes this week I was not feeling overly patient with their sass.
Today was great because I feel like I got to connect with the kids more than I have in the past. I am getting to know more of them and they are getting to know me and catching on to the fact that I'm not going anywhere. So many volunteers come for a week or two and now they are starting to see that I am sticking around. I also learned some new Thai words as I talked to the kids, asking them the words for things we were using. But it was also a challenging day- challenging me to teach in yet a different setting, to discipline kids or help them listen in a different setting where I am very limited linguistically.
I like being able to spend my Saturdays giving to these kids, though lately, I've been learning a lot more about receiving. In a lot of ways, I think receiving is harder than giving. God has been showing me that while I enjoy giving and I like it when there is give and take, I really struggle with just receiving. When someone does something for me, or helps me with something, I have a hard time if I cannot repay them in some way. I don't like needing help or asking for help. And not that I should start just being a "taker", that's not the point. A large part of the point is that God has this enormous love that he gave us in Jesus, and I need to sit back and receive it, since nothing I do can repay a love that deep. Just like in friendships, I have a hard time sitting with Jesus and receiving love. Just that. Being, and receiving love.
It makes me wonder how people feel who are poor or disadvantaged, who are often "asked" to receive, but from whom we do not want to receive, to show need. I was just reading a news article about the struggles of being poor in the US and I look into so many faces here with so much need and I wonder, what is it like to have to receive and receive without being able to give and return in the same way? So often, we want to come in and give and we don't give people the chance, the dignity of contributing as well. I don't have clear thoughts on this, I'm not sure yet how it connects to what I'm learning about receiving, so I do sense it's all connected- in the blessing of all that God has given me, it is so easy to put up an arrogance that says I'm here to give, and I don't need to receive.
They say it's better to give than to receive. But I don't know about that. I think there are times to give, times to receive, and times to do both. I do love giving to these kids, even when they disobey or I end craft time covered in glitter, green glitter. But each of them also needs opportunities to give- to make my day better with their hug or smile, to teach me a Thai word, to contribute to their community in some way. May we each give to those around us, and may we be willing to receive as well, receive the love of Jesus and the kindness of those in our lives.
After two weeks off Nak Suu, we were back today, but in a new location. Our old field closed, and while this field is nicer and closer, it does mean we need to make some adjustments. For example, instead of sitting at tables while I taught, the kids sat on tarps on the ground. In some ways I really liked this- they were closer to me and during the other teaching times, I could sit more closely with my group. The littlest kid, Film, kept leaning on me- mostly because he wanted me to give him "points" on his little card that they can earn prizes for, but still, it was cute. I liked sitting right there with them. Plus, being on the tarps made it easier for the kids to practice some of our new English words today- run, pass, kick, etc. all used for rugby. But is presented challenges as well- like kids turning around or not listening or laying down and this led to some rather defiant behavior that we don't usually see. After having some issues with respectful behavior in one of my ICS classes this week I was not feeling overly patient with their sass.
Today was great because I feel like I got to connect with the kids more than I have in the past. I am getting to know more of them and they are getting to know me and catching on to the fact that I'm not going anywhere. So many volunteers come for a week or two and now they are starting to see that I am sticking around. I also learned some new Thai words as I talked to the kids, asking them the words for things we were using. But it was also a challenging day- challenging me to teach in yet a different setting, to discipline kids or help them listen in a different setting where I am very limited linguistically.
I like being able to spend my Saturdays giving to these kids, though lately, I've been learning a lot more about receiving. In a lot of ways, I think receiving is harder than giving. God has been showing me that while I enjoy giving and I like it when there is give and take, I really struggle with just receiving. When someone does something for me, or helps me with something, I have a hard time if I cannot repay them in some way. I don't like needing help or asking for help. And not that I should start just being a "taker", that's not the point. A large part of the point is that God has this enormous love that he gave us in Jesus, and I need to sit back and receive it, since nothing I do can repay a love that deep. Just like in friendships, I have a hard time sitting with Jesus and receiving love. Just that. Being, and receiving love.
It makes me wonder how people feel who are poor or disadvantaged, who are often "asked" to receive, but from whom we do not want to receive, to show need. I was just reading a news article about the struggles of being poor in the US and I look into so many faces here with so much need and I wonder, what is it like to have to receive and receive without being able to give and return in the same way? So often, we want to come in and give and we don't give people the chance, the dignity of contributing as well. I don't have clear thoughts on this, I'm not sure yet how it connects to what I'm learning about receiving, so I do sense it's all connected- in the blessing of all that God has given me, it is so easy to put up an arrogance that says I'm here to give, and I don't need to receive.
They say it's better to give than to receive. But I don't know about that. I think there are times to give, times to receive, and times to do both. I do love giving to these kids, even when they disobey or I end craft time covered in glitter, green glitter. But each of them also needs opportunities to give- to make my day better with their hug or smile, to teach me a Thai word, to contribute to their community in some way. May we each give to those around us, and may we be willing to receive as well, receive the love of Jesus and the kindness of those in our lives.
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