my spiritual story - part 3

I didn’t start of as a naturally gifted teacher, the students were difficult and not much younger than I was – they were 15 and I was 18. But for some reason, I gained much favor from the teaching staff. The vice-principal even took time off to write a referral testimony for my admission into teacher training.

It was from this point that I had an inkling that I was where God wanted me to be. My teacher training experience was fabulously enjoyable. I completed assignments without much difficulty and got along very well with my peers and professors.

The testing of my faith came again during posting. Against all human efforts, I was posted back to the same primary school where I did my teaching practicum – which was hellish. To make things more devastating, I was not offered a place in the degree programme albeit my consistently good grades – a situation that I blame my practicum school.

This was a time where faith in God seemed misplaced. The first 6 months were so difficult, I even broke down during a meeting once. What plans could God possibly have for a place like this?

Things got better as I gained experience and expertise. I was also given opportunities to dabble in art projects and backdrop designing – opportunities that honed my artistic inclinations (and future plans). The sea change in management and principal created a paradigm shift in the school atmosphere and physical environment – an atmosphere and environment that I thrived in. Work became enjoyable and little of a chore. While I hear my contemporaries complain bitterly about their school, I sing praises about mine. This God-forsaken place wasn’t so God-forsaken after all, not just for me, but for the entire community that was in the lower rung of societal stratification. The new principal was a Christian, she has been managing the school prayerfully, and my Christian colleagues and I could sense God’s hand at work.

At the end of the year, I was voted to win with the Outstanding Contributed Award in the Individual Category. This little triumph is a personal indication to me that God had equipped me and seen me through the trials he placed in my path. He has enabled me and my contribution has blessed others.

One day, I noticed a huge satanic graffiti splashed on a wall located in front of the side gate of my school. It measured approximately 3 to 4 metre square. As expected, no one took much notice of it and took it to be “just another act of vandalism.” It disturbed me. As it is, the school belonged to a poor and broken neighborhood, close to destitution. There was an oppressing spirit of failure and aimlessness. During Pastor Wendy Watson’s sermon about spiritual forces and the Christian’s legitimate authority in prayer, I prayed that God would “do something about the graffiti.” By the next working day, the satanic symbol was painted over.

Mere coincidence or answered prayer?