My Students - God's Work

During my time in China I don't think I have allowed myself to fully "soak in" the delight of the opportunity I have with my students. I suppose I take it for granted. I don't stop to consider the actual weight of influence that I may have (through the Lord,) even in and especially in a life so young. I talk about it and I get energized about it, but ... maybe I don't believe it?

In these last days (weeks? months?) I have been feeling pretty overwhelmed, fatigued, and discouraged. The other morning, after I had spent the early morning hours continuing to press the snooze button in an effort to rebel against myself; I was at school, fulfilling my morning bus duty. 

As is the joy (no sarcasm) of morning bus duty, I was greeted with hugs and hellos by various present, former, and other students. It was nice, but the DELIGHT came when I was greeted by a student from last year for whom I have been praying.

I have heard from his first grade teacher that his heart has hardened. This saddens me greatly because last year he asked such wonderful questions, had grown in his interest of spiritual things, and was always reminding us to pray for his parents -- who do not allow him to have a Bible or pray at home. I made a purposeful effort to remind him that sometimes the Lord says a quick yes, sometimes a quick no, and sometimes He tells us to wait. I tried to encourage him to endure while he prayed for his parents. But, at 6, he had become discouraged. He was at the point of giving up.

After hearing this I made sure to stop him during a lunch and ask him how he and Jesus were doing. He turned away from me and said that it wasn't good. I asked why. "I don't know," was his reply. I let him know that I would be praying for him. We continued our conversation with smiles and hugs.

Since that meeting this boy will run and JUMP to hug me when he sees me on morning bus duty. (I have bus duty once per month.) On this particular morning bus duty, just a few days ago, he continued his normal greeting and then told me, "I dreamed about Jesus last night!"

Praise the Lord for His timing -- that I would be doing bus duty on that morning!

I asked what his dream was about. With the noise of the other students passing by, buses driving up, etc I couldn't really hear the details of his dream. There was Jesus, there was a road, and Jesus walked on it. "I didn't cry," he said. 

(Last year, he thought he was a Christian because he cried when he prayed -- and Christians cry when they pray, he informed me.)

I brought him in for another hug and spoke in his ear, "I will keep on praying for you! I want you to know Jesus." I hugged him tight, he smiled, and then ran to his part of the school.

Two students of mine from last year returned to their home countries after the first semester. One to Korea and the other to Japan. I continue to pray for the seeds of God's Word to sprout in their souls. They were asking good, thoughtful questions last year. They have returned to (potentially) difficult countries.

I often think of my students from my first and second years of teaching. I have kept a list of names and pictures of both classes as reminders to pray.

And so, if I am forgotten, I suppose that is all right, but I pray the Lord would use the seeds I have tried to scatter. I haven't had many students yet, and so I pray they would all be saved and would be leaders who love and know Him. I pray that they wouldn't be consumed by the world. I pray that I would be able to accurately and lovingly present the Gospel to my students and help them to think through their world from a biblical perspective.

As my Chinese friends are often amazed to hear -- these young children can understand. They already ask questions and ponder the reality of God and the presence of a Creator. Why not supply them with answers grounded in the Truth? Why not teach them theological Truths? Why not teach them to search and probe their own hearts now? What an influence THAT can be! There are answers. There is Truth. You must think.

May the Lord redeem their souls.

Monday October 3rd

This is a draft, but if I don't publish it -- it will be next year and unshared. I publish.

 On Monday I went to an foster care/"orphanage" in Liang Fang.

Today orphanage. Tug, tug, tugging… (on my heart)

Today walking to YG100 – ate a WONDERFUL egg/fat wrap. (These things are absolutely DELICIOUS!)

Today April – never adopted from Tianjin orphanage. “Chatted it up” in Chinese. (She's around 30 years old now. She works at a factory in Liang Fang.)

Today met a doctor – conversations – the initiation, the exchange of numbers, the text message. (This was QUITE humorous. I have not heard from him since. Praise the Lord! His son and wife were also there -- so it wasn't as sktechy as it could have been. Good grief, me and old men.)

Today overwhelmed with the crazy reality of my life. (What's new?)
 

Today in the AM (early) – 2 minutes before I was needing to leave to go to the orphanage, I sent out an invitation for ladies to come over for a tea. I didn’t think most would be able to come on such short notice – particularly the moms.
I was wrong.
I guess the moms just want to get out. 

I am SO excited for them to come over!!! I haven’t had many mixed-aged ONLY ladies groups come over since being in China. I miss these types of things. (It was, in fact, slightly awkward, but lovely. I haven't been able to do it since because life has been BUSY, but I wish I could. It seems like this is a need in the community. And, I would enjoy getting to know these ladies anyways.)

 

Today I purchased red-skinned peanuts in their airtight packaging rather than kidney beans. (Foolish. English writing was on the outside, but I continue to mistake peanuts in the tight plastic as kidney beans. PLUS! I was rushing through the store. It was about to close and I didn't want them to walk up to me and say in Chinese, "You idiot. We are closing." Or, they would just stare at me. Normal, true. More background information: these kidney beans were supposed to be used in a vegetarian chili. I had to improvise. It worked out. The ladies ate the WHOLE pot. Booyah. I praise the Lord.)
 

Gangnam, Obama, and Translation

Problems in Translating (the Bible)
I think I have a greater appreciation for these troubles.

Some Chinese people who watched this actually thought it was the real President. Apparently, as noted on micro blogs, people thought this helped his public image. Hmmm...

International Fellowship

I LOVE IT!
Not that this was always the case.

The music can be off key -- keyboardists play a variety of random notes between songs to "create the mood" while vocalists also play a variety of random notes to express their joy and love for the Lord. Whew! So many notes creates an interesting atmosphere.

But, I have learned to appreciate it. I have learned to see past the notes, to see the singers and players in a cultural as well as a "worshipful" light. They sing to the Lord, not me.

The preaching-teaching was something I had to get used to as well. We have a rotation of teaching men and they each have about 20-30 minutes to teach. Most recently we were going through the book of Revelation. Whew! We certainly went through it, but without much depth to the teaching.

And yet, I have learned to contain my expectations and look for a depth of teaching else where -- and particularly in my own reading/study of the Bible. I have learned to appreciate the sermons (by a couple men in particular) that are challenging and Scripture-filled when we get them. I have also learned to appreciate the progress in teaching the other men (could be) making when they come up to teach. I have seen growth in the skill of our teachers.

So, why do I "LOVE IT"?

It's a picture of what Eternity with Him will be like. Men from every tribe, tongue, and nation will be gathered before Him to make a joyful NOISE before Him! We will all be singing and praising His Name and we won't all be praising in the same way. We won't all be standing still. We won't all be dancing with vigor. We won't all be lifting our hands. We won't all be sitting down. (For a time, of course, we will all be bowing before Him.)

I also LOVE different CULTURES!

The Lord is so good because He brought me to work in China, and I also get small pictures of what it's like to sing praises in the African way. (Not that all African countries worship in the same way. There's different "worship cultures" too.)

A few weeks ago a man from Kenya led the singing time. We sang in 4 or 5 different languages to represent some of the diversity in our congregation. There's two songs we sing in Swahili and I absolutely LOVE them!  One is about God being the King of Africa, and then we switch out "Africa" for the names of other locations. Another has a line, "SING! In the Af-ri-can WAY!" (Could be the same song, but I don't think it is...)

To express their worship, people sometimes come down the aisles just singing and dancing. (Last time the one who started the train was a guy from Sri Lanka.) Nobody was giving dirty looks. Nobody was "blaming them for being a distraction or trying to gain attention for themselves." (Because -- as far as it is my ability to see their hearts -- they AREN'T doing it to gain attention for themselves.)

The musicians on the stage often dance, shout, sing, and clap as well. When the Lord has given you joy -- let your joy be made known to all the people. I love that there is the freedom to sit, stand, move, raise hands, have hands at side, sing quietly, sing loudly, on key, off key, on beat, off beat, dance, remain still -- freedom in the Lord to allow the Holy Spirit to move and use you in the way He has wired you to be.

In our fellowship we have had people from over 50 countries in the last 6 months. We are a group of transitioning people made up of university students, English teachers, business people, and the like. We have (and had) people from Bolivia, Burundi, New Zealand, Rwanda, Nigeria, Uganda, Eritrea, Congo, Coast d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Hong Kong, Ethiopia, Russia, India, Sri Lanka, Germany, France, Tanzania, Ghana, Philippines, Korea, Japan, Canada, United States, Lebanon, Nepal, Kenya, and others I have not mentioned.

What's a thrill to my being are the conversations and interactions I have been able to have with some of these people -- representing places I have wanted to go in order to meet the people.

I asked a man from Kenya why he wanted to learn Chinese. He has a love for Kenya and wants to see it grow strong in the business world. His plan is to learn Chinese, return to Kenya, build businesses, and establish strong business relationships with China.

I spoke with a man from Uganda who was sent to China to study the organization and discipline of the Chinese military so he could go back to Uganda and help train the soldiers there.

A few weeks ago I met a girl whose dad is from India and whose mom is from Sri Lanka. We started talking, she and her boyfriend invited me for lunch, we went, and it was great. I got to hear about their lives in Tianjin as medical students who need to study in Chinese and about their home cultures.

So many people find a special fellowship in this congregation, grow in their faith, and then, after finishing their studies, go back to their home countries with a stronger faith in the Lord and His power. And their ministry to national students on the university campuses is from the Lord as well.

The man who is the "primary shepherd" for the international university students is one of the men whose preaching I look forward to. We don't agree on everything, but he has challenged me and my perspective. His love and passion for the Lord is an example and a challenge and he pours so much energy and attention into the university students. I praise the Lord for him and his faithful ministry.

I do love it.
I can't wait for the "days" when we will all be united with Him as a mass of nations -- all built together as His Body and His Temple; living stones beautifully chosen and arranged in diversity.

Football, Boys, and Korean Girls

Ahh!! These kids. Not quite as hyper-active as my first graders at Grace Academy, but they are VERY active. I love it. (Imagination and energy are my top delights in children.) When they walk to line-up, they hop because they just need to release a bit (more) of their energies.

I have one “all-American” boy who brought his small “nerf” football to school. 

“Miss Martin!” 

“Yes, Oliver?” 

“I brought my football!” 

“Oh YES! I am so excited!” 

“Miss Martin!” 

“Yes, Oliver?” 

“Want to come out and play FOOTBALL?!!?!?!” He furrowed his blonde eyebrows with intensity. His sparkling blue eyes were gleaming in delighted anticipation of my answer. 

"OF COURSE I DO!!!!" Mine was an equally enthusiastic reply.

After lunch recess, I let my students stay out for a bit of extra play time... (instead of “rest reading time.” heh heh) And I taught my (primarily) Korean class how to play American football. 

From the beginning I had my doubts about this plan. Korean (girls) are usually a bit more fragile than most. But, Oliver was pretty pumped -- and I had been wanting to play some FOOTBALL too.

The class itself seemed pretty excited, and so we went for it.

They decided that it would be best to split up boys and girls. Fine. Fine. I explained two-hand touch football, where they should be running, how to hold the ball while running, and that the boys must try to be GENTLE and KIND with the girls while playing. (Sure.)

We began.

A couple plays into the game, the girls had the ball. The most petite of the Korean girls snatched up the ball, wove her way through the kindergarten crowd, and got to her team's touchdown line. The boys caught up and pretty much mooshed her. (So much for gentility.)

Intensity was the expression on every face. Boy, girl, they were all pulling for the ball. 

The rest of the girls came and they joined in the foray with equal determination. 

And then, the sound of tears. An injured (Korean, female) student.The same one who had scored the touchdown.

Within seconds of the touchdown (actually) I was at the mob, trying to break it up and pull the small girl up from the side-bottom of the pile.

The teeniest piece of skin had been scratched from her finger.

I wanted to give her the wise wisdom my father often gave to me, “Why don’t we go rub some dirt on it?” Or, “There’s no crying in football!” But, I refrained.

I made her stand up.

I inspected the small scratch on her finger, kept her pulled in to a tight hug, and then declared that there could be no more football unless the girls were ready to get hurt. 

A couple were willing to play again. The boys were all for it. We continued playing a 5-year-old international version of football, but we had a great time. (After I had finished soothing the injured student and had showed the boys how to show compassion to a girl who has been hurt. Yes. Yes.)

I am thankful for Oliver’s American spirit. We continue to play football with some other brave souls at some of our “outdoor playtime.” It’s great. He likes to be tackled and I like to pound him down on the grass -- while he giggles with delight. (Of course.)

Post Note: The next day the injured girl came up to me to show me her wound. She used some words like, "Look Miss Martin, my football injury is getting better!" hah hah I do wonder what her parents thought of us. "Yeah, we played American football today. Miss Martin showed us how to play, then I got smooshed."

Today in My Classroom Nov 1

Today I washed my hair.

Today one of my students came up to me and started to smell my hair. She exclaimed with a thrill that my hair was a smell she really liked. After making her statement she again buried her nose in my hair and started breathing in deeply. Almost as soon as she started to sniff my locks, a great, juicy cough came out of her mouth and right in my hair. “Hack! Hack!!!”  

I guess I’ll be washing my hair sooner than I expected.

Today was another day of school.

Today I did not think I could muster up enough energy to last the whole day.

Today the Lord provided.

Today my two Japanese boys were particularly inattentive to the lesson I was teaching. I made them stay on the carpet while everyone else was allowed to stand up and change their shoes for recess. When they were left all alone I explained why they were the last ones. I then released them to go. 

One of the boys sprang up and put his water bottle on his desk. Fatigue was hitting me and I began to rub my eyes. The same boy bounded over to me, touched me on the shoulder, and moved in to plant a kiss on my cheek. I chuckled. So sweet. “Go to recess, you hoodlum!”

Yesterday we had an author visit our classroom (school) from the States.

Today we talked about yesterday’s author visit, Mo Willems’ great works, and tried to refresh the idea that they are real authors too.

After the discussion, I sent them to write their masterpieces.  During the work time, one of my students came up to me to show me her piece. “I am THE author,” she declared.

YES! I took a picture of her with her work. She was proud – and actually smiled rather than doing a crazy face – as is her MO.

Today one student made this request, “Can you, Oliver, and me just go outside and play chase while everyone else stays inside?”

Today I nearly worked my students to the bone. Tomorrow we have “class assembly” during which time the parents come and we present what we have been learning to them as well as to the rest of the ECC We will be performing a play about autumn leaves, “1, 2, Buckle My Shoe” to showcase their rhyming skills, and a 1 act play about the first half of Joseph’s life.

While we were practicing the part about Joseph’s life, I had one student with drooping eyes fall off the “stage” and then explain, “I was falling asleep!”

Today my other Japanese student who understands few words in English raised his hand to speak during our end of the day sticker-giving time. I called on him, interested in what he was going to say. 

“One sticker, everybody?” 

HAHAHA! 

He may not know much English yet, but he knows which words are high priority to learn.