Every Wednesday at Logos International School, we have chapel for the elementary school kids. One week the chapel will be for kids PreK-2nd and then the next week it will be for 3rd-6th and it alternates back and forth. Each chapel is led by one of the grade levels and this year the upper elementary kids are learning about: Our Identity in Christ, who am I? A couple of weeks ago, it was fourth grade’s turn to lead chapel. Our topic for that week was, “In Christ, I am… complete.” My students had brainstormed a list of things that weren’t complete if things were missing from it. Things like:  a remote without buttons, a puzzle without all the pieces, a motherboard without the other computer parts, a cell phone without a battery, etc. So during chapel the students were on stage sharing about the things they brought and how they weren’t complete without the missing pieces. Then I gave a short message and shared my testimony.

I talked about how I gave my life to Christ when I was in middle school at North Richland Hills Baptist Church. I was listening to the youth pastor talk about we all fill our lives with things that are not Godly. I knew exactly what he was talking about. I had a hole in my heart. I tried to fill it with many different things…. hanging out with friends, having a “boyfriend”, watching movies, going to the mall, etc. I was happy for a time, my hole was filled up for a short time, but it wasn’t enough. It wasn’t until I replaced those things with Jesus Christ was I ever made complete.  After I shared this with the students, I showed a clip on YouTube called Whiteboard Salvation, sang “Oh Happy Day!” and then chapel was over.

Two days past. Then on Friday morning, while I was sitting at my desk, the students were coming in and one of my students walks up to my desk. He says, “Mrs. Phifer, I just wanted to thank you for sharing how you asked Jesus into your heart because I was feeling the same way. I felt like my heart was empty as well. I tried to fill it with candy and hanging out with friends and it wasn’t working out for me either. So last night, I talked with my mom and asked Jesus to come into my heart.”

Oh my goodness! My heart was overwhelmed with different emotions. I had chill bumps (which doesn’t happen in Cambodia because it’s so hot here) because I was so happy for the commitment he made but on the other hand, God was reassuring me why I was here. Yes, I am here to teach these students the standards for 4th grade but it’s SO much more. I am here to plant the seeds in these 4th graders and to water the seeds if they have already been planted. I think in my head, I knew why I was here but God’s reassurance came at just the right time. Thank you God for your reassurance, your grace and peace 🙂

~Ashley