Why I Tutor Kids After Work

by Mike Peterson - GUM Newsletter, Spring 2009

 There are so many different strands to any decision—like looking for a job. You present your education and experience to an employer, and also consider the job’s location, and who the manager is. When that all fits together in some kind of agreeable way, you accept it, or if you’re like me you take just about everything that anyone offers to you! Regardless, not long ago I was thinking about how I came to the decision to participate in GEMs and realized there were numerous strands.

 I wish I could tell you my first and most conspicuous strand was something noble and high-minded. Truthfully, I was between jobs and getting frustrated with how long it was taking people to make up their minds about me. I decided I would stop sitting around staring at the phone and do something. My frustration, together with a GEMs announcement from Jenelle got me moving. So, I talked with Amy and Jenelle (A & J) and said, “I could be employed anytime now, but while I’m waiting, would you be willing to let me help with tutoring?” Their enthusiastic, if not immediate replies were very encouraging to me. They told me that if it was an either/or situation, they’d prefer I was employed, but “yes, come and join us on Tuesdays and Thursdays and if you get employed that’s great too.”

 That fall I was in GEMs twice a week, tutoring, waiting, tutoring, waiting—you get the idea. In my mind I never imagined what God was setting up for me. Does anyone ever get the best of both worlds? Yes, sometimes. From God I did with the job He gave me.

 My boss is very cool. She’s a human being first, before being a manager. (In fact, while you’re reading this, please stop and ask God to bless her!) Where I work they put two contractors in one cube, so very compassionately she allows her contractors to work from home a couple days a week as a way to reduce the strain of that. And I could pick the days I worked from home. I asked A & J if it would be okay to work and keep tutoring on Thursdays. You can already guess their response. Along the way I was talking to my boss and was surprised to learn that she also participates in an after-school homework help program at Fort Mason twice a week (also on the days she works from home).

 I tutor 3rd and 4th graders. Some of them are from our church family and some from the community. The easiest thing to do is try to manage their after-school behavior and make my life easy with good crowd-control techniques. The harder and better thing is to look at them and try to see what’s going on in their lives. Try to not be one more overbearing voice in their lives telling them what or what not to do. Is it too presumptuous to imagine that “the least of these,” this gaggle of eight and nine-year-olds is service to Jesus? If one thing got me into GEMs another thing keeps me there—a chance to serve…another strand.

 Do I think I’m making a lasting impression in the lives of these kids? No, but I do think I can contribute to them having a few moments in their day when someone loves them and takes them seriously; not to mention, also tries to have a little fun! I can do that because a well of good stuff has already been poured into me by God’s Spirit. Are they real kids who have bad days? Of course, and I too can get short-tempered with their antics. Fortunately, I have some great partners who want the same thing. This shared “wanting” helps me if I’m stressed from work or if I’m almost falling asleep from doing sevens in the multiplication table for the 18th time.

 I’m going to tread lightly here. I hope this doesn’t sound overly pious, but I also love that this service goes completely under the radar. No one of importance will ever see it and the kids may remember little of it. No one, except the One that really matters. He sees it. This is the strand that keeps me going.

Mike Peterson