So, this week was the last week of teaching, which is saddening. All three of us have really enjoyed it, I think much more than we thought we would. Looking back to the first day we taught, we were so terrified, and now we are all not wanting the term to end! What a great experience. Another one of those that I'm really glad I was challenged to do. We are going to be sad to see the students go. All three of us told our classes goodbye earlier this week which prompted good bye songs and notes and letters. I'm not sure how much we actually taught them about the subjects we were teaching but what a great opportunity for us to learn from them and about them. Hopefully they learned something or other from us!

The deep thought of the week is about school and education in general. The basic school here is in dire straights compared to the secondary. Don't get me wrong, they both have needs, but the basic I think has a few more. A lot of the kids don't have shoes, pencils, pens, enough clothes to wear when it gets cold, basic things like that. They are intelligent kids. Sometimes its not reflected in class mainly I think because of the language difference, but if you sit and talk to them or ask them questions and get to know them they are fantastic. And most of them want to be there, and most of them try pretty hard, though there are exceptions of course. I have a child that I sponsor with Compassion International. Here's my soapbox...a lot of times I kid myself into thinking that I don't have the money to sponsor that kid. This is not true at all. If I didn't go buy coffee in the morning at McDonalds or Starbucks, or didn't stop for that ice cream cone, or didn't go see two movies in one week, or just paid attention a little more to the way I spend my money I wouldn't have that problem. Its not that I don't have the money, its that I choose to spend it elsewhere. So, I'm sure some of you have the same problem, I can't be the only one who does that. Take a look at where your money goes, you might be surprised, I sure was. Sponsoring a kid with Compassion or World Vision or a bunch of those other organizations is only about $30 a month. Thats like a cup of coffee a day. Most of us can do that, lets be honest. Kids here drop out and then come back to school a whole lot, many times its because they don't have money for school fees, others because a choice has to be made between feeding the family and school. That's not right. So no guilt trip though. You can't give out of guilt, thats a terrible motivator. Its between you and God what you give and how much and all of that. I'm just saying, take a look at where your money goes and then take a look around and see where it needs to go. I need to work on this one too. There's nothing wrong with going to see a movie, but I think we should learn to be good stewards of what God has given us, whether that be money or time or relationships. Off the soapbox now.

We're off to Macha today (where I went last time I was in Zambia)! We are all pretty excited. There is another group from Messiah there also which will be great to see our friends! Hopefully we can get in a little bit at the hospital there also, that would be swell.

So, I think I need to go pack and make copies of the final exam for our students...ta ta for now.