After such a whirlwind experience, what’s left is to remember.
Over the next few posts I will attempt to relive my time in Paraguay. It won’t be a chronology of events, but rather a classified summary of experiences. I’ll try to make each post small enough for my friends still in Paraguay to read (they have a slow connection and pay for the time they spend online). I’ll start by describing the school.
Our days started with a staff devotion time with several of the other teachers. Each one got greeted before and after our little moment of fellowship. I appreciate those times because it helped me learn who was who faster also got us accustomed to hearing Spanish again (we generally spoke English at home). It also helped to focus my heart on my purpose. The devotion with the most impact (probably because Juan was looking directly into my eyes almost the whole time) was about being ready to walk through a door when God opens one. I realized I can’t do that if the door leads me away from the US for an extended period of time.
I worked at Adonai with Profe Ellen teaching English to kindergarten, first, second, and fourth grades. The school’s students are divided into a morning and afternoon session, so we basically did the material twice a day each with a different group of kids. They can’t read this yet, so I’ll go ahead and say that fourth grade in the morning was my favorite, but each group of kids is very special to me. We taught seasons, days, months, colors, objects, and phrases, and we sang a song in each class. I think that was my favorite, and while I grew to be embarrassed of my part in one particular song, that became my favorite song especially when sung in the morning fourth grade class. We ended it with a jazz step that makes my heart happy when I imagine them all doing it. I wish I could have brought them all home with me, but the best I can do is post the video I took of us singing “He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands”.
When we weren’t in class but still at school, JC and I could probably be found on the soccer field. These kids play soccer whenever they’re not in class or sleeping. I would add eating to that list if not for the few times I saw kids eating while playing soccer. Futbol there knows no age, gender, or size. Every kid played, almost every kid played well, and they all played better than any of my friends here play. When not playing futbol, they played handball. Either way, JC and I were the arcadors (goalies). I think the kids really enjoyed us as goalies because then more of them could actually play in the field.
I think I developed some really lovely bonds with some of the kids there. I don’t know if I’ll ever see them again, but I know they will never leave my heart. They too were created in God’s image and deserve to be treated as such. I pray that they can continue to learn and grow and that the Lord would bring them to a knowledge of Him, as the school is designed to facilitate. If I am able and the Lord is gracious, I will see them again within a few years.
My next post will be about the Church. Stay tuned.
-j
I'm Jason, and I like to write.