Prayers needed

I'm sorry to be Debbie Downer after Sew's fantastic news today, but I need my prayer warriors, big time.

This morning my class and my teaching partner's class was practicing in the gym for a performance on Friday. The school secretary came into the gym (which is really strange since she NEVER leaves her desk!) to tell me that one of my students wasn't allowed to go outside for lunch recess (which is 40 minutes).

Apparently this little guy's mom called from the police station and she was worried that someone (I'm assuming JP's dad) would take him from the school yard. The secretary wasn't sure what happened, but it seemed pretty serious and we assumed that it was a domestic violence issue. I was told to send JP to the office with a buddy for recess so he wouldn't be lonely. I was to tell him that his mother was going to pick him up for an appointment, but she wasn't sure when.

During lunch the principal asked me if I would be working in my classroom (which I was planning to do anyway) and if I could keep JP with me. Thankfully I had some stuff to tidy up and take down so he helped me with that. After lunch the secretary called to say this JP's mom was there to pick him up and that he wouldn't be back for the rest of the week. The secretary told me that JP and his mom were going to stay with friends in a nearby city and that she would be by Thursday morning to get more homework.

I'm pretty concerned since there are also three older children that are in high school. I have no idea what is happening with the other kids, but I'm hoping that JP and his mom are safe.

This is yet another part of teaching that I can't stand. JP is a lovely little boy and he's so incredibly sweet and helpful. He's also a pretty quiet kid and not very smiley. Only recently has he started to smile more and joke around in class. My heart bleeds for him, his siblings and his mom. I've never met dad (which isn't uncommon), but he just finished helping JP finish his social studies project on "Community Helpers." JP chose a builder because that's what his dad does for a living.

Please pray for them when you get the chance.