I love teenagers and there helpful advice!

"It's just a job Anna, don't worry so much about it!"
"That's the thing, my friend, it's not. If it were I'd be home, sitting on my parents couch drinking coffee! It's not a job; it's why I came here."
"What?"
"Yes, that's what I'd be doing!"
"Remember, it’s just a job. Who are these kids? I’ll come and talk to them! You know Anna, in order for you to gain the students respect; you have to be buddies with them. Then they will do whatever you ask, not because they care about school, but because they like you!"
“Thank you, but, for fifth grade students, that won’t work. They will eat me alive. You know I am so reliant on God. I am desperate for him to fill my mouth with words. 'A soft answer turns away wrath!' Each moment with them is a gift from God."
“Remember, it’ just a job!”
How could I ever say that about real, human beings? Even though I'm terrible at this more days than not, and they help me to daily come face to face with all my imperfections...I still can't be lazy or give up. These are kids’ lives and the future of their community. Thankfully He has them hidden within the palm of His hand. There are those days when I wonder if I'm called to be a teacher. Communicating to students, managing their behavior and learning, disciplining and motivating them to want to want to learn and be successful, dodging their darts, and all the time understanding that they are just calling out to be loved, is nie maak lik werk. (It’s not easy work!) It's asking a lot of a weak, insecure human piece of dirt, it's not asking a lot of God! He knows and loves each one.
I attended a meeting and am pondering the ultimate privilege it is to work with children.  (Simile is on the brain after editing my test for tomorrow) As frustrating as winding up a microphone cord. Tiring - like a ten mile run having been dormant all season; painful as slamming my thumb in the door of an old station wagon and heart-breaking because I want so much for them to realize the full potential that is there life. The privilege is: every question I can ask to stimulate his mind, every moment to plant the seed of God's word to quicken his spirit, every interaction to point him in the right direction. In the recurring words of Ms. Nan to the kids, I may be speaking to the "next president of Namibia!" I can always count the seeds in an apple, but I'll never know the myriads of apples that will come from planting one seed.
We had our first group-guitar class; I gave up giving 10 lessons in a row. There were only a few, who came, but it was great to see the excitement and the eagerness when they saw two brand new guitars purchased just for them. They are eager to learn and practice. Today we learned all the major notes up the neck, not the most fun lesson :) It’s so much more fun to play songs and sing or ask Ms. Anna to sing for them, but we are growing and learning to stay committed to something good, even when it's not as fun. One student hadn't done English homework in two weeks; I couldn't figure out a reason or come up with a way to get them to care about it. This person really enjoys the guitar and is doing so well. I finally decided to deter their practice until they decided to put the effort into the grades. One of the brightest in the class, could still pass without doing any homework or practice at all, but would be soaring if only would apply them self. At first it backfired (like many motivational activities I try to implement) this person decided to give up the guitar or find some other means to learn it. I stuck to my decision, as hard as it was and they came around with the signed agreement. I'm delighted they made the right choice! Let’s have faith it will last. There are so many stories of daily challenges and successes, I hope to jump on here more so you will be able to come along for the ride. All the honor goes to our Maker and Father, Jesus Christ.