Blood, Sweat and Tears
Being the sewer of seeds is not always fun. When you don’t get to see the outcome of all your hard work, it’s easy for the flesh to think that investing into people’s lives is pointless.
“We are builders of dreams.” That was the vision of the ministry we were partnered with in Uyuni, Bolivia. I got so beyond ecstatic when the pastor explained his vision for the month as each of the girls on my team teach a one hour class, four days a week on something that we are passionate about to the youth and children on the community. As I ate my croissant and goat cheese, I was bouncing up and down. FINALLY a dream comes true. The moment that I had been hoping for for so long. To teach welding in another country in hopes of rising up a generation to be confidant in exactly who they are no matter of their gender.
As I took the next couple days to plan and prep for my class, extreme nerves rushed over me. “It’s happening, it’s finally happening.”
Throughout the month I taught on metal and its characteristics, work safety (all my shop teachers would be so proud), and fire. I was able to incorporate little life lessons into my class and encourage the youth to dream with all of their heart!
Each class I would provide a project that they could use their hands to explore different parts of their hearts. We were able to do a planting project were we planted little potato gardens in pop bottles, this showed how beautiful things can even come from something as simple and ugly as garbage. Side Story: While rounding up 2L pop bottles to use for the project, I may or may not have climbed through a random bathroom window to add one more bottles to my collection.
With all the projects and laughs that filled my class, I continually left my classes feeling a little discouraged. All the other girls had cute little treats being brought to them from their students, So many times I would hear them say “oh, I’m just so in love with all my little kiddos.” Sure, we had a good time in my class and we did cool projects but none of my little dudes would write me curtsy little cards or anything. It felt like I came in, taught my lesson, then peace, my job was done. From the outward perspective I had no idea what was going on inside of my students heads or hearts. Did they even enjoy my class? Are they learning anything? Am I even inspiring them to follow their dreams, no matter who they are? I had no idea.
I broke down one day sobbing, what is the point of my class if I cant even see any goodness coming out of it? But then I was reminded, that’s kind of the point. We are BUILDERS of dreams. As a builder myself, I have experienced countless jobs where I am only involved in the very beginning steps of a project. Rarely do I get to see the final or completed product. Even though you aren’t recognized in the end, it would not exist without a beginning. And that is exactly what I needed to remember.
I have no idea what those kids chose to absorb and what they didn’t. Who knows, maybe I encouraged one to peruse something against the norm by sharing my story of welding, even though it cost me blood sweat and tears.
As Christians we are called to be sewer of seeds. I plant, God harvests. It’s really quite a simple concept. Period
