The structure of a class schedule has always been one my Type A personality enjoys. It is more comfortable to me to know what to expect day by day. As a missionary we are taught to be flexible, always expect the unexpected. Thankfully, my weekly schedule is fairly stable, though it does have a lot of room for flexibility.
Weekday mornings begin the same for me. At 6 AM Cindy and I meet up to go for a two mile run on the dirt road followed by a nice cold shower and breakfast. Then, everyone meets for devotionals at 7:30 in the chapel.
The students have class each day from 7:45-12:30, four fifty minute periods with ten minute breaks in between. Each class level is taking 6 classes. The first years have their own classes, while the second and third years are combined. This means that there are 12 classes being taught by 3 lecturers. Currently, I am observing/co-teaching three classes, as well as teaching beginning English class for the wives program.
From 12:30-2 is a rest period for everyone. This is the hottest part of the day, and is a perfect time for preparing and eating lunch and taking a nap!
From 2-3 the students have work period where they are given assignments to take help care of the campus.
In the afternoons I have different things scheduled for each day. Mondays and Thursdays from 3-4:30 I meet with the choir to practice for our chapel services which are on Tuesday and Friday morning from 9:30-11. On Tuesdays and Fridays Mrs. Sinabanza comes to clean our apartment around 2, so we stay home to be there while she does this. (I’m thankful to be able to help her by giving her paid work!) Tuesdays from 4-5:30 the four mazungus (white people) meet with Mr. Sinabanza (a 3rd year student) for our Tonga lessons. On Wednesdays and Fridays I meet with Mr. Ndune (a third year student) from 1-2 to help him with his English. On Wednesdays from 3-4:30 the wives meet for bible study. Then from 5-6 the students meets with their discipleship groups, which is a small group bible study consisting of lecturers and students. On Fridays from 3-5 we have mandatory games where we play football and volleyball.
This schedule makes for a busy week! But I find that there is always a lot of good down time. I’ve been filling my time with lesson planning, cooking, Tonga practicing, napping, guitar practicing, reading, and blog writing. When time allows I make my way up to the student compound to visit with the student’s families.
Though this is what is scheduled for my week, there hasn’t been a week yet where something hasn’t been changed! Sometimes classes are rescheduled for a different day if one of the lecturers is away. We have gone away on the weekends a few times, leaving Friday afternoon and returning Saturday, which adds to the business of the week. So I think I’m in a happy medium of having a well-structured schedule that still requires good missionary flexibility J
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