Turning Boredom into Excitement

SUBJECT: Turning Boredom into Excitement
AUTHOR: Lina Gates, Age 15, lives with her parents, one sister and two brothers, and cousins in the village of Kaikan, Guyana, near the Venezuelan border.
DATE: May 13, 1997

Lina, Heidi, Tricia, Evette, Terri, Mr. Nash

"How many of you studied your lesson?", I asked. No one responded. A few nervous smiles was all I got. "Well, let me tell you what it's about...." There's got to be a better way of doing this, I thought.It was awfully hard 'lecturing' to three teens. Once in a while they would look at me, letting me know they weren't fully asleep yet. After a while a deacon came to ring the bell above our heads. This lets all the teachers know that they have 5 minutes to close. All of them looked up and covered their ears. I did too

Drawing of Lina by Terri

and was painfully aware that even a bell was more interesting to them than my 'speech'. After the bell there were a few smiles and some whispering. "So that's the summary of the lesson." I concluded, "I won't do any more right now." "Good!", a guy quickly remarked. I tried to smile.

Drawing of Tricia by Lee

"Please pray to close the class",I asked a guy. We waited for a long time. Finally he mumbled a few words with the help of a friend. That night I got on my knees and pleaded with God, "Oh Lord, I feel so desperate. I want to make Youth Class interesting. Please help me! Please!" Then God gave me the idea of doing a bible treasure hunt. So Heidi and I went up to the church Friday afternoon and hid clues.

Drawing of Terri by Lina

In my mind I visualized 8 teens in youth class. And I imagined the enthusiasm displayed as they rushed around trying to find clues. To say I overestimated is an understatement. Friday night it rained. On Sabbath morning I had to replace lots of the clues. Four people came to Youth Class. And since they didn't know the game it took me a while to explain. When they started playing the game, instead of going different directions to look for the clues, they all stuck together. So when one of them found it, they all found it. Also, I discovered that there were many other clues which I did not replace and were so wet you couldn't read them. Then one guy found the treasure (some guide magazines) before we were finished.

Drawing of Lee by Tricia

A few weeks later I passed out pieces of paper and asked them to draw each other. Some of their drawings were so funny.I showed them that God made us each different. They seemed to enjoy it.

[Lina Teaching]

Me teaching grades forms 1 & 2 (Grades 8 & 9)

Slowly a change started to come about. More people started to come. Last week there were 11 people! All I can say is that God is answering my prayer.But I still struggle to come up with good ideas. And I get depressed when I can't think of anything to do and the class turns out boring.The majority still don't study the few lessons we manage to get and share out.I realize it's partially because they don't read well, partially because they don't understand some of the words, and partially because they don't really know God as a friend.

[Lina Teaching]

Another shot of me teaching

So now I would like to ask for your support. First of all, please pray for me. It's easy to read sentences like this and think, "Yeah, we need to pray for them." Then forget about it. I do it all the time. So if you can, ask God right now to help the Youth down here in Kaikan, and to help me teach well. Now, if you happen to remember again while you're eating your peanut butter sandwich, or flossing your teeth, or looking at your nose in the mirror, please send another prayer up to God, "Please help the Youth in Kaikan".
Thanks I appreciate it.

Also, I would really, really like to hear ideas from you. What can I do to make the class more interesting or to help them get to know God? What has worked for you? What things do you find exciting? What makes your Sabbath School totally great? Heidi and I would love to hear your ideas.

Well that's all for now. Bye!

Lina

You may write to Lina at: gates@andrews.edu

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Last Updated: May 13, 1997