“Who’s baby Jesus?” asked one of my students, looking up at me with her inquisitive eyes.

My piano students, mostly Buddhist, had been preparing for our school’s Christmas concert for about a month. Along with the traditional Christmas carols, they also learned some non-religious songs. My students either had not heard or did not know much about Christmas songs, especially Christian ones.

I looked at my curious student as she sat eagerly awaiting my reply. One of my most energetic students, she loves to read the accompanying lyrics, if there are any, before playing the songs, asking me what all the big words mean.

Who is baby Jesus? I did not give her an immediate answer but thought for a few seconds. Her question was the first time my students had asked me about God. While I had been hoping and praying for opportunities when my students would ask something about Him, her question still took me by surprise.

Quickly gathering my thoughts, I gave her a brief explanation of the Christmas story and how baby Jesus came to be born in a stable and placed in a manger. “Oh,” she said. “What kinds of animals were there?”

“Probably cows, donkeys, sheep, and maybe even some camels,” I replied with a smile, knowing how much she loved animals.

“Were cats there, too?” she asked excitedly.

I laughed, “Maybe there were!”

After the lesson, I thought about our conversation. Moments like this are what I had hoped and prayed so hard for before coming to Thailand! I pray she will ask me more questions in the future and that God will continue providing opportunities for me with my other students. Please join me in praying for all the students at Peace Music Academy, as God is working on their hearts.

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