I haven't felt this kind of joy since I left Kenya. God is SO good. My heart is swelling up with love and I can't stop smiling.
Today was my first day leading the Kids of the Kingdom tutoring ministry. It is amazing to see what God has done in my life this past year. So many amazing opportunities have come up and I am so grateful. When I think back to last year, I NEVER would have thought I would be leading a ministry on campus in the future.
This summer I was worried about finding a driver for the ministry, getting enough tutors, having enough kids, and so many other small details. But as stress consumed me, I realized I needed to give it all to God because He already has a plan for this ministry... HIS ministry. So I prayed. And prayed more. All for today. And today went better than I could have ever hoped!
Eight people came to the ministry today. Last year we usually had four. And six kids came! God is SO good! I have had so many other students email me wanting to come next week which is awesome. This was the first week of school for the kids so I know more are going to come next week too. I'm going to advertise tutoring to schools near the church in hopes that we will get some new kids. I have been advertising it at the church as well. I truly believe this is going to be an amazing year of growth for this ministry.
I want to place an emphasis on building relationships even more than we did last year. I truly believe that is what ministry is all about. Showing love. Being present. I want to take the kids on a field trip each semester, celebrate their birthdays by bringing them cards and a treat, and want each tutor to try to stick with the same kid each week.
Being reunited with Karla today gave me so much joy. Hearing her call me her best friend made my day. She told me how she was in the fourth grade now and asked if I would still be her tutor when she was in the fifth grade, sixth grade, seventh grade, and so on. It was precious. I told her I might not be her tutor forever, but I will always be her friend. She showed me all of her new school supplies and kept asking me to help her. She whispered secrets to me and told me about her summer. I got to play "pretend" with her and race her around outside. And she asked me to hold her hand as we prayed at the end. Getting the opportunity to not only be her tutor, but to be her friend as well, is SUCH a privilege. I have seen her grow and open up over the past year. She has transformed from a quiet, stubborn, little girl who hated getting her homework done, to a talkative, funny little girl who comes ready to learn and hang out. I love how we finish her homework with plenty of time to play outside. I love how she reads out loud now without me having to constantly ask her to. And I love how excited she is to come to tutoring.
Today was a beautiful reminder from God. He has reminded me I am here for a reason right now. Yes, I miss Kenya still, but God wants to use me here for now. Thank you, God. Today has made me smile and given me hope. Today was also a beautiful reminder that teaching truly is my calling in life. I am happiest when I am with these kids and I can't wait for the day I get to become a teacher.
Please be in prayer for this ministry this year. Pray for us, the tutors, to be changed. Pray for the ministry that it may grow. Pray for the children. And pray God's will be done.
All I can think of right now is the children in Kenya saying "Thank you, Lord."
That is exactly how I am feeling right now.
THANK YOU, LORD.
Pslam 71:14: " But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more."
Jeremiah 29:11: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Romans 12:12: "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."
Romans 15:13: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
Today was my first day leading the Kids of the Kingdom tutoring ministry. It is amazing to see what God has done in my life this past year. So many amazing opportunities have come up and I am so grateful. When I think back to last year, I NEVER would have thought I would be leading a ministry on campus in the future.
This summer I was worried about finding a driver for the ministry, getting enough tutors, having enough kids, and so many other small details. But as stress consumed me, I realized I needed to give it all to God because He already has a plan for this ministry... HIS ministry. So I prayed. And prayed more. All for today. And today went better than I could have ever hoped!
Eight people came to the ministry today. Last year we usually had four. And six kids came! God is SO good! I have had so many other students email me wanting to come next week which is awesome. This was the first week of school for the kids so I know more are going to come next week too. I'm going to advertise tutoring to schools near the church in hopes that we will get some new kids. I have been advertising it at the church as well. I truly believe this is going to be an amazing year of growth for this ministry.
I want to place an emphasis on building relationships even more than we did last year. I truly believe that is what ministry is all about. Showing love. Being present. I want to take the kids on a field trip each semester, celebrate their birthdays by bringing them cards and a treat, and want each tutor to try to stick with the same kid each week.
Being reunited with Karla today gave me so much joy. Hearing her call me her best friend made my day. She told me how she was in the fourth grade now and asked if I would still be her tutor when she was in the fifth grade, sixth grade, seventh grade, and so on. It was precious. I told her I might not be her tutor forever, but I will always be her friend. She showed me all of her new school supplies and kept asking me to help her. She whispered secrets to me and told me about her summer. I got to play "pretend" with her and race her around outside. And she asked me to hold her hand as we prayed at the end. Getting the opportunity to not only be her tutor, but to be her friend as well, is SUCH a privilege. I have seen her grow and open up over the past year. She has transformed from a quiet, stubborn, little girl who hated getting her homework done, to a talkative, funny little girl who comes ready to learn and hang out. I love how we finish her homework with plenty of time to play outside. I love how she reads out loud now without me having to constantly ask her to. And I love how excited she is to come to tutoring.
Today was a beautiful reminder from God. He has reminded me I am here for a reason right now. Yes, I miss Kenya still, but God wants to use me here for now. Thank you, God. Today has made me smile and given me hope. Today was also a beautiful reminder that teaching truly is my calling in life. I am happiest when I am with these kids and I can't wait for the day I get to become a teacher.
Please be in prayer for this ministry this year. Pray for us, the tutors, to be changed. Pray for the ministry that it may grow. Pray for the children. And pray God's will be done.
All I can think of right now is the children in Kenya saying "Thank you, Lord."
That is exactly how I am feeling right now.
THANK YOU, LORD.
Pslam 71:14: " But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more."
Jeremiah 29:11: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Romans 12:12: "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."
Romans 15:13: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
