Thankful

Someone is praying. And we are grateful! Today was our best day at the school.  The school grounds were mayhem with the concrete project continuing and all students back. The strike is still on but today and tomorrow school is a governement requirement. Beyond that, Ana, and the teachers have arranged a special schedule for us to teach. We are concentraing on grades 4-6th as these youth can read & write. 

We were in Kristina’s class today – 5th graders.  She is an excellent teacher and her students were as full of hopes and dreams as you could ever want.  We began with that – their hopes for their lives, the community and their families. We are teaching with much interaction so it was great to hear their thoughts.  Our primary scripture connections for the sessons right now are:  Genesis 1 & 2 – how humans were created; I Samuel 2:30 with the story of Samuel being shared and focus on this verse that God will honor those who honor God; and Matthew 5:13-16 – what it means to be salt of the earth and light of the world. 

 

This class of 26 students only has 7 girls and as I’ve mentioned before, I don’t know if anything is more powerful than the “example” of this completely unexpected team: A Guatemalan man and a female American pastora.  Just like God to pull together a team like this.  It works.  We are strange enough to capture their curiosity. 

Our afternoon was spent with Felix and his church leaders.  We went over the Life Journal spiritual practice of reading and application – but done all verbal with focus on gaining lessons to share with others who do not read or write.  It was wonderful to be with them. They were also eager to learn and showed us much hospitality.  We were invited to return on Thursday to teach more and Felix says he’ll bring in a white board:) Everyone is catching on to the visual and interactive way of engaging people using two different languages.

Hanniah, a teacher from the school is picking us up tonight to attend a worship service at her church.  I’m glad to have a moment to write as I expect it will be a late night. We have an early teaching time in the morning.  What we are doing right now is spending a long period of time with the classes that want to learn. So today, for example, we stayed with one class. It gave us enough time to listen, teach and then give them an opportunity to express their learning in art.  This works very well for students who are ready to learn.  The hope is that they will learn how to use the Bible in a way that connects with their lives.

There are times in your life that you can actually feel the prayers of faithful people. I feel those prayers.  And they are prayers that are changing each experience for God’s glory.  My spirit is full of peace.  I am thankful.