SIM needs almost 500 teachers. All around the world. For many different age groups. In a variety of settings. Covering a full range of subjects. On this page are stories by two SIM teachers. If you’re a teacher and would like to join them and hundreds of others serving with SIM, click here.

	Alyssa with her students.

A variety of classrooms

"What am I doing in Paraguay?" Well, my professional identity is as a teacher of English. I teach that subject to children at our local Christian elementary school, and to teenagers and adults who come to my apartment.

Then there are about 20 children living in the small rural town of Kapi-I who call me “profe.” I don’t teach them English; I go there every Wednesday to teach what I know about God.

All three of these settings have produced times of indescribable joy, the most exhilarating being when I sense that others are developing a hunger for God through his written Word. My favorite day in the classroom last year was the day a stubborn 12-year-old son of a wealthy politician told me that Jesus’ example showed him he needed to forgive one of his classmates. He’d held a grudge against him for a long time, a common thing in a culture where grudges run very deep. So we called the other boy over, and they were reconciled.

The last night I went to Kapi-I before a holiday, I got to watch my Paraguayan friends, Laura and Veronica, help several of the village children pray to invite Christ to become their Savior.

In my informal teaching role, one evening I shared with Suely four basic questions to use in Bible study. The next week she was beaming as she said, "Alyssa, thank you for teaching me this method! This week was the first time in my whole life that I’ve read the Bible every day. It made such a difference in my week. I know God used it to change me and make me more like him!"

A variety of students

After the death of my husband Steve, I completed my degree and returned to Nigeria to teach at Hillcrest School, where he had been a much-loved Bible teacher. Hillcrest is an international Christian school serving the children of missionaries, influential Nigerians, and other expatriates, with classes from kindergarten to grade 12.

	Hillcrest students hanging out.

We studied the book of Habakkuk in the 7th grade Bible class. I assigned the students to write their own “book” to God, in the style of Habakkuk—first their complaint, then God’s answer, wrapping it up with a prayer.

One girl wrote: Complaint—"God, you took my mum and left me alone to care for the younger children." She created this answer from God: "My dearest daughter, you know I love you and always will. You and your family are mine. Your mum is mine, and I was sharing her with you."

Here’s another: Complaint—"Dear God, OK, it’s like, I’m kinda like this mistake that happened. I mean, look at me! I’m not pretty, and physical self-abuse is one of my worst problems. Not to mention, I starve myself sometimes. God, what were you thinking when you created me? I’ll never amount up to anything!!" This student didn’t create an answer from God, but she did write a prayer: "Thanks for everything you do for me. Please give me an answer to my questions. I will trust in you always. Even if the stars fell like rain. Even if tomorrow never came. Even if my world crumbles. Even if what’s left of me is taken, I will NOT be shaken. Thank you, God. P.S. God, you ROCK!"

Another student paraphrased Habakkuk 3:17,18: "Though homework piles up, and I have no time for fun. Though I can’t be the best no matter how hard I work. Though my class is noisy and gets us in trouble. Though my friends don’t always get along, and I’m caught in the middle of their fights. Though it sometimes feels like I have little ability and I cannot do anything well. I will choose to praise you and rejoice in your name. Amen."

Teachers can’t solve the students’ problems. But with God’s help, we want to be there to encourage them, to listen well, and to apply biblical wisdom in helpful ways.