It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God. –2 Corinthians 3:5
I really discovered this verse in October of 2009. I was at my training camp preparing for the World Race. Since that day, I keep returning to this verse and I am even more amazed by it.
I think one of the reasons I am so amazed by this, is that I normally found my identity in the ‘success’ of what I did; yet, with this verse, the opposite is true. Anything that I do of worth is only because of God and his work through me.
Now, as I am living overseas and serving his people, I am amazed by the ways He has challenged and grown me. Starting my journey here in Thailand, I knew I would be an English Teacher, but by no means was I confident in this role. I do not hold a degree in teaching, nor have I taken any TOEFL courses. Many teams would come, and some would have these credentials, and I would learn from them. Over the course of a few months, and A LOT of trial and error, I am now confident in Teaching English in Thailand to the bar girls.
I LOVE teaching these women. In 30 minutes, my students can walk away knowing how to read. (Yeah…I would never believe it, unless I saw it). I enjoy teaching them how to correctly pronounce English words. We have fun in class. We play games with the vocabulary that is being taught. With this, they are speaking and reading without them even realizing it, because they are so focused on winning the game! Yet with this, the goal of English Classes for the bar girls, was not English. It was the relationship, gaining their trust to be able to speak into their lives. It is also a goal to help them transition out of their current situation and into a brighter one.
With that said….God is stretching me some more…
I now will be teaching the local government officials. Little ol’ Liz, with no credentials, is now teaching the most educated Thai officials on the island. It can be easy to say, “I am not qualified” “I cannot do this” etc…but then I am reminded of 2 Corinthians 3:5. My qualifications come from God. He has clearly set this up, and it has actually been an answer to prayer by Mark and Sharon (SHE’s founders)
So it is an exciting time! You can be praying for wisdom as to how to teach these officials (as it will be different from how I teach the bar girls). After talking to one of my bosses, the goals of this are:
- To see government officials see our witness and become believers
- To gain favor with the government officials and have that friendships (this can help with work permits, foundation statuses…) This also may help their interactions with foreigners (and their view of foreigners)
- To aid in the communication in the government offices (ie…English)
