A Card for Yuka
After a hard week, God redeemed it all in one day—Friday. We put on a puppet show of Daniel and the Lions’ Den for the elementary chapel time, from a script I wrote, and had recorded the voices ahead of time. The practices were awful, but the performance was beautiful. The rest of the day was the best teaching day I’ve had. The kids did what they were supposed to, were so quiet while they were working that I actually got some grading done ( I’ve never done that before), and there were really no fights that I can remember. And Yuka only cried once. And this time nobody tried to stop her.
It was at the end of the day, and I was saying something about next week, and how our point system (for behavior) would be a bit different since it was our last week. I noticed that she seemed to be upset, but I didn’t see anyone bothering her, so I wasn’t sure what was going on. Finally, she raised her hand through choking noises. “Teacher, there’s something I didn’t want to tell everyone but I think I should.”
“What is it, Yuka?”
“You know how I am going on that trip to the Philippines this summer? My mom says we might stay and I won’t be able to come back here next year.”
Her classmates listened with more respect than I’d ever seen them give her. But not long after the announcement, she proceeded to throw up on her desk, prompting a typical reaction from her classmates. After settling them, I dismissed her to go to the office to clean up a bit. While she was gone, as I did a quick first-aid on the mess on her desk and the floor, we talked about what we could do to help Yuka feel a bit better. Somebody suggested making a card. I pulled out a yellow piece of construction paper (her favorite color) and they all quickly began signing their names with sweet little messages and decorated it. On the front I wrote, “We will miss you Yuka!”
When Yuka returned from the office, I kept her distracted by helping her find her change of clothes in her backpack so she could change her skirt in the bathroom. By the time she was done, everyone was back in their desks, pretending like nothing was going on. I told her that we hoped she would be back next year, but we made a card to help her feel better, and even if she did come back, we would still miss her during the summer. And we would try to make next week the best week for her. Yuka babbled on in typical Yuka style, but was obviously pleased and thankful for the gesture of her classmates.
I was so proud of the class for the way they showed their love to Yuka today. It made me also think again about how special each of these kids are, and how their futures are so fragile. I pray that God will finish this work He has started in them. He loves them even more than Kirsten or I ever could, and I know He will faithfully watch over them.
It was at the end of the day, and I was saying something about next week, and how our point system (for behavior) would be a bit different since it was our last week. I noticed that she seemed to be upset, but I didn’t see anyone bothering her, so I wasn’t sure what was going on. Finally, she raised her hand through choking noises. “Teacher, there’s something I didn’t want to tell everyone but I think I should.”
“What is it, Yuka?”
“You know how I am going on that trip to the Philippines this summer? My mom says we might stay and I won’t be able to come back here next year.”
Her classmates listened with more respect than I’d ever seen them give her. But not long after the announcement, she proceeded to throw up on her desk, prompting a typical reaction from her classmates. After settling them, I dismissed her to go to the office to clean up a bit. While she was gone, as I did a quick first-aid on the mess on her desk and the floor, we talked about what we could do to help Yuka feel a bit better. Somebody suggested making a card. I pulled out a yellow piece of construction paper (her favorite color) and they all quickly began signing their names with sweet little messages and decorated it. On the front I wrote, “We will miss you Yuka!”
When Yuka returned from the office, I kept her distracted by helping her find her change of clothes in her backpack so she could change her skirt in the bathroom. By the time she was done, everyone was back in their desks, pretending like nothing was going on. I told her that we hoped she would be back next year, but we made a card to help her feel better, and even if she did come back, we would still miss her during the summer. And we would try to make next week the best week for her. Yuka babbled on in typical Yuka style, but was obviously pleased and thankful for the gesture of her classmates.
I was so proud of the class for the way they showed their love to Yuka today. It made me also think again about how special each of these kids are, and how their futures are so fragile. I pray that God will finish this work He has started in them. He loves them even more than Kirsten or I ever could, and I know He will faithfully watch over them.
thank you. thank you for sharing this, thank you for being there and thank you for allowing God to use you.
ReplyDeleteI'm always amazed and humbled by how God uses the unlovely ones of this world to teach us the most about Himself. And as our hearts are open to Him, we learn to love the unlovely, too. You have learned so many lessons in such a few short months Andrea, and I'm guessing you'll still be unpacking those lessons for months and years to come. Proud of you, as always. :o)
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