come snow, sand or rain

The weather outside was frightful but the students were so delightful… okay, so it’s corny but true. This session we endured some of the most bizarre weather in our entire lives all within the confines of our campus walls. But the session was one of the most rewarding – as we laughed and struggled together with our class and formed strong friendships.

Cold still: There was ANOTHER snowstorm March 14, which made us a bit crazy as the heat was supposed to be shut off on March 15 and Krista was still on antibiotics. Fortunately, the government extended heating until the end of the month.

While it was very cold outside, our hearts’ were very warm as we were blessed with an amazingly generous class who continue to show so much concern and love for Krista’s health and wellbeing that we were overwhelmed. This was the first class that wanted to wash OUR lunch bowls almost everyday – and it was so touching to have them go out of their way to take care of us many times.

Mission to Mars: On March 20, we woke up to a yellow sky and fierce wind. It turned out to be one of the worst sandstorms in the last four years. Preston had already gone for his morning walk before checking the online news that cautioned against venturing out. Oh well. Sand replaced the snow, literally. Where the playground had piles of snow now stood piles of sand. It was a peculiar sight.

Our students rolled with all of the adventures, as they enjoyed the snow and weathered the sandstorm. This last week we were treated to wonderful weather (with only a spattering of evening rain) and got to enjoy playing outside – which led to Preston falling flat (front-side down) and spraining his wrist. This resulted in our class focusing all of their attention on making Preston better – and more nutritious provisions and wise advice. We are grateful that Preston is on his way to a full recovery and that our students didn’t mind having the otherly-abled facilitators.

So it was a session of much kindness along with healing, and we were given just the students that we needed to make it through relaxed and still refreshed. They led excellent lessons and gave heart-felt speeches. We were so proud and excited about their experiences. One teacher said it was the best, most interesting training that they had ever attended in their life. Another said she would help her family bury their “I can’ts” and focus on what they could do. Another said that our love and kindness has so influenced her attitude and view on life that her friends back home would know she was a changed person when she arrived home.