ESPECIALLY FOR STUDENTS.

The girls in year 11 were excited about the coming camp. Carol wrote out the menu for each day. Kylie assigned the food lists to her classmates. But as the day approached the girls heard that Miss Norman * was to accompany them as chaperone.

‘Not her,’ groaned Sharon, ‘we all know her ideas.’

‘I couldn’t put up with her for five days with her Communist beliefs,’ said Shirl, shrugging her shoulders. ‘ I wish she’d get sick so that someone else could come with us.’ It was not a kind thought, but the class had little desire to be at close quarters with a radical teacher like Miss Norman.

‘Well, I believe God can change her if we pray,’ suggested Clare. ‘Let’s show her how Christ does more for people than Marxism.’

And so it came to pass that class 11 of K. High School set off for camp with Miss Norman, who was determined to win the girls to her way. But she had not reckoned on a higher power, or her girls.

Many of them attended the Inter Schools Christian Fellowship ( run by Scripture Union ) and they had been praying for the conversion of their teacher.

At the camp, Carol, Kylie, Shirl, Sharon and others were so happy, cooperative and helpful, Miss Norman began to wonder if this was the prelude to some mischief. They even sang while washing the dishes, and no-one complained or whinged at peeling the vegies.

The teacher was puzzled, and when she talked with them of her humanistic ideas and philosophies they always countered with ‘But the Bible says….’

During the camp, Miss Norman began to see that these high school teenagers had answers, as well as assurance and peace that she lacked. Their confidence came from a book she had never read. So the teacher bought a Bible and began to read, while her class continued praying for her.

God was at work, and Miss Norman was converted to Jesus Christ – through the grace of God as she read the bible, and through the testimony, prayers, and perseverance of her teenage, high school students.

Not long after her conversion, Miss Norman answered God’s call to teach the gospel as a missionary.

For forty years she preached and taught in Asia, and over two years she has written the first commentary in the Asian language on the book of Daniel.

Would you believe that it all started with a group of christian High School girls who prayed and believed that their God could convert their teacher.

You are never too young to understand that God answers prayer.

*not her real name.

Gwenda Steward Feel free to call her on hgsteward@cobweb.com.au