We celebrated the last day of school with a chapel service and a picnic. At chapel, we got to pray for and encourage the people who are leaving the CISP community (including me). There is nothing more beautiful than students and teachers gathering around and lifting each other up in prayer. Hearing students pray for their teachers and praise God for how He has used them brought tears to my eyes. What brought even more tears was when students stood up in front of the school and thanked their teachers and wished them the best. What almost opened the flood gates for me was when one of my eighth grade boys stood up. He said something along the lines of, "Well, we have seriously had the most fun homeroom in the whole school. Thank you Miss Toftum, we are going to miss you." I'm almost crying right now just remembering it. After this, students huddled around teachers and prayed. I had a group around me as well, including all my eighth grade boys and a handful of others. One girl, very near and dear to my heart, thanked the Lord for me and how he used me in her life. She also prayed over my goodbyes and my time of transition back to the States. Again, I'm almost crying just thinking about it.
The picnic wasn't quite as emotional, but it was so good. We ate lunch in the grass. Some of my seventh grade girls put on little shows for us, doing impersonations of each of their teachers. It was so nice to just sit and be goofy with them. We also played on the playground with a few of the students, not just the elementary ones either. It was a hot afternoon of taking pictures, going through yearbooks, playing soccer, eating ice cream, and just a lot of laughing. We laughed as I tracked down and loved on my eighth grade homeroom students. You see, we have an understanding that poking, throwing soft things at, or chasing each other is how we show love. I also understand when they make faces at me, that is there version of a polite greeting. I agree with what was said in chapel, we had the most fun homeroom in the school. I praise the Lord for the laughs, the hugs, and the heart-felt goodbyes of this day.
Enjoy the pictures!
Praises:
1. For every minute I had with these kids over the past two years.
2. For how I have seen God at work in their lives.
3. For the things God is doing in their hearts and lives that I can't see.
4. For the countless laughs and smiles on this day and so many other days.
Prayer Requests:
1. That God would keep working in their hearts and lives.
2. That I would trust the Lord with these students I hold so dear.
3. That God would bring in someone incredible to teach health and PE next year.
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