As we flew from the Philippines to Thailand I had the sneaking suspicion this month was going to be good. I couldn’t tell you why I thought that, it was just something I knew in my gut.
We knew we were going to be teaching English to kids living in the slums of Bangkok. What I didn’t know was just how much these children were going to teach me.
Our hosts, Suzy, Kristen, and Sprite have such incredible hearts for the Lord and for Thailand. They are people of peace who live boldly. They seek to give people the opportunity for a better life through education and with the Lord.
We spent our first week in Bangkok being taught about how to teach English as a second language and playing with the kids in the community we live in. We did some lesson planning and decided how to split our team up because there is another slum community we are teaching as well.
We asked God and felt like he was telling Erin, Jenny, and Holly to stay in the community we live in while Kimberly and I taught in the other community.
Our second week came quickly. Monday rolled around, our first day of teaching, and I remember thinking…
Crap. I’m not a teacher.
Something I’ve been learning on the Race is how much I need to stop trying to rely on myself for things. I’ve been realizing how weak I am, and how strong the Lord is. God has been changing my thinking.
I’m learning to stop trying to do things in my own power. I’m learning to just let the Lord flow through me.
My prayer on our first day of teaching was this:
Abba, teach me how to teach these children. Let me not be timid but go forth in boldness knowing that you will carry me through. Your love is enough for me. I really need to you flow through me because I cannot do this on my own. Help me, Lord.
And help me He did.
When we first walked into the community I remember thinking, “I love this place.” We met the kids we’re teaching soon after and they very quickly stole my heart.
Kimberly, Kristen, Sprite, and I are teaching a small group of kids who are incredibly smart and kind. They are receptive not only to English, but to the Lord.
This first week of teaching has taught me a lot of things. The main one being I don’t need to know everything. I just need to have a ready and willing heart. One that allows the Lord to use me in whatever way he sees fit.
How much more could we be doing for the Kingdom of God if we would stop trying to rely on ourselves? The Lord has a habit of using ordinary people to do extraordinary things for His Kingdom.
Acts 4:13 says, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.”
You don’t need to know everything to build the Kingdom. You just need to trust God is who he says he is and that he can do a great work in and through you.
Trust that God can and will use you if you let him. Don’t be afraid of looking ridiculous.
With great love,
Chels
