Classroom Joy | A New Mission Post #4
Today, we took prospects for the next cohort and exposed them to the Training Leaders International (TLI) curriculum in the classroom. Mike, Stu and I took about 15 each into a classroom for three hours of experiencing what we have to offer: rigorous equipping in understanding and communicating Scripture. We spent time studying Mark 2:1-12, asking and answering three questions:
- What is the author’s main point?
- How does this passage fit in the Bible?
- How does it apply to my life?
There wasn’t a lack of intelligence (this group speaks 11 languages) in the group. They quickly caught the concepts we were teaching. It was clear these men were lacking exposure and resources-it was fun to provide for them and to see not only gratitude, but seeing the lights come on. The thought of equipping them in the future is quite appealing.
I did struggle with jet lag today. I was up at 2 a.m. (finished the latest John Grisham novel) and got down for about 45 minutes before my alarm that was set for 6:30. We spent some time with the larger group, did our classroom, and then spent a one and a half hour Q & A session on the covenant we are asking these men to consider. I hustled back to our place to get a 35-minute nap, before waking up 15 minutes before a service that I was going to preach at. I felt brain dead (for you medical personnel-this is not true in a technical sense) as I made my way to the chapel, felt a little life in the singing, but felt pretty lethargic and dead during my message. I got a lot of positive feedback, but my mind and body simply felt detached (again, a figure of speech).
I made it back to our place and took a long walk. On this walk, I encountered something I never encountered before. Walking down the road, I was walking toward a herd of bulls and I wondered if I was going to have a life-altering experience. I considered turning back, but after taking a picture, I assumed I would probably be ok. About 50 feet from the first bull, a ten-year oldish boy emerged from the back of the pack, hit one of the bulls lightly with a piece of rope, giving me ten feet on my side of the road. No problem. See the picture attached to this post.
The other picture is a lot more tame. I will take a picture of groups of kids and then show it to them. They really enjoy them.
I hope for a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow is the big day. Decisions will be made and agreements will be signed to work together for three years, or not. Stay tuned.