A New Year!

I have these great intentions of blogging more often, but some how life gets in the way. The kids have been back a week now, and for the most part, we are back to normal. Of course, 'normal' doesn't really exist, so who knows what we are back to. We did get 6 new kids so far this semester: two 7th graders, and then a 6th, 4th, 3rd, and 2nd grader. This adds 4 new girls to the dorm, which is pretty exciting, bringing us up to 15 total. I'm torn between being sad there are no new 5th graders, and being relieved. I mean a new student would be fun, but a lot of work, and strangely, I don't really need any more of that. These three provide plenty of work themselves. :)

We also have already begun the lice fight this year. Amazing how quick that stuff takes over. Seriously, it never ends! Some day the bug will all be gone. On a cool note though, we got to look at a lice in a  microscope, which was great for the kids! Gross, but great. I mean, have you ever seen a lice in a microscope? That is one gross bug! Especially when you can see the blood in it that came out of someones head.
I'd like to leave you with these lyrics. A friend posted this song on her facebook, and I listened to it today with the kids. I love it, because it is so true. (And no, I am not in great suffering or anything, I just love the message of believing in God's hope, and taking Him at his word.)

Carry Me (written by Audrey Assad and Phillip Larue, sung by Audrey Assad)
Pain is a forest we all get lost in
Between the branches hope can be so hard to see
And in the darkness we've all got questions
We're all just trying to make sense out of suffering but

You say I am blessed because of this
So, I choose to believe
As I carry this cross, You'll carry me
Help me believe it

Fear is a current we all get caught in
And in its motion faith can be so hard to find
And we all falter 'cause we're all broken
We're all just trying to turn the shadows into light but

You get glory in the midst of this
And You're walking with me
And you say I am blessed because of this
So, I choose to believe
As I carry this cross, You'll carry me

And I know Your promises are faithful
And God, I've seen Your goodness in my life
And oh, I've found Your mercy is a river
Your love is an ocean wide

You say I am blessed because of this
You get glory in the midst of this
And You're walking with me

And You say I am blessed because of this
So, I choose to believe
As I carry this cross, as I carry this cross
'Cause as I carry this cross, You'll carry me

You'll carry me, God
You'll carry me
And Your love is an ocean wide

Another week, another challenge

So this last week, we got the joy of facing one of my favorite things: l-i-c-e. I refuse to even say the word anymore! If you have ever searched a head for that L word, you know what I am talking about. You see, my first head searching experience came this summer, and little did I know what a useful skill this would be. Ironically the first time I searched heads, I didn't even know what I was looking for completely, having never seen l-i-c-e before. But I searched heads, and then was able to see it on the one girl who did have it. So last week, on Tuesday, when I heard we had 2 girls with it, I was not so excited. Again though, God came through. You see, we do not currently have a nurse. We have people with medical training, but no one filling that position. However, on the work and witness team (they are the groups that graciously serve us throughout the year, the ones we could not survive without), there was a nurse. I have detected l-i-c-e before, but never treated it. When we finished checking heads to have 5 girls with it, I was so very grateful for someone with experience to help treat heads. That said, I am so done with this stuff! Combing heads for ever, washing them, treating them, etc. is so not my favorite thing. It takes forever! And then there were the 20 loads of laundry we had to do! Needless to say, it made for a long day.

This week, I am teaching 2nd grade. Upon my arrival here, I found out that I am the substitute teacher on call, and this week, our 2nd grade teacher is out due to a death in her family. This means that after about 16 months, I am back in a classroom! It was a lot of fun to teach today, and with only 2 students, it was pretty easy! I'm excited to be doing something a little different, although it does make my days a little longer.

I continue to learn more about the amazing God we serve as I stay here. Just tonight I was blessed by a Bible Study with the other young women here. It's a blessing to be able to spend a little bit of time together, getting to know each other, and learning how to be women of Christ. I'm so thankful I serve a God who knows my needs and never fails to meet them.