Since our last update on Legacy school we have started and also almost finished our last semester of the school year!
Even though there is currently a land Sabbath everyone has remained very busy. I’m very happy to say that we have had a very prosperous year at the farm despite only being able to work it for the first half of the year. We have picked and used everything planted at the farm, and still have many fruit trees that are still producing!
Figure 1: Moe Palel and Htoo Gay working on the farm before the start of the land Sabbath.
Figure 2: Students painting a sign for the Farm. Top (left to right): Pan Nuang, Non, and Hser Nay Htoo. Bottom (L to R): Hser Nay Say and Htoo Gay
Also, because of the cool weather we sometimes change our Friday night activities. On particularly cool nights we sit around a fire, make a delicious snack, have Bible study, and fellowship with worship songs. It’s really a wonderful opportunity for all of us to spend time together and really appreciate the Sabbath.
Figure 3: Bible Study around the fire Friday night. From left to right: Hser Nay Say, Aj. Kathleen Kelly, Nay Blu Htoo, Pan Nuang, and Larry.
As mentioned earlier, the last semester is nearly over – leaving us just over a month until graduation. The other teachers and I are busy preparing ourselves and the third year students for graduation. The teachers have to make preparations for graduation (finals week is so soon!), for our own futures, and the graduating students’ futures. Our third year students have a lot of hard decisions to make about the next steps they need to take in their lives. Prayers that God will be with them during this very difficult and exciting time are always appreciated!
Despite all that we have left to do, recently we have taken time to reflect on the past year – specifically a few improvements we have seen in the students, and so I thought it would be great to share with everyone.
It may seem bias, but having had the opportunity to teach both Beginner and Intermediate English I see the most difference with all of the students’ English. I see this especially in my beginner students who at most only knew a few phrases when we started our first semester back in June. Now, the other teachers and I can communicate with them fairly easily while often getting across complex ideas.
Another way that we have seen improvement is when the male students speak at church. From my first church service to now the difference in their English, presentation, and depth of topic is really incredible. It has been very reassuring to us teachers because it shows that they are understanding what they are being taught in class and are able to apply it in many areas of their lives. It’s wonderful to see that we have been doing our jobs effectively.
Not only are we preparing for graduation, but also for our own return home. Lacee is staying until mid-April and is hoping to go to Burma with the Sextons for the Spring Holy days. Michael will be leaving very soon after graduation, but first plans to visit his grandma in Hawaii. Kathleen and I will be leaving at the beginning of March, but first will take the opportunity to explore more of Thailand. We all have enjoyed the amazing opportunity that Legacy and the Sextons have provided for us, and truly can’t believe how fast our time has gone by here!
Figure 4: All the Ajaans getting ready for Thanksgiving dinner! From left to right: Julia Stewart, Kathleen Kelly, Lacee Hilgen, and Michael Slocum
Written by Legacy Volunteer Teacher Julia Stewart
Photos by Legacy Staff
