What missions teaching life is really like

6:00am- alarm clock rings and you hit the snooze a few times

6:30am- roll out of bed and pray there is electricity, or you aren't taking a shower today. 

7:00am- If only sweatpants could be worn to work....I mean...how much more modest can you get?!
7:30am- breakfast on the go as you run out the door. Note to self- wake up earlier tomorrow

7:33am- pull into the school parking lot and wave to the guard to thank him for letting you in

7:45am- staff devotions/prayer time

8:05am- finish your breakfast and drink cup of tea #1

8:25am- greet your students as they make their way to their seats.

8:30am- wish you had another cup of tea
8:30-10am- Teach about anything and everything (math, life, language arts, why you don't need a boyfriend at the age of 13, social studies, science lesson on why you can't eat food that is expired by a month and a half, writing, and back to why you shouldn't date at the age of 13. Oh the joys of teaching middle school!).

10:00am- finally, cup of tea #2 and snack time

10:20am- back to teaching (ask God to give you the right words to say today). Have students pray for post-elections to be peaceful.
12:10pm- LUNCH! You mean I get 20 minutes to eat uninterrupted?!

12:15pm- "My lunch doesn't taste right, so I am not eating it!"...spend the rest of your lunch trying to find something else for your student to eat. Note to self- don't eat the extra snacks you keep hidden for students who don't like lunch.

1:00pm- try to find something interesting to teach to keep your students awake from the post-lunch exhaustion (Pray that you can also stay awake...note to self...don't have reading after lunch.) At least one student probably wont feel well because that is the nature of living in Africa...Note to self- become a nurse.

1:45pm- send three to classes and go to "help" a student with computer class...I say "help" because the student already knows more than I do... "Miss Geist...you have never used an iPad before, have you?"

2:30pm- make sure students are in their respective classes and come back to classroom to have a heart to heart with two students who aren't getting along. Counseling time!

3:05pm- write in homework books, pack the bags, give high fives/fist bumps, send them out the door, and take a deep breath.

3:30pm- check mailbox, return mug to the kitchen wishing you had had a third cup of tea because you are exhausted and still have meetings and work galore. 

3:45pm- do anything number of things including: parent meetings, staff meetings, collaborative planning with regular ed teachers, get computer tutorial for next class so you look like you know what you are doing, worship practice, or grading/lesson planning. Note to self- find a personal assistant

4:30/5:00pm- Try to make it home in time to eat dinner with the "family" (AKA the 5 other people I live with)

6:00pm- everyone gives up on work and decides to watch a TV show or movie. Hopefully nothing that will remind us of home. Some people skype with friends/family at home, some search pinterest for recipes we might be able to make with limited ingredients. Note to self- send care packages next year to friends here in Kenya and skype with them at least once a week... missionary life can be very lonely.

9:00pm- Missionary Midnight. By this point your brain no longer functions and you just want to go to bed.

11:00pm- Finally go to bed. Pray for a good night's sleep because you have another long day to face tomorrow! Note to self- go to bed earlier tomorrow....