Let Me See Jesus.

God is multilingual.

This morning during bible class we had one of the largest discussions we have ever had as a classroom. When I say large, I mean large in relation to how far I can usually get through to my barely English-speaking students. Each morning we have worship and prayer, this morning was not out of the ordinary, except for the fact that one of my kids raised his hand beaming with curiosity. I was rather shocked at this sight alone. I typically feel like they could not care less and that they comprehend a whole 3% of what I actually say to them.

I called on my student. “Tee-Cha, what if I pray in Khmer? God no understand?” he asked. I looked around my classroom and all of the other students seemed just as interested in their classmate’s inquiry.  Still shocked I responded to him, “God knows ALL languages,” I said. “He always understands.” The kids eyes grew larger than I’ve ever seen them. They were just as shocked as I had been a couple minutes previous. “WHAT?! What about in Thailand, Tee-Cha, or Chineeeee, or Frennn, or Japaneee?!” they all shouted out. “Yes, He understands Thai, Chinese, French, and Japanese.” They were amazed. It was adorable.

Another student wanted to jump in on the conversation. “Well, what if I pray when my friend prays? Then God has to choose one of us to listen to?” he asked. I sometimes forget how little these kids know about God’s traits that seem so obvious to me. I have to remember that they were introduced to God only a couple of weeks before I even landed in Cambodia. “God is SO powerful, I know that understanding everything about Him is complicated, but He can listen to everyone at the same time!” I always swing my arms around and try to use charades and facial expressions to help my students understand ME a little better…but explaining God to them? It’s like explaining what the sun feels like to someone who has lost his or her sense of touch. You feel the sun. Trying to translate a feeling from English to Khmer is difficult even with every charade and action I can muster up. It really is borderline frustrating. I want them to understand. I am sure they can relate to my frustration, they want to understand too.

All of the sudden the questions began POURING in. “What if God is sleeping when I pray? He needs sleep too. Are all people in America Christians? Will Jesus give me a house if I ask for one? Will Jesus help me find my spelling book? What does Jesus think about the fact that I went to the pagoda on Sunday with my mother? Tee-Cha, have you seen Jesus before? Does He talk to you?"

Then my personal favorite came. One of my typically rambunctious, troublemaking, little boys raised his hand.  "Tee-Cha, can you let me see Jesus?” Usually this little boy makes me want to rip my hair out, but today he melted my heart.

WHERE HAVE THESE QUESTIONS BEEN FOR THE PAST FIVE AND A HALF MONTHS?!

I answered all of my students’ questions to the best of my own ability for almost the entire class period. They listened for a long time, but as to be expected they began to get off topic at the end. Before I dismissed them I wanted to be sure that I had done all that I could to help them understand. I quieted them down enough to ask if they had any more questions about Jesus. My best English speaker turned to me and chimed in, “Of course Cha, I have lots, but I don’t know how to say them in English.” Ugh.

Even though I so desperately want to be the one to answer their questions, I have to remember there’s only so much that I, myself, can give to them. Although the language barrier got in the way again this morning, for once I was able to feel satisfied with how much got through to them. For the first time in a long time I felt like my kids wanted to learn, and THAT? That was more than enough for today.

 I do have ever so much hope for these children.

-Amber