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:

  1. What is the author’s main point?
  2. How does this passage fit in the Bible?
  3. 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.

 

Larry Szyman

Pastor for Missional Life