Texas, seems the Lord wasn't through with Texas being in my life. I spent another nine years consecutively this time although not in the same school district.

As soon as I arrived I took over a class that definitely did not want to be in school. The first teacher left and went to the middle school - the class was left with a long term substitute that couldn't wait for the new teacher to arrive, which was me. Although I was saved and spent the last 15 years being a Christian..... I had to bring out what some would call, my Detroit on this group. I had told the principal to just put a sign that read, "Storage" above the classroom door and let me fix the problem. She was not happy with this class at all and felt they had not been learning. No wonder, they didn't want to learn - not yet

I prayed over this class and the room to be sure and God gave me wisdom. My number one wisdom point was - don't sit down, always be on your feet monitoring and being actively involved.

Number two, treat the good and the bad the same - no partiality. Number three, be firm! It was going to be my way; and it was. It was 25 to 1 and I was going to win hands down. I won with God on my side the students learned more than academics. They learned to respect authority and each other. Manners were a priority as well as reading and math. They began to think differently about themselves and the class as a whole. I could see God working...and by the time they left in May - they were crying.....as a relationship had been built and what, even they thought impossible, materialized before their eyes....they learned something.

My little talks with them - sermonettes on behavior - worked. Treating them with respect and holding high expectations -worked. They went on to middle school ready for the challenges and God had His way again in the lives of the unsuspecting - taking care of children of disobedience.

 

I stayed at this school three years...the following August brought an experience into my life that I would not want to ever go through again. September 21, 1989 - 21 students died in a school bus accident in our district. A huge delivery truck ran a stop sign and pushed the school bus into a waterfilled pit; door side down 21 students could not get out.

Oh, what a sad day....the principal came to each room to tell the teachers; he asked us to tell the classes, but not to inform them as to the bus number as some of these students had relatives on the bus going to the middle school. One girl from my class had just taken the lunch count to the office and overheard 'something' about an accident...a bus and was visibly upset. I sat in front of the class....calmly - it must have been the Holy Spirit that kept me...and told them there had been an accident...and students had been hurt...but all was being taken care of ..... Of course their first question was what the number of the bus was and I am glad I really didn't know.

The accident happened in the morning therefore we had the whole day to get through. At first the number was 11 then 15 and ended up 21 died. Needless to say, school was cancelled the next day and graciously we had the weekend to put a buffer between school resuming. One family at least lost two children...the brother had gone back to get his sister.

I left school that day.....to drive home which was only 10 miles....I had to stop at a convenience store to get a soda....and sit there a minute....I was getting a little shook up...all day with the class; keeping calm and even....now. I drove the rest of the way home - parked the car in the drive way and broke down.

Where was God in all of this? Why did this have to happen? We do not have answers because we do not know what God is working out in the lives and hearts of a people for His purpose.

We as Christians that have the truth, and are called to be witnesses must go, must be available so that we are where God needs us to be.

There are so many, so many..........

This sixth grade class graduated up to the middle school....no problem.

One girl was 'afraid' to go to middle school, she wanted to stay in elementary...and ended up crying her eyes out the last day of school; after I talked with her about all the moves I've made and the new experiences I had, the new friends I've made that I wouldn't have missed, she calmed down and put a smile on her face - looking forward to her new adventure.

Within another two years I was at another district teaching sixth grade science and math - another class that did not necessarily want to be in school. One boy was particularly a problem...he did not want to do any of his work and had an attitude. His father wanted him removed from my class because I wouldn't give in and let the student do his own thing.... this student had been 'spoiled' at home and could 'do no wrong.' So, after talking with me...the principal and I felt this boy would be better off in a male teachers room...so off he went. While running across a busy street one day, a few months down the road. he was hit by a car and died. Satan wanted him out of my class.....left to his own devices and choosing to be disobedient and loving it so. Yes, he was a problem to the end in school...catered to at home and not made behave - - is this 'love'?

I actually had care of two classes as I team taught with another teacher. He taught Language Arts and Reading while I taught the science and math and then we change classes. At the end of the year - he and I decided to let the students watch a video and have lunch in one of our rooms for a treat. With the principals permission and the other teachers consent, the video I selected was, "The Cross and the Switchblade". The movie was just about over...the bell rang....it was time to go home.....Dave Wilkerson making the altar call to the gang members.......he had been preaching to....I thought, "Well, we'd better get these students home and may be finish the video tomorrow." I reached up to turn the video off and was met with, "NO, we want to see this...please, leave it on!"

I looked at the other teacher and he too was fixed to the television screen; the altar call was made and tears were in these students eyes.....again, the Holy Spirit had His way in their lives...in another district, another school.

When I attended Bible college - one of my favorite songs was, "I'll Go Where You Want Me to Go"...well, I had been going, going, and going. I was tired of all the moves, and God graciously let me stay in this particular district four years, but not the same school consistantly.

The next school year we all had to move. The sixth grade center was being dismantled and moved to the middle school; there was a new high school opening and it would alleviate the population of the middle school at the upper grades. So, I opted to go to a new school...with a new principal..about five of the teachers from the sixth grade school went too, the rest followed the existing principal to another elementary.

Since sixth grade was being placed in a middle school - I took a fifth grade classroom. This was a brand new building - and a pleasure to decorate with classroom 'things' and get ready for a new class. I was going to have a good year. I only had about 15 in my class. Of course there was always a little person that wanted to 'run' the show, but I kept my eye on him and he was doing just fine...with my redirecting his behavior to more important matters. Christmas holidays came, the atmosphere was one of excitement of the approaching break. About three weeks before Christmas break I play Christmas music very low in the class during 'silent reading time' -which ours was right after specials -which means the students either go to music, P.E., art or health.

One day...the Holy Spirit opened the way for me to ask the students if they had ever heard of the Chrismas story. One of the girls was a Christian and she had brought her Bible to school that day...I usally had all the students sit on a big carpet so I could read them a story or a chapter from a chapter book. This day someone wanted me to read, 'The Night Before Christmas". Then I proceeded to ask if they knew why we celebrated Christmas and that there was a real Christmas story. I was quite surprised to learn many of the students hadn't an idea about Christmas; although they were mostly of a popular 'religion' here they were....coming from a very poor environment and void of even this.

I asked the girl to bring her Bible to me....and for 45 minutes I told them about Jesus and why He came and what 'sin' was and all have sinned. I then was prompted by the Holy Spirit to ask them if anyone wanted to know this Jesus.....and all the students raised their hand. Believe it or not, I didn't quite know if they 'really' understood or if they were just 'pleasing' the teacher.

The next day...the Gideons (a group of men that make the scriptures available) came to our school during P.E. - the students were told they could have a little red New Testament Bible if they wanted one...my whole class took one.

Waving little red New Testaments in my face as they came in the classroom door, they all asked if they could read it during silent reading time, I said -'yes'. Even my little rascal, opened his little red Bible and started to get to business....in a short time he got out of his seat - which I didn't want him to do necessarily and he came over to me and said, "Miss, Miss, here is what you said yesterday..."

It was - John 3:16...I told him yes - that's the one. One boy could not speak or read any English and there he was ...sitting with another boy interpreting what they read together...as if it was the most serious thing in the world.....and it was....and it is...

As mentioned before...I played Christmas music while the students read silently....just after the boy that got out of his seat went back and sat to read more...a song was playing that went,
"God Bless the children everywhere, they haven't learned yet not to care."

Again....this teacher had to fight back tears while looking out the window.....so the students wouldn't see......the Holy Spirit was again working to bring salvation to those He called me to.

 

Matthew 10:8 "Freely, freely you have received, freely freely give, go in my name and because you believe, others will know that I live."

MKL

03-17-2007