Part of WR culture is that you are to have no expectations. When you have expectations you are let down more often than you are surprised about the outcome of the situation. So each morning when we wake up, we might have a rough idea of what our day will look like, but through language miscommunications, and differences in culture, we are much better off not trying to guess what the day holds.
The other day we were told that we were going to pass out tracks to some students that were just being let out of school. We all got out jackets and headlamps for the journey home afterwards and heading out for our 45 minute walk to the school. When we arrived, school was still in session, and a few of the students were on their break playing basketball. I went and joined and was instantly an all-star because I am 12 feet tall in their eyes and could make a basket! This fun was quickly brought to an end however, when my team leader, Carly, came out of the school asking for me. “Amanda, you are to teach science to the 15 year olds right now… because you are a nurse… you are to teach science.” Hilarious. This lead to a great afternoon of me teaching about healthy living and some group volleyball out on the basketball courts. We played and taught for around an hour, handed out tracks as they left, and were invited to come back the next day.
We were back at 10am the next morning for some more improvised teaching, which turned into us talking about the WR, our mission, and who Jesus is. I was asked to teach about characteristic traits, sing the national anthem (alone in a room… if only I could have been a fly on the wall), and I took every opportunity I could to share about Jesus.
At lunch we headed to another school to teach in the afternoon. Katlyn and I were paired together and asked to teach the 10th graders. Because I am a nurse I was given the 10th graders… naturally. We walked in, started to read a passage about health during their English lesson, and quickly meshed it into their personal spiritual health. We spoke about Jesus, our mission, and America, and then volleyed back and forth between America and Nepalese songs for the remainder of the time allotted. I handed tracks out to the students and asked them to all read them when they got home.
We were all asked back today and Katlyn and I went back to the same classroom where we had already formed a rapport with the students. We taught everything today from English to Geography to Accounting to Math and the Gospel. The students were the ones that initiated the conversations today, and I have never seen such a hunger in the youth. They would write down their questions for us in English, and the question that started the conversation off what, “How can I not feel so empty?” This broke my heart, and I asked if they all felt this way. After they all nodded yes, I opened my mouth and God began to speak through me. My prayer before going to the school was that whenever I opened my mouth today, that Jesus would provide the words that needed to be spoken. And that is exactly what happened. I have never glowed with the Holy Spirit like I did in that classroom here in Nepal, while answering questions that I didn’t know the answer to, but Jesus does.
I cannot express the joy that I was filled up with from that moment on, and while I am writing this to you. Jesus not only satisfies… he overwhelms me.
– May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit –
Romans 13:15
