Last week the young people and I gathered around a folding table to discuss the homework assignments for youth group. We do that every week, partly because the questions are complicated and very hard for them to read alone (Six out of the seven who do homework with me are deaf, and the other is barely getting confident in reading), and partly because it provides good conversation material.

 Sometimes, it’s frustrating, I’ll admit. Sometimes I wonder what on earth it’s accomplishing. Sometimes I wonder if they’re extremely bored by it, or if it’s all just going right over their heads. But sometimes, God kindly lets me see little encouraging glimpses of what He’s doing. This week I’ve had a few of those glimpses. Like Ricardo coming to both Petra and me, overflowing with excitement about a night last weekend where he seemed to have had some kind of dream, and kept telling us he was staying up late, talking with God and studying the Bible… or Maria sweetly wondering if we can know if we’re saved or not…

 I was sobered, too, by a couple of the young men saying (somewhat jokingly, but I don’t think completely) that they were standing in the middle, not completely Christian but not un-Christian either. We talked about that, how there really is no middle ground, but I don’t know how much they agreed. Please, if you think of them or if God puts them on your heart, pray for these young people!

Daily classes are going well… I actually got a whiteboard hung on the wall by the children’s desks today, so that made me feel very happily settled into the class (Sometimes it really doesn’t take much. J) We are all learning, I right along with the kids, both academically and in matters of the heart. Well, at least I am. J

And how am I doing otherwise? Doing well, thank you. Gracias a Dios, as they say here. I am still very grateful to be living with my friend’s family here in town, going back and forth to the school every school day and sometimes on weekends to help out so other staff can get some time off. I enjoy getting to join the worship team once a week playing piano, and being involved with the church family in other ways. I’ve been challenged again lately to step out and let God use me to share with people outside just the sphere of the school and my students, so you can pray for me in that. The fear of man is so tricky, so easy to fall into. Don’t think that just because I’m a “missionary” it comes easy to me. J But thankfully my God is bigger than my flesh or my fears!

Kelly was down here for several weeks the beginning of the year! I sure enjoyed having her around.

 

If all goes according to plan, my parents and three youngest siblings will be here by next weekend. I’m so excited to see them and have them here on my side of the world for a few weeks. J They plan to help out with projects at the school, hopefully host an afternoon/evening youth conference, teach some worship dance to the girls at the school, and enjoy time with friends and family (meJ) during spring break. I’m sure it will be great.

So… maybe you’ll hear from me again before another few months go by. Hopefully…

Planting a raised bed garden with my class

 

an aspiring songwriter