Aajaan Sengmany

Today was the first day of school!

I got prepared last night coming up with games and getting my clothes laid out for the morning and went to bed at 9:30 which is quite early then most nights. I woke promptly at 5:45 to my alarm as well as my kitty that doesn't like sleeping ever. I took a shower. Got dressed. Had some papaya and coffee. Woke my sister up and we drove to the bus stop. I first go on a bus that goes to Talaad Sao bus station and Talaad Sao (talaad means market and sao means morning) is a large shopping mall and the nicest one in Vientiane it even has air condition and sometimes when me and Patty go we just stand in front of the vents. After I arrive at Talaad Sao I pay the bus driver 3,000 Kip, in dollars that is about 40 cents. From Talaad Sao I catch a bus to Thong Pong the village my school is in. In the morning there is a lot of traffic so I arrive at my school at about 7:50 from leaving my house at 6:30. On Monday's the children do a flag raising where they sing the Lao National anthem and the school song. School starts at 8 and my first class was at 9. Students shouted Welcome Aajaan Sengmany and then I began. (Aajaan means teacher and Sengmany is my Lao name) I had high hopes of observing the first day but we say here in Lao "baw pen nyang" which means no problem. I just jumped in. My first students we're very fun and even though I made mistakes and probably made them confused they we're ever so gracious and nice to me. Knowing a little Lao is helpful because I was able to give directions a lot more effectively. I have 13 classes total and many many students. The school has a restaurant which is very inexpensive. I had regular rice with a fried egg and some green vegetables with soy sauce. After lunch I had two more classes which we're with the older kids. They made me laugh. I had them go up to the board and draw pictures of the vocabulary and they all laughed when I asked a boy to draw a farmer and he drew a cow. In the last class of the day I asked the kids where they we're from, what was their name, which village they lived in and how old they we're. Which when I asked how old they we're it became trouble for me. For some of the students I am only one year older then them and if they were to know my age I wouldn't be respected as much and discipline would be harder. I told the students "kam lap" which means it's a secret in Lao. Then after that they just began guessing. " 100" "25" "38" "19". When they said 100 I laughed so hard, I after that just said it's a secret whenever they asked about my age. Since being in Lao I have really been enjoying meeting youth and working with adults but children are my heart and so it was so nice to start working with them. I left school at four and arrived at home at about 5:30. When I got home I cried. Not because I was sad or I had a bad day but because this was God's plan and I just felt like I was doing what I was suppose to. This summer I read this book called Kisses from Katie. A book about a girl that moves to Uganda and teaches as well as start a program called Amazima which helps students get food and be able to go to school. In the book she says "I want to at the end of each day be so tired because then I will know that I worked hard and served the Lord well." That is what I want to. I want to finish my day so tired because I served the Lord in everything I did. I want to go to sleep in bliss knowing that I am doing what I am meant to, knowing that I am following God and loving like he loved." Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid  because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” This is my favorite bible verse, Deuteronomy 31:6. Which has been a truth and each day especially today I tell my self that God goes before me, he takes care of me and uses me. It is a blessing to be given the opportunity to live for God and let him use me.