Miss Irene & Mavrick

Miss Irene is a first-year teacher here at Mizpah. She previously taught in the Philipines. She is an example to me as I see her deep love for the students and commitment to prayer. This morning she asked for prayer regarding Maverick. She said he was very disruptive in her class and she didn't know what to do.

I told her that Miss Katie and I felt that Maverick was indeed a Christian because of his professed love for Christ, and also his involvement in Logan's youth group - why, to see him sing on Sunday morning had brought a smile to my face, for I felt certain that he was truly worshiping.

Last quarter, Maverick failed my class and Katie's, mostly because of excessive absences (I think he had 15). Miss Katie and I told him we would buy him pizza if he came to school every day of the 2nd quarter. He has not only been at school EVERY day, but he even has an A in art class!

Last week, however, he expressed to me the frustration he had in math class (Miss Irene's class). He felt that she only made it more confusing, and that is why he was doing poorly. Apparently, today during her class she and he had some sort of conflict. In the end, she was taking him to the Vice-principal's office, when he apparently threw a rock in her direction, and then left school.

Pray for Miss Irene, who sat in the office with tears, for she truly loves her students and want to help them learn. Pray for Mavrick to see his sin for what it is and seek forgiveness. Pray for the administration to know how to deal with the situation most appropriately. Pray for all of the teachers to have wisdom when we encounter situations like this. Pray for us to demonstrate godly love, self-discipline and self-control, so that if are students were to imitate us, they would be imitating Christ.

Please, pray for me as I have Senior Art class in 28 minutes, and that is my most dreaded class. *sigh* Pray for reconciliation where relationships with students have been broken, pray for mutual love and respect. Pray that they will love and enjoy art as they see the beauty that God created, and the capacity they have to create as well. Pray that they will not get frustrated and give up. Pray for them to look to the future, and form some godly goals and post-graduation plans.

Oh, pray also for Burson. Miss Katie and I had taken a special interest in cultivating his spoken English, as he is quite shy. For a few days, we were ecstatic at his finally warming up to us and speaking a few words to us in English, rather than Chuukese. Today in Sr. Reading class he was wearing a red bandana (sp?). Director had just made an announcement in chapel (about 20 minutes prior) that if students were wearing red or blue gang-related bandanas, they would be confiscated and not returned. I asked Burnson to remove, and give me the bandana. He removed it, but put it in his pocket. I told him that if he didn't give it to me, I would go get Vice, which I proceeded to do. When Vice and I returned to class, Burnson had disappeared. I feel bad for the fact that I give sooooo much grace, and then one time I say: that's enough, today there will be consequences for your actions. Unfortunately, lack of grace sometimes falls on the student that is not necessarily the most "nukumach." But what am I to do? I cannot be perfectly just. Pray that Burnson will recognized that he erred, and all the students will learn to respect authority. They generally have "respect" for Director and Vice - or at least a fear of the consequences these two men can impose. Today in class, I wanted them to see that Vice was on my side, help them to recognize my authority. After the episode, they did work quietly for the remainder of the period (well, I suppose they got restless the last few minutes).

Ok...KEEP PRAYIN'