SPEECH TO PARENTS & GUARDIANS

I will be giving this speech at the "open day" parents meeting on Sunday at 2 p.m. (5 a.m. BC time) Students will receive their Term 2 reports at that time.
(By the way: I was told just 2 days ago that their marks are based 100% on their term exams: no assignments, quizzes, or anything else I did counts! Yes, it's different in this country...)
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(OPENING)
Good afternoon. I would like to recognize the presence of Mr. Banda, the principal; Mrs. Gonani, the deputy principal; staff members of Kings Victory Academy; students; and most importantly, parents and guardians.

Thank you, parents and guardians, for taking time today to attend this meeting.
When I see that you have given up some of your precious weekend time to come here, I know that you truly value education.
The directoress, my mum, could not attend because she is in Mozambique this weekend.
It is my honour then to speak to you briefly on her behalf.

(BODY)
I would like to read a verse from the Bible first of all. It is from the book of Philippians--chapter 1 and verse 6:

(Philippians 1:6)
6 I am convinced and sure of this very thing,

that He Who began a good work in you will continue

until the day of Jesus Christ

[right up to the time of His return],

developing [that good work] and perfecting

and bringing it to full completion in you.

When I arrived in Malawi from Canada on January 1st, this was a foreign land to me. A strange place.
I did not know anyone other than my mum.
I did not know the land.
I did not know the language.
I did not know the culture.
I did not know the teachers.
I did not know the students.
It sounds like I didn't know much of anything, doesn't it!

I left my family back in Canada.
I left my husband behind.
He is working to support me financially so that I can be here with you.
I left behind my children and my grandchildren.
I left behind my church.
Why did I do this?
Because I believe God wants me here for this time--for your children.

But I did bring some things with me, too.
I brought with me the knowledge and skills that God has developed in me.
I brought a teaching degree.
I brought over 20 years' teaching experience.
I brought with me musical skills and knowledge.
I brought a guitar.
And I brought with me a desire to help your children succeed in school.
I have encouraged your children to attend every class----to come on time----and to listen, take notes, and study.
I ask God every day to help me to do my best.
And I hope that you ask Him to help you, too.

Because we are partners, you and I.
We are working together to help these boys and girls get their education.
I thank you for sacrificing financially for them, for encouraging them, and for making it possible for them to dream big dreams for their future.

(CLOSING)
Are we perfect?
Of course not.
No one is perfect.
Philippians chapter 3 verses 12 to 14 says:

(Philippians 3:12-14)
12 Not that I have already attained this ideal,

or have already been made perfect,

but I press on to lay hold of and make my own

that for which Christ Jesus has laid hold of me

and made me His own.
13 I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured

and made it my own yet, but one thing I do:

forgetting what lies behind

and straining foward to what lies ahead,
14 I press on toward the goal

to win the prize which God in Christ Jesus

is calling us upward.

We try our best, don't we.
We teach these precious children that they also need to try their best each day.
And if we ask Him, God will give us grace where we are lacking.

Thank you for sending your children to this school, and for the privilege I have to teach them this year.