I signed on and in September 1991 found myself in a high school classroom in downtown Budapest, ready to begin my role as a teacher of English as a foreign language and as a representative of Educational Services International (ESI).

While I had intended to spend just one year overseas, the challenge of teaching along with the experience of living within and learning about Hungary's culture, captivated me. One year led to two more, the last of which I spent teaching in the Transylvanian region of Romania. What an opportunity that proved to be: working with extremely motivated students; exploring another facet of Magyar language and culture; and learning about other realities, such as the nature of an educational system confined by a decrepit political structure and the nuances of life in an area laden with subtle, yet deep, ethnic divides. All in all, these were without question three of the most exhilarating years of my life.

Upon returning to the U.S., I eagerly accepted an offer to work in ESI's home office, where I would have the privilege of recruiting and training others to do what I had so much enjoyed. Since that time, I've helped hundreds through the decision-making, planning, and training process. I've also been fortunate enough to be able to regularly visit many ESI teachers on the field and experience with them their joys and struggles -- whether personal, spiritual, or professional -- as they adjust to living and working in another land. As a result, my respect for our teachers has grown each year. I'm impressed with how they face cultural hurdles, endure personal ups and downs, put effort into making a team relationship work, and on top of all of this, respond to the demands of teaching (for many, their first year of teaching!) I'm grateful to be a part of such an engaging enterprise.

Nevertheless, we at ESI often find ourselves reflecting on the nature of our work and responsibility as a Christian organization in the field of TEFL. How do we help our teachers properly integrate work and ministry? What does faith working through love look like in the context of a classroom overseas? How can we display the utmost integrity in everything we do? To find answers to these and other questions, we as an ESI leadership team have been committed to regularly spending time together in listening prayer; to seeking God corporately for wisdom, direction, and identity. One of the results is the following list of our four core values:

Servanthood

Few would deny that simple, sacrificial Service clearly reflects the heart of God. And what greater opportunity is there to Serve others than as a teacher in the classroom. Through teaching, the notion of Service can be swiftly turned into action. By exhibiting professionalism and sincere care for our students, as well as demonstrating godly lifestyles, we engage in significant incarnational ministry. Our life is our message and everyday actions speak louder than words.

Community

We will always be committed to sending our teachers out in teams. One of the reasons we emphasize teamwork is quite practical: Teams seem to meet the challenges of living overseas more successfully than individuals alone. But even more than sustainability, we know that serving in community is central to building credibility. Jesus did not pray that our words would convince the world that he was indeed God. Rather, he asked his father to help us love each other - to be one - in order that the world would know who he is. Community can sometimes be messy and less efficient than going it alone. But in terms of providing tangible proof of God's love, there's no other way.

Adaptability

Each summer, during our five week training program, we attempt a most challenging feat. We ask our candidates to reconsider the way they think about the world, about God, and about themselves -- in order to dampen the shock from the cultural discontinuities they're each about to encounter. One of the most important tools which we try to impart is a learning attitude. This can be a great catalyst in adjusting to and understanding a strange new culture, as well as adjusting to one's teammates and a new job. While we don't encourage anyone to go native, we do disparage a tourist mentality. We want our teachers to take off their coats and stay a while. For even the smallest effort to truly understand one's host culture will lead to deeper friendships and greater enjoyment.

Transformation

Finally, we believe that development and change is a two-way process that we can encourage and facilitate. We know that serving as a teacher overseas can be one of the best times for Christian growth. And while our goal is academic excellence, we do not use this as the only measure of success for our teachers. We want our teachers to avoid a perfectionistic approach to work overseas, so we often ask "Did you ENJOY your experience with ESI?" We want encourage reflection, learning, growth and overall enjoyment in all that our teachers do.

To sum up, ESI is in the business of good works. Producing committed teachers who care deeply about their students and pour out their lives in a practical way so as to impart knowledge and skills -- this is what we're about. But we also believe that a distinguishing characteristic should be our motivation. Why do we do what we do? Our work springs from profound gratitude and is guided by a determination that any credit or glory be directed to the One in whom we live, move and have our being. During a very recent prayer and planning retreat, we settled upon Matthew 5:16, which sums this up well: Let your light so shine before others that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

So where is ESI today? To date, we've sent over 2000 teachers overseas. And currently, our teachers are Serving in the following places: China, Kazakstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Morocco, Turkey and Egypt! They are diligently teaching English, business, computers, and other subjects, at the elementary through high school levels, as well as in universities and private language centers. And in the future we aim to strengthen our ability as an organization to more quickly respond to strategic new directions in which God may lead us.

Ten years after joining ESI, I still find my work truly fulfilling. The enjoyment I receive from counseling and encouraging others does not wane. I love persuading people to at least consider creating space enough in their lives for the meaningful and life-changing experience of being an English, business, or subject teacher overseas. Despite the challenges it brings, what I most often hear from returning teachers is that without a doubt they would do it all over again.

Contact Educational Services International. Tel 800-895-7955