This last week, I feel like God has been waking me up, again, to the reality of these kids’ need for Him. Sometimes it can be easy to fall into the routine of life, to get caught up in grading schoolwork and cooking dinner and settling arguments and trying to keep the house/school in some general order… and forget. Forget what these kids came from, what they’ve seen. Forget what they’ve done, what they’re capable of doing. Forget that, though they are young, they are far from innocent. Forget how badly they need the same Savior who rescued me.

This week I have seen it again. My heart is broken over it, and yet hopeful.

Juan Jesus is only 12. Sometimes he seems like such a little boy still; I see his tenderness, his need for affection. But I realize, knowing a little more about his past and the choices that people in his life have made that he is prone to follow, how easily he will be lost if Jesus doesn’t get a hold of his heart. He’s already around the age his older brother was when he decided the school was too hard and too restrictive, and took off to live in the ‘freedom’ of the streets. I see the same struggle in him.

I think it might have been Tuesday that I was working a little after class with Leonardo, and God put it on my heart to talk to him a little. It was nothing dramatic; the kid pretty much just let me say what I wanted to say. But I was so thankful that he listened, and that I had the privilege again of talking about this incredible miracle that is the Gospel!

 

 

 

Thursday we had our usual ‘coffee’ with the deaf young people, and we talked about how we can best spend that time; I explained to them what my heart was and asked what they want out of it, how I can get behind them and help them in their walks with Jesus, how we can learn and grow together. I was encouraged by their response and the hunger that at least some of them have for more of Jesus. I believe God wants to do great things in these lives. Let us watch and see what He will do!

 

(The following is a little snapshot from last week, if you feel like reading a happy story... :)

Friday morning in my class we read from 1 Corinthians 15. I felt like it was fitting to read about Christ’s victory over death and the grave at this time of year, with the famous Mexican holiday "Day of the Dead" taking place the next day. But interestingly enough, we didn’t even get to the triumphant end of the chapter. The children started asking questions, and we spent at least half an hour there in class with a torrent of questions, things they had heard, things they had seen or dreamed or wondered…

“Is it true, what that says, that we will all be resurrected?”

“What happens if you don’t believe in Jesus? What is hell like? Do you feel things there?”

“Are you going to heaven, Christy? How do you know?”

“No wonder you’re so happy!”

“What do you mean, Jesus paid the price for you?”

Eventually I said, “Look, children, I think we really need to do a little schoolwork… but how about this: if you want to talk some more about that, why don’t we talk together here during recess?” They all thought that was a great idea, and clamored off to their desks. I was so excited by their enthusiasm and sincere questions.

At recess, most of them ended up getting a little too distracted by all the commotion and didn’t end up coming back. Understandable. But Lupita did, followed later by a couple of the other girls. We just sat there and talked, about the Gospel, about forgiveness…  She asked how it was that I became a Christian, and she said that she always asks God to forgive her sins, but doesn’t know if He does or not. So we talked about His promises and His salvation. She was so open, so interested. “But,” she said at one point, “I don’t get it. How did you become a Christian?” I explained as simply and truthfully as I could, amazed and grateful for the chance.

Yeah, easily my favorite class ever. J

Amigas...

 

We miss you, Mary!! So thankful for the time you spent down here with us!

 

Our neighbor Tere, who makes the best tortillas!

 

Woodshop with Gideon