The blessing we gave to the teachers at the end of the conference... We bless your mind, and proclaim you have the mind of Christ in all your work.You will think on things above and have positive thoughts which reflect His ways. We bless your vision to see your students in God’s image. You … Continue reading Blessing for Teachers
Education
A Day in the Life
My alarm either startles me awake, or I get up an hour before it goes off. The determining factor of which way I start my day is complex. If the electricity is on the night before so the fan runs, if the noise outside my window ends before 2 in the morning, if the heat … Continue reading A Day in the Life
The Nuts and Bolts
So, how do teacher conferences happen in refugee camps? I’m glad you asked. It is quite a process to be honest. Not just anyone can go into the camps. There must be a sponsoring organization who is registered with the UN. Since my friend Uche partnered with the Church of Uganda to work towards their mutual goals. On … Continue reading The Nuts and Bolts
Life is in the Blood
I just woke up, in my African room, from a dream…one of my former students was in the hospital for some medicine. This particular student had significant trauma in her life while I was her teacher. In the dream, I was the one giving the meds directly into her vein. (I assure you this was … Continue reading Life is in the Blood
The Latest
When I went to Uganda last January it was because I was compelled to go. I was working on a document for a school I had never seen, and I knew if I was going to develop and write a plan of some sort, I had to see the school first. I took a step … Continue reading The Latest
Winnie the Pooh
I have always been a Pooh fan. I remember the books as a child and the wonder they created when the pictures and text danced together upon the pages. They were unlike “regular” books and, because of their creative formatting, little girls and boys would be curious enough to turn and discover something new on … Continue reading Winnie the Pooh
My Apologies
I owe my sons an apology. Allow me to explain. In the refugee camps, they have squatty potties. I will try to paint a picture, for those of you who have never travelled to a place with these kinds of potties. There is usually a building with a stall or two. In each stall is … Continue reading My Apologies
Dear African Woman
Dear African Woman, I first saw you as I stepped off the plane onto a dirt runway. You were outside the airport walking along the road in your dress with intricate designs and colors. Your baby was strapped to your back with a swath of cloth, and your younger child skipped along by your side. … Continue reading Dear African Woman
An Overview
The South Sudanese Refugee Teachers’ Conference was a success. There were approximately 35 teachers from four different schools. From my view, there were some standout moments. The first being the training on trauma. These teachers were not aware they have lived through trauma. They were not aware that their students have also lived through trauma. … Continue reading An Overview
Are We Together?
I found out at the teachers’ conference that even when you speak the same language there can still be barriers. Put two Californians, a Georgia peach, a Nigerian, several Ugandans, and a whole host of South Sudanese together and it is humorous to watch us all try to communicate…in English! The vowel sounds are not … Continue reading Are We Together?
Michelle's Mosaic 