At school, the kids did more review over everything they've learned this unit to prepare for their exams next week. Jhing had me do some grading and a little bit of other paperwork, as well as read a book for story time. I mostly observed while she gave them mini exams to help get them ready. It's funny how I have been able to learn so quickly who the brighter kids are and who struggles, and I could tell on the first day who the trouble-makers were. Interestingly, one of the trouble-makers is one of the brighter ones. He doesn't really misbehave that much, but he just likes to look around and not pay attention to the teacher, and seems to be the ringleader of the class.
Something new and fun for me to see today at school was Chapel. I guess they have it every Friday, and while Bible verses, prayer, and songs are implemented in the classroom, it's neat to see everyone come together to worship God. The kids were led in prayer, sang some worship songs, and were told the story about Adam and Eve, how they ate the apple which brought sin into the world, and that sin separates us from God but Jesus' blood allows us to have a relationship with God and go to heaven. For me, one of my favorite things ever is watching worship in a different language.
Revelation 5:7-9: "After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:
'Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.'"
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.'"
It's so neat to see any different tribe or tongue or nation praise God, and it's a blessing to say that I've seen two different countries, two different CONTINENTS besides my own worship in their own tongue.
After school, I went home (yes, I'll call it home now!), ate, and then went to pick up my laundry. I headed back to the Barn for just a bit before leaving for the same feeding site I went to last week. It's a little awkward for me because the kids already know the other "foreigners" and I'm still trying to get into the groove and get to know the kids better. It's still a blessing to see them listen to the Bible story and receive a meal with such joy. While kids in America probably wouldn't even finish the large portions of food we give out, the kids here try to finish theirs as quickly as they can for a chance to get seconds.
To give the little background I know on the Ati tribe, they are a group of people who are generally not accepted by most Philippines. I'm not really sure why this is, but I think a school is in the process of being build for the Ati people so that the kids can receive the education they need and deserve without being mistreated.
These people are poorer than most of the people I've seen in Boracay. The toddlers usually just go completely bottomless - no diapers, underwear, or shorts - I guess because it would be difficult to wash them. I think they have to walk a ways to get water, so they just drink and use the bare minimum. For basically any injuries or illnesses, they really don't have much they can do. I think I told about Jemima with the broken leg in my blog last week. This week, as I was putting neosporin and a bandaid on a child, an elderly woman asked me for some cotton and was pointing to her mouth. She ended up opening her mouth to show me her rotting teeth, and I believe several were missing. She's been having a toothache and just wanted some gauze to put in her mouth for relief.
This is a more minor story, but one little girl, probably two years old, had a fresh, bleeding cut. I warned her that the stuff I would put on it (I can't even remember what the name of it is...it's common, though) would burn, and I expected her to at least flinch. She didn't even bat an eye. Most of these kids come with pretty deep cuts all over their feet from walking around barefoot all the time.
Carrie Russell (daughter of one of the married couples here) treated a teenage girl who had cut off half her fingernail using a machete. The wound was two weeks old I think, and looked like just a blob of dried blood.
I'm thankful for being here, and I'm thankful for what God is teaching me! I'm glad I am able to blog because, especially today, it has really helped me to reflect on what I've seen and learned when I probably wouldn't have really given it much thought otherwise.
These are Ati children coloring with colored pencils on this slab of wood.
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