I am sorry that it has been so long since my last update. Life here on the farm is in full swing of things now that school has been up and running and Peter is back from the states. We are in our fourth week of school can you believe it. I was just thinking about when I wrote about my first day. Things are going well at the school my students work very hard however they are your typical 10 year old boys. They are all over the place however they have the thirst to learn that you can't force anyone to have it must come from them.
The weather here the past few weeks has been warm during the days and then at night it gets stormy and raining which has caused a few problems with the road, since it is made out of mud lol. I have been able to drive more on my own, going on little trips to town and back. The 20min away town not the large city. I also went for the first time to a young adults bible study that meets on Tuesday nights. It was such a breath of fresh air to be among people my own age. I love the farm, the kids, the moms, Peter and Mary Jean but sometimes you just want to chat about life with those who are your peers. So I am going again today, which I am pretty excited about.
This past few days have been really rough on me. These kids here are amazing but most of them are troubled and act out and lash out. So there are times where they just lash out at me or others and you think what did I do to deserve being treated like this. But then I remember where they have come from and that they struggle to act in a certain way or to react in ways I would expect a typical child too. I also am learning about boundaries and trying to take best care of myself which means having to tell the children to go away when I just need some quiet time.
I was so down cast and sad mostly because I was just overwhelmed by the kids and the things that were happening. I mean in one day several things happen all ending with a soccer ball smashing into my window. All you can do is laugh really because getting mad won't solve anything.
A good friend of mine was really encouraging me and told me to read Psalm 23 and Romans 5:1-11. Now I have read those both before, several times over again. Now he says memorize them. Well my mom can attest to this I have a difficult time memorizing anything so that is my goal for the rest of this term. To memorize both of these sections of scripture.
Romans 5:3-5 "we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."
Now in youth group and bible college you hear that section of scripture alot, but now that I feel that in some ways I am suffering I realize what that truly means. God is refining my character he is building me up into the woman of God that He wants me to be. I may not be able to do it perfectly at first but he will give me plenty of opportunities to keep on trying to give these kids unconditional love, hope, acceptance and joy.
Happy Birthday DAD ( Feb 14th, can't believe your turning 30 hahaha jk) LOVE YOU!!!!!!
Happy Valentines Day Everyone!!
