School Begins

The new school year has started at the Touch Life Centre Pre-school. We have 60 kids registered to come. Most of them are children from last year who have returned. About 17 children are new students.

The school year started well. The children seem to be settling in. Some of them were moved up to a new class. It is wonderful to see the young little Puppy Class students old enough to move up to the Elephant Class. Children grow SO fast.

The teachers have been doing a fantastic job. Their classrooms are well organized and they are actually planning ahead and teaching fun lessons. Part of the Hall of the church (where we usually have lunch and free play time) was sectioned off with some play centers set up. It looks fantastic. And most of the work was done by the teachers while I was in Cape Town. They have really begun to take initiative! Im so impressed with the way they take the little info I give them and they RUN with it and make it into something great for these kids.

I have had several moments this week where I have just sat in amazement. I just look around and cant believe we have come so far!! When I first got here, there were a few boxes of old, broken toys. The children often say still and did nothing for LONG periods of time because the teachers wouldn't plan things for them to do. When the children were given things to do, it wasn't always age-appropriate. And they seemed to do the same activity for WAY too long.

Now the children have wonderful toys (thanks to the donations of materials and money by MANY people in the US). The toys are set up in play centers for the children. (Blocks, House Keeping, Books, Music, etc) The children are divided into small groups to play in each area. The teachers rotate the children through the different play centers so each child gets to try each center. There isn't any sitting and being bored. There aren't any broken, dangerous toys. The teachers are playing with the children and keeping everyone busy. There is planning and structure and fun at the Pre-school now! WOW! I'm not sure I can truly describe the changes that are happening! GOD IS GOOD!

So we have had a GREAT start to the school year. I look forward to getting in each classroom and teaching lessons each week. The plan is to work in each classroom one day a week. I will show the teachers different ideas for how they can introduce new information and keep the children interested and focused. I look forward to this because it means I get to work with the kids more!!! The biggest challenge will be the Puppy class (2-3 year olds). Most of the class is new students....and most of them don't speak ANY English.

Please continue to pray for the children and the teachers. Amazing things are happening here!
Pray for Nomalonga, Faith, Joyce, Aurelia, Malt, Lindiweh, John, Ivan and Mumsy. Pray for Tony, Cheryl and me. And please pray for the parents of these children. Pray for the adults who influence these children to have wisdom, love, compassion and patience. Pray that we can show God's love to these children in a way that will super-glue it in their hearts so that they never forget that they are children of God. Pray for protection and resiliency for these children. Your prayers make a difference! Thank you for caring about these children, teachers, and parents. God bless you!