THE BESTEST DAY THUS FAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our Lord just keeps pouring it out!  Since I went to bed last night and woken up this morning, He has continued to pour out his blessings upon me!  I am praising him for his faithfulness and the power in his name!  Ahhh, what an amazing God we serve!  He loves and He wants victory for us!

It all started last night.  The air was cool enough to leave my windows open throughout the night and be comfortable sleeping in my sweatpants.  I did wake up sweating at one point, but nevertheless...SWEATPANTS!!  He knows my love for cool, breezy fall days where I end up in my sweatshirt and sweatpants...He loves me!

This morning as I woke up...He loves me! :)

When I got to school I found a post card in my box from my brother from another mother (Scott)! I was excited and my day was made.  I was getting mail from home!  After checking my box, I meander my way to the business office to pay for high school retreat that is tomorrow!!  I sweet, Bolivian man that works there asked if my name was Johnston...I said, "Yes!  Katie Johnston."  "You have package", he replied.  I heart skipped a beat.  It was finally here!!  My birthday package from my parents!  As he led me back to the boxes, I find that I have not one but TWO packages.  My smile could have not been any bigger!  They really do love me, I thought!  After I took my students to Spanish, I sat at my desk and opened each box.  They were filled with chocolate chips, nasal spray, makeup and pajamas from my Ma and Pop, and Dunkin Donuts coffee, Easy Mac, contact solution, iTunes card, and peanut butter from Katherine (my old roommate and sister)!  My heart was so happy!

Lately, I have been getting really frustrated with my students because of their lack of following directions and disrespect.  There have been days when I was so frustrated that I was giving up.  I could not do it anymore.  Yesterday, I sent three boys to the office because of their bullying and harassment of each other.  I was not the one that needed to talk to them anymore.  It seemed like nothing I was doing was working.  Their talk with Mrs. Ordonez seemed to work, but only time could tell.

Today, was a typical day with students that can't stop talking, are unorganized, pick on each and turn in late homework.  You know regular 6th grade behaviors.  It wasn't until after lunch recess when the winds of change started to turn.  In our walk from the playground to the classroom, one of my boys jumped to scare another boy.  The scaree pushed the scarer, ran away, sat and cried. This is where I found him.  The boy's name is Carlos.  He is a smaller 6th grader that everyone seems to like, yet an easy target for those students who are looking to make themselves feel better. He explained to me that he had had it!  He was tired of getting picked on every single day because he was short and weak.  My heart broke.  It is situations like these that make my blood boil!!  Why do they have to be so playfully mean!!  I walked him to the counselor and thanked the teacher that stepped in to take my class while I helped Carlos.  My heart was torn because I longed to counsel him through this, but I had 17 other students that needed my attention.  I put him in good hands and confronted my class with my feelings about the behavior toward Carlos.  I gave my "mom" lecture about how we should treat others with kindness especially since we are all made by God to be unique.  I gave students some time to talk and discuss the situation until it was time to go to art.

While in art, I pulled Carlos out to talk to him about how he was doing.  We talked about the different things that others do that hurt him and we also talked about proper reactions to those hurtful things.  He understood that he needed to talk about it and not hold it all inside, but he needed to talk and process through it with someone perhaps the person that hurt him.  The Holy Spirit led me to ask him if he would like to address the whole class about the things that have hurt him and with a deep sigh he agreed.  (Sidenote:  This child is not a child that likes to speak in front of classes or crowds.  Last year he never gave a presentation to the whole class.)  I prayed with him for the Lord to give him strength and power as well as the words to say to the class.  He went back  to class and I went to see the principal.  I shared the days events with her and that Carlos would be talking to the class.  She was shocked and immediately prayed over the situation!  I also told her that we would probably not get to Science or Social Studies today.  This lesson was so much better!!

Upon returning from art, I asked the class to get out their Bibles and Bible workbooks.  They started working as we waited on a student to return from the nurse.  When he arrived, I leaned down to Carlos and asked if he was ready.  With a deep breath, he said yes.  I instructed the class that these next few moments would be a time of receiving and not questioning.  They intently waited on Carlos's words.  As I stood behind him for support, he proceeded to share the hurts his heart endured because of words and actions of those in the class.  He apologized to those he lashed out at in his hurt.  He called out and forgave those that made up mean songs about him.  He was the best example of Jesus that I have seen in my classroom all year (including me).  The SPIRIT was moving in my classroom and in the hearts of my students.  When he concluded the students applauded him and I asked him if he felt better.  He smiled his Carlos smile and giggled a yes!!

After a prompting from the Spirit, I asked if anyone else would like to share their heart.  Six of my students shared hurts to their heart's with the class.  The last student that spoke had been bullied and hurt in 4th grade shared that after being treated like that he started treating others like he was treated.  Sobbing he apologized!  By this time, others in the class were in tears.  I could tell some were feeling guilty and some were just hurting!  I looked out at many tear-filled eyes, thanked them for their bravery in sharing and told them that tears are healing.  The Spirit spoke other words through me that I don't remember, but then I prayed for healing and for a change in hearts.  After our prayer I shared how much I love them and how I want them to love each other  like Jesus loves us.  I told them that I knew there were some people that may need to ask someone for forgiveness, forgive someone, or forgive themselves.  I told them to use the 15 minutes of the day we had left to hug each other, to apologize, to love, to hug me :), and to cry it out!  He was alive and moving in my classroom!  I felt his presence, and today I got to counsel my students alongside the  Holy Spirit....THIS is what I came here for!!  THIS MAKES EVERYTHING WORTH IT!!

As the bell rang, one of my students looked at me with a smile and said, "Ms. Johnston, it is going to be different now. Isn't it?"  With tear-filled eyes I told her, "That is my prayer."  Whomever lifted up prayers for me and my students today...please keep praying for a change in their hearts and minds!  I could not ask for a better day!  He is soooooooooooooooooooo faithful!!

Prayers:
-Continued change and openness in my classroom
-Movement in our high school... to rise up leaders and disciples of Jesus
-Two girls have accepted Christ this week!!  Please pray for their lives to be forever changed along with their families
-High school retreat starts at 12:45pm tomorrow and goes until Sunday sometime.  Pray for safety, unity, openness, conviction, and compassion ( I am so excited!!)

HE IS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOD!  The rain of blessings is here and I am praying He continues to bring more of His goodness to this place!!