The First Goodbye (Doug)

As many of our millions (HA!) of faithful readers already know, Mandy & I are planning on returning State-side at the completion of this school year. We will have fulfilled our two year commitment to our school and we feel it’s time to come home. Where exactly we will end up and what exactly we will be doing is still yet to be determined. We would appreciate all your prayers in this as we are still in the decision making process.
While we are doing our best to be completely committed to the task at hand and to enjoy every moment that remains for us here in the Holy Land we are becoming increasingly aware of the hole we will leave in the school. Many of the teachers and of course Miss Grace beg us to stay on almost a daily basis. Part of our prayer process has been to pray for more teachers to come and take our place here. We have also had to begin preparing ourselves for the long string of difficult goodbyes that we will face. But I never expected to face one so soon.
Yesterday after school I was told that Andreas, the student whom I’ve been tutoring twice a week since the beginning of last school year, will be moving to the States. He’s leaving Saturday. My relationship with Andreas has had its ups and downs, to be sure. Andreas’ father has been a come-and-go sort father for the year and a half I have known him. This has caused lots of problems for Andreas socially as you can probably guess. For most of the past two school years I have been a large part of Andreas’ life and without even really realizing it, he’s become a big part of mine.
If you’ve been a faithful reader since the start you might remember that I got to pray with Andreas to accept Jesus into his heart just before Christmas last year. Andreas has also faced his parents fighting to the point of almost divorcing, and being on the brink of being expelled from the school for discipline problems. But throughout this rollercoaster time for Andreas we have continued to meet twice a week for tutoring sessions in which we occasionally work, usually play, and always talk.
He’s a rolly polly butterball that kind of reminds me of myself when I was kid. My relationship began with him last year when he began giving Mandy trouble in her class. Out of desperation, Mandy asked me to tutor him. Many, many times over the past year and a half I’ve asked myself why I said yes. But as I said goodbye to him today I could barely hold back the tears. I gave him a Red Sox hat and an Olive Wood cross to remember me by. I hope he does. Goodbye Andreas. May Christ guide you and protect you. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,” plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

Journal entry (Mandy)

One of the reasons I love teaching in the elementary level is because kids usually tell you exactly how they feel, whether you are ready to hear it or not. I've found journaling to be an excellent outlet for children to do just that. Journaling has always been an important aspect in my classroom because I've connected with ALL of my students in this way. Today I read a journal entry that pulled on my heartstrings. I don't mean to toot my own horn, but I thought you might enjoy seeing what's happening with one of my students. God is really moving in this young girl's life. Here it is:

"When I grow up I want to be able to tell about God and when he died on the cross for our sins.
My favorite part of school is p.e. and language. And reading. I like to read the Bible night and morning and I like to pray for my family and my aunt in Poland and my other aunt in Ramalla.
During recess I like to play with my friends catching. WE LOVE MISS MANDY."

Then in a heart on the next page she wrote: forever Miss Mandy

Keep praying that my other students, and all the students in our school for that matter, are able to grow roots like this young child.