Alright, I don't know how many updates I did on my Monday's, but I'll finish it in this one.
Monday Night:
Before 4 o'clock my faithful bus driver drives me to the dock. Sometimes on the boat ride back someone will try to talk to me in English or Chinese. However, around that time my brain is fried, so I'm not very gabby unfortunately. When I arrive at Big Kinmen, I take another bus to my dorm.
Most of the time I try to grab a "bian dong" on the way back. Now, the English word for "bian dong" is "lunch box." However, when I was in America I never heard of the phrase "lunch box," probably because to my knowledge in America there is no such thing as a "lunch box." Anyway, a bian dong is a rice meal. You get a box of rice then you get to choose what you want with it, kind of like a buffet. Besides, bian dong food is more adventureous. However, after my 6 classes and 2 boat rides, I am not in a mood for another adventure. So you might be wondering why I get bian dongs..30NT, that's why!!!!!!!!!!! When you can get a somewhat decent meal for around $1.00, it gets my attention.
After I meat my meal I have less than an hour to get ready for Monday night class. What is it? It's a 2 hour class of 4-8 JR high students who have are not doing well in school, inside and outside the classroom. It is a challenging time for me, especially after such a busy day. My attitude varies from "bring 'em on" to "I'm to sick to come!" Thankfully my brother, who has a great burden for these precious kids, is in charge, and I think he has done a great job under the circumstances.
Usually how the class goes is we prepare a little lesson then do some one on one tutoring. One of the guys I helped was Luke. He might be the hyperest 8th grader in the world! While some of the others glare or sulk, there is never a dull moment with this kid. He jumps around and screams out answers (and other words) with a huge smile on his face. At first when I helped him, he would eagerly ask me who to say this or that in english. I was very encouraged. However, as the weeks passed he got louder and bouncier. One time he grabbed my Chinese dictionary and looked up an insulting Chinese word. When he found it, he excidedly ask me how to say it in English. When I looked, I saw that one of the synonyms for that word was "tender". So I turned to him and said, "Tender". Immediately a devious smile spread across his face, and he began going to people and calling them "tender"cackling while he did it.
Due to the number of volunteers, I longer teach the Monday class. Right now, I am just "on call". Though the class has changed over the semester, the need is pretty much the same. Please pray for Lucas and for the other American teachers that help him. Though work like this is exhausting and sometimes depressing, I believe that by God's grace, a difference has already been made in their young lives. May that continue.
How do I finish my Mondays? I try to go to bed before 10, because I do almost the same thing on Tuesday.
Lord willing, I tell you about it next time!
May God bless you indeed, widen your boarders, may His hand be with you, and keep you from evil (1 Chronicles 4:10).
Andrew Stewart
(Mt.11:28-30; Phil.1:21)
