Today, my section and I visited this public school in Bagong Ilog. It's like an outreach thing, and we get to teach grade school kids. We are assigned to a maximum of 2 students. I got assigned to only one pupil, and his name's Mark. He's in the second grade.

When we arrived, I was surprised by the number of students per classroom. At first, I stood outside the door and took it all in. I love to watch and observe people. I enjoy watching their mannerisms, their movements, etc.

The teacher was trying her best to silence the students, and little by little, the chaos ceased. I saw the teacher's desk piled with notebooks and papers, and I immediately felt bad for her. The ratio of teacher to student is one is to too MUCH.

So anyway, I approached Mark and tried to get to know him. But he's only a kid, and kids easily get distracted. So I produced a coloring page from my filecase and asked him if he wanted to color. He smiled and nodded his head and reached into his backpack for a box of crayons. I showed him my unused 36 pieces Faber Castel colored pencils and I asked him if he wanted to use it.

I could see his eyes twinkling and shining, as he longingly stared at the colored pencils in front of him. I lent it to him and I didn't really mind if he was disarranging the set and getting the points blunt and everything. I wanted to help him. No wait, not just him, but the whole school.

After our coloring activity, we got sandwiches and juice for the kids. I got an extra sandwich and a juice box and discreetly went upstairs. I saw the teacher hunched over, checking papers and notebooks. I gave her the sandwich and juice, and she flashed me a grateful smile. It felt wonderful. If I were to repeat the scene over and over again, I would.

Before leaving, I gave Mark a plastic envelope with a notebook and two pencils inside. I could tell he was happy. I didn't want to leave, but apparently all good things must come to an end.

This is an example of an irreplaceable scenario. I'm glad God allowed me to have a compassionate heart, and someday I am going to help these people. I am going to try to provide them with decent materials and a better curriculum, and a higher salary for the teachers who are so sacrificial.

Next time, I'm going to bring something special for Mark and the teacher. I cannot wait to go back.

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