The Never-Ending Complaining Student

I have a student that is really starting to test my patience. And I consider myself to be a pretty patient person so if I'm coming to the point of becoming impatient, you must really be doing something that really irritates me.

Anyway, there's this boy in one of my classes that complains a lot about everything! He gets so down on himself no matter how encouraging I try to be. If we're playing capture the flag and he isn't the one to grab the flag and bring it back, or if he gets tagged while running, he'll sit on the ground with his legs crossed, head buried in his face and won't participate. If we're playing football and the quarterback doesn't throw him the ball, he'll throw a tantrum and start crying. If we're playing volleyball and the ball isn't hit towards him because he wants to pass it so badly, he'll stomp on the floor with his fists clenched and start yelling.

And so today we were playing basketball for PE. Boys playing each other on one court and girls on the other to. I separated the teams as even as possible so it would be fair and hopefully, none of the kids would complain. Just two minutes into playing, and already trouble! This boy was dribbling the basketball, as happy as can be, with such a huge smile on his face, when one of the other kids came from behind and stole the ball away from him. Smile gone! I've never seen a mood swing as fast as this boy's, not even in some girls I know that can get pretty crazy. This boy went off! He first roared out a loud frustrating sound towards the ceiling, arms tight while clenching his fists towards the ground. Then he stomped every step over in my direction, grinding his teeth with his hands on his head (looked like he was going to pull his hair out). I said with a calm voice,

"______ (name confidential*), you need to keep playing, that's part of the game."

"HOW CAN I KEEP PLAYING MR. OSTOS IF THEY KEEP TAKING THE BALL FROM ME?!!?"

"It was just once and you can protect the ball better and pass to your teammates ______."

"BUT I'M NOT THAT GOOD! THEY HAVE TO LET ME DRIBBLE! IT'S THE RULES!"

"I want you to keep trying ______. Don't give up just because someone took it from you one time."

By this point whenever kids come to me complaining or whining to me about something, they start making up excuses, thinking they can argue with me. And this boy straight up lied to me!

"BUT ________ AND _________ WERE HITTING MY ARMS AND FOULING ME! THEY'RE CHEATING! THEY'RE NOT PLAYING FAIR! I DON'T WANNA PLAY THIS GAME ANYMORE. I DON'T WANNA PLAY THIS GAME EVER AGAIN!"

And he starts walking away from me and I raise my voice for him to come back and go play the game. He complies but doesn't want the ball anymore. He just kinda slowly walks back and forth on the court with his head down, hands in his pocket while the other kids run back and forth past him. This is what I go through on a daily basis and I love my job!

Journey To Bethlehem

I told myself I would only attend Friday night. Nope! Something drew me to the Journey to Bethlehem this year that I attended every night, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It could have been that I knew a ton more elementary students that adorably would shout out "Hey look it's Coach O!" whenever they saw me, or the fact I knew some of the performers from Alhambra church that I wanted to support, or maybe the pride I felt in that my school, the place I now work at puts on this huge and wonderful event at this time of year when it's cold outside that no other academy in the area does. I think that says a lot about SGA!

Journey to Bethlehem is a once a year outdoor event at San Gabriel Academy that depicts the Christmas story of the trip Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem. As you enter the campus, you are assigned to a tribe with a leader (tour guide) that will take you on a trip to different sights and sounds of this journey to Bethlehem. The field is decorated with many props to portray an appealing ancient world, a christmas lighted path with trees and plants, a water fountain, armadillos and wildcats, lions and bears, and of course, the various scenes of this journey. You will travel to scenes like Isaiah the prophet writing on a scroll (who I heard a lot of kids referring to as Santa Clause), Shepherds and little lambs, King Herod in the palace with the wise men, to finally the nativity scene of Joseph and Mary holding baby Jesus. There is also a petting zoo filled with real animals such as lambs, a pig, a turkey and even lama. Bethlehem is a favorite spot for many, the lighted marketplace filled with soldiers and merchants that sell water, hot chocolate, cookies and other deserts if you have the blue and pink coins that were given to you at the beginning of the tour. The end of the journey rests at an outdoor amphitheater set up with chairs, hay stacks (the kind you sit on, not eat), and the stage where different artists and musicians perform to conclude the evening.

The faculty and students of San Gabriel Academy put on this big event for the community every first weekend in December. If you couldn't make it, you really missed out! Next year I hope to get more involved. I might consider being a tour guide, since some weren't so enthusiastic that drove me to lead the group instead. Or maybe a merchant behind one of the counters serving food so when no one's looking, I can eat some for myself! Haha I'm kidding! Well, I think Journey to Bethlehem turned out to be a success in spite of a few things but hey, there really is no place like SGA! And I'm proud to be part of this campus.

First Day: New Pastor at a New Church

Yesterday was my first day as the new pastor at the White Memorial Church in East Los Angeles. My alarm woke me up around 7:30AM when it was supposed to wake me up at 5:30. Don't know how that happened. They have an early service at 8:00AM that I wanted to arrive there early to. That didn't happen. So I got ready as fast as I could, showered, put on a suit, grabbed my Bible and drove straight to L.A. I live in West Covina so the drive without traffic is about 30 minutes.

I got to church around 8:30AM. I really didn't know what to expect of my first day. I parked my car and walked into the main sanctuary, grabbed a bulletin and sat in the back. Everyone that was there, probably about 20 or so of them, sat towards the front. Pastor Ben Del Pozo, the senior pastor of the church, was sitting in one of the chairs on the stage. I wonder if he noticed me come in late through the back. Turns out early service was starting a little late because the girl who had to lead song service came late to. Ah, worked out!

Halfway through the service, a lady named Leah recognized me and insisted I go sit in the front row. So she walked with me down one of the aisles while the others there were were just finishing praying with a partner. I felt eyes staring at me as I sat. After about a few minutes into the sermon, Pastor Ben invited me up to introduce me to everyone. I was nervous, even with just a few there so I tried to keep a warm and friendly smile. I didn't feel at all that they were critiquing me or wondering whether I was qualified or not to be their new young adult pastor. I felt welcomed. I sat back down and continued worshipping with them.

In between the early service and main service there's Sabbath school. Pastor Ben had asked me Friday night to teach the Earliteen (ages 9-13) class but most of them had to practice singing for something they were doing in the main service that day. So no class. What did I do? I went alone around to other Sabbath school classes, from cradle roll (ages 0-4) all the way up to Young Adults (ages 21-35+) and introduced myself as the new pastor. I'm glad that's what happened. Teaching a class my first day just didn't feel right since nobody really knew me yet so introducing myself to all the SS classes suited better.

I spent the remaining 10 or so minutes in the Young Adult class listening to Amy teach, a young lady in her late 20's that's been teaching the class I guess for a while now from what I heard. Some are receptive to the way she teaches, but not everyone is. I got to talk with her a little bit after class and in the afternoon. She's so excited that they finally hired a young adult pastor and that her prayers were answered. Lovely lady with a heart on fire for God. The Young Adults at the White are going to be my area of ministry. Pastor Ben and the leaders of the church hired me for the sole purpose of growing the Young Adult community. I'll elaborate more on how I plan to do that in a future blog. Peter was another young adult that I talked with a bit. He's grown up in that church and I've known him for a couple years now. I'm so excited that he's been a faithful member of the White. His support and contribution is going to be an asset to the growth of this group.

As were talking, Leah interrupted and had to pull me over to get into the main service because they were about ready to introduce me to the rest of the congregation. This was intimidating! Obviously, there were a lot more people in this service than the earlier one. But God was good. God was faithful. And I just kept praying in my heart that He be the center of everything, that He be the one praised and not me. Pastor Ben and the head elder invited me up to the stage a second time and just as I was leaving my seat, Leah told me to bring my Bible so I did. I carried it up in my hand, stood tall next to the podium and faced the entire congregation with a warm smile. Art Medina, the head elder, introduced me and invited me to share a few words. I basically said that I was excited to be part of this new church family, that I felt honored to be here, and that all ages are welcome to support and help grow with me this Young Adult community. It was a very heart warming welcome. And for the rest of the day, I just went around getting to know people and introducing myself from table to table at potluck, and singing with a group in the hospital to patients, to joining the close of sabbath vespers at sunset. Pastor Ben encouraged that for this first day I take it easy and just make my presence felt in the different areas of ministry at the church. And that's exactly what I did as I got to know some people as you'll continue reading:

I remember Tirsa. She's 23 and went to high school with me her freshman year which was in 1999. We weren't friends then but she remembers me. She has 3 siblings. A brother, Isaac whose in the Philippines, a sister whose married and another brother.

I remember talking with a guy named Matt who was in a wheelchair. His membership is at the La Sierra University church but he likes coming to the White. He currently majors in Music Industry at USC.

I remember listening to Juan share his life story, an older man in his early 60s who wears a black hat, long black coat and mirrored glasses. He grew up in L.A., later in Arizona on an Indian reservation, and is back in East L.A. now.

I remember Anna, about my age, a new believer who wants to be baptized. She has a little brother.

I remember Carmen, a quiet third grade girl with earrings and such an innocent smile. She has an older brother.

I met a few Indonesians, spoke a bit of the language with them but already forgot their names!

I remember Philip, a special guy that likes to talk about I don't even know to you. For nearly 20 minutes straight he just kept talking to me while I just stood and nodded my head. And then finally when he was finished talking, he'd walk away where I couldn't see him anymore, then come back and be like "Oh one more thing Chris." He did that 4 times.

I remember Ramon the Rescuer, Denise's dad. He's the tall man, with muscles that I turn to if I need to be rescued from Philip. My own personal security guard. Haha! Philip is terrified of him.

I remember all the little kids that are my students at San Gabriel Academy, where I also teaching Physical Education during the week. All they would say whenever they see me aroudn church was, "Hey look it's Coach O!" Ah so adorable.

I remember Maria and Rebecca, two older looking and a bit chubby mexican women in their 40s, who were part of the group that sang at the hospital. Rebecca is working on her spanish and promises she'll help me learn to.

I remember Ethan and Vince, teenage boys, one goes to SGA, the other I don't know yet.

I remember Ashley and Adriana. Ashley is one my students at SGA. Adriana has a few sisters and a brother I think. Their mom is Myrna, whose married to Danny.

And finally I remember the Diaz family. They seem to be the most supportive so far. Three of the girls are my students at SGA, Victoria, Alexis and Jackie. Wonderful family. They might be transferring their membership from Temple City to the White. ;)

Mannnn....I didn't expect this blog to turn out this long. For anyone reading this, or any new pastors out there reading, I hope you find this helpful. This was my experience on my first day as the new pastor of a new church, the White Memorial Church in East L.A.