Adventures WorldRace SethBarnes Sponsorship Giving

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This month we have had more freedom to choose the ministries we want to get involved with. Some people have been volunteering at a local orphanage, some have been doing construction, we have all had a chance to get to know people in the community. I personally felt like God was calling me to lead the kid’s club.

Every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday we have invited local children to the church, where we have sung songs, played games, worked on crafts, and told Bible Stories. It automatically became apparent to me that this was not going to be an easy job. I found out that it is hard to plan kids programs when you have next to no resources and there is no Wal-Mart nearby. Also, the kids were pretty wild, and I realized how hard it is to have control over a group of children when you don’t speak the language. Even when I had the help of translators, it was just not the same. But despite the language barrier, the crazy kids, and the lack of resources, I felt the Lord give me a special love for those children.
          
 
As I said, the kids were always pretty wild, but this past Wednesday they were particularly bad. They were running all over the sanctuary. They wouldn’t listen to the lesson. We tried everything we could to discipline them, and after all our best efforts failed, we finally sent them home and told them we would try again tomorrow . We told them that we loved them, but if they couldn’t respect us we would not be able to have fun.


But the next day they did not come back. We were told that they were all so mad that they were not going to return. I was so frustrated. I felt like I had given so much to this ministry, and it was all for nothing. This is our last week, and now I felt like I was leaving on a sour note. I had wanted to have a great last couple of days with the kids, and now they won’t even show up.

But as I have struggled with these thoughts, I have felt God working on my heart. Why did I want to do this ministry anyway? Was it for me or was it for God? Did I just want some good stories and pictures, or did I actually care about the ministry? The reason I love working with children is because I truly believe they can come to know Jesus at a young age. I did. And I know for a fact that nobody forced me into that decision. When I look back on it, I can see that Jesus Himself was pursuing me. And He will do the same for these children.

Just because I didn’t get to see the fruit, doesn’t mean seeds were not planted. Just because I did not get the great last week I had hoped for, doesn’t take anything away from the other great weeks we had. I have realized that God doesn’t need me, but He chooses to use me. And just because I can’t see Him physically working, doesn’t mean that He is not at work in those kids’ lives. This afternoon Megan, Marissa, and I walked over to the church and we prayed for those children. We prayed that Jesus would be the One who pursues them. Because those are His children. And He loves them so much more than I ever could.
             

**On a side note- this weekend we are hosting a pastor’s conference for local pastors in the area. Fifteen pastors have come here for the weekend for some discipleship and leadership training. We are currently only a few hours in, and it is obvious that God is already at work. So please pray for the pastors this weekend- that their hearts would be open to what God is saying. And also pray for Warren, Will, and Tiffany who are doing the majority of the teaching. Thanks so much!