Haiti: Day 10

Grading assignments: the "other" part of teaching

As we began our second week of classes, the often “unseen” or “other” part of teaching began to be felt today as well: grading assignments.  My translator, Simeon, and I spent most of the afternoon starting on the job of grading assignments as they are written in French.  
Note to self: take this into account next time you teach a class in Haiti or anywhere else (where English is not the first language) when it comes to the assignments you give!  We were able to get about half way completed with just the assignments that were handed in on Friday, with a new batch of shorter assignments on deck that were handed in today. 

 I do find that assignments are a great way to see how the students are grasping the concepts we are talking about in class, and it is a great opportunity to give them feedback and further direction.  The good and exciting news is that the students are really understanding this process and are getting into the Word in ways that extremely encouraging.  It is amazing to hear some of the observations they are making and to see how they are just being immersed in the Scripture.  It will probably take most of the afternoons the remainder of the week after morning class each day to complete all the grading.  In the meantime, I still have grading to complete from my classes back home.  It is good thing that I am just a “twig” (see Day 8 post)!  We had a great day of class as I led the students into a study of 1 Corinthians in an attempt to give a “live” model of the approach we have been talking about in class.  The Holy Spirit brought many teachable moments as we saw that Jesus is the answer, that pride is the block in our lives, and that Jesus wants to live in us and demonstrate Himself through us in every situation.  We had some lively discussion as we took time to let this apply to our lives in very real and practical ways.  I have to share that the greatest impact in class today came as we discussed how Jesus is our answer and complete provision for all of our lives, whether married or single (1 Cor. chapter 7).  The Holy Spirit seemed to really speak this truth into all of our hearts in a powerful way in that classroom.  

We enjoyed a great meal around the tables tonight with the missionaries, their families, and all the visiting professors and guests.  Tonight we were in the Heckman home for dinner (I will include a photo of them another day).  We alternate between the Heckmans and the Ayars for the evening meal.  It was a blessing to sit around the table tonight and see how anxious people were to serve one another, with the biggest contention being about who would “get to” do the dishes this evening.  It was something of a demonstration of the very thing we spoke of in class this morning: people allowing Jesus to live in them and demonstrate Himself through them in real, everyday life, with no concern for pride. 

I had the special added blessing of being able to being able to video chat with my family:  Trina and Carey at home, and Chaili at college.  What an encouragement to be able to share about our days and to pray together.  God is good, and His goodness continues to spill over in these days in Haiti.  Thank you again for interceding as Jesus continues to make an impact in the spiritual realm; it is being seen in this place. 

In Christ,

John