On the Down Slope

The last week is always frantic. There’s no other way to describe it. We save the hardest hitting lessons for week three, trusting the timing to bring more questions to the surface now that trust is established.

Yesterday we handled marriage, love, and relationships. The student classes look at these from a “not-yet-there” perspective and the discussions are not too deep. But they think, perhaps for the first time, about how they show love and how they like to be loved. In the teacher classes, the discussions are much deeper. In fact, in sometimes there are tears as they recognize the dysfunction of their own marriages in certain cases.

In our class, Judy said at the end of the day, “I have never thought about how I like to be loved, or that my husband and daughter may want to be loved in very different ways than what I like. This was an eye opener.” Even the simple task of making valentines is unique as most have never made a card.

Our three teaching assistants helped with the wedding as bridesmaids. One will marry next year so was somewhat familiar with western weddings. The second just thought it was great fun. The third wanted to participate, but we think she has not been shown much love and affection in her life and vacillates between being brusque and being painfully inept in people skills. The team has showered her with attention and the crust is cracking. She wore a dress (from one of the EESI teachers) for the first time since primary school, and even let us curl her hair. In the end, she came and asked if she could help again next year. We think she’s just never encountered “nice” people who don’t have an agenda.

Today is Christmas. Santa came to the morning plenary session, complete with red suit and a big bag of candy. Bedlam ensued, but was regained with carol singing, and then Santa explained the difference between traditions and real history.

In each class they made nativities, and in many classes acted out the Christmas story. For many, this is the very first time they have ever heard a biblical Christmas story, and lights begin to go on. One exercise has them separate words connected with Christmas in to traditions and history. Each takes home a paper stand-up nativity, and their delight in coloring never ceases to amaze the foreign teachers.

Busy week. Lots and lots of learner contact, dinner appointments, coffee, trips to see things together. All designed to build relationships. There are certificates to be printed and signed for each learner, final program performances being practiced, gifts to buy and wrap, media productions to finish.

In three days it will all be history.

But the impact lasts long beyond Friday. Many have asked if they can join us for church on Sunday. And then the email follow-up begins, conversations that will last all winter. The one month on this side of the world can feel like an eternity, but after all, eternity is the goal.