May 14: Broken

Yesterday, if you would have asked me the question, "what kind of students make teaching most difficult?", I think I probably would have come up with the following list of adjectives:

apathetic                  lazy                   cocky                    insensitive                      immature
           disrespectful               moody                   unappreciative                 whiny


After today's classes at Seeds of Hope, I would say: broken.  It is very difficult to teach when your student looks completely broken.  That's what I faced today.  Last week "G" did not show up for class like she normally does.  She is an excellent student: she's a quick learner, has a good memory and great pronunciation, is quick to answer questions, displays great eagerness to learn, and has a beautiful smile that lights up a room.  So when she wasn't there, the class definitely felt different.  When I asked the staff about her, they said they were concerned about her because she seemed to have undergone some drastic physical and personality changes.

Today when I asked the staff how she was, they said they didn't know because she has not been coming to classes.  They are very worried that she may have been abused or hurt in some way.

I was thrilled then to see her walking up the stairs to the clubhouse classroom this afternoon.  However, within a few seconds it was very evident she was not the same as before.  She didn't look me in the eye like she normally does, and she let her hair cover her face.  She sat very quiet throughout the whole class, and whispered just a couple of answers.  All laughter gone.  All joy gone.  All enthusiasm gone. A very broken spirit sat in front of me.  It made teaching very hard because my heart ached for her.  Although I have no idea what has happened, I've heard enough ugly stories of these girls' past experiences that make me want to approach God with clenched fists crying, 'Where are You in all this?  Why does this beautiful young woman need to go through so much pain?'

Please say a prayer for "G" and the Seeds of Hope staff as they try to love her and encourage her as they wait for her to hopefully open up about what's going on.  Pray that "G" can experience spiritual, physical and emotional healing.  Pray for a spiritual and physical protection for "G" and all the girls that Seeds of Hope ministers to.  Pray for the wounds that run deep in the families in Parrita (rural area where Seeds of Hope is).  Pray that God can work mightily through Seeds of Hope to change a community and to bring hope, peace, love and healing to a place filled with evil and brokenness.

"G" is in the right hand corner of this picture from today

Additional prayer requests:
1.  Nathan has been home sick with a high fever yesterday and today.  We are thankful it has gone down some but he has spent both days in bed with no energy.  We're keeping a close eye on him because with the start up of rainy season, there are many reported cases of dengue fever which we are really hoping he does not have
2.  El Puente Christian School is still waiting on some final building permits - please pray they are completed soon!!