I asked my best friend to pray for me. It's like she can read my mind from across the Pacific Ocean and international date line. I left the house and went to work with my headphones bumping that Jesus music. Even today, in the sunshine, with worship music in my ears, it all seemed far off and distant.
I got to the office and sat at my desk staring into space for about 15 minutes before I realized I was going to be late for my school. I jumped in the car and sped down the hill, past the fields, over the bridge, down another hill, around the lake, up a hill, around another lake, and screeched into the parking lot with 2 minutes to spare (or so I thought).
I walked into the teachers room expecting to be whisked away to teach in 2 seconds. But instead I found the teacher sitting in a desk chair with a foot massager and the principal asked if I wanted to try it out. So we sat and laughed and talked for 10 minutes before I went to teach my class. I expected to have 3rd and 4th period to sit in the teachers room and study (worst activity ever), but the schedule was changed and we spent those two periods outside playing tee ball and building the skate rink. There's something special about seeing the entire school playing tee ball because it's the last day we could play outside before the rink went up. The principal even pulled his back swinging too hard. After lunch, the baker came and set up shop in his trunk for us. He used to come to my church in town, so he asked me how everyone was doing. The other teachers were surprised to hear us talking so casually and about other people they didn't know. But it was a nice conversation to have...and I got me a cheese bagel!
I drove the hour drive up to my meeting on the far north end of the village. I'm not a fan of this school and I dreaded the meeting, but it turns out I did most of the work last year. Everything he asked me to prepare for, I prepared for his class last year. I stayed late to help one of the students prepare for a speech contest, and the teacher thanked me profusely. I sang worship songs the entire drive back to the office.
I did a little bit of work since it was already 5:30 by the time I got back to the office. They told me to put my chair on top of my desk because they're waxing the floors tomorrow. I put mine up and then they asked me to help move the boss's furniture. Not my direct boss, but the superintendent who has his own office. It felt like some weird prank we were pulling. We put his couches in the entryway and his chairs on top of his bookcase and heater. I'm kind of hoping no one moves it back before he comes in on Monday.
I walked to my boss's house (my direct boss) after I got off work to take over some donuts I picked up from the baker's trunk. His wife has been in the hospital for about 3 weeks, so I went over to just take him a snack and offer some help. His mother-in-law was at the house and I looked after the baby while she made dinner. My boss came home and we ate dinner and played with the baby and watched TV. I played with the baby while he ironed the clothes and she washed the dishes. I gave the baby her bottle and rocked her to sleep. Now I'm home on a Friday night blogging and waiting for my laundry to finish.
This morning my best friend prayed for energy, motivation, strength, and joy. For peace and for me to experience the love of God deeply. In the small ways, God answered her prayer for me. In small ways, I can serve the people in my village. In small ways, I see God everywhere. And on days when it's hard to get myself out of bed, I have to remind myself that He's going before me, He'll hold my hand, and I'll see Him if I take the time and look.
No comments:
Post a Comment