Old schedule:
7:30-8:00am: I taught CVF (Bible class)
8:00-9:10am: I taught English
9:10-9:25am: Snack time for the kids, Filipino teacher break
9:25-10:35: I taught Math
10:35-11:05am: continue in Math if needed, or Jhing would teach science
11:05-11:30am: club time, which was chaos. Basically, the school would split and some kids would spend time in a classroom playing Heads Up Seven Up, and the rest would be in the School Meeting Area for games. After 15 minutes, they switch. It's also the Filipino teachers' lunch break.
11:30am: I go home. The kids would have lunch and then the Filipino teachers would teach their Filipino subject.
New schedule:
The same until 9:25. Now, the Filipino teachers teach math and the volunteer teachers get a break from 9:30-10:00 and then help in the classroom or pull kids out to tutor. Our principal thought it was important to give some duties back to the paid staff because the volunteers were teaching more than they were.
Also, instead of club time, the kids rotate each day to a different volunteer teacher for art, music, games, PE, etc. I do PE.
Something else that's new are Enhancement Classes for one hour after school. Basically it's more tutoring for kids who struggle. The Filipino workers are in charge of that, but I will begin helping probably one day a week starting this coming week or the next, along with some of the other volunteer teachers.
I like the new schedule, and I like tutoring! I'm still trying to figure out the best system, though.
This week, my class memorized Genesis 1:1 and I had them do a craft creating a paper plate book on the days of creation. I actually roped the plates together myself ahead of time and wrote on the back of each plate what God created. They would have had a hard time putting the book together. They could have written the words but we started the book Wednesday and it takes them forever to write anything, so I needed to speed the process up a bit. So, on the front I had them write "God's Creation" and draw a world. Then they open up to the first page and on the left is where I had written, "Day 1: day and night" on the back of the cover page. On the right they glued on a construction piece of black paper and yellow paper. For day two, they drew water and put cotton ball clouds above it. Day 3, they drew mountains and grass and flowers. Day 4, the sun, moon, and stars. Day 5, birds and fish. Day 6, animals and Adam and Eve. One the back of the last plate I wrote, "Day 7: God rested."
Thursday was feeding site day! It's my busiest day of the week because I have school, and starting this week we have a volunteer teacher meeting with Shannon every week after school, and then I have the feeding site and then Bible study. Love every bit of it, though, and love the kids at the site!
Friday was chapel day. I was MC, which didn't mean much other than I led the school in opening prayer (I pray and they repeat back) and then called up other people to lead songs and the story and different things. Still, I felt important!
Friday was also Luke's last day. He and his huge family (there are ten kids altogether, nine that are here on the island) are moving to a different island to serve the Ati tribe. His leaving was another occasion for a picture. I'll miss having him in my class!
The Russels already do a feeding on Panay Island a couple times a week, plus there is a new school opened for first and second grade Ati children there and Rusty and Kristin are trying to help get that going. That is their main ministry focus, but they also did administration and organization work at Agape before Shannon (Canadian volunteer principal) and her family got here. Carrie, their oldest daughter, also teaches Kinder. Now that Shannon's here, they felt led to go help more at the Ati school. Kristin will home-school all nine of her kids and tutor the Ati kids in the afternoon. Right now, there is just one Filipina teacher for a first and second grade combo class (that's all that's in the school), so Carrie is going to help teach. Rusty and Kristin will both continue to serve the school and get things running there as they've been doing, but obviously it will be easier for them if they're actually on the island!
I've learned that the Ati tribe are the original Filipinos to live in Boracay, but they've been degraded and harshly treated as time has gone on. As Boracay became a tourist destination, the Ati people lost their homes. They have darker skin than most Filipinos, which automatically puts them in the lower ranks. Here in Boracay, they are not allowed to own land or have jobs, so they beg. At times, from what I've heard, they get forced off the island and shipped to Panay. The government has given them a small area where they can have their own homes there up a mountain, but the children do not receive an education because they are unaccepted and bullied in the schools, thus, the purpose of starting a new school for them. I went to a couple feedings there when I first got to Boracay, and they are beautiful, wonderful people! I don't continue to go to those feedings only because there is already help at those and there are feedings here that still needed more help. Carrie is quite the photographer, so I'll steal one of her pictures to post here. I could post a TON of her pictures, they are all so beautiful and make your heart melt.
When I first learned these details about the Ati tribe, I got a little bitter. I thought about the kids at Agape and how they all come in their matching uniforms and have small classes with two teachers and laugh and learn and make friends. Not that they're wealthy, but they at least see opportunity in their future. I thought about the Ati tribe, and how they're mistreated and neglected. I wondered if what I'm doing has much purpose. I just wanted to go find every Ati person I could and give them a big hug and tell them they DO have hope for an ETERNAL future in heaven! Maybe I should have. But I also remembered that our mission is to provide the children at Agape with a CHRISTIAN education. These kids don't need Jesus any less than the Ati people. Maybe it's even the tougher mission in some respects, because it means teaching kids to love people who they've only heard nasty, negative things about. These kids need Christ so that they will know HIS love, and know that He created every person in His image. Maybe they will learn how to love a little more like He does. Yes, that includes people with dark skin.
Just some thoughts. Now back on my previous track! Friday was the first ever Fun Friday for 4th, 5th, and 6th graders at Agape. The plan is for them to have one the last Friday of every month during the second half of their school day. Seeing as I don't teach those grades, I didn't really have any responsibilities for it, but I did get to hang out and help a little bit after I got home from school. They ate their lunches at the Jungle Barn and then played games, got fun water safety lessons from Red Cross, bumped a volleyball around, and had a sandcastle building contest. So fun!
Today (Saturday), a China team arrived! They will be here for a week to help at the school and feeding sites. When a team is here, that means the First Love sailboat is here! After my fun volleyball time with the kids today, the group had already gone out and so then I got to go with Shannon, her two girls, Anderson, and a bunch of kids. The kids made it so fun...they're so hilarious :)
I was reminded several times this week how great Filipino personalities are! I've had many times when they make me laugh just because they laugh so hard at the littlest things. Or I'm in awe at how friendly and hospitable they are. Or I just love how a kid's smile can brighten up anyone's day!
Tuesday, Elizabeth, Carla, and Olivia had Lauren, Anderson, Randy, Praise, Hya, and I over for dinner. Randy, Praise, and Hya live in staff housing at the back of the barn and all work at Agape. Hya and Praise are roommates, and Randy is roommates with another teacher named Ronel who is in Manila right now. They kept me in stitches! Especially when we played cards and the losers had to get baby powdered.
Also on Tuesday, I played beach volleyball with my normal crew and it turned into more of a "who can make the funniest mistakes" game. We didn't make mistakes on purpose, but the games were just more lighthearted that day and every time someone messed up it was so funny for some reason!
I try not to think about how hard it will be to leave here. It's not always roses, but as a whole I just LOVE it!
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