The Heart of Teaching

One of the best parts of my job is witnessing teachers' hearts for their students. One of my favorite times of year is when the Teach ONE teams arrive here in Zambia. It's how I first fell in love with the children of Zambia and I love seeing other Americans experience that for the first time. In the middle of June a team of 10 American teachers arrived at the Lusaka airport to participate in Teach ONE. Some of them had never been to Zambia before.  There was excitement and energy despite the long flight to Africa. 

Across town from the airport the Legacy Academy teachers and discipleship staff in Lusaka West finished classes for the day and prepared for a team of American teachers they had never met to join their staff for a week. Both groups were nervous and didn't know exactly what to expect. Both groups were praying that God would use this time to build up the school and bring glory to God. Both groups were about to experience a week they will never forget.

Legacy Academy- Lusaka West Head Teacher welcoming the Teach ONE team

The next day they met for the first time, and by the end of the day the love and appreciation between all 20 of these teachers had already begun to form. Day after day during the week I enjoyed watching the teaching partners interact and do amazing lessons with the classes. 

Teach ONE and Legacy Academy Teachers working side by side

sharing reading and math lessons

learning about division

time to ryhme

Each day ended with all the teachers gathering together in a classroom, and it was my favorite part of the day. One by one the teaching partners would affirm each other and talk about things they had learned. I've taught at a lot of schools and can't think of very many instances where the faculty was called together for a meeting and ALL talk from EVERY person was positive and used to build each other up. Each person in the room was encouraged to continue growing and learning each day. That is a rare and special gift. That is how I think the body of Christ was meant to work. It wasn't because everything went perfectly. It was because everyone there said-- here is what I have and I want God to use it for His purpose and His design for all the students who attend this school and the children who will come after them. Then each group would take a turn leading a worship song before prayer. One of my favorite sounds is Zambia is hearing them lift their voices in prayer and praise. There aren't words to describe it. 

Standing in that circle praying together for each other, for the students at that Legacy Academy, for the glory of God to shine through will always be one of my favorite memories with this team and the teachers in our school. When you love God and you love others-- even when the task seems hard, the days long, and the sleeping hours short-- He builds beautiful stories and writes them on our hearts and minds and speaks them into the lives of those He calls us to serve. I am thankful for our Legacy Academy teachers who serve our children well and for teachers who travel thousands of miles to offer their support and encouragement. Together they are developing a school that will impact communities and transform them for generations to come.

saying "GO WELL" and waving good-bye to the Teach ONE team on the last day

"The mystery of ministry is that we have been chosen to make our own limited and very conditional love the gateway for the unlimited and unconditional love of GOD . . . people who are so deeply in love with JESUS that they are ready for follow HIM wherever HE guides them, always trusting that, with HIM, they will find life and find it abundantly." - Henri Nouwen, In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership

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