Day one of ministry.
I walked into a 1st grade English class thinking I would be assisting the Cambodian teacher. Then he handed me a book and said, “This is where they left off.”
“Cool, so I’m teaching?”
He nodded his head.
On the inside I was laughing and crying because I had no idea what I was getting myself into. That was followed by also teaching 2nd, 4th, and 5th grade English. By the end of the morning I was a tad worried about how the rest of the month would go. I taught English in Malaysia, but it was at a resource center. A little more pressure comes with teaching at an actual school where the kids really need to learn because there will be grades that will determine their future and stuff, ya know?
But just like every other month, God knew exactly what He was doing. I realized that teaching these kids for one month was in no way going to ruin their future nor make them fluent in English. My only job was to prepare for class, do the best I could, and have tons of grace for myself and for my students.
After 3 weeks of teaching, I am absolutely in love with it. And even more in love with each one of my precious students.
I’ve learned a few things about kids through teaching this month…
- Children need to be praised. They need to know that when they do well you are proud of them. And when they mess up, they still need to know you are proud of them.
- More than teaching them a subject, they need me to teach them what the love of the Father looks like. They need to learn grace and mercy so that they can give it to each other.
- I already knew this one, but kids are hilarious. They say funny things, they do funny things, and most of these things I don’t understand but I laugh anyway. Kids need you to laugh with them and sometimes at them so they know that what they are doing is a little bit ridiculous.
- Children need you to hug them and they need to know you love them. They need to experience love from someone who doesn’t “have” to love them, but chooses to.
This month will easily go down as one of the favorites despite the scorching weather and despite getting sick. Yes, I was sick…again. I got pharyngitis, but with some antibiotics it cleared itself right up.
I also get the pleasure of living at the school with 15 of the children who also live here. 15 smiling faces that I see each morning at 6 am and 15 hugs and “I love you”s and goodnights as I go to bed.
It really is the sweetest way to live.
