seminary in india

My biggest surprise has come from realizing that students want to come to school, as well as seminary and church.  Seminary and church both seem so optional here, yet they all attend and are excited to be learning about the gospel.   I taught seminary five out of six days last week and was surprised to have several—dozens—of students find me in the hallways during the day I didn’t hold class to ask why there was no seminary.  Finally, after the 10^th student asked, I responded with a question in the sweltering heat of the hallway of an afternoon in Chennai, “Well, don’t you usually just do 2-4 times a week?”  This 17-year-old, less than 5-feet-tall, 10^th grader responded, “Yes, but we would like every day, please sister.”  Thinking she was definitely joking, I laughed loudly in her face, but was quickly dismayed to see she had stood completely still, save for a twinge of confusion in her demeanor and facial expression.  I immediately shut my stupid, loud mouth and said, “You are you being serious?”  She said earnestly, “Yes, sister, please.”   Seminary is being taught early in the morning during a study hall period wherein the students could have extra time to work on assignments, study for tests, or enjoy talking to their friends.  The assembly room is filled each morning for seminary; dozens of students come to my seminary classes, eager to learn, with only intrinsic motivation.  Their teachers don’t care if they go to seminary (they’re Hindu or Catholic), the directors are nowhere on sight until at lest 11 o’clock (hours after seminary has ended), and no one reports who went to seminary and who didn’t.  I’ve been completely blown away by the attendance, participation, and determination to attend seminary among these young Indian teens.   I can’t say I’d have the same attitude and behavior were I in their sandals.  Was that funny?