New Jobs, Same Mission

 While I gave a brief explanation in my last blog post about teaching science this semester, I wanted to explain more. 

At the end of last school year, the science teacher on the ship had to go home unexpectedly due to family circumstances. In the Mercy Ships world, it is very hard to find a new teacher, get all the vaccines, training, etc and start in August. I had a quick conversation with the principal before we left and told him I had tutored science classes when I was in high school and college and would be willing to help however I could. About a week before we arrived back on the ship I got a message from him saying no science teacher had been found and was I serious about helping for a semester in the academy. He explained that the students would be enrolled in an online science class and I would be tutoring them through that, making sure they stayed on track, explain things further, update parents on progress, etc as I don't have a teaching credential and can't actually teach. After talking it all over with Jeff and praying about it, we decided it was a go! It is 3 mornings a week and leaves plenty of time for working in the hospital. We are 5 weeks in and so far so good. I'll be done in December and will return to physical therapy everyday again. 

View from my science classroom

Not only am I doing 2 different jobs on board, but now Jeff is too! He is still Finance Director and in charge of all of the budgeting, banking, etc on the ship, but he can now be found in the hospital as well! He has been helping different departments in the hospital be more efficient in how they use data, systems, spreadsheets, and all of that stuff I will never understand! Ha! He has been in more hospital meetings about how many beds are available, tracking patient information, and how we best use the resources we have. It's fun that I will see him in the hallways down in the hospital sometimes now too! 

In other news, the kids are doing well. Now in 9th, 6th and 4th grades (WOW!) and enjoying the small class sizes and fun activities onboard. All of the kids loved the "Hospital Open House" where they could see firsthand what happens in the hospital. 

Once again, thank you for all of the love and support, notes in the mail to say "We miss you!" and texts just asking about our day. We appreciate it all more than we can say. 

J^2, L, S^2