Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Oh my, this verse still rings true! If the fall incident with the angry parents had taught me anything, it's that I have the ability to toughen my skin and widen my ears. Another set of parents raised an issue about one of my teachers and I had to jump in to hear them out, conduct an investigation, facilitate a meeting, and follow-up to make sure that "no hard feelings" remain true.
It's stuff like this that make my job unpleasant. I'm seriously trying to find the silver lining in this. But it really pays to listen, and I mean, really listen. I've learned that I'm just too quick to "problem solve" and too slow to really listen and understand where they're coming from. I've learn to develop this ability from my pre-marital counseling. Who knew this would apply to dealing with my frustrated co-workers and angry mothers?
It boils down to this: I can't always trust my own knowledge. Sometimes I get myself into trouble. I definitely need to be on my knees and praying.
School: Overall, it's been challenging. Towards Christmas, there were no other parent incidents because most of November and December was focused on Thanksgiving and Christmas activities. I've had the privilege of working closely with my fiance on the school's talent show. That was a growing experience as we learned how to deal with each other's stress. Dealing with teachers hasn't been bad at all, it's the tricky balance of doing both teaching and administration. I can't seem to do an excellent job of either, but only "good enough" for both.
Projects: The Wednesdays have been awesome. It seems that more is going on with the parents than with the kids. I would look forward to my ride home as I listen from the parent's group leader about how things went. A few parents have taken a genuine interest in the topics, meaning, they don't come just because their kids are getting the chance to interact with me in English. Now - finally - I feel like what I'm doing is second tier to what's needed: parents to be free from their kids so that they can have a study. When this group started over a year ago, it was the other way around. I gathered the kids first, the parents just hung around.
The Mondays have taken on some interesting and new directions. The group size started large when the school year began. New teachers, and some returning, would stop by to check out the group. As October rolled around, the group stabilized to low number. But for the past month or so, new visitors from the local Sunday gathering just started showing up. And they kept showing up! Soon, our own format had to adjust - where two mature leaders were needed to take on a smaller group for discussion. We didn't ask for it, but we knew God had been providing for us.
The Sundays have seen quite a bit of variety. I still teach every second Sunday at the local Sunday gathering. For a while, I've visited the English speaking international church, but found myself motivated to going there just because they offered free breakfast. Out of care for my fiance, I decided to go to the Cantonese speaking service. It's been good.
Other Stuff - in my last update, I mentioned that I was in a courtship. I'm glad to say that the courtship is over, and resulted in an engagement on Thanksgiving Day! This time is filled with blessing and a little bit of uncertainty as wedding planning is being done remotely and in spurts. The ceremony and banquet will take place in Hong Kong, but it's been a challenge to plan them since we're up in Beijing. Also, a recent faux pax concerning my family has caused a strain in our relationships. This on top of my dad's recent medical emergency has reminded me that the most powerful tool I have is prayer. I must confess that every time I fall is because I didn't listen to my heavenly Father first. But after much prayer I would then gain the wisdom and know-how concerning relationships.
About 2009 - One word: wow. My fiance and I were chatting and reflecting about where we were last year at this time. She was on a flight back from Turkey. I can't remember for myself, but guessed I was alone in my apartment counting down to the new year. There was no indication in 2008 that I would: attend a conference in HK that helped me reconnect with a friend from the summer of 2004, take on a challenging administration role, go into a courtship that resulted in an engagement, and then take a serious look at my family relationships strained by my faux pax. And also, I didn't think I would pray this much and so hard.
About 2010 - I'm going to keep praying. On some days, prayer is all I have. I hope to draw closer to my family, and get closer to my fiance's. I want to be a respectable administrator that will perform with integrity. I hope to grow even more responsible, and to be the husband/spiritual leader she needs me to be. I also want to grow deeper in my relationship with God, seeing how He's kept me afloat in all the difficult times in 2009. And I hope to go to Bali in October for our honeymoon. :)
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