It's 9:30 p.m. in Cambodia. My squad is in Siem Reap having debrief, talking about our month in Cambodia and discussing what God has been teaching us. It has been great to see everyone again and to hear how He has been moving in their lives and share how He's been moving in mine…
But tonight, I checked out at about 7:20… I stopped looking forward and found myself looking back. If I'm honest, I actually burst into tears. Because I realized that at 8:45 I would be losing something I didn't know I was still holding on to: my classroom. At 8:45, a new school year would start with a new teacher in my room. Don't get me wrong, I knew this was coming. I knew it was happening. But it hit hard that not only has my life changed, but "my life" didn't stop back home… More accurately, that "my life" back home was no longer "my life"… Which is a crazy thing to not get when you're in Cambodia, I know, but sometimes we stay in our bubbles because that's what's familiar.
Why would this bug me so much? Because God is still teaching me to let go. Let go of what I think of as mine: my rights, my time, my friends, my dreams, my plans, my classroom. He wants me to stop focusing on the ME aspect of things and to look solely at HIM. To lean solely on Him. To rely solely on Him. To turn it ALL over to Him. And it's not going to happen overnight. It hasn't happened over the past year, or the past two months, or the past two hours. It is a work in progress and always will be. But that's okay as long as I don't stop pressing into Him.
So… To the teacher who is now in room 1103 at AMS, I have 11 pieces of wisdom:
1. Love the kids and let them know you love them.
2. Do your best to hold no record of wrongs. Let each new day be that: a NEW day.
3. Listen to Jow. He might be abrupt or direct or seem rude (he doesn't mean it that way), but he's also very good.
4. Renee is AMAZING and will always be willing to listen and help.
5. Ask questions. You don't have to know it all.
6. Admit (even to the students) when you make a mistake. It's okay to let them know you are human.
7. The math department is awesome. They will have your back.
8. Learn the custodians names. They will take care of you either way, but it will go a long way to making their smiles bigger.
9. Don't be afraid to change it up.
10. Have fun with the math and the students will too.
11. Love the kids and let them know you love them.
What is it that God is calling you to let go of today? Are you willing to give up what He's asking for and press into Him? I am.
Until next time.
