This month I get to add a new occupation to my resume, teacher! This is one of many benefits of the race, people in other countries really trust Americans to do pretty much anything and everything. I was told that I would be teaching English to 4 year olds at a Buddhist school, swim lessons to 7 year olds, English and discipling to 20 year old women who are rescued from sex trafficking and then one more english/bible class to 15 year olds. My range of subjects and ages makes my day quite exciting!
4 year olds: I have never loved little kids and this class confirms it haha. I already don’t know what to say to them in English so trying to play and speak with them when they speak Khmer is even more difficult. The kids are adorable and they love having me in the class but oh boy they are little rascals.
20 year old girls: My ministry with these women takes place at Green Mango Cafe. It is a similar ministry to what I had last month where the women get rescued from sex trafficking and brought to a Christian cafe where they are a student and intern for two years and then one on to full time staff. They learn about cooking, English and the Bible. I love discipling these women because it is much more intimate and they all have great questions about the Bible. I get to teach them proper English to speak to customers in the cafe and how to pronounce things on the menu… the hardest word? Quinoa 😉 We are going to do a women retreat for them next week as well!
12-15 year olds: This is my jam. Middle school/ High- school age kids are my favorite to spend time with. They are old enough to have real conversations but young enough to still be silly and hang out with their teacher (aka ME). My students are still sassy and probably make fun of me in Khmer half the class. They are at such a great age of really grasping bigger concepts in English and the Bible! They have sooo many amazing questions about Jesus! This week I was able to buy two Bibles for two of my students this week and we will meet up this weekend to read and study it together.
Swimming: I am not a great swimmer. I have never taught swimming. But WOW this is my favorite class by far. Me and my teammate Ashley just wing it and we always have a blast. Most of these kids are very beginner swimmers (some even first timers). They are timid, yet ecstatic to be in the water. It was in this class that Jesus really spoke to me this week.
As I was teaching kids how to float I realized how God must feel with his children when he asks us to float.
When I first teach someone to float I ask them to lay in my arms and trust that I have got a hold of them.
The kids start out in panic and have this instinct to sink. They are not sure if they can trust me.
I tell them I am right there. I won’t let them go.. but they need to relax their body.
The kids start to release the tension in their body and lay out one limb after the other into the water. First they put an arm out and next a leg.
Next, I ask them to put their head down into the water.
The kids are still frantically crunching their heads up to see above their bodies. They slowly recline their heads but still refuse to submerge them.
I tell the kids that its okay if water gets in their ears, they may not hear my voice clearly in the water but in order to float they need to relax their head completely.
Finally, they surrender. They lay out in the water like a snow angel. Their head is in the water. They close their eyes and I carry them through the water to get the sensation of floating. They still need my support but they feel at ease. It is the sweetest moment to see these kids in complete peace once they are afloat in my arms.
Sometimes I think the Father asks us to float with him. He wants us to rest in his arms. He asks us not to do anything but to trust Him.
This month has been a little crazy and it feels different than others. It feels like a transition into a new season. Team changes are coming up and out first quarter of the race is coming to an end. Our first season on the race is over. Something new is coming. I am excited. I am sad. All I can think about is what to do, how to lead, where I should be focusing my mind in this time?
God is asking me to float. There is nothing more for me to do. I can rest. I can trust Him and enjoy these next few weeks. God is saying “I’ve got you, now lay your head back”. I feel myself crouching my head up to try and see what is going on around me but there is no need. I have done everything I can do to lead my first team. I have been so intentional in my ministry and my relationship with the Lord. I have grown dramatically these past four months. Now I can float, I can let God handle the rest and surrender into His arms.
God I am so grateful for this season on the race. I am so thankful for your love. Thank you for being a Father who tells me that rest is good too. Thank you for holding me when I need to float. Thank you for these few weeks of enjoying your presence in a classroom, with my team and in Cambodia. You are a good good Father who is teaching me to trust and rest from the end of this season and into the unknown of the next.
