I have been taking classes to receive a
certificate in teacher mentoring for the past year and a half. Before
beginning the program, I knew that a practicum was required that
involved taking a trip to a teacher training center in Northeast
India. Last year, Joel was too little to leave behind for the 10 day
trip, so I have been anticipating this India experience for about two
years now.
This year was ideal as far as being
able to leave Steve, Olivia, and Joel in Thailand and go mentor
Indian English teachers, but my heart was obviously a bit torn about
having to be away from them for such a long time. The longest I have
been away from my kids was two nights; a train ride to Beijing, a day
of meetings there, and the train ride back to Harbin. So, 10 days!
Not my idea of fun.
Nonetheless, they were to be at the
beach being taken care of in regards to their meals all being
provided and such. As far as it went, ideal. I was scheduled to leave
February 14th and return to meet them on the 25th
in Bangkok.
Little did I know what was in store.
When we all got to Thailand, the three other people in my class
scheduled to go on the trip and I went to the Indian consulate here
in Chiangmai Thailand. We were told to apply for tourist visas which
turned out to be a big mistake and we didn't get them. Later, the
next week, we were planning to return to the consulate with the
proper forms. A couple of Indian friends went on our behalf to talk
things over with the head consulate man and explain our situation.
Evidently, in order to apply for a business visa, we needed to do it
in our country of residence or home country which meant.... no visa
this year.
As the reality of this hit me, I was
filled with a sadness that I would not be able to serve the teachers
at the training center, and that our absence would cause more
difficulty in their training process; however, I was also filled with
an incredible peace. I knew that this was meant to be for some reason
that the three of my classmates and I may never fully understand.
Only the Lord knows if we were
protected, saved, or spared from something or just given a special
blessing at a very busy and rushed time of the year. Since arriving
in Thailand, I hardly had time to breathe between being in class,
having team leader meetings and then our conference beginning (two
sessions of which I was responsible). Perhaps there was some divine
intervention, but it might be that it was seen as good and right that
I too join my family for a few days of rest before beginning another
busy and trying semester.
As we look at the semester ahead, it is
filled with teaching, mentoring, preparing one teammate for the role
of team leader while we are on home leave, preparing ourselves for
home leave (packing up as well as setting things up for the States).
Additionally, we want to serve our team well in helping set them up
for success in whatever they have next year; team leading, language
study, staying or going... We also want to end our year well before
being away for a year so that we will be ready when the time comes to
return.
Not going to India means that I must
find another way to fulfill the 20 hours of mentoring that it would
have entailed along with the 30 that I already had to complete on my
own; however, I believe that His grace is sufficient and I am still
at peace about the situation and whatever lies ahead. God is good and
I need not worry or fear; He is in control.
