What a week what a week!
I have literally been battling the stomach bug all week.
We are finishing up our month in India and I hope that our four day debrief in Nepal will allow me some much needed processing time and resting time, as well as uploading of the pictures time!
Most of my week has consisted of getting sick, however, I did spend two days teaching in the seminary. I have really loved teaching my class on Leadership and Management and through it God has shown me a gift that I have that I did not ever think I would posses, the gift of teaching.
It was hard for me on Thursday, it was supposed to be my last day of teaching but since I was sick all night Wednesday night and still sick on Thursday, I was unable to fulfill my last teaching day. I had arranged the delivery of 30 chocolate chip cookies from an American Café nearby that just opened to give to my students as a gift and a “thank you” for a fun final day of class with “Ms. Rachel”.
Despite being ill, I had to fulfill my promise to them of pictures and a last farewell. I walked eight minutes down to the seminary and spent five minutes saying goodbyes and taking pictures. I could tell it meant so much to the class that was told they wouldn’t see me because I was ill. But it meant more to me.
I had debated about taking the walk to say farewell. I needed my rest and I knew it would take a lot of energy just to make the eight-minute walk. But a promise is a promise, and I thought into the future of how sad I would be to not have the lasting picture memory of the class I grew to love in just a matter of four classes.
It was so worth the walk and the exhaustion. Seeing the looks on their faces and the accepting smiles, it was clear I had impacted their lives on some level. I had gone from not knowing if anything I would say would speak to them or touch their lives to being certain that I had made a difference. So many of “my students” had come up to me to tell me they wish I could teach them all year, all semester. Many of them had expressed thankfulness for how I conducted the class and taught them. I got to spend a few one-on-one moments with a few of the students and learn their plans.
One girl wants to open an orphanage, but not just any orphanage. She wants to open a Christian one that grows the orphans into pastors, teachers, and missionaries. Another student wants to go back to his home state to teach the gospel and lead his village to Christ. A few other students want to be traveling evangelists to bring the hope of Christ to the nation of India and it’s surrounding neighboring countries.
I prayed everyday that what I would have to say would speak to them in ways that would light a deeper fire in their hearts for being godly spiritual leaders to the nation of India. My prayer is that our four class days together had a deeper impact than a whole semester or whole year could have. I am so grateful for the opportunity to teach them, minister to them, and even learn from them.
If you all could continue to pray for my squad and I. We have all been getting the stomach bug and we are leaving for Nepal on Monday! We would all love to be healthy on travel day to keep away from any embarrassing moments!
I am inching my way to my next financial deadline but could still really use some support! Will you partner with me in reaching the world!? It is so cool to be a part of helping others reach the world, I have already experienced this with the seminary. You too can have that blessing! 🙂
