Every year I am struck by the overwhelming joy and optimism of these teachers. They have so little in the way of tools and resources and each day they are faced with such need. They are not highly paid for their difficult work and have struggles of their own to survive and care for their families.
And yet, there exists in each of them a heart that is so centered on Christ that they live and breathe hope and faith. They see the reality of their circumstances and the circumstances of their students and are still able to cling to hope.
To start teacher institute, we begin each morning reading excerpts from C.J. Mahaney's The Cross-Centered Life. We spend time talking about the gospel and identifying how it is not only our hope for eternity, but it is also our only hope in the here and now.
It is our hope for that student who comes to school after seeing his mother beaten by his father.
It is our hope when our family members get sick and we don't have money for medication.
It is our hope when our newborn child isn't eating and is
failing to thrive.
It is our hope when we are separated from our spouse for years because in a corrupt government system, we cannot get a visa.
It is our hope when our students misbehave day after day.
It is our hope when there is not enough money left at the end of the month to feed our children.
It is our hope when the roof of our humble home leaks in every torrential rainstorm.
It is our hope in all things.
I am humbled and challenged by the ways these dear friends are living such cross-centered lives. They see Christ's love and sacrifice on our behalf in all of life. Even as I pray for them to continue on in their faithful pursuit of the good news, I'm praying for myself and for you, that we too would have hearts and lives that are centered on the cross.
With much love in Christ, Jessie
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