Dog Training

This is a funny true story- no joke! Recently my upper elementary class has been giving me a bit of a tough time in the classroom. They have a few things working against them... the class is on Friday evening, and they've been in school all week. My class is the last thing between them and a bit of rest and freedom for the weekend. They are also at the age where they are becoming very busy in other activities, and may or may not continue studying next year for this reason. Also, their bodies are changing like crazy, and one boy student likes one of the girl students. And from what we remember of Jr. High, can you guess how he shows it? He teases her mercilessly, calls her stupid, laughs at her when she tries to speak in English- all in an attempt to get her to notice him! (I'm certainly glad be be through this stage!)

So, due to the difficulty of teaching this class, I took the advice site partner and roommate Haidee, who shared the story of a class that was ten times worse, and how she was able to modify their behavior using techniques she learned in dog training. So I tried it- I held candy in my hands while I taught and kept them guessing as to when I would reinforce their positive behavior with candy... and so they behaved beautifully the whole class. I am still somewhat in shock- they were like different kids! So I guess the moral really is to "treat em' like dogs!" and then they'll behave and you can teach. Oh, the things I'm learning here! : )

"Shinji Nasai!" Believe!

I love it when God gives us glimpses into the way He's working in the lives of others- especially those who aren't Christian yet. I was blessed with such a glimpse this last Thursday when I went to teach at the kindergarten in Kamo. As I've mentioned in previous blogs, none of the teachers there are Christian, but they are all interested in Christianity and as it is a Lutheran kindergarten, they teach Christian songs and lead meal prayers. They are also studying Luther's Small Catechism once a month with Nomura Sensei (the pastor in Niigata City). I attend chapel there on Thursdays after I finish teaching, where the principle(who is Christian) usually gives a small message about some theme from the Bible.

This last week, the principle was absent, and so one of the teachers gave the talk instead. She told the story of Peter walking out to Jesus on the lake in such an animated way I half expected to see the children spring up from their chairs and join Peter in walking out on the Lake to Jesus. Her message was simple and powerful: "Shinji nasai!" Believe! Don't worry about the wind and the waves; but have faith in the one who made them and has power over them. I was struck by this verb being given in the command form, coming from a woman who has yet to publicly profess her faith in Christ. God is certainly working!

It makes me think of 1 Corinthians 12:3, "Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, 'Jesus is accursed'; and no one can say 'Jesus is Lord,' except by the Holy Spirit." I'm so grateful for these glimpses- to see ways God is answering the prayer, "your kingdom come," here in Japan.