Little me. Big God.
One year ago today, I arrived in St. Lucia, a Caribbean Island. I spent a little less than a month teaching in public school with three other girls. We went into 24 schools and shared the amazing news of Jesus Christ loving and wanting them. In all, we taught 4,616 students. But most importantly, students professed to meet and trust in Jesus because of these simple and wonderful teachings.
My hair has never been played with more than it was when I walked into those schools. The openness of the students to ask questions, to want to learn more about this Jesus was amazing. I loved every moment spent in those schools.
The first week of teaching I taught the creation story. But instead of just teaching it, I painted it with my fingers. The extra paint left on my fingers/palms I would wipe on my arms or clothing. The kids gasped every time I wiped it on my arms. I got them to hold up the number of fingers coinciding with the day of creation we were on. I told them to point to themselves and shout "God loves me!" If they didn't shout it with enough gusto I told them to shout it like they meant it. I told them if God says something than it is true, so that no matter how they feel they are loved because God says that He loves them.
In a particularly large school, instead of offering to have private counseling for those who wanted to learn more about how to give their life to Jesus, I went more in-depth into salvation and told them to pray in their own seats. I told them that if they wanted to believe in Jesus and give their life to Him, to tell Him that. I gave them a few minutes to decide what they wanted and to speak to their Creator. As I waited, I watched a girl (whose name I found out later was Faith) mouth the words, "Jesus, I want to live my life for you." I found her later and told her that we were now sisters. She smiled.
At one school, the principle asked us to return two more times so that the other grades could hear us teach. The same principle asked me to paint a mural in their school. I had to ask her to repeat herself. She kindly repeat herself, and told me that whatever I painted just had to be about Jesus! I didn't understand at first. I thought, "Why would someone want me to paint them anything? I'm just a wanna be." However, I agreed to do it. After several hours, gallons of sweat, lots of water, many PB&J sandwiches, and loads of freaking out, I finished what may be my most simple painting but also my favorite one yet.
Every now and then, I think about how my simple painting is on a school wall in the capitol of St. Lucia. Little me. Big God! I guess the thing I've learned is I never know what God has in store when He brings me to a place, but He always has something in store.
Trust Him! He is merciful and beautifully surprising.
The first week of teaching I taught the creation story. But instead of just teaching it, I painted it with my fingers. The extra paint left on my fingers/palms I would wipe on my arms or clothing. The kids gasped every time I wiped it on my arms. I got them to hold up the number of fingers coinciding with the day of creation we were on. I told them to point to themselves and shout "God loves me!" If they didn't shout it with enough gusto I told them to shout it like they meant it. I told them if God says something than it is true, so that no matter how they feel they are loved because God says that He loves them.
In a particularly large school, instead of offering to have private counseling for those who wanted to learn more about how to give their life to Jesus, I went more in-depth into salvation and told them to pray in their own seats. I told them that if they wanted to believe in Jesus and give their life to Him, to tell Him that. I gave them a few minutes to decide what they wanted and to speak to their Creator. As I waited, I watched a girl (whose name I found out later was Faith) mouth the words, "Jesus, I want to live my life for you." I found her later and told her that we were now sisters. She smiled.At one school, the principle asked us to return two more times so that the other grades could hear us teach. The same principle asked me to paint a mural in their school. I had to ask her to repeat herself. She kindly repeat herself, and told me that whatever I painted just had to be about Jesus! I didn't understand at first. I thought, "Why would someone want me to paint them anything? I'm just a wanna be." However, I agreed to do it. After several hours, gallons of sweat, lots of water, many PB&J sandwiches, and loads of freaking out, I finished what may be my most simple painting but also my favorite one yet.
Every now and then, I think about how my simple painting is on a school wall in the capitol of St. Lucia. Little me. Big God! I guess the thing I've learned is I never know what God has in store when He brings me to a place, but He always has something in store.
Trust Him! He is merciful and beautifully surprising.
<3
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