Another School Year

As the starting date for the Kemantiyan Adventist School was drawing near, we all worried  how many students would enroll this year. There had been issues, some unresolved, between the parents and our staff over the requirements of our work-study program. Also, intertwined with that issue, was that one of our elementary teachers no longer wanted teach, and his leaving meant a very large hole needed to be filled. But with the addition of some new Filipino staff it meant that we had more teachers than prospective high school level students. We prayed often and trusted that God would provide according to His plan.

A new law was passed last year that awards federal assistance to parents who enroll their children, 15 and under, in Philippine schools. The assistance provided is not a great sum of money to a lowland Pilipino but to impoverished highland Palawano family, it means a great deal of financial help. When the parents of school-aged children, here in the mountains, began to learn of this program, an new interest grew in sending their children to our school.

That spark of interest spurred the interest of local teenager, not eligible for financial reward, but who saw the excitement and wanted to be part of it. On registration day, new and returning students gathered, at the school, with many others who had dropped out in the past, their ages ranging from 7 to 18 years old and even a couple nearing 30. Praise the Lord that altogether, we had 60 students enroll for this school year, nearly doubling last year’s enrollment.

I was happy but as absurd as it sounds I had mixed feeling about it. The reason was not because of all the extra work that would be needed to provide education, work, and meals for such a large group. On the contrary it was wonderful that so many had come to school this year. My only reservation was that I wished they had been motivated by something other than the promise financial reward or just wanting to be part of the excitement of the crowd. Much better, in my mind, would be a desire to learn more about Jesus, to receive an education, and to one day become missionaries who would carry the Good News of Salvation throughout their tribe. But I praise Lord that He tells me, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts higher that your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:9

As I thought of other possible reasons that students would desire to come to school, I thought about how many similar reasons motivated people to come to Jesus during His earthly ministry. True, many sought for healing, for a deeper meaning to life, and some for freedom from demons and sin, but not all were led by pure and righteous motivations. Some were selfishly looking for reward and gain, many for earthly riches and glory. Others were only caught up with the excitement of the crowd and still others came simply to receive a few fish and a couple of pieces of bread. He, who read the thoughts of all, never condemned them for their misplaced motivations. With loving words and example He showed them their selfishness and drew them away from their temporal hopes toward the hope of eternal life that He wanted to offer them. Although, some refused His offer and turned away sorrowfully, from others were heard songs of joy in response to the most freeing words they had ever heard, “Your sins are forgiven, go and sin no more.” Many were motivated to come to Jesus but none were the same after meeting Him.

Therefore this is our prayer: to offer our students an opportunity to meet Jesus Christ this year. Laying aside our assumptions about others and even our own fears, we welcome each one to taste and see that the Lord is good. Please join with us and pray for our students that this year will be for some the first steps leading to life eternal.