I am so proud of the students, staff and teachers at OAVI. When an American comes into their territory, it means they must make lots of changes and adjustments. They are responding very well.
As you know, my primary goals are to teach Gods Word and serve the school and surrounding villages with a medical clinic and medical education. These things I am doing daily. I am teaching a minimum of 6 Health classes per week, often many more. The Bible is used often in these classes. Currently I am seeing and treating around 20 students per day for ear aches, HA, malaria, diarrhea, etc. We had one young man yesterday, Clement, who was very ill with acute malaria. We were able to get him the appropriate medications and treatment without sending him to the hospital. This saves the school money.
I have also started a daily devotional with students using the E-100 (Essential 100) study guide. This will take them through 100 scripture readings in 100 days. They really seem to be enjoying the study. I now have one teacher who joins the class as well. Also one young man has brought me a list of very intense questions regarding being a Christian and requested one to one study. I have engaged one of the church leaders to study with him. A very positive beginning.
Now for the changes they are working on due to my arrival. The first few weeks I was here, I noticed that many students were receiving punishment of various kinds from the staff. There was often chaos when changing between classes took place and this often ended with students being punished. The school prefects were often frustrated and expressed receiving a lack of respect from both teachers and students. They were "stuck in the middle". As many as 20 students or more were late to school daily. Dan asked me to suggest and institute some changes which would help with the leadership and smooth out the rough edges.
I have held three meetings with the Student Representative Council (SRC). This group consists of the Prefects and assistant Prefects. We have discussed what the role of a Prefect is and what a leader looks like. It was surprising that the first student to give me a discription of a leader said " A leader is like a shepard". Great! This was quickly turned into a leadership and Bible lesson!
The teachers and I have discussed the methods of punishment which they were using when I first arrived and the way in which the punishment was delivered. The teachers and I discussed teaching discipline through example. I am happy to say they have all embraced this idea. I no longer see teachers hitting students, screaming at students or continually looking for reasons to punish them. It seemed like punishment was the priority instead of teaching.
The students have really come around as well. The extra classes I have taught have been on respect, responsibility, and expectations of young people their ages. We have looked at Galations 5:22 (Fruits of the Spirit) and Colossians 3 (Rules for Holy Living and Christain Households). I am seeing less and less angry exchanges, less punishment being NEEDED and less chaos between classes. The teachers even appear a little less stressed. AND we only had 5 students who were tardy yesterday and ONE today!!! Hopefully, the trend will be to continue to rise to the expectations for responsible, respectful young adults.
As I re-read this, it almost seems to good to be true and like it is all because I am here. This could not be further from true!!!.....I have very little to do with the changes I see. All they needed was more God in their lives. With God, all things are possible.
Another BIG change is all students, teachers and staff are expected to speak English on campus and in the buses. English is the primary Ghanaian language. We teach English at school, but they were speaking the local languages Twi and Fantee. The rule for English only was instituted to help them practise what they are learning. Often, people will tell me they understand me when you can clearly see in they actions that they do not. Hopefully, the English rule will help them improve their comprehension and use of the English language.
Please pray for all the things going on at the school and clinic. I pray daily for God to use me in whatever ways are necessary for the growth of his kingdom.
Titus 3:14 Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives.
No comments:
Post a Comment