January 15, 2014

Charis National School

Wesley International School

Worldbrige Language Center

Today we had a busy day of teaching.  This morning, we left early to go to Charis National School.  I started out the day by leading chapel service, which was one of the most fun things I’ve done on the trip yet.  Every time I get the chance to lead worship or present a Bible story, I can tell that I am meant to do some kind of ministry work for the rest of my life.  I never feel more comfortable, free, or joyous than when I am leading people closer to Christ.  Although I have no idea what that will look like in the rest of my future, possibly in America, possibly internationally, I know that God has called me to serve Him and His people with the rest of my life.  After chapel, Jonathan and I taught a class for third grade about a market.  We compared and contrasted an Indonesian market to an American supermarket.  Then we allowed the students to make American dollars and buy candy at the candy store located at the back of the classroom.  I had a lot of fun, and I could tell the students did too.  It was a really encouraging experience to have a lesson in an unfamiliar subject and age group go so well!  I always love hearing students reactions after the lesson, and multiple students asked when we were coming back because the lesson was so much fun.  After teaching at Charis, we went to Wesley where I was asked to teach a lesson to third grade students.  I did not have much advanced warning to prepare a lesson; the teacher asked me to teach about 45 minutes before the lesson started, so I felt extremely unprepared.  The lesson didn’t go very well at all; I did not find a successful way to keep the students from talking over my instruction. It was stressful to have to yell over the students for the whole period, definitely not a successful teaching experience.  I debriefed with Mr. G after this teaching, and he gave me some good tips on how to keep better control of the classroom.  Hopefully, I can establish a more controlling attitude at the start of the lesson, so the students know they must listen to me for class to be fun.  After Wesley, we went to Worldbrige where I helped Becky teach her lesson about the family.  Tonight, I was able to go to worship practice with a group of students from Wesley, and I had such a great time.  It is such a joy to be able to form relationships with Indonesian students and teachers while worshipping God at the same time.  I’m really looking forward to our worship service on Friday night.  Tonight I also had the chance to have some quiet time with God, something that hasn’t happened as often as I would like.  As I was sitting on a bench outside of the chapel, I had a huge experience with God involving my future.  I have such a desire to teach, worship, and travel that I am on board for any journey God wants to take me on.  This trip has revolutionized my ideas on what it means to do international missions, and I have loved every second of this experience.