Well seeing as it is nearing the time when we are to come back, I thought it was appropriate that I should post at least one time from my perspective. Thus, this is called, "Joe's Post." I tried very hard to be original with the title. Well anyway, here it goes.
Over three months in India so far and I think that we have grown substantially as people and in our walks with the Lord. I can't speak for Heather at the moment because she is watching the children, but I have definitely come closer to the Lord through this experience. I have taught three classes, preached multiple times, led worship twice a week and helped start an orphanage. How is that for four months of your life! (Of course I didn't do any of this by myself, in fact, I did very little for the orphanage.) I miss everybody every day, but I am so glad that we listened to God and came here even when I had zero desire to come. You know what, scratch that. I meant negative desire to come. I really did not want to come. Luckily, God really knows what He is doing.
It's so funny that we try to reason with God and tell Him what the best plan for our lives is. "You know what, God, I think it wold be best if I wrote books for You. They would glorify You and lead many people to Your name. Doesn't that sound great, God?" And God says, "No, go to India." To this my response is, "Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat!?" Again, God knows what He is doing.
I have had many teachers over the years, and many of them have said this, "The best way to learn something is to teach it," or something to that tune. I wholeheartedly believe that. As many of you know, I teach three classes: 1st Year English, Second Year English, and 3rd Year Survey of Matthew. I have to admit that I have not learned any more about English than I already knew, except that Indian grammar books are terrible and very difficult. But when it comes to the Book of Matthew, I have learned a tremendous amount.
When I was first told that I would be teaching this class, a full five days before we were to leave Arizona, I was a little scared and didn't know how to teach an entire semester on only the Book of Matthew. To my surprise, I am now having the opposite problem, having only reached chapter twenty with one and a half weeks to go. I didn't realize how much was in the book of Matthew. It is not even one of the more studied books in the Bible, or even the most studied Gospel! I am so thankful to God that He has given me this opportunity to teach and to learn.
As far as teaching the classes goes, it has been an interesting ride. First of all, even though it is a college and the learning is at a college level, it feels more like a high school in many ways. The are five classes of students, first years, second years, third years, etc. These are the same as freshman, sophomore and so on with the fifth years being 1st year graduate students. They take all of their classes with the same people in the same room, just with different teachers. There is a warden who watches their every move and makes sure they are doing the things they are supposed to. They have to wake up at a certain hour, go to the library at certain times, do daily duties and other such things.
The self-motivation here is very low which does not translate into good grades in the classroom most of the time. There was one instance where 2 out of 30 people in the class turned in their assignment that I gave them the week prior. I was shocked at the time. It was not even a difficult assignment at all. Now I am not so shocked. That is just how the culture is here in India. If you can get away with it then it is fine. If you cheat and are not caught it is fine. You would think that people in a Bible college would be better behaved, and many of them are, but some of them are there because their parents sent them or because they want to learn English or various other reasons. Also, it is simply the culture that they grew up in. If they have never had high quality education, they have no idea how to behave in a classroom. Most of them come from villages where the school consists of one teacher and they pretty much run around all day learning nothing.
As there are many difficulties and trials throughout the semester, I must constantly remind myself why I am doing this. I am doing this for God. Many of these students are studying to become pastors and elders in their church, taking the word of God to places where I cannot go. Of course, there are the good students that make me happy to be a teacher, and the bad students that make me wonder why I even try.
Overall we are very thankful to be here and even more thankful to be coming home shortly. I will have more posts coming soon.
-Joe
Over three months in India so far and I think that we have grown substantially as people and in our walks with the Lord. I can't speak for Heather at the moment because she is watching the children, but I have definitely come closer to the Lord through this experience. I have taught three classes, preached multiple times, led worship twice a week and helped start an orphanage. How is that for four months of your life! (Of course I didn't do any of this by myself, in fact, I did very little for the orphanage.) I miss everybody every day, but I am so glad that we listened to God and came here even when I had zero desire to come. You know what, scratch that. I meant negative desire to come. I really did not want to come. Luckily, God really knows what He is doing.
It's so funny that we try to reason with God and tell Him what the best plan for our lives is. "You know what, God, I think it wold be best if I wrote books for You. They would glorify You and lead many people to Your name. Doesn't that sound great, God?" And God says, "No, go to India." To this my response is, "Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat!?" Again, God knows what He is doing.
I have had many teachers over the years, and many of them have said this, "The best way to learn something is to teach it," or something to that tune. I wholeheartedly believe that. As many of you know, I teach three classes: 1st Year English, Second Year English, and 3rd Year Survey of Matthew. I have to admit that I have not learned any more about English than I already knew, except that Indian grammar books are terrible and very difficult. But when it comes to the Book of Matthew, I have learned a tremendous amount.
When I was first told that I would be teaching this class, a full five days before we were to leave Arizona, I was a little scared and didn't know how to teach an entire semester on only the Book of Matthew. To my surprise, I am now having the opposite problem, having only reached chapter twenty with one and a half weeks to go. I didn't realize how much was in the book of Matthew. It is not even one of the more studied books in the Bible, or even the most studied Gospel! I am so thankful to God that He has given me this opportunity to teach and to learn.
As far as teaching the classes goes, it has been an interesting ride. First of all, even though it is a college and the learning is at a college level, it feels more like a high school in many ways. The are five classes of students, first years, second years, third years, etc. These are the same as freshman, sophomore and so on with the fifth years being 1st year graduate students. They take all of their classes with the same people in the same room, just with different teachers. There is a warden who watches their every move and makes sure they are doing the things they are supposed to. They have to wake up at a certain hour, go to the library at certain times, do daily duties and other such things.
The self-motivation here is very low which does not translate into good grades in the classroom most of the time. There was one instance where 2 out of 30 people in the class turned in their assignment that I gave them the week prior. I was shocked at the time. It was not even a difficult assignment at all. Now I am not so shocked. That is just how the culture is here in India. If you can get away with it then it is fine. If you cheat and are not caught it is fine. You would think that people in a Bible college would be better behaved, and many of them are, but some of them are there because their parents sent them or because they want to learn English or various other reasons. Also, it is simply the culture that they grew up in. If they have never had high quality education, they have no idea how to behave in a classroom. Most of them come from villages where the school consists of one teacher and they pretty much run around all day learning nothing.
As there are many difficulties and trials throughout the semester, I must constantly remind myself why I am doing this. I am doing this for God. Many of these students are studying to become pastors and elders in their church, taking the word of God to places where I cannot go. Of course, there are the good students that make me happy to be a teacher, and the bad students that make me wonder why I even try.
Overall we are very thankful to be here and even more thankful to be coming home shortly. I will have more posts coming soon.
-Joe
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