CCSI Blog #2 - First Day at CCSI

I hope you are doing well!

I am joyful to update you about my time at CCSI through this blog post. Today was my first day of substitute teaching at CCSI! My day at the school started out with another devotional with the interns and the principal. This time, we read Psalm 28 and were encouraged by the way that God answered David’s pleas when he was in a time of despair. It truly gave me a reminder of how the Lord is a firm foundation even in times of hopelessness and how He is faithful during those times. Following this devotional was a time to pray for the teachers, and it was a blessing to be able to intercede for them so that God can sustain them and strengthen them during these last weeks of school. Then, we went into a time of student-led worship, which was a joyful time of singing to the Lord, and afterward, a student led a devotional about the importance of reciprocating love as well as appreciation to our parents and obeying them the way that the Bible commands us to. It has been an encouragement to see students taking the lead for worship and devotionals to glorify the Lord.

Once the devotionals and worship were finished, it was finally time for me to start substitute teaching a literature, grammar, and science class for a group of 6th and 7th graders. Going into this time, I was a little nervous because I had only ever taught students in the lower elementary grades and not in the higher grades. However, the Lord gave me much confidence and joy as I spent the 3 class periods with the students. As I was spending time with these students and building relationships with them, I realized that they are not merely just students that I need to teach. I realized that God has intentionally placed them in my life so that I can walk alongside them while I am here and pray for them as a sister-in-Christ. Additionally, in experiencing a joyful time with the older students, who I am not as used to being around as much as the younger students, God gave me another realization: that it is not just about the teaching skills but also about the heart.

Before today, I was nervous about teaching older students because I am more skilled with teaching younger students, but God truly gave me the heart to love on and enjoy spending time with the older students as well. It is truly reassuring to now know that God has given me the confidence to teach anyone who He brings to me even if that may not be my area of expertise. I have witnessed that He truly equips me for any situation and it has been a blessing to see the Lord work in my heart in ways that I could not imagine before!

Jooeun