Friday October 5th.
So Monday will be our last day for both of our ministries. I am going to miss these kids and teachers a lot and I am sad about it. Yet we all knew we would have to say bye so I am still excited to see what other opportunities God has for us. So our first ministry, on Friday, all the kids and teachers surprised us before they went to nap with thank you notes, hugs for us all, and then a dance party. They were so cute. I felt so honored to get their appreciation and be able to know that they really did enjoy having us.
There was this one girl with pink glasses I prayed for ever since the first day. I wanted to make sure knew she was loved and cared for by Jesus and also by me. She is shy but I just know she is such an amazing girl. Before the goodbye she came up to me gave me a huge hug and put her hands together to make a heart and we just danced together for the rest of the time. I ALMOST CRIED. It was so perfect. It was an answer prayer for me one, that the little girl knew she was loved, and two that God works before we came and continues to work after we leave. All the credit really does go to God!
So we went to our second ministry. It was a normal day. Putting the kids to sleep, doing the chores ect. Then all the kids and teacher told us to come into the church part of the school. We had no idea what we were doing but we soon found out they were giving us a goodbye party. Each class room gave us a performance and then made a craft for us all. The oldest kids memorized phrases they wanted to tell us in English like “ I love you” “We will miss you” “We had so much fun with you” and “God bless you and we will pray for you always”. The 6-8 year olds had a dance we all did together and brought us up to dance with them! It was such a blast. One of my favorite 6 year olds who I put to sleep alot grabbed my hand to dance with him in front of everyone. After they all gave us their performance and crafts. My entire team and I were so overwhelmed with their appreciation and everything they have done for us.
Then the moment I don’t think I will ever forget. We stood in front is 50ish kids and 20ish teachers and staff while they extent their hands and prayed for us and thanked us for our love and shining Jesus. At this moment I was so humbled to be able to go around the world and let Jesus work through me for others. I realized all the hard days, the moments I had to choose patience instead of being irritated, the times I needed to choose love even when I was tried, it was all worth it because each person saw Jesus through it.
But wait that isn’t it. Then we thanked them all for their love and how they will always be in our prayers and Jesus loves them. We told them how much we saw Jesus in them. Also how the teachers love the children was so impactful. They love them right where they are but also push them to grow more in who they can be. After we were done the kids and teacher came up to us and started crying. Saying they haven’t seen anything quite like us in all their volunteers. That they actually saw Jesus in us and felt loved. It was indescribable!! One teacher told us how these kids go through so much and they never show emotions but by saying goodbye to us they were opening up in more ways than they could tell us.
GUYS THIS IS JESUS!! It is so cool.
What I learned in this goodbye was that being yourself and loving Jesus really can and does change this world. We don’t have to have it all figured out. Just following Jesus and loving those around you can change the world. Isn’t that just cool?!
Thank you so much for reading as always. If you could just pray for all the teachers and kiddos we were with this month. That they continue to know they are loved and grow up in a relationship with Jesus. That would be incredible. Thanks you all. Love ya and hope you are creating your own Jesus stories tell!
P.S. The Kiddos made us emoji pages, wallets, and a bottle cap flower. Jinx’s the title 🙂
