These days continue to be full, and the weeks are going by slowly. Right now, I'm okay with this. Life is full here, and many exciting things are happening all the time. I am glad for the opportunity to spend the next year of my life here, and I am still eager to see how God will move and work in and around me this year!
This week was busy with real life, starting Saturday in our neighborhood. We've already established a pretty good relationship with one of our neighbors and her children. She invited us to her son's football game Saturday afternoon and even offered all seven of us a ride to the park. We arrived and discovered we were the only white people in a packed park with tons of youth football games going on all day. This was such a beautiful picture of love as this family eagerly welcomed us into their lives and culture. I'm sure we will be present at many more games in the future. The coach made a point to meet all of us, and he said he would give us all t-shirts next week! I think he was serious; community here is so sweet.
On Sunday we attended our church (City of Refuge) for the first time. This was also a really sweet experience. We are able to walk to our church, which is very nice. Everyone was eager to meet and connect with our team when we arrived. The church is very diverse in race, age, and worship style. I'm excited to get involved there this year and to meet many great people. I will keep you all updated with this progression!
Monday marked the first day of work for all of our teams! I went to The Forge for Families Monday through Thursday from 10:30 to 6:30. This week was a lot of training and orientation to what the Forge is and does, and I loved it. The staff that we're working with are really supportive and loving. It feels like a family there. We have been welcomed in eagerly, and that feels great. In the mornings we will be doing a variety of administrative tasks, and in the afternoons we will help with their after-school programs. This week I got to help with the Pre-K/Kindergarten class in the afternoons. I have grown so attached to those kiddos after only four days!
One of the things that has weighed on my hear the most this week is one of the little girls in my class. Kaitlyn is four, and she is in Pre-K at a local school, and comes to the Forge's after-school program.. She is the most precious little girl (she is the tiniest one in the class). She's small and quiet all the time. At first I just thought she was shy, but I'm beginning to be more concerned for her. I have had the chance to help her with her homework this week, and I've discovered that she is unable to recognize her name or to identify letters and numbers. When I spoke with her more, I realized she doesn't know her abc's yet. She has a hard time following directions, and sometimes it seems that she truly doesn't know what is being asked of her. She pesters other kids, but not in the typical way of a bully. My heart breaks for Kaitlyn more and more every day, and I've been praying to be able to break through with love and persistence.
This is just one story of many on my heart this week. The Lord is working in my heart, and I am learning and growing every day. Thank you all for your prayers, love, and support. You all mean so much to me. Continue praying for my week ahead, and be sure to let me know if there are any ways I can be praying for you all.
Until next week. Love to you all.
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