Reflections on Teaching in Belize

(First  - let me apologize for not blogging sooner - I get caught up in the busy-ness here and forget sometimes that we need to keep in touch. As they would say here, I need a 'lashing'...)

TEACHING IN BELIZE IS...

~ long hours of preparation, alone in my thoughts...

~ reams of paper being printed and copied for the students...

~ driving to each location, picking up students on the way...

~ a heavy backpack full of papers and notes and lots of water...

~ anxious moments of anticipation to see who attends this time...

~ fighting off moments of discouragement...

~ refocusing on the entire race before me, not just this day...

~ swatting botla flies and mosquitoes...

~ dealing with the heat and humidity, for all of us...

       (students struggle to listen sometimes...)

       (teacher struggles to think sometimes...)

~ cold showers or a dip in the creek to cool off after class...

~ rice and beans and tortillas - and chicken...maybe fish...

~ teaching in English, to hearers who speak 4 other languages...

~ listening to four other languages when not teaching...

~ understanding next to nothing of what is said...

~ wondering if that is how some of the students feel...

~ long hours of passing along ideas and concepts...

~ long hours of hopefully adequate communication...

~ long hours of carefully selected words and explanations...

~ long hours of concern for clarity, contextualization and Christ...

~ long hours of listening, looking, letting the class teach me...

~ long hours of thinking on my feet, analyzing and adjusting...

~ and moments of brillance~

~ moments of 'aha!'

~ moments when students are highly engaged...

~ moments when it all clicks...

~ moments when we gain new ground...

~ moments when we scale new heights...

~ moments when it is thrilling to be a teacher...

~ moments when it is obviously the Spirit in control...

~ moments of gratitude, splendor and awe...

~ moments when it is all worth it...

~ moments when I realize again, who I am...

~ moments that I would not trade...

~ moments when I walk fully in my calling...

~ moments when I am thrilled to serve God by serving people...

         ~ Glory to God !!!

~ Ray