As
I get older time seems to fly by faster and faster. It’s hard to beleive a year ago today my
teaching career in Thailand officially ended. A year ago today I found myself on a plane to Kuala Lumpur to begin a much needed
vacation. That same day, in the Air Asia terminal at the KL airport, I met a group of dirty and tired young
people. They were World Racers in
transit from the Phillippines to Thailand. As I talked to them that day I had no idea that 5 months later I would find myself on the World Race
website, then commiting 11 months of my life to serve through it.
My
Time in Thailand was special. I loved it, well, not all of it, but most of it. It was trying, it was stressful, but each
bump, each trial caused me to grow. When
I first arrived I had never taught before, and I was pretty convinced I sucked
at it. My second graders loved me
through my frustration and mistakes, through each long pause and lost worksheet, and you know what? I got pretty good at it. God revealed unknown talents to me and greatly improved my patience.
When I returned to teach for my second year I was fairly certain a third year of teaching was in my future. As the months passed that certainty diminished, and instead of knowing I was supposed to come back I knew I had to leave. It wasn’t any thing in particular that caused me to do a 180. I loved my students, I loved my community, I loved the country. I just had this feeling deep down in my soul that I needed to move on. A feeling I had felt many times before, and that had never steered me wrong. God was talking. And I have to admit I was excited to get back to America. I was excited to to see my family, eat awesome Mexican food, sleep in my soft bed, shop at Target. I would go to bed each night fantasizing about the things I had back home. It’s a funny thing though, because as soon as i got home I missed what I left behind even more. I missed by students, the opportunities of fabulous adventures every weekend, my awesome community of teachers, cheap movies, riding the water taxi, and oh the food, do I miss the food. Chicken Chili paste from Sombats, fruit shakes, roti, chicken and sticky rice, kow man gai. I could seriously go on and on.
But I wasn’t there for the food (well
kinda 🙂 ) God had me there for a bigger reason. A couple weeks ago
this years third grade teacher, who has my students from last year, wrote me an
email. She said “I just wanted to let you know that they
talk about you so much! They had so much fun with you and you seemed like such
a creative and fun teacher! They really loved you and it seems like you made
such a positive impact on them!” All I could think was Wow! I have
to admit I had my doubts as I taught them. I worried that they would
think I was to strict (aka mean) or that I was boring. But most of all I
worried they weren’t really understanding God and how awesome he is, no matter
how much I tried. Getting this email from Miss Lisa reminded me that we
are making a difference even if we worry we aren’t.
These past
12 months went by so fast. When I got home I didn’t know what God had in
store for me, but I trusted him, and I’m so excited that his plan is the World
Race! I know God’s got good things in store, he called me away from Thailand
the pursue it. And I won’t forget that with every action, every
word, every relationship I am making an impact. Every day of my life is a
testimony for Christ, and it’s AWESOME!
