First Time For Everything

Part of my job this summer was teaching ESL. Let me say this...i am not a teacher. It is not my spiritual gift. i have never been good at it and i have never enjoyed it...until now.

For whatever reason, i adore teaching grown women how to say "broccoli" correctly. Haha. But in all seriousness, there's just something about that moment when they finally get it. i see the lightbulb go off and a smile stretch across their face. Ya know, the one of sweet satisfaction that says, "YES! I can do this! I'm gonna make it here!" Any amount of frustration is worth that moment. I wonder how the satisfaction of the teacher compares to that of the student?

i taught simple things like "she cut the cake" or "I cook cabbage." But, you know God...He's a Master when it comes to doing mysterious things.

When i taught fruits & vegetables, i would have my students make lists: "I like..." or "I don't like..." Then, i would ask them: "Nini, do you like carrots?" to which she would reply "yes, i do like carrots" or "no, i don't like carrots." Once The Sisterhood (7 their thousands of children) joined my class, it was more efficient to have them ask each other. There was an odd number of people one day, so i had to work with someone. Fatima tapped me on the shoulder and said, "Jordan, do you like Jesus?" After i picked my jaw up off the floor (figuratively, of course), i said, "yes, i do like Jesus." She smiled and went back to quizzing her mom about peas.

That was the only time i ever spoke of Jesus with The Sisterhood. One quiet little moment in the midst of a chattering room of English, Arabic & Chin. But all God needs is that one little moment. Jesus never beat anyone over the head with a Bible. He loved them. Again, though i spoke of Jesus once...but these women saw Him. They experienced His love. They have someone who is glad that they exist and wants to be their friend.

The LORD is opening Fatima's heart. She is curious. Please remember to pray for her and The Sisterhood. When any of them come to faith, the hardest thing for them will be to be separated from their community...may the LORD be merciful and gracious is saving all of them, that they may be their own community of believers.

"For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds."

2 Corinthians 10:3,4