during Lent

Hello again,

I'm sure you're wondering what my reflections are now that Lent is through and I'm no longer closely monitoring my Internet usage. Not being pulled to check for updates or email replies was refreshing. It did give me time to really thoroughly enjoy my immersion experience, especially in school. But it's also great to have the freedom to check my email when I need to.

During Lent I dove headfirst into working in school, especially with SEN children, and I love it. There are times that I want to scream at those children, as does every other adult working with them, but on the whole, I love them. The light of realization on their faces when they finally understand something makes all those frustrating moments completely worth it. But I'm not sure fasting from Internet for Lent made this possible. It was a very opportune time for me to fast from Internet, but I think I would be enjoying school just as much if I hadn't fasted.

During Lent I thought about my future, and if I really want to do what I am setting out to do come fall. I was being immersed in children with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, don't speak English all to well, don't listen to lessons or to discipline, and I think I've determined I really love the education scene. I want to help these children, here and now, and in my own classroom, in another school someday, where my payment is more than free greasy meals. I've thought back on the psychology degree that I was going to pursue, and I ask myself if I miss it. Do I still like psychology? Yeah, my new favorite author writes society from a psychological perspective. For a moment I felt less smart, for pursuing a degree that doesn't require a masters to work. But no, I'm fine, I'd much rather work with children in a school than in an office with clients.

During Lent I experienced weekly services and Holy Week activities through an Anglican tradition, and some Methodist. It was different, not what I was expecting. For earlier weeks in Lent, we went to a stations of the cross service on Wednesday evenings and walked around the church to different plaques depicting scenes or people from the story of Jesus' suffering. At Great Horton, a candle was extinguished from ring similar to that at advent every Sunday of Lent, until no candles were to be left burning on Good Friday. Palm Sunday at the Methodist church took me out of my shell a bit. Every able-bodied person gathered at the back of the sanctuary at the start of the the service and with olive branches and hymn books in hand waved and sang for the processional into church. During Holy Week itself there was a service every evening at St. Wilfrid's with communion. Good Friday morning was a family morning at which we attempted to do crafty activities with children and their families that came. We succeeded to some extent in helping the children create life-size drawings of themselves to hang up around the church. We also made a poster upon which everyone whose shadow darkened the church doorway that morning traced their hand in wax crayon. There was also a large banner that read, "Alleluia! He is Risen!" that was hung at the front of the church for Sunday morning. At noon on Good Friday once we were all crafted-out we trooped over to the church hall for soup and bread. It was a great day of family and fellowship. Easter morning, I played violin at St. Wilfrids so that the liturgy could be sung, and there was a definite tune to follow for the hymns. I was really nervous at the start of the service, but it was alright, and everyone was really appreciative to have some music in the service. The liturgy used to always be sung, but then they lost their organ player, and it's been spoken ever since. We were invited to the Bilton's for Easter dinner in the evening, and it was wonderful. There was more food than one could imagine and it was delicious. Most of their children were home, and also Alex, the priest. There was feasting and drinking and laughing and it was glorious. I felt completely comfortable, it was a scene of merriment, friendship, family and laughter that I don't want to leave.

So here I am, it's after Lent, and I'm out of school for a bit, and back online. And what have I learned. During Lent I think I learned how much I love my family and friends. During Lent I learned that I love working with children in a school, and that I am indeed looking forward to going back to school in fall. During Lent I learned how much I love and appreciate the people that have become a family for me here, that I don't want to leave.

Blessings,
Becca