And this is how it all began...

*******originally posted on Aug. 19********
I know I told many of you of already, but for those of you that don't know,
I came here a year and a half ago to teach Grade 5 and this is what happened....

Jan.-June 2006
The first six months were just getting used to everything. I had come in the middle of the year, making things a bit more challenging. I spent most of my time getting used to the school, my house(which I didn't have for the first 2 months),the people, the community, etc... I thought about Sunday School but didn't have the spare time for it. I was at school till 5-6 and there on the weekends to prepare for the rowdy Grade 5 kids that everyone kept warning me about. I didn't know if I was going to come back.

Aug.-Dec. 2006
I came back. I was more at ease. I didn't have so much prep-ing for my class and I was already at ease with the community and with the people. I started seriously praying about Sunday School. I didn't want to start it without knowing God's will. Try to understand. I knew I wanted to do it. I thought I should do it. But I wasn't sure what the motives were behind my starting this Sunday School. Was it because I thought this was what God wanted me to do or the right thing to do or to look good to others? I just prayed and seeek his will. What else could I do, even though it seemed like I was wasting time?

Dec. 2006
At church we went to Urbana and I got my answer. He said DO IT!
I had a new confidence in me to start up the Sunday School and eager to get back up North.

Jan. - June 2007
I went back up for the second part of the year. I talked to the reverand at the Anglican church about everything and he dropped off the church key at the school for me. That was basically the last time I saw him.
I asked around and one native teacher and one non-native teacher told me they were willing to help. I had them over my house, we talked and prayed. We chose and prepared songs. They showed up the following week on Sunday. The problem was only 2 kids showed up. We just sang some songs. The same the following Sunday. I started announcing the Sunday School on the radio, started to tell every kid I saw and put up posters around town. The next week, a couple more kids showed up, but the teachers didn't.
THEN, was a gathering in town. THEN there was a baptism at the time of Sunday School. THEN it was too cold. THEN there was a funeral. Then.... then.... then.... It was really discouraging. THEN the students would forget. But, did what I could and soon enough the kids started remembering and then there were regular students showing up. The teachers didn't show up, but the students' enthusiasm was good enough for me.
I asked around again and a few ppl were willing and even eager to help. But, no one ever showed up. They were camping. It was raining. It was such a nice day. Didn't feel like it (at least they don't come up with excuses and lie).

By the time it was June, I had about 15 kids showing up to Sunday School. YAY!
But, then summer happened. I wasn't it town. That meant no Sunday School.

Aug. 2007-
I came back a couple of weeks ago. On the day that I arrived, 3-4 students showed up on my porch to welcome me back and the first question they asked was "will we have sunday school?"
I said YES! Sunday came around and it was cold and rainy, which meant more than likely no one would show up. But, I went just in case. I was doubtful that anyone would show up. I kept everything in my bag and didn't get anything ready, I just stood at the front of the church with Dave and we said we would wait till 2:30. 10 minutes went by and no sign of kids. Then, suddenly 2 girls come running jumps on us and says "Hi!" Then 3 more. Then another 3. I had 8 kids altogether. I thought they had forgotten most of the songs and motions. They knew it better than me! I was truly surprised and happy.

Today was the second sunday after I had come back from my summer vacation. I went to church with Dave, knowing that most of the town was out at a gathering. I still went just in case. We waited until 2:30 and no one came. Honestly, I'm disappointed. But, there's always next week.

Pray for the students that show up to Sunday School and for this community of Whapmagoostui(whap-mag-stu).