Watching New Leadership and Watching New Teachers Develop

I’ve been blessed to see growth and development lately among the students of ASAPH. A couple of
stories with people’s initials only (in order to protect them).
A.M. – AM plays trumpet, tuba, drums, bass and is learning trombone, guitar and piano. NOW, he is
directing the C band. He’s so natural. He hears everything and sees everything going on around him like
a person who has done it all before. His rehearsals are quiet, but fun. A future band leader for sure!
C.B. – CB does great at school. Under the direction of Coach Jude, CB helped choose the players for this
month’s soccer game. He arranged them on the field, made changes, and coached the team. They won.
Kids accepted his leadership as if it was familiar to them. He has been studying English in a special class
out at the hard road. In Thursday’s ASAPH English club, he took over for me and led with great skill. He’s
shy, but he’s like a beautiful flower about to open.
J.M. – JM is the soccer team’s coach. He sees me teaching at my Teaching Center. He is studying
education in a university on weekends. He has built a coconut-branch room beside his house. In it, he
teaches. He tutors and leads a French Club.
B.J. – BJ is a quiet kid. She is the most solid of four alto players in the brass band. Last year she taught a
couple of her friends to play trumpet. They are now playing in the C band that BJ leads along with a
couple of other young directors. BJ recently made a presentation in a newly formed French club here in
town. The leader of the club tells me her presentation was impressive and complete. BJ’s dad was a
teacher for years. It’s not hard to imagine her being a fine one very soon.
​M.M. – MM was my assistant Sunday School teacher for a couple of years. He had been a kind of wild
and unfocused young man, but always nice. He watched me closely teaching Sunday School and filled in
for me when I was away. He is now a leader for the church worship team. He speaks clearly and
sincerely. Sunday he addressed the class I teach and gave a great testimony about daily Bible reading.
J.M. – JM, the soccer coach, preaches in our church from time to time. This month he spoke about David
being used by God to eliminate Goliath. It’s a dramatic message, coming from a young man who God
used to save the life of a kid who fell into a well. JM gives all the glory to God.
J.W.E. – JWE plays trombone, trumpet, drums and piano. He asked if he could try my computer program
that allows me to make original arrangements. He has spent hours figuring it out, but finally arranged a
song for 4 parts.
T.M. – TM is teaching brass instruments for money. He works for a church that sends their students here
each Saturday, and he travels to another neighborhood where Compassion International employs him.

Young leadership is exciting. Pray for us here at ASAPH as we try to move in the direction God chooses
for us.