Prayer Request

I am a supply teacher.  I have my teaching license and am qualified to teach.  I just don't have the permanent job yet.  It's something every new teacher has to go through.  I'm working on getting my foot in the door, and when I visit a school, I leave a business card with my info on it at the office, and with the teacher I fill in for.  I hope that by doing this I will get more calls.


The month of January was difficult for me.  I only had about three days in total for the month; it's kind of difficult to pay the bills with so little work.  I'll admit I felt somewhat depressed about it, and could sense a spiritual battle going on as well.  Definitely not fun.


Since joining a small group/Bible study, I get asked every week if I've been getting any work.  It's nice when I can say that I have been, but it makes me feel like a "loser" when I don't get any - especially with a full-time teacher and another supply teacher (who has been getting a lot of work) in the group.


Last week we were asked to share a piece of good news and bad/not so good news with the group (if we wanted to).  I told them that, at that point, I had worked that day and had been booked to work Thursday as well (I ended up working this past Friday, too).  Not only did I have a couple days of work that week, but I had also been booked for this coming entire week!  That's the first time I've been booked for an entire week, and a week in advance!  The group was happy for me, because it has been an ongoing prayer request of mine - to get more work, especially since student loans are coming due soon.  In that sense, prayers have been answered, but this will be an ongoing prayer request until I can get a permanent classroom of my own (that is also a prayer request I have).


I'm looking forward to the full week of work.  I'll admit the pay cheque is going to be nice.  I've been to this particular school a couple of times already, and the only thing that I don't look forward to is the fact it is a middle school.  I really don't like working with this age group; my preferred group would be from kindergarten to grade three as being ideal for me.  However, at this point in time, I can't be too choosey.


So, with this post, I am asking for prayers for this coming week that I can do a great job, that the kids are good and listen to me, that they don't give me too hard of a time, and that I don't lose my marbles!  If you can remember to pray every day, I'd appreciate it.  If you can only pray once, I'd appreciate that too.  I appreciate any and all prayer I get.