To my surprise, instead of anger, I began to feel pity for them. I also realized that I could not change my situation, but I could change my self. I realized that I could make the best out of a bad situation. I realized at that moment that it is a choice for me to either spend one year in misery or change my attitude and tried to turn a dry land into green land for my self.

Suddenly, my orientation changed and every morning, I began to recite psalm 65 verse 9-13 to affirm my self of the good things that the land has in stock for me. I looked at the students and instead of seeing stupid, dull and stubborn boys and girls, I began to see students who are ready to learn, who doesn’t want their lives to be the same again.

I observed, after much inquires that the school doesn’t have a library where students can go and read about children like them in other part of the world. Then it dawns on me to form a press club. I founded one where I taught creative writing, public speaking and within a short time, it grew in population as more students began to see the uniqueness of their colleagues who are members. The members began to read weekly news on the assembly ground on Mondays and Fridays mornings (most of them have never watched a television before). I began to train them on public speaking and on how to be confident. I also began to move close to the natives to know more about their culture.

I then realized that I was benefiting more from all these activities, because most of what I was adding into their lives, was what I lack while growing up. I remembered that I suffered a lot from inferiority complex in my teenage years. I brought some storybooks from home and used it to establish a mini library for the press club members. Nothing gives me so much joy than seeing the wonder and enchantment on their faces after reading those books.

I’m still in the school, teaching and counting days, but yet with each day my life becomes more meaningful and enriches. As I am counting the remaining few weeks of my service year, I looked back and thank the Divine Being for bringing me to this dry land for truly all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose. I often wondered with dread, what my life would have been if I had not come.