faithfulness

I tell you what.

I live in a Muslim country.

A country that censors its movies.

A country that closes down during the day for the entire month of Ramadan.

A country that has a mosque on every corner, broadcasting the call to prayer through loadspeakers many times a day.

I don't mind the modesty in dress. I don't mind not seeing unnecessary sex in movies at the theatre. I don't mind that it's a dry country. I like these things.

I teach in a Muslim school.

A school that censors all the books, movies, materials that it uses in the library.

A school that reads from the Qur'an twice a week at flag ceremony.

A school that requires all the students to study Islam every day.

I don't mind keeping the girls innocent for a little while longer. Childhood isn't long enough in North America anymore.

And I love my students. For all the drama, chatting, problems, gossip...they're an awesome group of girls.

But it kills me that they are trapped in a religion that only offers hope after death...and only if they happen to tip the scales in their favour with Allah. They are superstitious - "masha'Allah" (from God - to keep the evil eye away)..."insha'Allah" (God willing)..."al-hamd-il-l'Allah" (thanks be to God). They have learned that if they do everything right, they may get into heaven someday. Their entire faith is based on the fear of hell (which is written too many times in the Qur'an to have a place in the index...it would make it too long). It reminds me of old-school church, to be honest...fully without grace.

So I've been praying for God to give me opportunities to speak to the girls about God's love and grace. About His freedom in Christ. Heck. I've been praying that they will just get curious and want to read the Bible themselves, to seek the truth.

Last week, one of my students came to me and asked if I could talk to her AP English class today. She said that for their AP exam, they need to know how to find Biblical Allusions. She asked if I could come in and just tell Bible stories to the class. Of course I agreed! I thought about it all weekend. I prayed about it. I have to admit that I was still a little nervous entering the classroom at 11:30.

But that fear disappeared the second I sat on that stool at the front of the classroom. They asked me to start at the beginning! So we started with the Creation story. We covered many of the major stories in Genesis and Exodus, a little David and Goliath, and then we hit up the New Testament - talking of Jesus, his birth, teaching, accusation, death and resurrection - and even the Holy Trinity.

They. Were. Psyched. I don't think I've ever seen an entire class so excited to be learning...especially at this school! What a blessing they were. They were into every story. And I did recommend that they read Genesis and Exodus, Matthew and Luke before their exam. We'll see if any of them do! I taught three of them during 4th block in Art class - and they all came in, wanting to hear more stories.

It's a small thing, but it's something.

"Miss, how do you know all of these stories?"

Thanks, Mom and Dad. I'm forever grateful.