The energy level was the first thing I noticed; it takes a long time to calm these kids down! Despite this, Milagros shows an incredible amount of patience and love. She has developed a deep connection with her students and cares for them the way she would care for her own children. As I entered the classroom, she immediately had her students demonstrating what they had been learning.
“Let’s look at the number 36,” she began, a smile spreading across her face. “How many ‘tens’ places are there?”
“Tres!” came the clamorous reply.
“And how many ‘ones’ places?”
“Seis!” they thundered anew. I thought I felt my desk shake.
Milagros proceeded to share the story of David from the Bible, illustrating the contrast between our perspective and God’s perspective. Samuel, when he was sent to anoint the new King of Israel, needed reminding that: “The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1 Sam. 16:7) The children agreed happily, understanding the important truth about God’s character.
David went on to face Goliath- a man who was likely twice his height- with assurance that God was on his side. Milagros encouraged her students that they too could face any giants that come up against them in their lives, knowing that they have a strong and wise Father, guiding them into a relationship with him. She wrapped up with a communal prayer, asking the Lord to help these children- especially in their often poor family situations- knowing that nothing is impossible for ‘the living God’.
As the morning progressed, Milagros continued to weave Christ-centered themes into her topics. In an animated voice, she read a story of a grandmother and her little grandchild desperately searching for one another. They crossed to one another’s houses- one to the city and the other to the country- and passed one another without noticing. They then missed one another a second time, and upon their third excursion- searching distraughtly- they collided in the middle of the highway. Sitting beneath an apple tree, they shared the delicious fruit and caught up, enjoying one another’s presence.
I was reminded of the reconciliation that God is working in this world: starting in Genesis with Adam’s failure in the garden, being fulfilled with Christ’s triumph in Gethsemane as he refused to shy away from the suffering ahead, and coming to completion in Revelation, where we are invited to eat from the tree of life once more in the paradise of God.
As the injustice in the barrio becomes more evident and real to me, I am continually thanking God for how he is redeeming Maria Auxiliadora. Seeing children learn and master concepts at such a young age is like seeing stars shine out in the night sky. It brings great hope to my heart.
This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 26th, 2007 at 2:27 pm and is filed under Missionary's View, T.E.A.R.S. School. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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