This week was a hard week.
Our group of 24 (3 teams combined) is split into two groups so we can do sports programs at two different schools. About 15 people go to the “big school” and 6 go to the “small school,” I am part of the small school group.
doing jumping jacks to warm up for the sports program
We’ve been at it now for 5 days and there have been less and less kids each day. We started with 14 kids on Friday and yesterday we only had five or six. It has been super discouraging and I started questioning if we are even making a difference. What’s even harder is that the big school people come back every day all pumped and excited for the hundred-plus kids they got to play with that day.
So as we were walking to the gather the kids from their village today, I started complaining to God, Are we doing something wrong? Do the kids hate what we are doing and even care that we are there?
And then we got to the kids “houses.”
Very simple.
Very poor.
Very dirty.
OK, my heart starts breaking again for how vastly different so many people live from me. And then God starts to answer:
Could you commit to do this ministry today even if just one child shows up? Because I would do that for you.
Remember the story of the 99 sheep and how I went after just the one?
Can you be faithful in the small things and stop needing to see results all the time?
Remember the rock pile in Ecuador? Yep, same idea.
Perseverance produces character, character hope, and hope does not disappoint because I have poured my love into your heart—and into each child’s heart through you.
So, I have called you for such a time as this to be a part of my story here in South Africa. Let me love you, trust my love, and then you can love these kids well…if there is 99 of them or just 1.
If God can love me through all my complaining, the least I can do is love these kids no matter what. I thank God that He never gave up on me and never stops pursuing.
