Heart of a Teacher

     While in Guatemala, Project REACH spent some time up in the AltoVerapaz in the community of Sacampana.  Food for the Hungry goes into areas with the highest percentage of chronic malnutrition, Sacampana is one of these communities.  Project REACH was able to come along side FH Guatemala to observe in classrooms, go on home visits for students who were struggling in school, and provide a seminar for the teachers.
     The teachers spend the first half of their day working with Pre-K through 6th grade and then they go down to the city and teach at a secondary school.  They work long hours with limited resources but it is evident that they love their students.  We presented material about the Heart of a Teacher.  I loved hearing their stories about why they decided to become teachers and their feeling about what they do.  For so many of us, we had someone who inspired us and we, in turn, want to give that to some one else.  We went through the Biblical principles of teaching and children.  God made children in His image, they have dignity and worth, God has plans for them, they have a place in His story, their parents have a great influence in teaching values, God has given us the gift of teaching and with that gift comes great responsibility.
     The teachers in Sacampana discussed the principles but then went on to talk about how they planned to use them in their own classrooms.  The Pre-K/Kindergarten teacher was so moved by the scripture that he just kept repeating "for I KNOW the plans I have for you." He couldn't wait to live and breath this scripture for his students, they have a hope and a future.  At the end of the day the teachers said that their wish was that the parents of their students would be able to hear these principles and scripture.  They wanted everyone to have to chance to hear God's plan for these children.  Little did the teachers know, but God was already preparing the community to hear some of these words.