Teaching the Jacksons

So, this was our tiny predicament: Colin and I would be in La Ronge for less than two months, but still wanted to work and put away more money for the mission field. And we also needed something to fill up our time with- being unproductive has never suited me and I knew that I wouldn't survive off of just reading books on the Jackson's window bench, or forming some sort of routine where I watch certain tv programs at certain times, go take a walk, and then come home and make dinner, and then watch some more tv. That just would not happen. We would both need something to put our hands to.

I should mention though, that preparing for our wedding, along with preparing for Mozambique was a lot of work. And preparing for Mozambique is still a lot of work- but God is making everything fall into place and providing the finances for us to go.

But still, Colin and I could not sit still. And who would ever want to live at their parent's house and sit around all day like free-loaders. Not you and not us, either. So, we got the only job that didn't require a commitment from us, and it did not even require certification. . .we are substitute teachers!

When the morning bell rings at Churchill Community Highschool, we become Mr. Jackson and Mrs. Jackson. To every young person between the grades of 7 to 12, we represent a sort of vacation-time. Their eyes light up when they walk into their classroom and see our unfamiliar selves sitting at their teacher's desk.

From this point on, they love to pretend that they are a different person as we call out the attendance, they love to turn up their i-pods during silent reading,have more social time than they would ever normally get away with, and to call us "Michael Jackson" or inform us that there is a song about "Ms. Jackson".

But I really don't mind these things at all. All last week, I substituted for an English teacher who teaches grade 11's and 12's. The first day, they tested me to see what they could get away with. But by Wednesday things were running very smoothly. Their teacher is a very organized, helpful sort of person, and she left a complete layout of work for them to complete. Unfortunately, this left very little room for my own creativity or imaginiation. But I took every opportunity I could to share things about myself and to go over different literacy terms with them that related to their assignments. Other than that, all I could really do was read my novel "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd, which I was deeply involved in and even found myself in it, as the protagonist is a young, quirky girl without a mother.

That week, I also enjoyed attending assemblies, signing permission forms, writing my new married name and notes for the students on the blackboard, and letting them get away with little things like wearing their hats, eating during class (because I did, too), and leaving a few minutes early for lunch. The only things that I didn't enjoy were speaking firmly to a few students, assigning them work to do that I knew was boring and painfully uninteractive, and moving uncooperative students to seats away from their friends. But My ears would perk up a little bit when I would hear a student refer to me as a "cool substitute" or just simply say "have a nice day, Mrs. Jackson", "have a good lunch, Mrs. Jackson"- but I would never admit that to them. I was a good, balanced mixture of firmness and leniency.

And as I continue to substitute teach, I even pretend that I could have been someone who went to teacher's college. Before my next class, I spend my time pouring over their assignments and textbooks, highlighting definitions to possibly go over with them, and basically try to get a jist of what they are learning. This way, I can discuss literacy terms, the right cerebrum and left cerebrum of the brain-anything. It's refreshing to relearn the things that I've forgotten since highschool. I only hope that the information doesn't slip out as I spend my spares flipping through Calvin and Hobbes books in the school library.

As Colin and I walk to school hand in hand, and then skip home at 3:15 pm after the final bell- we would both have to agree that it's the perfect job for us right now. Though, it does put a sort of hunger inside of me to continue my schooling. (I refrained from telling the students that I'm actually a university drop-out.) And then I think, I'm glad that Colin and are still only 21 years old and that it's not too late to further our studies by getting a degree in Business or Theology to compliment our gospel work.

So, that it was the Jacksons are up to these days. We are dressing up like teachers and secretly trying to be the "cool substitues" that students hope for. But our near trip to Mozambique is always playing out in the backs of our minds. We are very eager to leave the luxuries of North America for awhile and learn how to reach a different culture with the gospel. This excitement would account for our daydreaming and fidgety behaviour as we watch the students sit and complete their work, waiting for the bell to ring.

Our Backyard Wedding (September 6th, 2008)

Now that my head has stopped spinning, the last big event is over, the guests are gone, and we're almost ready for Mozambique. . .I can sit and blog.

First of all, our wedding was amazing. I probably only say it that way because it was my own wedding. Kind of the way a mother would say that her baby is the most beautiful that she has ever seen. But an outsider. .well, an outsider may have pointed out that it rained on and off all day, that my hair was nothing extraordinary (because after a disastrous visit to a local salon, I resorted to doing it myself), the weather was cold enough so that we couldn't use the tents and chairs that we had worked so hard to set up- with icicle lights dangling in the corners and handmade centerpieces at each table, and top it all off- the clasp on the back of my dress broke.

But if you ask me or Colin, or a member of our families how everything went, we would all agree that it was simply beautiful. And that it was beautiful because it was simple.

As I walked down the aisle, the sun was out, but it was raining just a little bit. My dad calmly told me that it was "just a sun shower" when were standing out of sight, waiting to go down the aisle. When I reached the deck, where Colin, the pastor, and the rest of the wedding party was waiting, it was raining a little bit harder. We kept going with the service, and I felt relieved when I looked out towards our guests and saw them putting away umbrellas. The sun had come back out to shine lightly on our faces as Colin and I recited our own vows. After we said our heartfelt and handwritten vows of love, faithfulness and a life of adventures for Jesus, Colin grabbed a black guitar and cowboy hat to sing "Walk the Line" by Johnny Cash. His performance was quirky, sweet, and cute- everything that Colin is. Our guests absolutely loved it and I think that it made the ceremony very memorable. At the end of the ceremony, Colin and I prayed before our guests and then proceeded into a receiving line so that we can warmly welcome all of our friends and family.

After this, we jumped into our decorated cars and went through the town honking our horns, until we reached the Nut Point Campground to take pictures on the rocks. Unfortunately it started to rain again- but our photographer was so prepared! She brought umbrellas and a big tarp to keep us from getting wet. After we got all of the important shots with the wedding party, we decided that Colin and I would do the rest of our photo session after our honeymoon- when it wasn't raining outside. It was during that photo session that we poised in a white canoe with fishing rods, ran down scenic trails, and strolled across the beach off of Lac La Ronge.

When we returned to the Jackson household, I wasn't surprised to see that Anita (Colin's mom) thought that it would be best to hold the reception inside the house rather than under our big tent in the backyard. I really didn't mind this one bit. I honestly never really liked the idea of having to sit at a head table and be the center of attention. I felt more comfortable mingling around the house among our guests while we feasted on a completely homemade meal, cooked by Grandma Tassie. After Colin and I cut the wedding cake (a beautiful carrot cake that Anita made, complete with the white bells wedding topper from her and George's wedding), we made our toasts. Jenny did such an amazing job- painting a picture to our guests of funny moments between her and I, along with how Colin and I met when I picked something out of his teeth at Bible College. There were so many funny stories and heartfelt words, and it felt so cozy and special with everyone gathered around the kitchen table. My dad also said a great speech, and I was looking forward to it because he loves public speaking. And towards the end, Colin shared our vision- that we would be going to Mozambique in about a month to attend missionary school, and then continue to do gospel work for the rest of our lives. He presented Jesus as he really is: our gracious Saviour, not a religious figure who condemns.

Anyway, it was a beautiful evening and I don't think that I would have changed a thing about it. I love the fact that Colin and I handmade our guestbook, wedding favours (oatmeal chocolate chip cookies on a stick), and money box. And I have always wanted to get married in a backyard, and Anita has always dreamed of one of her three sons getting married in the backyard, as well.
People say that a woman can never be fully prepared for her big day, and yet it's the most memorable day of her life. But I hope that this just marks the beginning of a memorable life for Colin and I.