81, 74, 60, 75, 67, 47,  50:   The numbers of children in each grade in the Police Barracks Children's Government School kindergarten through Grade 6 in Kampala.  Yes, there is only one teacher per classroom and no, they have no teaching materials.  This alone defines why so many parents, about half, struggle to pay school fees for their child to attend a private school.

The preschool program is in  one room about 10'x 12' and has no play materials, only wooden benches with half tables and 40 children ages 3-4 years.  Chalkboards, exercise books and pencils are the teachers' only tools. 

Police officers at recruited throughout the country and many come to Kampala for the academy and then work.  Their children come to e school adjacent to the barracks and often stay there through their primary school years.  The nice piece was that they could go home, right next door, during their recess break and check in with their family!

Yet again, I found teachers with an inner strength and passion for their work.  I found them to display positive affect with the children even though the guidance method of humiliation is infrequently used in the classroom as children guess wrong answers.  

I saw another couple  of great examples of teaching "in relationship" with the children.  In one class during their English lesson, the teacher was teaching the concept of "both" and "and".  Theology friends, you'll understand I was expecting a great discussion about the complexity of God's ways, but, no, this was a grammar lesson!

Without a textbook, the teacher used the children's family to make story exercises---she asked them for a sibling's name and what he or she liked to play.  She then created the example:  "Christine is singing.  Davis is singing.  Both Christine and Davis are signing."  The children were so eager to talk about their family and so attentive to the lesson!

In another class, the 7th graders were preparing for their secondary school entrance exams.  The teacher was going over sample exam questions many students had missed.  She introduced the reasons for flying the Ugandan flag at half-mast, a national day of mourning.  She told them Uganda flew the flag at half mast after September 11, 2011.  She then asked me to talk bout what it was like for me to experience the falling of the twin towers.  This was Antonio D'amasio's "emotional thought" in action:  with an emotionally laden story, they learned a new concept.  Beautifully, the teacher later rehearsed the ideas when talking about the need for countries to work in unity and cooperation for peace, not war.  We need to be friends and care when each other faces injustice or horror.  

I had so much fun in her class!  I also learned that the River Nile was named through cultural disconnect--- a frequent occurrence in world history!  Europeans came to Uganda in the first place seeking the source of the River.  Once found,  they asked the native people for the name of the river.  The natives replied, "Ni-le, Ni-le" which means, "I don't know, I don't know" in the Baganda language!  

I made it to Uganda!  After 28 hours of travel time I arrived in Kampala last night and into my room by midnight.  This morning I was fortunate to visit the Peace Nursery and Primary School in the Makarere neighborhood--you may have heard of Makarere University which we drove through this afternoon--established in 1922 with over 60,000 students today.

It is a primary school with 14 teachers from preschool through grade 4 and is funded partly by tuition and donations.  the classrooms had few supplies--- pencils had to be sharpened by the teacher  with a razor blade and each child had their name on a pencil.  All the posters were hand made by the  teachers. I saw no paint, paper, art materials, building blocks, dramatic play.

However, the children were delightful to be with--- they talked with me during their recess and I learned they mostly had at least two siblings, love to play soccer, volleyball and baseball in their free time and have aspirations to be doctors, lawyers, pilots and a rock star!

One teacher I observed reminded me of how important it is to establish meaningful relationships and offer challenging experiences.  The kids clearly knew she enjoyed being with them and put passion into her teaching of them.  She helped them believe learning is important.  She was talking with them about road transport.  Her questions included:  Name at least four methods of road transport.  Which ones are common in our community?  What causes road accidents?  How can you help prevent road accidents?  She went beyond the knowledge and comprehension questions to levels of analysis, synthesis and evaluation!  I was impressed!

Obviously, I am struck by the contrast in classroom materials from ours in the US to here in Uganda. How much of what we have do we truly need AND how can teachers teach through relationships and experiences when they have no tools?


I'm not successful trying to load my photos from today.  I'll have to add them through Facebook!

About to... 

Teach in Uganda

Almost a year ago I was invited by Teach and Tour Sojourners to volunteer to teach child development in Uganda at secular colleges.  The trip is nearly upon me:  I will leave the USA on July 29th and return to Palm Springs on August 18th.  I invite you to travel with me and share my experiences so I will try to post to this blog every day to keep you involved with me! 

I learned just yesterday what the teaching I will actually be doing:  

* You will give one-hour talks, in a public lecture format, to 4 teacher training institutions.  These are students preparing to be teachers.*  Additionally, you will give lessons to several smaller classes in these institutions, on various days of the week.  * You will give 40 minutes talks to primary school teachers in 16 primary schools.*  You will give lessons to primary schools kids in 6 primary schools.*  You will give lessons to nursery and preschool teachers in 6 schools.

I also received an invitation yesterday to bring supplies and mementos to the students, teachers and children.  I have asked friends to help me collect the supplies and I am so grateful to those who are helping me--- being away from home in the desert, I couldn't do this without you! If you can help in anyway, please contact me!

We would like to request you to carry as many textbooks as you can.  Students have limited access to the internet.  Additionally, the program would like to request you to carry some logo items or merchandize.  These can be T-shirts, caps, pens, mugs, tote bags, or anything that bears your school's name.  It can be a banner or flag.
Also, if you have written any manuscript or book, we request you to carry a copy for the program's keepsake.  Lastly, if you happen to be aware of any used laptop(s) available anywhere, please do carry it for our program or for a small college whose students do a lot of online education.  Also, if you think of anything you would like to donate to our program, even from your home, please do so.

More information about the program itself is available through:

Teach and Tour Sojourners (TATS)
Anita Kabikire, Universities Program Director
6 Nekambuza Road, Suite 1, Kampala, Uganda, East Africa
http://www.teachandtour.com

I am excited and very much looking forward to a life-changing experience!  I will appreciate your prayers that I facilitate learning in developmentally appropriate ways:  I will strive to EDIFY and ENCOURAGE in ways that will meet each child, student and teacher's individual needs and to represent America as a compassionate nation--- which I still believe we are.... 

I was prepared In Kid's Word on Sunday that questions might come up about the Connecticut shooting.  I didn't know if parents had shared it or wanted to share it with their children so I opened divergently:  "Are there any things you' d like to talk about?"  Here's the first and only question from one often pensive child:

"How do we know God is with us?"   (Teaching children IS rocket science...)

I clarified with the child to be clear the question was whether God was present in our lives generally.  I turned the question to the other children.  "How do you know God is present in your life?"  Their responses could challenge those of doctoral theologians:

*So many people that I trust and respect come to church (tradition);
*Things have happened in my mom's life and my life that couldn't be just science (experience);
* The bible tells us God is, God loves, and God is here (scripture);
* The world is too beautiful and amazing for it to be science alone (reason);

That comment led to a child initiated discussion of whether they believed in the fundamentalist creation story or science (the rendition of the "Big Bang Theory" should've been caught on tape) and they all concurred they believe, using their words, in both the truth of "God and science."

I shared with them that they had just "nailed" John Wesley's quadrilateral though I'm a little nervous about how popular he is with Episcopalians today!  

God was present in our discussion today.  My only part was in facilitating the taking of turns to speak as everyone wanted to contribute.  As we closed, I offered if they believe God is omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent, they should not be afraid of asking hard questions.  God will always be a part of the answer.

I also asked if it were especially hard to see God's presence when bad things happen to which I heard a sounding, "Yes!"  We closed with the key message of Advent:  Waiting with Hope.

It was amazing how we talked around the issue without any child mentioning the Connecticut shooting at all!  God is present --- in our most challenging moments.

Being Loved and Being Healed by Jesus

Jesus and his disciples came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" Jesus stood still and said, "Call him here." And they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take heart; get up, he is calling you." So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man said to him, "My teacher, let me see again." Jesus said to him, "Go; your faith has made you well." Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.
-Mark 10: 46 – 52. 

We have learned over the past weeks about how much Jesus loves us!  We have also learned that part of loving is serving:  Last week, we read the disciples called to Jesus and He asked them, “What do you want me to do for you?”  James and John asked for power, to help Jesus “govern” the world but Jesus told them that to be a leader, they needed to serve others, not just sit on a throne and rule.

 

This week, a man calls out to Jesus and Jesus asks him, “What do you want me to do for you?” Bartimaeus could not see with his eyes and asked Jesus to be have mercy on him and let him be able to see.  This time Jesus gives the man what he wants.  He adds, “Your faith has made you well.”

We see at a physical level:  We see the beautiful moon early this morning, the colors of the sunrise on our hills and mountains, a dancing roadrunner across our street, a child who fell on the playground, a person who has torn clothes. 

Jesus enables us to see at a heart and soul level:  We can see God’s hand in making the sun and moon and the stars and hillsides and the roadrunner.  We can see the fear in the heart of the child who fell and wishes for his mom or dad.  We can see the hunger for love in the eyes of the person who has torn clothes. 

Bartimaeus was blind and wanted to be able to see his family, his friends, to be able to work and to enjoy the sunrises.  What might we need for Jesus to do to help our bodies?  What do we need Jesus to help us see?  If he walks with us in our hearts, what would Jesus see as we walk along each day? How do we need our faith to see these important needs?

Lord Jesus, have mercy on us!  Give us faith to let your love heal us; Help us see the needs of others through your love.  Amen.

  

Questions to Consider with Children:

*Questions about healing: 

·      What are some memories of ways you have ever asked Jesus for his mercy, his forgiving love for you? 

·      What are some memories of ways you have ever asked Jesus to heal your body?

·      What are some ways you have ever asked Jesus to heal your heart?

·      What are some ways you have ever asked Jesus to heal your relationship with Him and God, with your spirit?

*Questions about seeing:

Imagine Jesus is in your heart or walking alongside you each day.  What could you see in the body, minds and souls of the people you meet?

·      What hurting bodies might you see? Might you see people who are hungry, cold, lost, injured?

·      What hurting relationships might you see?  Might you see people without friends, who have experienced meanness, unkindness? 

·       What hurting spirits might you see?  Might you see people without God’s love in their lives, people who need God’s forgiveness to heal their wounded heart, people who might need to feel connected to God, to feel awe and wonder, to believe in God’s truth? 

Being Served and Serving

Mark 10:35-45

Last week we talked about only taking what you need.  This week we will look at how we see what others need and how to meet their needs.

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to Jesus and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." And he said to them, "What is it you want me to do for you?" And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" They replied, "We are able." Then Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared."

When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. So Jesus called them and said to them, "You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many."

“Whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant”…for Jesus “came not to be served but to serve.” 

We are to serve others in a way that’s like the way Jesus served his disciples, his students. 

What do you know?

·      In what ways have you been served?  In what ways do God and other people serve you, care for you, comfort you, meet your needs?

·      What have you seen other people do to serve people in need?

What do you want to learn?

·        How can you tell when someone is in need? 

·      How does God or Jesus know when you need something?

How can you learn?

·      How can God help you see what others need?

·      How does God meet your needs? 

·      In what ways do you serve others? 

How can you show what you have learned about serving?

            How can we serve others this week?  What do they need?  How can we meet their needs?

·       

We will practice serving others by washing each other’s feet.  Jesus, in what I think is is “second” must humble act of service washed the feet of the disciples in the Upper Room at the Last Supper. We will imitate this act, if the child wishes.  They can also choose to wash the feet of one of the dolls instead.  Then we’ll make a simple table flower arrangement for those who are elderly and alone.  Each child will make a commitment to serve someone in need in their family or friends over the coming week.         

It’s about People, Not about Things

Mark 10:17-31

As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: 'You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother.'" He said to him, "Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth." Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, "You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.

Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!" And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." They were greatly astounded and said to one another, "Then who can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible."

Peter began to say to him, "Look, we have left everything and followed you." Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age--houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields with persecutions--and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first."

This morning we read the gospel, acted it out with dolls and acted it out with dress-up costumes and we read the story of The Legend of the Bluebonnets.  We made trees filled with things that would be hard to give up if God asked.  We talked together that the message here was putting people and relationships over things. 

Here’s a story I “forgot’ to share this morning but meant to:

Last week I shared with you that I lost my laptop.  I was afraid  I put it on top of my Beetle and drove off to run an errand on Friday night.  When I came home, it was gone.  I felt so sad over the weekend, I was sick to my stomach. 

I shared with the kids at Kid’s Word that I felt badly, in part, because I had been careless with an important tool that I need.  They commiserated with me. 

Monday morning, I was preparing for this Sunday’s activity and I read the lines in Mark 10:27,  "For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible."

I felt at peace that no matter what had happened to my laptop, God was “bigger”, or there were more important things than a laptop, or that God could even bring miracles about laptops today. 

On Tuesday, I stopped at the La Quinta Police station, wishing, but not believing that someone turned it in.  To my surprise, someone had just dropped it off:  She found it in a parking lot at Walgreens on Washington Avenue and knew that turning it in was the “only right thing to do.”  I was able to meet her and say thank you as best I could:  I now have a new friend who lives just a block away from me!  It wasn’t about the laptop, though I was so grateful to have it back, as much as it was about the goodness of  my new friend, Pauline.

The most interesting thing to me was that when I asked the kids to write things it would be hard to give up, they kept wanting to name "people."  Maybe this is just one more example of the lessons we can learn from children!  

Here are some questions we discussed and questions you might find delightful to discuss at home: 

·      *  Jesus said he looked at the rich, young ruler and “loved him.”  How can we know Jesus loves us?

·      *  What kinds of things are hard to give up? 

·     *   Does  Jesus ask up to give up all our things?  Children sensed, “No, but we should take care not to demand more than we need and share others.”

·      *  In what ways have people treated you like you were more important than a thing? 

·     *   Why is it hard to give up things that you like? 

·     *  Why is it hard to only take what you need and not all that you want?

*  *  In what ways have we acted that shows we love people more than things? ? 

·       

·        

·