Start of the school year for the Kutcels
A former Freshwater kid, Ken Kutcel now serves with the TeachBeyond Organization as a science teacher at Dakar Academy in Dakar, Senegal. Ken is currently teaching high school science (Physical Science, Chemistry, AP Biology, AP Chemistry) to local students and children of international workers. His wife Lucy is now working part-time in preschool. Ken and Lucy married on December 24, 2022.
We are both happy with our work and ready to get started. Lucy is in preschool (half day). They get some kids at the start of the preschool year who have no English, so they are teaching them how to function in an American-style school and English (and also communicate with sign language). Similar to the rest of the student body, the preschool kids come from all over the world.
I am teaching science as always (this year – Physical Science, Chemistry, AP Biology, AP Chemistry). I have been teaching Chemistry and AP Biology all three years at Dakar Academy (and the previous three or four years at Sahel Academy too). I’m not teaching general biology this year, as we have another teacher working part-time to teach that. She has been a long time missionary in Senegal.
Toward the end of my first year at DA, I had a conversation with administration about the possibility of offering AP Chemistry. So I started AP Chemistry last year. This year I have no new classes. Many teachers could tell you that the first year of a new class, you work very hard knowing that the product will be the worst you will ever deliver of that class. But with God everything is possible and I’m glad I pulled through with AP Chemistry by the grace of God.
What’s happening with Rose? She is more than 9 months old. Rose has a Senegalese nanny in the morning, before Lucy finishes working. Rose is pretty used to her at this point. I look forward to getting home at the end of every day after teaching to see Rose, and Rose is always happy to be taken outside with me for a little bit. This also gives Mommy a break. Rose is shuffling and crawling now. We thank God for her growth.
And we thank God that we are together serving at DA.
Prayer requests for our family include:
- Pray for a good school year.
- Pray that Rose continues to grow in good health and also for us as parents.
- We have applied for Rose’s U.S. citizenship via a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, so please pray that the process goes through without issue. (God willing, she will be a dual-citizen.)
- Pray that we continue to trust in the Lord in every situation we face.