april 2022.

The April showers really came down this month, I really hope May brings the flowers! Rainy season had a very late start this year, so I experienced another *horrendous* rainy spurt with the not-so-wonderful flying termites of Kenya. They come out during rainy season and completely gross me out! Yet, if you can imagine, they are considered a delicacy to many locals! Another lovely critter that the rains bring is slugs! I have found a few crawling around myself lately. I find it so funny that these were the parts I truly dreaded and feared when I first thought about moving to a country in Africa, and yet, here I am. I picture God smiling down on me as I try to muster up the courage to attempt to rid my house of these critters! Always an adventure.

The month of April started off with April Fool’s Day and I had a great time pranking my students with brown “e”s. Oh what fun! The students also pulled many pranks on me too! I had cups of water underneath my desk, toy insects on my desk, and sneaky snacks! By the end of the day, we all had to call a truce and agree to leave the pranks and go back to our trusting community! Haha oh what fun teaching kids!

The first Friday of this month, a coworker and I, who lead a 4th grade girls discipleship group, invited our sweet girls to a pizza and movie night! We had so much fun and ended the night with a dance party. I am thankful for fun opportunities like this one where I can pour into the lives of these wonderful young women.

It’s hard to believe that I there is less than a month left of school! I am going to miss this class like crazy! Truthfully, they have been some of my favourites. This year was the smallest class size I have ever had (and will likely ever have), so it made for a super sweet class community culture! I was able to get to know my students so personally and I believe it made me a better teacher for them! I know their unique needs so personally that this year has been a precious one. I have a feeling a few tears will be shed on that last day with my littles.

This month held some more exciting class content. In Science, we’ve been learning about sound, its vibrations and waves. We made string telephones to see how sound travels- so fun! This month, we’ve also been learning about opinion writing and boy, is this fun with 9-year-old minds! Kids are so creative. One of our writing pieces was called Team Kid vs. Team Ant where the students had to decide if they think it’s okay to step on ants or if ants should be left alone. I am often reminded how much I love teaching!

Here are some photos from my everyday life here:

This month also held a few breaks, so I was able to enjoy some much needed rest. I finished up another Masters course at the end of this month and I am soaking up the next two weeks I have off! If you know anything about me, you know I have an adventurous spirit, so naturally, I spend the time off exploring more! A dear friend of mine found some Canadian things to help me ‘transition’ back to Canadian life for the summer. We managed to find not only poutine, but the only ice rink in all of East Africa!! What a fun time! It was so fun to enjoy some things native to my home country.

Writing this now, I will be back in Canada in one month! After two years, I am very much looking forward to some familiar comforts and friendly faces. Which leads me to… If any of you want to connect with me while I am back, please don’t hesitate to reach out! I will be in Saskatchewan for the majority of the time, but will also spend some time in British Columbia. Shoot me a message and I would love to plan a time to get together.

Please pray for me as I strive to finish the year well with my students and close another chapter of my life here in Kenya- year two! Pray for safe travels to Canada and a summer of sweetness and replenishing of the soul.

-j.