On my first day as a 1st grade teacher the kids bowed, said everything with the utmost politeness, and stayed at a respectful distance. The Asian culture was a shocking contrast from the South American kisses I was used to. I was greeted with a bow instead of warm hug; or, an over rehearsed “good morning teacher” instead of a casual hola.
Everyone told us to give the kids time. It would take weeks for them to get comfortable and for their walls to be broken down. They told us to be patient. We are the first foreigners to ever step foot here at BanDonChai school, so skepticism was to be expected. The kids were unsure of their new “farang” teachers. So, we were patient.
But slowly (actually only like 3 days) their walls began to visibly crumble. It first started off with high fives and knuckles. That moved into hand clapping games, which transformed into kids grabbing our hands while playing in the field. Once handholding became a thing, the door for us to be treated as human jungle gyms flung open. Soon kids were climbing all over us, asking for piggy back rides, clinging to our sides and never letting go.
This moment of visible change was my breaking point. My heart crumbled. They trust us, they feel seen, and we don’t even speak the same language. I realized that if not me, then who? What if no one comes back to this school? What if these kids never come to know the love Jesus can offer? I spiraled down a destructive path that does no good. But God quickly snapped me out of it when my head started itching.
I got lice.
Half of my team got lice.
But as my head was itching, I had a thought. In a culture that is usually not touchy, I got lice. Lice spread by touching heads. I then realized that we successfully “broke” the kids in the best of ways. They can see and now crave the love that is within us. They are witnessing the love of Jesus through us. Through our willingness to be human jungle gyms, our high fives and constant encouragement, or just simply being different from the love they’re used to. The atmosphere of this school is changing radically. The proof of it was (and probably still is) crawling in my hair. Instead of being upset about these little critters, I’m grateful.
So thank you, God, for these lice. Thank you that the children broke their walls down. Thank you that they climb all over me. Thank you that I’m able to love the kids because of your love inside me. Thank you for the upside-down understanding that lice mean your love is moving here.
Challenge: find the blessing amidst the critters in your life. Where is God challenging you to flip your understanding and see things with a new lens?
P.S. I’m FULLY FUNDED! Fundraising the daunting amount of $14,951 was a long process that required the utmost faith. There is no way that I could’ve done that. It was solely God. So thank you for being a part of this journey and for believing in Christ in me!
