Sfax, Tunisia // Summer 2013
When the pastor introduced me to the congregation,
I had no idea how many would show up to my "conversation hours"
I had no idea how many would show up to my "conversation hours"
or what those hours would even look like.
The discomfort brewing inside me was a mixture of fear and excitement.
When the first day arrived, I showed up early with a whiteboard from the schoolhouse
and a brief slideshow prepared on my iPad (an honestly last-minute item I had packed).
After moving a few chairs about, I decided to form an intimate circle.
Perhaps 5 or 6 students would show? Even that felt like a lot.
Again that feeling of fear and excitement exponentially grew stronger
with each student walking through the door, some coming in pairs until we had about 15.
More chairs were brought in and the circle grew larger.
"Fake it 'til you make it" I was taught in Philly.
So I did. I tried to exude confidence and pretended to know what I was doing.
Who was I kidding though? I was questioning every word and move I made.
As I nervously clicked to my slideshow and looked up, however, I was confronted by
the sight of 15 heads bowed down and pens rapidly setting up notebooks for note-taking.
I had become so desensitized that I was taken aback by such dedication.
I was moved by their deep desire to learn.
And then I realized...God was blessing me.
The challenging last two years in Philly of having to
createmyowncurriculum-differentiateforstudents-adapttolastminchanges-buildclassculture
led to constant complaints and words of frustration leaving my lips.
But I realized then THIS IS WHY. He was preparing me.
But I realized then THIS IS WHY. He was preparing me.
After facing so many class challenges and difficult situations in the room,
it was refreshing to see this posture, this thirst.
They asked to stay longer so we extended 1.5 hours to 3 hrs 3x a week.
They asked for homework, so I started to email them assignments.
Oh grace, why is it every time I go to serve, God ends up blessing me more?
So much that I can NEVER say I did anything for Him.
Anything I try to offer Him, it's His already. All that I had, have, and will have.
It's an endless cycle of drowning in His grace.
