I often felt like I was running from one thing to the next.
I would come home from work and grab a bite to eat and open Zoom for the next class.
I emailed the link.
I waited.
I emailed again.
I did other paperwork while I waited.
Sometimes I have to text Mom first to get a response from them to come on to the Zoom meeting.
Eventually – sometimes an hour later than planned – I’d get a response that they are ready to do homework.
We both got connected on Zoom.
Sometimes we have some connection issues.
Every day we planned to meet at the same time, 3 pm.
Frustration is understandable in these situations. Sometimes our classes went from 4:30 to 6. Thankfully, I was able to make time be flexible, though it wasn’t convenient. Some evenings I had another tutoring session at 6:30 from which I had to quickly leave this one to drive to that one. Some days I wondered if I could keep running from one thing to the next. Yet I loved all the tutoring sessions.
I had a deep yearning to have another Zoom meeting with them just to chat. My heart had grown to love them even though I have never even met them in person.[/pullquote]When school came to an end, their need for tutoring did too. Suddenly it didn’t seem that long or crazy. I had a deep yearning to have another Zoom meeting with them just to chat. My heart had grown to love them even though I have never even met them in person. The love of Jesus in and through me.
And then I got an email from one of them with this quote: “To the world you may just be a teacher but to your students you are a hero.” I teared up reading this thinking of those times I was just a wee bit frustrated at the delay of time. I should be used to this delayed time because I have lived in countries where time was more fluid, but somehow I got caught up in American culture again. I didn’t like that in me.
There was more to the email….“It was really nice meeting you were a grate tutoring teacher and nice, and understanding person, and really helpfully, who is always happy, to help us, and you are my favorite teacher because you understood me. You always try explaining better so that I can get it. Thank you for everything!!!”
It is nothing that I have done on my own. It is Christ living in me that shines forth. All glory belongs to Abba Father who has transformed my life to be one of service to Him!
-Written by Lydia, a Homework Help volunteer in St. Cloud
