Laterblog: "Sir, may I go to toilet?"

Well, this blog has been a long time coming, and it’s a long one. In Nepal, tutoring is referred to as “tution,” which completely threw us off at first! So here’s what a typical tution class looked like.

 The kiddos would arrive and stand at the door (shoes off) and would ask, “Sir, may I come in?” They would stand there with prayer hands until we said yes. Then, they would run in and have a seat on a very thin mat on a hard floor. In fact, Parker got so tired of answering their questions and giving them permission that he yelled, “No one ask to come in, JUST COME IN!” Too bad they only know a few phrases in English and didn’t understand him (heehee).

We let the kids get started on their own, and then we would work with them and answer questions. Several times kids just showed up and didn’t even have any books with them. These were typically kids that went to the government schools, not the private schools. Any kid that can afford it goes to a private school in Nepal because the government schools just don’t cut it here. A few times Rachel and Timothy (Gajendra’s children) would interpret for us. They were a HUGE help. SO many times Rachel or Timothy would say, “They want you to teach them English.” Parker served as our English expert, and I served as the math expert. I enjoyed watching him teach the alphabet and trying to come up with words they are familiar with hahaha.

The kiddos would work for a while, and then we would allow them to go outside and play when they finished up. However, they will not leave until asking, “Sir, may I go outside?” or “Sir, may I leave?”

We learned one of their little tricks. Sometimes many kids would ask at the same time, “Ma’am, may I go to toilet?” It was like a chain reaction! Obviously 10 kids could not fit in the toilet at the same time (nor would I recommend it as I often had to use the toilet). We realized the “toilet” excuse is often just like it is at home, and is just a way to get out of class. We often would see the kids chasing after chickens or bunnies, and not exactly “in the toilet.”

Then there’s the names. We tried our best to learn their names, but some of the names were so crazy we gave up! Then we had exchanges like this quite often:

            “What’s your name?”

            “My name is Nischal!”

            “Oh, Knee-Shawl!”

            “NO! Knee-Shawl!”

This went on back and forth as we would repeat their name ten times, exactly as they were saying it! They would start screaming it louder and louder to us (as if that helped). Then by the tenth time either they finally realized we said it right the past ten times, or they gave up. They would do the head bobble and calmly say, “Yes,” like nothing ever happened.

This whole idea of “tution” classes is an approach that Awana Nepal is starting to take. The government needs to know what Awana is doing “community service” wise for the country other than just teaching them about Jesus. Not only does tutoring attract the kids and families to church, but it also touches an area that is extremely competitive and important to parents and officials in Nepal: education.

Once the Hope Center is built, they will offer these same classes throughout the week. They will also feed the children a few times a week, and mix in a little Jesus at the same time. I am so excited that we were able to hold the first tutoring sessions for the Hope Center. We were able to see just exactly what the needs are when it comes to supplies and teaching methods, even the small things like flash cards. No one had any flash cards or really knew what they were!

After the last night the Pastor said parents were really upset that we were leaving. They said the classes were too short, and two weeks is not enough time! They said we need to keep holding the classes, because they can already see a huge difference in their children and they need us. How cool is that! A lot of these parents were still working while their kids walked to tutoring, so they don’t have the time to help. They need the community. It takes a village.

We started with about 18 kids, and ended with 60 on the last night. What a dramatic increase! Parker credits it to bringing his American football for them to play with. I credit it to my "nail-painting extravaganza," which is funny because I can barely paint my own nails. Who knows, but all I can say is that tution, American football, and running wild attracted sixty kids the final night as we shared the Gospel. Isn’t that what it’s all about? A great number of these kids are Hindu, and even more do not attend the church. Some are brick worker children, one of the poorest groups in Nepal. In fact, one Hindu girl, who does not attend church, chose to “win a prize” by memorizing and explaining the Gospel Bracelet after just learning it five minutes before.

At the end of the day, 18 kids stood up wanting to put their faith in Jesus. We do not know exactly what they learned, or what exactly they understood; however, as Gajendra said when we left, “We commit these children unto thy hands.”