What it Means to be a Child of God in Southeast Asian Ministry

Dee was told that it might be challenging settling into her new home in Southeast Asia, but thanks to a supportive community and trust in God, she is already bringing the Gospel to the students of her classroom.

Dee was warned that moving to a new country would make her feel like a child again. In her words, “in the span of about 30 hours I essentially lost my ability to buy groceries, say good morning to a stranger, figure out which bills to pay a cashier, read a road sign, and get myself from my abode to my job without assistance.”

Dee, a TeachBeyond member, had recently moved overseas to teach science classes in a creative access country in Asia. While she had experience teaching, the challenges of moving to a new country can be overwhelming to anyone. With a bit of help, she was quickly able to embrace her new home and ministry.

“I am teaching my favorite subjects to my favorite age group, and my students are interested and engaged and eager to learn. It’s a teacher’s dream, really." Whether she’s building DNA strands out of candy, studying the Book of Romans with a small group of high schoolers, or interacting more casually with some of the boarding students in the evenings, Dee is already making a huge impact on the lives of her students and her newly found community.

Despite her newly found “childhood,” the experience has been transformative for Dee. “Childhood is a time of wonder; so much is fresh and new and waiting to be discovered.” Dee says that to be a child is to be vulnerable. She can enjoy the wonders of the world because she has a Father who watches out for her, giving her strength and courage in difficult circumstances. When life became difficult, she was provided with new friends and helpful colleagues that could help her feel at home. To end with Dee’s words:

“And really, when I stop and think about it, the feeling that I was a competent adult was always an illusion anyway. To come to Jesus is to admit we are needy children. Moving to a foreign country is just an invitation to be reminded of that truth in a daily, unrelenting way.”