Teaching

2 weeks ago I started teaching at a school where the majority of students come from disadvantaged backgrounds. I don't know half of the stuff that goes on at these kids' homes, but I have been told abuse, neglect, and instability is the norm for many of these kids. And they don't let you forget it! They show their scars in their words, their actions towards each other and to teachers. They don't seem like a happy bunch on the outset, certainly not a group that appears to enjoy school (at least as I have been indoctrinated that 'kids love to learn'). For these the school setting provides stability that is uncommon... adults who are trustworthy, have firm guidelines, who have standards and morals that structure the way they act and treat others. These first two weeks have been trying... I am exposed to and am aware of some brutal situations. These things make me uncomfortable. I am used to being surrounded by stable people and stable situations (even in Indonesia). Working at this school is unpredictable, stressful, and even emotional. I want to yank them out of their homes and maybe yell at their parents for the stupid things they do. As much as I may stress, however, I'm loving this job. The kids are genuinely lovable, and the more I am around them the more I enjoy them.

I wonder if maybe these are the kind of kids Jesus had around him. The ones that smell funny and swear and kick you and stab each other with pencils. I've always assumed the children that came to Jesus were the nice ones, the boy scouts and girl guides. Maybe some were, but if the kids that came to Jesus were anything like the adults that came to him, I suspect they were the ones with whom nobody really wanted to bother. Maybe that's another reason I like working with them. There's no pretension.. no need to impress them. They appreciate your attention, even though it may not be obvious. One minute they might be yelling swear words at you in the library, but at recess you can be throwing a ball with them in the playground. And every minute of positive interaction seems to cancel out those times of argument and rebellion. I hope these good times will gradually chip away at the shell they've grown to protect themselves and eventually see God's grace.