Photographer for a Day

The students in our jungle kingdom are having fun; they’ve created a castle; hung pictures of jungle animals; learned how to measure in cm, L, and g; quoted scripture from memory; and given short talks. Plus, they've especially enjoyed creating an inside look at the human body within an outline of their own body.

In our Jungle Kingdom consequences are bestowed upon the princesses and knights according to their choices. If wise respectful choices are made, each member of the court is entitled to a “classroom coupon” at the end of the week.

Said coupons are:

-sit in the teacher’s chair for the whole day

-use a pen all day (as opposed to a pencil)

-wear a hat in class

-bring an item from home and keep it on your desk

-move your desk to wherever you want

-sit by a friend

-take a special note home to your family

-receive a pass on one daily homework assignment

-eat lunch with the teacher

-be the photographer for the day

The royal court is too good; I haven’t gotten to use my own chair for two weeks now, and after 4 photographers there are over 600 photos on my camera. Plus, I just made pizza for 4 students who want to eat lunch with me tomorrow.

It turns out “the photographer for a day” is a win win win for all of us. The students enjoy taking photos, I enjoy seeing what interests them, and you get pictures to peek inside our kingdom!

Oswald forecasting the weather. Photographer: Gabriella

Daniel and Judy (sitting in my chair) discussing Ramona Quimby, Age 8. Photographer: Jadia

"How many milimetres are in a centimetre?" Photographer: Gabriella

Nicholas giving a short talk. Photographer: Jeremiah

Emil greeting Gabriella. Photographer: Daniel

 

All this fun is possible because each of you is partnering in giving, praying, and caring for me. 

THANK YOU! 

Our class is glad you sent me too. I found out I get to teach them grade 4 next year. Both the kids and I are so excited! I also learned that as it's planned right now, it's likely that only 9 of the 19 teachers we need at our primary campus will be in Ukarumpa for the 2014-2015 school year. Thus, I am already thinking about returning or staying for that school year so there are at least 10 teachers. That's up to God and His provision though. Please pray with me for His leading and wisdom regarding that extension.

Funny notes: While we were learning about the kidneys and bladder, nearly all the students suddenly needed to use the toilet. Then, when we were learning about measuring capacity one of our students wrote about liquids in leaders and milileaders :) I love invented spelling. 

Hike to Lone Tree Forest

Hello friends, family, and partners.

I apologize for not keeping you updated more often.

Since I last posted I've:
-taught two more weeks of school
-taken the Ukarumpa orientation course
-sat in on parent/teacher conferences
-moved to a different house on-centre
-attended the PNG Branch conference
-enjoyed The Other Concert
-participated in the community picnic
-subbed for our school secretary during a day of conference
-gotten sick, visited the clinic, gotten better
-fed the cat: Chester

-celebrated Easter
-rearranged the classroom
-organized
-prepared for our students
-organized 2 village programmes
-made ice cream 3 times
-discovered the joys of cooking
-discovered the challenges of cooking
-played board games
-said good-bye to two friends: one to furlough and one back to her language program
-gone on a hike to Lone Tree Forest:

Destination: Lone Tree Forest

It used to be Lone Tree, but due to reforestation it is now quite a grove of trees.

village haus

This was a refreshing 4 hour hike over 3 ridges off-centre. I went with a group of 8 high schoolers, 1 fifth grader and 3 dads past 2 villages to Lone Tree.

spectacular view-that group of buildings is Ukarumpa Centre

 



I wasn't sure I could keep up, but I did pretty well and was greeted by some spectacular views and also lots of mud.

lots of mud

We used walking paths which are about as wide as your feet and usually quite muddy. Generally it rains every day anywhere from half an hour to half the day. There's mud. Once I got mud inside my sandals it was too slippery to use them. Thus, I enjoyed most of the hike barefooted. I have some bruises and cuts, but it was well worth the child-like mud sliding.

 

crossing the Ba'e River

On our return hike we sort of took a detour, well maybe we were not exactly sure where we were. Anyways, we asked for some help in Tok Pisin- I didn't, one of the dads did-I still need to learn Tok Pisin. Thus we walked through a coffee garden and through a deeper, waist-high part, of the Ba'e River than if we had gone where we had originally planned.

Overall: Great Fun! Plus I only fell once.




Tomorrow- 10 April, my time, I will start term 4 with our grade 3 kids. Before we departed for conference and break, I asked the grade 3 class if they would like a theme in our classroom. They decided on a castle in the jungle. I've started creating that inside our room, but I can't wait to see how they finish it with their creativity. Pictures of that and all our other learning to come.

Thanks for reading, praying, and giving.
You're amazing-each of you!