Now that I’m in my 8th year at Faith Academy and my 6th year of teaching 2nd Grade, I find it difficult to think of new things to share with you about my life here in Manila and at Faith Academy. It seems that each year follows the same routine and my life is consumed with what happens at Faith Academy. But what DOES change from year to year is the CHILDREN God places in my classroom.

I love my class! I have 22 children representing 7 different countries (12 girls and 10 boys). They are enthusiastic about everything, yes - even handwriting. (We are learning to join our letters and that is very exciting for them.) They also have incredibly kind hearts. At the beginning of the 2^nd Quarter Joseph came to join our class. Their family had just arrived from Australia and I think all the ‘new’ just suddenly caught up with him and he just cried and cried and would not come into our classroom. Well, as his parents and our principal were dealing with him, 2nd grade were having our ‘Carpet Time’ and opening the day with prayer. I did not suggest it, but you should have heard them pray for Joseph. One after another prayed that he would be okay, that they would be good friends to him, that he would be brave enough to join us and that God would calm his heart.

Well needless to say, God answered those prayers beautifully and Joseph is part of our 2nd Grade family as though he has been with us all year round. Teaching is about the children and they are never the same. Each are fearfully and wonderfully made, with unique gifts and abilities.

The children are why I LOVE teaching!!!