We Moved

After much consideration, I have decided to move my blog to the following website:

notyourgrandmasclassroom.blogspot.com

My new blog will focus almost solely on my classroom and is attended for a more diverse audience. For those of you who have faithfully followed Lakota Rapha, thank you so much.

Always,
B

If You Are Willing

40 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean."

41 Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" 42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.

I am so drawn to accounts of healing in the Bible for so many reasons. In fact, I have been drawn to healing for a long time. I have always been drawn to medical missions, I studied pre-med for a year at college and my blog and dog are both named "Rapha" which is Hebrew for Healer. Why the obsession with healing? I think it is because I feel so wounded and broken. I have so many hurts brought upon mostly by my own failings. But the accounts of healing in the Bible bring hope.

Today I was reading the above passage from Mark. I have read this account so many times, but I was struck once again by a couple of things. First, I love the audacity of the unclean man. He dares approach a religious leader who has gained quite a following, knowing (perhaps even believing) that he could be cast away because of his unclean state. In fact, according to Hebrew law of the time, if a Jewish person came into physical contact with a person who had leprosy, they would be unclean and must offer a sacrifice and go through purification. Religious leaders of the day went to great lengths to avoid becoming unclean. Despite this, this man comes to Jesus.

What does he do when He reaches this Man? He falls on his knees and begs Him to heal him. Though he is bold to come before this Jesus, he is humble enough to recognize his place--at Jesus' feet. What's more, you can almost hear his heart breaking as he begs Jesus to cleanse him. Still then, as his heart breaks open, there is a declaration of faith "....You can make me clean." If there is any doubt in this man's heart, it is not regarding Jesus' supernatural abilities. Instead, it seems to me what the man is really asking is "Am I lovable?"

And then look at what Jesus does. Mark tells us that Jesus was indignant. Jesus' frustration and anger was not directed at the man humbly before his feet. Instead, I think it was at the evil in the world that had wounded one of his children so much that he questioned whether or not Jesus loved him. But Jesus gives his answer to the man's questions--the physical question "Will you heal me?" and the spiritual "Will you love me?" He does so when he reaches out and touches him. Do you see how Jesus actually touches this unclean man before he heals him? How powerful is that? In our most unclean state, when we are at the fee of Jesus, begging Him to make us clean, asking Him if He still loves us, he reaches out and touches us in our brokenness. And as the rest of the passage shows, the man left a clean man.

We can never purify our hearts apart from God. We can only fall at His feet and trust in the wonderful knowledge that He is willing to reach out and touch us when we are the most unclean.

Goodbye Rapha

Yesterday I was walking Rapha. We went to the post office together and I tied her up behind the building. I was only in there for about a minute when the postal worker got a strange look on her face. She asked who owned that dog. I sheepishly admitted that the barking scoundrel was indeed my dog. Wanting to take a look, she stepped outside. To my horror, she then declared that this dog was in fact her friend's dog who had gone missing over a month ago. She promptly got on the phone and told her friend she found her dog. Apparently Rapha belong to a seven-year-old girl who had named her Sparkles. I cringed--both at the thought of the broken-hearted girl and the disgrace of baring the name "Sparkles." Kennedy told me she would get me another lab, if I wanted one. I only shook my head, choking back tears. I didn't want just any old dumb dog. I wanted Rapha.

I took Rapha home yesterday and cried my eyes out and waited for her owner to come pick her up. I called a few TFA friends and told them the sad news. They all urged me not to give Rapha back, saying it was my dog now. But you know, if Rapha ran away from me, I would want someone to return her. What should I tell that little girl? I am a 23-year-old with no one to come home to so I need her more than you? Real mature.

I don't know if she got lost or what, but the old owner never came, so for now Rapha remains with me. I will admit though, I thinking of forever avoiding the post office...

B

P.S. I took some pictures with Rapha in case I ever have to give her up.

An Influx of Visitors

About a week ago, I had two very unfortunate situations occur. I went get into the details, but I will say that after school, a former student and a current student went missing. In both cases, their guardians assumed they were with me as students often stop by and visit me. I had, however, seen neither of the girls that day for more than a minute because I was will. Anyway, one set of parents in particular was very very angry and threatened to call the cops on me and another teacher. (I'm not sure what I would have been charged with). However, the experience has made me much more guarded. I have therefore implemented a new policy. Every student that visits me now must produce a written note from their guardian stating that they have permission to be at my house as well as the time they must leave by.

Today, I had over twenty students stop by--the most I have had in a single day. I sent every student home that didn't have a note from home, after allowing them to drink a glass water. Three did come back with a note and the others promised to return another day with the required item. The policy makes me feel more guarded and I think it will cut back on children lying to me about where their parents say they can and can't be.

His Mercies Are New

Yesterday was such a hard day. I was both emotionally and physically exhausted. Rapha was really upsetting me because she just wouldn't stop barking. I was so afraid I was going to get kicked out of my apartment. So, I decided to call up my country friends and ask them to take Rapha. I went to bed tearful, weary and so discouraged.

Today was different. Though I was tired when I awoke, I was stress-free as Rapha had slept through the night and had not wakened me as she had so many nights previous nights. I dawned one of my favorite dresses, parted my hair and dropped Rapha off at the dog-sitter. For some reason, there was a bit of spring in my step as I headed towards the school. I felt joy and hope restoring me and it was wonderful.

Today was such a good day. My children made me laugh in so many ways. In fact, I am going to make a special post just for the funny things they said over the last few days. And for the first time, I left the school building knowing that my children had learned. It was beautiful.

Mother Theresa once said, "I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much." Though I am clearly no Mother Theresa, I can resonate with this quote. Today, God reminded me that indeed He will not give me more than I can handle.

Thank you, Dear Father.

B

P.S. God sent me this photo yesterday to remind me why I am here.

Weary

I have been having a rough time. I am just discouraged, weary and exhausted. But this song keeps running through my head, perhaps because it has been on repeat for hours. Anyway, I learned it when I went to the Virgin Islands about four years ago. Check out the lyrics.

When the morning falls on the farthest hill,
I will sing His name, I will praise Him still.
When dark trials come and my heart is filled
With the weight of doubt, I will praise Him still.

For the Lord our God, He is strong to save
From the arms of death, from the deepest grave.
And He gave us life in His perfect will,
And by His good grace, I will praise Him still.

Father, I will praise you still.

The Dark Side

The rumors are true. I did indeed succumb to temptation. The result? A new member of my family. Yes folks, I am not the proud owner of a black lab puppy. Isn't she cute?

Her name is, of course, Rapha. She is 14 weeks and the calmest puppy I have ever seen. She sleeps a lot and barks very rarely. Her current major infractions include waking me up this morning at 4:00am having begun to chew on my favorite Habana sandals from Brasil and having tinkled on my floor when I suggested she just "hold it" until I was done lesson planning. I am not quite certain what (or who) possessed me to take the little tike, but I am not looking back. Any way, she will be good for me in that I can now run at nights with an added degree of safety.

Continuing to shock and awe,

B