As I go to shool day in and day out, I mostly see normal school things. Students hang out and talk to their friends before school, travel to classes together in packs, and do their work in the classroom. Teachers guide and direct the lesson, doing their best to make sure students are understanding the important concepts and communicate them correctly. The outward signs seem to point to school functioning correctly. But the question teachers and educators constantly ask themselves is, what’s getting through to the students? Are they thinking and reasoning critically? Or are they just trying to mimic what they think they should do?
In a Christian school, this question seems to carry an even greater weight. Are students thinking and reasoning critically about faith in Christ? Or are they just trying to mimic what they think they should do? Most students behave well and act according to healthy standards. Even students who face discipline understand what they should do and talk about trying to do that next time. Yet, I constantly ask myself these questions: How do I help students know that God is real? How do we encourage them to pursue a real relationhip with Him? Are we doing that enough while still fulfilling the necessary functions of education? Let’s press “pause” there while I give some updates.
Ezequiel continues to work his way through his first year in high school as a 7th grader. He has had a few issues here and there with not turning work in or not doing the work he’s supposed to during class time. Still, he’s usually in pretty good spirits at the tutoring program, even when he feels lazy and doesn’t want to work. When I think about him going home, I wonder how much time he spends alone. I think it’s a lot. His mom works and apparently has a new male companion. His brother Noel (who graduated from our program the same year as Bianca) works long hours and is rarely home. Margine has her baby Camila and was apparently in a relationship with a neighbor, though that may have ended. I just don’t think anyone at home really asks him any questions or checks in to see how he’s doing. I think his mom used to do this more. I pray he realizes God is always there and starts to talk to Him more.
Vanessa always greets me with a smile and a hug. But what a hard year she has had. Her mom continues to be aloof, staying in Honduras for months at a time. When Jessenia or I tell her that her mom didn’t answer our call, she often responds with, “she doesn’t answer us either.” I think she has changed where she’s sleeping two different times since my last update, bringing her total for the year close to six different houses. So despite her smiles, I know she has to be hurting inside. Her mom’s lack of support and stability make it very hard for Vanessa to find peace. Even still, we trust the LORD to hold her in His mighty hand. She definitely needs Him, as recently she and Jeremy have said that their mom might move to Spain.
Jeremy is now 3 weeks from his last day of high school. He has been working harder to keep his grades up, and we pray he continues to do so as the finish line draw near. He had a bout with asma a couple weeks ago, which is something we hadn’t witnessed in nearly a decade. We don’t really know what caused it, but I wonder how the stress of everything going on at home may have been a factor. He might have moved around more times than Vanessa, as he is currently staying at his dad’s house (not the same father as Vanessa). He seems to have a somewhat functional relationship with his dad, though I’ve never met him. Jeremy says his step-mom is strange and doesn’t always treat him very nicely. He still talks about going to college next year after graduation, so we will continue to encourage him to do so. Thank you for your prayers for Ezequiel, Vanessa and Jeremy.
Now we’ll “unpause” and pick back up where I left off. I recently heard a quote that says, “The Christian life is not just meant to be taught and understood, it is meant to be lived.” That’s exactly what I’m talking about. How do we get our students to live what we are teaching them? We try to do this in many ways, actually, to varying degrees of success. While there is definitely not one “right” answer or even necessarily a winning formula; there are two things of which I am sure. It has to be the work of the Holy Spirit, and our example matters. There are 139 students from grades 7-12 watching how our 30 educators members model and reflect the Image of God. I know that we are but a poor reflection, so I pray we surrender more to Him, that His Light shine brighter through our hearts and eyes. I pray the Holy Spirit would woo His children to come to know Him, the Giver of abundant life and the Educator of educators. I pray that in all we do, we would constantly point to Jesus Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords, that this generation of students know Him for Who He IS, the Eternal Self-Existent who keeps Covenant and Mercy, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, the Possessor of the heavens and the earth, and the One who gives life and purpose to all here within. May we live for Him as He lives through us.