Change, Lament, Hope

According to statistics, the average turnover for teachers at international schools is about 2 years.  HOPE sits at 2.6 years and that is definitely something to celebrate. But when we look at the list of beloved teachers who will be exiting this school year, it doesn’t feel that way.  

And unfortunately, this year is not that different from previous years. It seems like every year we are saying goodbye to teachers and then agonizing over who will take their place.  As a community it feels like we have struggled with the issue of teacher staffing because the truth is we have.  This causes stress not only for our children but for parents and those amazing teachers who decide to stay.  

Now my point is not to write a depressing noticeboard.  My point is this - What do we do with these feelings of loss and frustration which can easily turn into worry and despair.  As a community of faith, is that our best response? God knew we would be tempted to hopelessness in looking at the circumstances in the world around us and so through the poetic books of Psalms and Lamentations God shows us a better way - Lament.  

Lament doesn’t shy away from the truth - we do not yet have enough teachers.  True.  

But lament isn’t despair.  

Lament is a way of looking at the reality of our situation while recognizing that we have hope - not a pollyanna, rose colored, wishful thinking, baseless kind of hope but a hope that is grounded in the power of the resurrection, a hope that is a result of knowing a Risen Savior.

Now that may sound a bit dramatic for something as ordinary and earthy as international school staffing but I would argue that it isn’t.  If we can lament with hope then we can pray and work as we wait on Jehovah Jireh. Yes, we pray - for God to provide for the educational needs of our children and we also work - to explore all the options before us to find new teachers.  And we celebrate those teachers who have lovingly poured into our children, whether 2 years or 10, and who have stood shoulder to shoulder with us in God’s work in Cambodia.  

Next week those of us from the US will be celebrating Thanksgiving.  I encourage you to include HOPE School in your prayers of thanksgiving.   I encourage you to even be thankful for the way God draws us into deeper trust as we walk along a path that to us seems uncertain.  And if you’re not celebrating Thanksgiving I still encourage you to hope and pray for the staffing needs at HOPE.  

Blessings,

Melissa Mora