Sickness and Subbing

Last week was busy…at least for me.  Beginning on Monday, a mysterious illness started taking down people left and right.  First one SM got sick, then another and another…  That meant I had to sub for different grades when an elementary teacher had to stay home.  Altogether, I think 8 student missionaries got sick—some with a nasty but short-lived stomach bug, and some with a cold or virus.  One of the local teachers got sick too, but it was for a pull-out class so that just meant more recess time for the kids (at least that’s how I handled it…).  Thankfully, only two people stayed home at a time, so between the coach and I, we were able to cover for the missing teachers.

So this is how my week looked:

Tuesday—Spent Valentine’s Day subbing for the kindergarten class.  I didn’t manage to get a lesson plan, so we mainly played that day.  Made valentines, and parents handed out cupcakes at the end.  The kids were so cute…but I never knew so many tears could be shed over just one offhand comment or a misunderstanding.

Student 1:  “Ms. Hillary!  She called me stinky!”

I go over to the offender.  “What did you say to her?”

Student 2:  “She called me a stinkbrain first.”

 

Back to Student 1.  “Did you call her a stinkbrain?”  

Student 2: “I didn’t!  I was talking about the crane.”  She points to the crane doing construction across the street.

Me to Student 1.  “She was talking about the crane.  She didn’t even say you were a stinkbrain.  You shouldn’t call her stinky even if she did…”

Students 1 and 2:  “Sorry.”

Someone else starts crying.  “They won’t let me play with them…”

I go over to the group.  “Why won’t you let her play?”

“She can play with us.”

I call the student over.  “Come over and play.”

She’s still crying.  “No, I don’t want to!”

At least it’s only 4 hours of this.

Anyway, teaching that class made me think of how God must look at us sometimes.  We get bent out of shape over little things—somebody looks at us the wrong way, or our cupcake falls on the ground, and we get in a bad mood.  But it’s really not that big of a deal.  If we could see the bigger picture, life wouldn’t be such a rollercoaster.  Don’t make mountains out of molehills.

Playing in Kindergarten

Now I realize that the kids were asking me to fix the situation because I was the adult, and they trusted me to take care of it.  And actually, it was amazing how easy it was to clear things up (most of the time) with a few words of wisdom or a little pat on the back.  I guess we should be that quick to bring our problems to God, and that quick to accept His comfort and voice of reason and to let the issue go.  Short-term memory loss about little problems and disagreements can also make things a lot easier.  Many times, once I talked to the students about letting someone play with them, it was cleared up and they began playing happily together as if nothing had happened.

Wednesday—Two people are sick, and I’m teaching 1^st grade now.  They’re so cute, seriously.  Moments from the day included 8^th graders coming in to play with their little “brothers and sisters” for one class period, and one girl sobbing because her favorite 8^th-grader “left” her to go to class and she wouldn’t get to see him until after school.  Everything is a catastrophe when you’re that age…

Thursday—1^st grade again!  The kids were crazier today, or maybe it was just me.  They grabbed food from my lunch box, refused to do work, and were so loud I couldn’t hear myself talk sometimes.  

“I’m looking for quiet, good students to send to recess,” I tell them above the din, and a couple dash to their seats and try to look qualified.  

“Ms. Hillary!” one screams.  “I’m being quiet!”  

 

“Ms. Hillary!” bellows another.  “HE’S MAKING NOISE!” 

“Ms. Hirraly!”

“Ms. Hillapree!”

“Her name is Ms. Hillary!” yells my ESL student, who’s an expert now.

“Ms. Jen—I mean, Ms. Hillary!”

“Ms. Pillary…what’s your name?”

 There’s one who simply won’t stay in his seat, and that encourages others to run around with him.  I almost lose my keys under a grate.  One kid tries to pull down my skirt.  The girl who cried yesterday runs away to see her favorite 8^th-grader.  

When I send them off to computer class, I go into the library and pray.  And when I come back to the kids, I’m smiling.  Things might not be perfect, but God is there for me.  We’ll make I through…

At the end of the day I have them make get well cards for their teacher, Ms. Jen.

Two more people are sick.

Friday—All the teachers are back at school, making a valiant effort to be well.  Thankfully, even though they haven’t all recovered, it seems like they’re on the mend. 

I’m back in the library with my books.  It’s quiet.  I made it through.  I didn’t get sick.  I survived both kindergarten and 1^st grade.  I’m ready for Sabbath.

Keep praying for us.  There are so many little problems to deal with, so many tears to dry, so much drama, so many decisions to make when you’re dealing with a motley crew of 12 to 25 kids.  We need grace to be patient, kind, wise, and positive.  I’m glad we have a big God who knows us and our kids better than anyone.  

And I’m thankful we’re all feeling better now!

"From the end of the earth I will cry to you, when my heart is overwhelmed.  Lead me to the rock that is higher than I"  Psalm 61:1

"For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, 'Fear not, I will help you."  Isaiah 41:13

"For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly."  Proverbs 2: