I survived my first full week of teaching! I was a little nervous about teaching high school/college age students, because I majored in Elementary Education, so I have experience with little kids, but not much with young adults; however, I absolutely love it! I currently teach English at Grace Language School four nights a week and a private class three afternoons a week. I really look forward to the time I have with my students in class. They are all so eager to learn; their enthusiasm is contagious. I get so excited when I see the flash of understanding in their eyes and the smile on their faces, communicating to me that they get it. Though teaching is a very important part of my job at GLS, I will also be working to build relationships with my students in order to create opportunities to share Christ with them.
As I have mentioned in earlier posts, people in Thailand primarily practice Buddhism. This means that the majority of my students have not experienced the saving grace of our Lord. This fact did not sink in with me until one day before class last week. I went into the classroom a few minutes early and two of my students were already there having a deep conversation. I am far from mastering the Thai language, so I was not sure what they were discussing until one of them explained that he was telling the girl about Jesus. He continued to talk excitedly to her and translated bits and pieces for me as he went on. When he stopped talking, I asked her what she thought about everything he had just told her. She said she was surprised, because she had never heard of Jesus. I asked her if she wanted him to tell her more about Jesus and, to our surprise, she said no. She explained that she and her family are Buddhists and she did not want to hear more. Despite her response, he continued to tell her what God has done in his life over the last four years and why he believes in Jesus. His boldness inspires me, but her lack of faith breaks my heart.
I ask that you pray for her and the other students at Grace Language School. Pray also for the teachers that we will be able to build relationships with our students providing an opportunity to share the gospel with them. Pray that when the time comes to share with them that their hearts would be open and receptive.
If you would like to know more about what we do at Grace Language School or are interested in serving as an English teacher, please follow the link to Build Bridges to the Lost Through Teaching English
In Christ,
Kara