School has started!

I survived my first day of Pre K yesterday. I absolutely love my little ones. They are so adorable. They are such a great class. Of course this was the first day. Today a few of them came out of their shell a little bit more but got right back into shape when I asked them too. I think the hardest thing was getting the parents out of the room that first day! It is definitely a whole new world for me compared to 2nd grade but I actually really like it. My kids are also a lot smarter than I thought they would be. I was told they would not know very much English, their alphabet or how to count. Mine understand me most of the time, now when it comes to speaking that is a different story. They can sing their ABC's and almost all of them can count to at least ten in English some a little further! I give them high fuves when they do something right so they know. At times when it is really hard and some of them are not listening, I give stickers to those that are and the others straighten right up! I have one little one that has been testing the waters since the first day but today he came in and was a lot better. I am thanking the man upstairs for this class. They seem to catch on fast and have good listening skills. Of course it is only the second day but I am still thankful :-) It will make my first year is Egypt a little bit easier.

I have also enjoyed getting to know the staff/ We have had lots of great conversations. I have had the opportunity to share what I believe a little at a time. I am doing my best to build those important relationships at work. The staff is huge! I am focusing on getting to know the Elementary part of the school for right now, and the people on my floor the most. They are all so great. I can't wait til the holiday season so I can bake them all cookies :-)! Anyway all around great things happening here. Every time I turn around I have an opportunity to share things that I believe and to be a light to those around me. It is just so different here.

I was telling my roommate tonight that the first time I went to church it reminded me of those stories you hear, that when people are in church and outsiders storm in with firearm and start asking those around if they are believers or not. And then they start taking them out. The only reason I was reminded of this is because when our church is in service, we have about a dozen armed guards around our church standing there just staring as we go in. And I know they are there for us to feel "safe" to worship in a non-believing country but it gave me the chills the first time, all it takes is for one of them to decide that they do not want believers in their country anymore and go off. Shortly after I was here, I heard the story of the former pastor from MCC. He was "accidentally" pushed out of a window several stories up and died. It was a real heartbreaking time for the church. It makes me think of how free we are to worship, share and pr@y in the states. It is so different in others places in the world but it was not something I thought about on a regular basis.