Ok, so today is November 12 and I am just now returning from a week long camping trip on the beach with my 6th graders. As I sit down to write I open up my post list and realize I never posted my entry from Outdoor Education Week! Yes, that was back in September when I went with my 6th and 7th graders on a 3 day camping trip to Manabao, but better late than never right? Here it is...
I'm sitting in my room right now, resting on my bed, after I have showered my filthy self from all the dirt and grime from camping with my students. No more dirt under fingernails, greasy hair or bleeding magi (devilish insect) bites. That has now been replaced with clean clothes, blow dried straight hair, and shaven legs! As appealing as the latter sounds, I actually really enjoy the dirt and grime. Is that normal? Normal to enjoy 36 middle schoolers screaming b/c they are having so much fun in nature? Normal to enjoy the sweatiness of middle school boys? Normal to enjoy the conversations of kids around a campfire? For me, yes.
I got to see change and transformation in my students this week that I have never seen before. Literally, to see 6th and 7th grade boys worshiping around the campfire with an abandonment from peer pressure or what others think is beyond me. Seriously, middle schoolers closing their eyes to focus on the words of the songs we are singing is beautiful. No wonder the Lord is so satisfied when we are most satisfied in Him!!