Another confirmation of progress
This week I received some great news along with some not so great news. Since I’ve come to work here I have struggled in being able to develop the kind of relationships I had with kids back home. It just takes time and this group hasn’t had the easiest time adjusting to my transition to this position.
I have never stopped investing in these kids and demonstrating my my love and Christ’s love for them. Those relationships are growing and improving and I saw the first clear result of my attempt to connect just a few days ago. We were having a game night at the youth center and I had noticed that a couple specific kids (brothers) were missing but I didn’t give it too much thought. At the end of the night, just before we were getting ready to close up the youth center the older of the two brothers showed up.
As soon as he could get my attention he pulled me aside to let me know that his younger brother was in the hospital and wanted to make sure I knew so I could be praying for him. I took the opportunity right there to stop and pray with him for his brother for which he was grateful.
I have been unable to find out his hospital room number and I haven’t been able to get in touch with him to find out how he’s doing. Thankfully it seems to be a fairly minor medical problem and if he’s not out by now it shouldn’t be long. As much as I am not happy to know that one of my students is in the hospital it is a huge thing for another one to go out of his way just to make sure I know and I can be praying.
I have often felt like this last year was one big struggle to connect with these kids, but I am finally starting to see the fruit of my labor and prayer pay off relationally. God is good. I am excited about what lies before me and I hope to be able to share many more positive stories in the future. (Hopefully those won’t surround any more kids going to the hospital)
