january 2022.

I’m finding it hard to believe that the first month of the new year is already finished! I’m currently teaching my students a math unit on fractions and we talked about how 1/12 of the year has already passed- crazy!

I rang in the new year with my parents! We went for a walk on New Year’s Day! It was a great start to the new year. We were able to spend a few days at the coast of Kenya before they had to return to Canada. I am so thankful for the memories we made together. Now only four more months until it’s finally my turn to return to Canada for a visit!

January seemed to be jam-packed with activities at work. From beginning new units to various celebrations, it was so fun to be back into my work routine. This month, the students began working on one of my favourite units- the Africa unit. Across the elementary grades, each grade level has a part of Africa that they student. Third-grade studies Central Africa (Chad, Central African Republic, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, and Sao Tome & Principe). It has been so fun learning about the countries with the students. They are so eager to learn and explore. I am constantly reminded that this job is a privilege.

This month at work, we also celebrated three student birthdays and the 100th day of school! This is always such a fun day for the students to dress up (as if they were 100 years old) to celebrate being 100 days smarter. Their outfits were too cute! My teaching partner, Rachel, and I even seemed to have aged! The students loved this day. We did a writing activity, writing about what everyone thinks they’ll do when they are 100 years old. Some students think they will watch the news, feel bored, or have a lot of pets, yet one of them seems to think he will skydive at 100!

Besides work, this month I started my 8th course for my Masters! Only 4 more, then the exam! It feels crazy to me to think that I will finish my Masters this fall! It feels as if I’ve been working on it a lot longer, but the end is in sight! I’ve enjoyed taking some time to try cooking some new recipes. When my mom was here, she taught me how to make her famous pizza and I’ve been making that every Sunday! It’s so fun to make recipes that I grew up with. It makes home feel a little less far.

Some prayer items:

-Please pray for my students. Even though they are eight years old, some of them have some big things that they are going through. My heart is heavy for their little ones. These are God’s precious children and my deep hope is that they would leave my classroom in May knowing that they are incredibly loved by their Heavenly Father.

-Please pray for Kenya as elections are coming up this August. Please pray for peace and safety. Pray for a good leader who desires to help this nation.

-Praise God that I have agreed to sign another 2-year contract here! Prayer for all that God has in store for me as I continue to serve here and prayer for continued support.

-Pray that I will be able to come visit Canada this summer!

Thank you!!

-j.