We're Back!
Rubhi and I are back in one piece from Laos. It was a great experience and I'm really glad I went even though there was one night when I was on the verge of tears and I told God I'm never coming back :) That was the night we stayed in the village that ARDA has adopted. It was definitely my worst night in recent memory. We all came back from our night in the village all grubby and in a foul mood and agreeing that Singapore was paradise on earth.
Actually I feel I gained more than I gave. Teaching in the village was a huge challenge and I felt seriously unequipped but what was wonderful was the way the kids were so thirsty to learn. They were like sponges! And it was not just the young ones - even the teachers would hang outside the classrooms listening and repeating whatever I taught the kids. And during the break, the older teens came to learn the same lessons! I just wish we had had more teachers on the team and we could have taken more classes!
I was also blessed by the affirmation I received from God during the trip. I have been praying for a while now about what my life was all about. Maybe it's mid-life crisis - but I've been feeling dissatisfied and feeling that my life didn't make much sense & really thinking about what I want to do with the rest of my life. Part of the reason why I applied to be posted to MOE was also because I wanted to try something else. But the trip to Laos was a real affirmation for me that what God has called me to do is really teach. The first day I walked into the village classroom, I had an overwhelming feeling that I was home! And the morning after our uncomfortable night in the village I was really sick but when I started teaching I just didn't feel the headache, the runny nose and the aching joints at all & hardly noticed the hour going by. So I feel really blessed and it feels strange that I went to be a blessing but return feeling more blessed :) But I'm quite confused as well because my posting in MOE has been extended for 3 years till 2009 so I seem even further away from teaching! Oh well...
