So far this week I've experienced feelings on the entire spectrum, so it has definitely been interesting. I'm finally beginning to understand how working with special kids can be really hard, because you can barely tell what progress they've made. It's frustrating sometimes, so I just have to check myself and remember that every bit of attention, positive reinforcement, structure, and love they receive is incredibly important.

We celebrated Joshua's birthday on Tuesday with a party at school in the afternoon (He is Sunita's friend's 7 year old son---the family staying in the apartment with me). It's interesting to spend some time with kids who aren't special! I've gotten so used to them. I have to remember to speak normally to Rachel and Joshua, because they understand me perfectly and don't need anything simplified. It was a funny problem to have. The children love meeting new people, and it was adorable to watch them introduce themselves to Rachel and Joshua and include them in our playtime during snack at the pre-vo school.

Today was another day of prayer and fasting at school, and we focused again on Hayden. We decided to choose one child each month, and spend all four weeks praying for them. We also spent time in prayer for the land conversion and the building project, and for the teachers and parents of our students. As teachers, we really need wisdom from God. None of us have any training, so we are completely dependent on him for guidance to know exactly how to respond to each child and help them in any way. It's also important to remember the parents in our prayers. Many of them have a difficult time structuring their home for a special child, and so much can happen to either help or harm the work we accomplish with each student once they leave for the day and go home. It's very stressful to be the parent of a special child, especially in India where there is such a stigma against disabilities, mostly due to the belief that they're punishment for bad behavior in a past life.

The more time that I spend with the children, the more I can pick out their unique personalities and what makes them tick. Harsha, for example, loves to tell the others what to do. If I ask him to sit down, he will immediately find another child who isn't sitting and order them to do the same. During class, he is constantly worried about what the other children are doing. He won't settle down to do his work if there's something he can tell another person to do. And Sujay thrives on structure and knowing exactly what is coming next. He will constantly repeat the schedule to himself partly for reassurance, and partly for motivation. His conversations usually go something like this:

Sujay: Emily?

Me: Yes Sujay?

Sujay: After reading then lunch time and then singing and then play time and then the van will take us home, right?

He loves the consistency of our schedule, and hates the thought of not being able to go home. So we joking threaten him with sleeping overnight at school if he won't do his work.

I went to Harley's (John and Sunita's son who isn't special) school this afternoon to see all the French students present songs and research that they did about France in honor of Bastille Day. It's a private international school, and so seeing all the children from different countries sing the French children's songs was really adorable. Harley is very proud of the French he has learned, and I loved seeing all their hard work. It's a really great school, and Harley loves going there.

Prayer would be much appreciated for continued perseverance at the school, and for clarity of thought as I finish the curriculum. I'm also working through some messy stuff with Moody right now involving my transfer to Chicago and tuition. As you can imagine, it's really difficult to manage things from so far away. I can't believe that it has already been 3 weeks, and that I only have 3 weeks or so left! It hardly feels like enough time. There's too much to be done and to see here!