Girl Rising

We spent the whole day outside with family; we were tired and covered with sunscreen and sweat. As my mom, my cousin and I got into the hotel room we sank onto the couch and turned on the television, ready to zone out for a little bit. Instead of zoning out to something inconsequential, however, we watched something that mattered.

CNN came on the screen and I was intrigued as a show about a young girl in an impoverished, developing area was playing. Turns out it was the documentary "Girl Rising." I had been wanting to see this and was very pleased when the others in the room weren't grabbing for the remote, in fact, they stayed up until midnight watching the whole thing with me. 

The numbers and the statistics are out there but it is a very different thing to read it than to see it. This film gives a face to the numbers, gives a story. I encourage you to check out two videos about the film below. Then, you must watch this film. It will open your mind and your eyes.

Film Teaser

Film Trailer

28 Days...

UPDATE! 

We are less than a month until our plane leaves the US and we head for Zambia. Its a little early to be packing but mentally I have already begun doing that. I've been thinking about things I need to pick up and what clothes I might take. But aside from the personal travel aspect let me update you on what else is going on...  

Housing: Unfortunately, this week we found out our housing plan has fallen through. I ask for your prayers that we will be able to find something else that will accommodate us and be within our price range.

Support Raising: I am so thankful for everyone who has been supporting me financially and prayerfully. I am just about $500 shy from what I need by July 1st and hopeful that will happen. 

Programming: We are going to be doing some activities for the children of the women in the program as well as other children in the community. I am happy to be working on this project, but it is a bit daunting as we are not such exactly how many children will show up! Please be in prayer with me as we work on this in upcoming weeks.  

28 days to go.... 

Taking a Lesson or Two from the Kids

For the last six months I have been in multiple classrooms, different grade levels and special areas, all mainly in one elementary school. Some days have been long and tiring, others have been full of joy. There have been children I've been really sad to see leave and others I urged out the door. I have observed, and realized, a lot.

There is always at least one (although sometimes 4 or 5!) trouble makers in the class. This is the child that never stops talking, doesn't follow directions, rarely is doing what they are suppose to be doing, and whose name you vow to never give to your future children. It is frustrating to see how much time and energy is spent on this small portion of the class or how they can ruin it for everyone else. Doesn't that happen in adulthood too? If you are in a group of people there is always that one or a small group that control how things go for everyone else. Or maybe you see in the way that so much of our media/news coverage is focused on the small portion of the population that does something wrong or bad instead of all the good. 

There are few fights worth staying mad over. There are the "best friends" that get in a fight during recess and then are back to hugging before getting on the bus at the end of the day (boys and girls!). These kids either ignore the reason for their previous disagreement because they realize it doesn't matter or have, more likely, forgotten. As adults we often hold a grudge for something that we should have forgotten about. We cling to the negative and the wrongdoing of others but forget about the good stuff, the kind words.

Most students would say their favorite subject was recess or P.E. Now, even though P.E. is indeed a subject... recess, sadly, does not qualify. But what is it that they are really saying? They like to run around, to play, to let off steam! How many adults work all day with no "breaks," no time to let loose for 30 minutes or so. Maybe we need a little more time to ran around. 

Kids like to have fun! Children are, usually, happy people! They smile and laugh... a lot. The teachers I have seen enjoy their days the most are those that have fun with their students, that don't mind making a fool of themselves if it puts a smile on their students' faces. See the correlation there... fun=happiness. When we are unhappy and feeling down it is normally related to the lack of fun we are having. Stop caring about what people think of you, stop taking yourself so seriously, and enjoy life! 

Children want to help. The other day I asked if 3 or 4 students wanted to stay in from recess (their favorite subject, remember?) to help me clean the room for the end of the year, and I had over half the class volunteer to do so! There are always children willing to hold a door, answer a classmate's question, take notes to the office, rushing over to help clean up when they hear a spill. Do we look for opportunities to help? Do we jump at a chance to make someone else's day a little easier? Or do we hope someone else with volunteer or look the other way?

Students are nice to those who are "different" than them. If I matched up partners for something not one ever said "ugh, I have to work with them". Wait.. I take that back... I did have one girl roll her eyes because she had to work with a boy... but that's a whole different topic! I saw students constantly aware of those in their class with disabilities and made sure that they were included, looked out for, made a part of the group. Dang... adults so often want to EXCLUDE instead of INCLUDE. When did we start getting the wrong?  

Instead of adults teaching kids all the time... maybe we should take a few lessons from them. Because as they say... All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.