Isabel is using her Hartland training to touch children’s hearts.
“I didn’t know how I was going to direct my life,” says Isabel Larrotta, “but once I got to Hartland, I realized what God was calling me to do.”
Isabel comes from Colombia, South America. While at Hartland, she discovered that the Lord had given her a talent and a love for teaching children. “In every place I work, I see how children are affected by their environment. I want to be a bright spot in their environment and make a difference in their lives.
“During my junior year I taught at the Hartland Elementary School. I think I learned the most from the patient example of my supervisor. He taught me how to reach the students’ hearts, especially in discipline. Now that I’m on internship, I value his example even more. I didn’t realize it was so important.”
Looking back on her years as a student at Hartland College, Isabel recalls, “I experienced many things, both exciting and challenging, but I never thought they might have happened for a reason. Now I realize that God was preparing me for things I would face after I left Hartland. I cherish the lessons I learned, not only about teaching, but also about life. I learned the difference between really trusting God and merely having theory.”
Isabel is currently interning at a small SDA church school in Wilmington, North Carolina, where she teaches five students. She says, “They wanted someone from Hartland because they knew we use biblical principles in practical application. What I like most about working with my students is that they are so impressionable. I teach them simple things, and they get so excited when they understand! I really love that part of teaching.”
Recently she shared an encouraging experience she had. Little Johnny* had trouble reading. “Every day for the first month he would have the same problem. He knew the letters, but something seemed to be blocking his mind. Often he would start crying because he was so frustrated with himself. One day I took him outside the classroom. ‘Would you like to pray with me?’ I asked. ‘Yes,’ he sniffled. When we went back inside, he had calmed down a lot. Since then, he has made significant progress.”
Isabel’s dream is to work in a Spanish-speaking country where the people aren’t well-educated. With God’s help and with the education she has received at Hartland, she is sure to be a success wherever the Lord leads her.
*Name has been changed.
