Growing and Learning Together!

Teachers: Ghislaine and Marnita
Class: First Grade 
Region: Léogâne 

How has God shown up in your class?
[Gislaine] I feel the presence of God in my classroom through the way I teach my students and through their reaction and in the way they behave among themselves. They have great passion to listen to me when I read the Bible, and they always try their best to do what I ask of them.

[Marnita] When we do devotion, the students are thirsty to learn. This is where I feel the presence of God in them. I also saw the way they behaved in class; they have completely changed, and that brings joy to my heart. They learn to respect others and to listen to me when I talk to them.

What are some notable updates or activities that your class has been a part of? (i.e. holidays, celebrations, traditions)
[Ghislaine] Flag Day, Recreation Day, vocabulary contests, and Agriculture and Labor Day.
[Marnita] Flag Day, Recreation Day, Christmas.

What was the occasion and why is it important to your culture? 
[Ghislaine] Flag Day is an important date in the history of our country. It is celebrated on the 18th of May, and we always do fun activities with our students. Agriculture and Labor Day is May 1st; it is when we make plant crafts and encourage our students to take care of nature.

[Marnita] We celebrate Flag Day every May 18; that's when we take the opportunity to explain to them the meaning of our flag and why it is important for our country. We also teach them how to make the flag, how to color it. It is always a fun day to celebrate this event. For Recreation Day, we give them free time at school to sing, dance, tell riddles, and do other fun activities. We celebrate Christmas with them before their Christmas holidays by learning new dances, Christmas carols and sometimes share a snack that we bring for them.

What is your favorite memory from this year so far? Something that made you laugh? Cry? Praise God?
[Ghislaine] I had a student who hurt herself while running to come to class, and she fell. I thought she hurt her leg, but God was there and she was fine. I thank God because it could have been worse, but He was there to protect her.

[Marnita] I was amazed to see two of my students discussing something I said while doing devotion. One was trying to convince the other one. I didn't interrupt their conversation.  At the end, they came to me to clarify whether or not it was true. They were discussing if someone did something wrong, should they be friends with that person. I told them they should be friends with everyone because they are brothers and sisters in Christ.

What are some activities or events that you and your class are looking forward to?
[Ghislaine] Vocabulary contests, Flag Day, and Agriculture and Labor Day.

[Marnita] We look forward to participating in Flag Day, Recreation Day, Soccer, Hide and Seek, coloring, and watching other classes play soccer.

Is there a Bible verse that your class has been studying? Or maybe a verse that God has put on your heart during this season? 
[Ghislaine] We are studying the book of Genesis and we are in the first chapter. We are studying about the beautiful earth that God created for us.

[Marnita] We are studying Isaiah 40 verse 28. I love teaching them new verses every week because it is making great impact in their spiritual life.

Is there a student or parent that has stood out to you? How and why?
[Marnita] I have a student who was being mean to another student, and when I called him he didn't want to come; so I had to send him home to come back with his parents. The next day he apologized to me and to the other students he was mean to. He behaves well now and also respects other students.

What would you like to say to partners that are supporting the class and students?
[Ghislaine] I would like to say thank you for reaching out by supporting these children. It will help them to make more efforts in their schooling. May God bless you and pour His blessing on you for doing this act of kindness in the lives of my dear students. We will be praying for you. May the peace of God continue to dwell in your hearts.

[Marnita] I want to thank you on behalf of my students for being so good to them and for sharing God's love and supporting them. May God keep you healthy and continue to bless you for being good servants to Him. My class will continue to pray for you and we look forward to meeting you in the future to come.