Bread & Words

"He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord." -Deutoronomy 8:3

So, I started a Bible study.

Now let me give you some context, some of which might be repeat information, but stick with me.
We run a Sunday School kids program Sunday mornings at a Burmese/Karen migrant school called Ray Kaw Htoo (ray-kah-two), which also happens to be the school I teach grade 2 & 3 English at on Monday mornings. This is not a coincidence, but rather strategic planning.

I had been thinking and praying about the format of our Sunday morning kids program, particularly in the area of sustainability and future leadership. The truth of the matter is that in 56 days I will be on a plane heading to China; in 6 months, the Hansons will be Canada-bound. The reality is that with the program being run as it is now, when we leave the program ends.

I'm usually not much of a children's ministry kind of person. Normally, I would think to myself, "Oh, ya, that's too bad," and there would no consequential thought following. But because God has recently been speaking to me about living with intention, living with vision, and living out the call that He has placed upon my life, I couldn't shake the sadness that washed over me when I thought of the Word of God not being preached in that place after we leave.

That's when Holy Spirit spoke to me. That's when the trickle-down-discipleship-model I have been repeatedly taught came to good use. There is already a leadership model in place within the school - headmaster, teachers (and in this case, the teachers do most of the overall leading), and students, the student body having it's own unspoken leadership roles in place as well. Why not use this leadership system to our advantage? Why not disciple the teachers, present them with Sunday School curriculum, and show them how they can disciple their students? It's actually the perfect set-up.

And, so, a couple of Mondays ago following my teaching time, I approached Nora Htoo, an 18 year old teacher I have become quite close with, about the idea of starting a Bible study. We had had a number of in depth conversations about faith, Bible college, and religion that I knew she was already a follower of The Way, and I knew she would be open to the idea. Two days later Courtney, Htwe Htwe (one of Imagine Thailand's Burmese staff who is still on the fence in her walk with Christ) and I made our way, Bibles in hand, to study the Gospel of Mark with Nora Htoo and T'Kaw Wah, a quiet 22 year old English teacher - turns out she knows Jesus too. Even as I write this I'm feeling as though this whole ordeal had already been orchestrated long before it came to my knowledge...?

Last night was our second meeting. I couldn't help but let my soul rejoice, joy and excitement overflowing from the depths of my heart as I sat with these two beautiful Karen women. One can read only Burmese, the other only Karen. As we begin discussing each section through Mark we each read the passage in a different language, first me in English, Nora Htoo follows in Burmese, and T'Kaw Wah after her in Karen. Seeing three different Bibles in three different languages laying open on the table in the tiny concrete box of a classroom last night, fluorescent lights flickering, mosquitoes eating at our feet, I saw and felt and knew God in such an overt and obvious way. He is opening their ears and minds and hearts to knowing Him deeper, and loving Him better.

They have been reading the Bible every day since our first meeting. They are both so hungry for His Word - this passion to know God is absolutely contagious that I find myself getting more and more excited each day to be in the Word.

I can tell that we are all thankful for one another. God is using each of us; God is growing each of us.

My relationship with this school, with Nora Htoo, T'Kaw Wah, the other teachers and the students has deepened so much in the last month. I know that leaving that place for the last time will feel like the tearing away of skin from skin.

But for now, I soak in every moment I have there. I let my soul sing out in praise for what He is doing in that place, and I pray for the continuation of these discipleship classes, whether formal or informal, long after our team has said our final goodbyes.

What to pray for...
Pray for depth to each of Nora Htoo's & T'Kaw Wah's (t'gah-wah) relationships with Christ.
Pray that out of their infilling of Holy Spirit they will begin to pour into their students spiritually.
Pray for sustainability in our programs by national leadership.
Pray for a church to be planted in this community.