Then Peter got down out of
the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he
saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
(Matt. 14:29-30).
I find questions inquiring about my status, such as
“How are you?” and “How’s life?” to be a bit difficult to answer these days.
The most honest answer I can give is, “It depends on who or what I’m looking
at.” When Peter was walking on water but surrounded by crashing waves, his
answer to such questions may have greatly varied from one moment to the next.
He most likely felt utter euphoria as his arms and gaze extended towards Jesus;
after all, Peter was manifesting the power of God as he miraculously stepped
out onto the water. Yet, when the torrential storm and tumultuous waters won
his attention, his elation quickly turned to extreme trepidation and
desperation. I, like Peter, have a tendency of submitting to the winds which
vie for my attention. The truth is
that God’s power and grace is being constantly displayed in and around me. My
appreciation of such beautiful works is less constant.
The
past month at the American Christian Academy has been busy, hectic, and awesome
for “Ms. Lee Anne” (again, depending on where my focus lands). If I’m not
mistaken, this is the first time that I’ve been able to sit down without school
work for more than thirty minutes without feeling guilty. The day after I
arrived (Jan. 2) I began teaching a full load of classes, hoping that my Jet
Lag would not cause too much teacher absurdity. My diverse class schedule keeps
me on my toes—in one day, literally, jumping from 12th grade
composition to 4th grade English to 8th Grade literature
to Preschool music to 2nd and 3rd grade Bible to 10th
grade debate (stringy sentences such as these, I tell my students, are
exhausting to read—but so is my schedule). I’m lovin’ it.
Perhaps
my favorite twenty minutes of the week comes on Thursdays when I make my way to
the pre-nursery and nursery classes (my students from last year). I’m still so
in love with those kiddos. Their smiles, hugs, and giggles brighten my week.
Best moment? When, in the middle of “I just want to be a Sheep” I begin
“crying” because “I don’t want to be a SADduccee” and all 30 kids attack me,
patting my head and saying “Sorry, Ms. Lee Anne! Sorry!” They say you need so
many meaningful touches a day; well, that moment lasts me a week.
Some
of my senior school classes have had the opposite effect on my mental and
emotional state over the past couple of weeks. Trying to motivate students to,
say, learn to write or develop a debate case, when they find it an unnecessary
and impossible task, is a constant uphill battle. I’m just begging for God’s
continued grace and patience as I engage in such battles.
On
the spiritual front, God has been blasting away at the enemy. It’s been awesome
to see Him softening hearts and creating within them a hunger for His
deliverance. Two weeks ago began a series of conversations and talks with the
second grade class after Bible class which resulted in several of them
(including a couple from Muslim families) choosing to believe in and follow
Jesus. Though I had not yet told them of Jesus’ death and resurrection, they
were desperate to know this Jesus whom we have been reading about in Bible. At
one point, I was walking by the playground when I was startled by several young
girls running at me and yelling, “We want to know God!! We want to know God!!”
Well, my friends, He wants that, too! It is the greatest privilege and blessing
to be a part of the expansion of the Kingdom of God in this way.
In
other news, I had my first pedicure ever today… in Nigeria; odd, I know. My
feet feel…soft. Also, our well is dry. In case you’re wondering, going four
days without washing your hair is not THE greatest feeling.
Overall,
I am thankful for the ways that God is showing me His grace, using me, and
drawing me closer to Himself. I’m grateful for multiplying opportunities to
speak into the lives of several senior-school girls who are struggling to
figure out life. I praise God for this environment in which He is stretching
and molding me more into His likeness. The key, I reckon, is for me to continue
fixing my eyes on Him, the author and perfector of my faith (Heb 12:2).
Thank
you for your continued prayer.
