day 97: term 3 on our own!

today was a crazy long day!! :)

got up at 5am to finish planning & going over the lessons for the day. left the flat a little early (around 7:30) just to make sure we had enough time to find our way to the school (allowing time to get lost as it was our first time driving into the townships alone), introduce ourselves to the new principal (whom we've yet to meet) & find our way to class. thankfully, we made it there without any problems!

when we arrived, several ladies stood curiously at the door staring out at us. no one knows who the new principal is this term & they seemed to think it might be us. they, too, were awaiting the arrival of the new, "anonymous" principal!

we introduced ourselves to the deputy principal & she proceeded to AGAIN introduce us to many of the teachers. only then, when the teachers said, "oh no, they are not new to us!" did she realize this was not our first time at the school. we shared with her about the camp turnout - that 89 learners had come - & she was absolutely floored!

we taught 2 1-hr. LO classes that went extremely well & then held after-school leadership club for an hour. we've much to learn about planning as our after-school plans had to be revised at the last minute. school let out about 5 minutes late & then the head of the department wanted to talk with us for about 10 minutes. so, we started club 15 minutes late. when we realized we were pushed for time we knew we had to cut the lesson short. we could not simply rush to get finished as there was no way the learners would have understood. but, the change of plans was no suprise to the Lord & the learners were quite engaged all day!

we left the school in a rush to head over & meet the rest of our team. time to switch cars for the last time! goodbye to the duct-taped, muffler-dragging mazda! hello to the treasured toyota! haha...

the erickson's were sweet enough to offer us dinner & welcome us again into their home to debrief our first day. always such a joy to spend time with them. needless to say, we're exhausted! BUT, when i cannot hold my eyes open i remember EVERY night of camp...when i laid down at night & fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. THAT is what i strive for - to have NOTHING left at the end of the day. PRAY we will be continually SPENT, leaving it all out there EVERYDAY. may we never become apathetic or lax towards the task at hand! :)