School is in session - so get back to work!

We're in a bit of a lull right now, as far as some of the ministry work goes. The pastor training school is not in session, because most of the students need to work full-time harvesting coffee this time of year. We are awaiting the arrival of another container shipment in a couple of weeks, and our distribution of Christmas gifts is stalled until it arrives.

Motorcycles are still being purchased and distributed, feeding centers and special needs programs are running, but there are fewer demands on our time right now than during most of the year. Allen and Russell are putting in a major effort on our construction project, and I am pushing to get a lot of school work done during the next couple of weeks.

In order to make the best use of our time, we are trying to institute a schedule for our school day. We normally don't have a schedule, as our days are so full of unscheduled events that any schedule is ruined pretty quickly. Our regular "schedule" is really just a list of things we want to get done by the end of the day.

For the purpose of cramming in every possible moment of school work, I have to mostly schedule my time. The children have certain subjects they can do on their own, and others which require my help (giving yourself a spelling test is hard to do, for instance). So, from 8am until about 3pm, my time is completely scheduled, as I move from child to child, while also keeping an eye on those who are working independently. We also have to schedule the use of the computer, as the children use it for various subjects, and need to take turns on it. Additionally, we have someone assigned to "chores" at all times, so that the washing of laundry can continually progress, dishes get done, etc.

We're keeping busy, that's for sure. With the container shipment arriving fairly soon, and grandparents coming for a visit not too long after that, we need to squeeze in as much school as we can right now!