First day ministry: Tuesday, September 18
After squad devotions we headed out to our school that we are “teaching” at. It is a buddhist school that is very nice. The director of the school is a christian though, so thats really cool. We biked about 10 minutes from our house and we met with the director and were given schedules. Each member of my team has our own classroom. I walked into my class and all the kids bowed to me “good morning teacher”, and the teacher (who specks good English) said go ahead and I was confused and she just wanted me to do “my thing” which I literally had no idea what “my thing” was supposed to be. So I sang songs and made up a story about a cat who likes coffee of course. The other part of the morning we worked on their workbooks which is coloring apples basically. Then we went home from 10:30 till 1:50. We fell asleep on the floor and then eat lunch and had squad Jesus time. I was really exhausted all day because I think my going going going just caught up to me. We went back for our afternoon class. I have the same teacher just different students. And these kids are a little older and some know English very well. But we did basically the same thing but played games with colors and then did the workbook again but truly nothing crazy. To be honest it was a hard day, it was nothing that I expected but I don’t even know what I was expecting. I didn’t really feel like I was doing anything. In the classroom there is the teacher, a teachers aid and me. Which is just a lot. I know this ministry will be hard and really growing but I know it will be good. I am excited to make a relationship with my teacher and to be consistent with the kids.
The next day was a very similar day and I had a lot of the same feelings of no purpose. So I was in like a weird funk. Wednesday at lunch I got wifi and read a really long text my dad sent me. It was so encouraging. It was all about how he was so thankful that I am always “thirving” and so joyful and he was so excited that I was going to be able to share that with my team. Thats when it hit me that I was doing the exact opposite. I thought about that the rest of the day.
The next morning God just laid on my heart to choose joy that day and really press in. Because at my school I could sit in the back in silence the whole day or I could choose to play with the kids and help them. That morning lots of people were feeling the same things and it really encouraged me because everyone shared what God was showing them in that. That morning of ministry was so so much better and I was filled with joy.
I am excited that with each day I have to learn to choose Jesus and to be intentional with the kids. This week has felt like years but it has been so so great! I love exploring Battambang and going to coffee shops all the time!!! Jesus is so so good! Thank you for praying, some prayer request for this week is for health of the squad because some are getting sick, pray for the buddhist community here because God has really put them on my heart and just pray for my team as we learn to live in community with each other and learn how to love each other well.
Watch my blog of the week for more exciting fun!!!!
