What God is Doing Here

Praise: I have my own internet access =) Though I only had to borrow Taira's laptop for a day, it's nice to be able to sit in my room whenever I want and write til my heart's content.
This week has become a challenge. The reasons are as such:
#1: It's the first week Taira and I are embarking on doing Kid's Club by ourselves. We've enlisted the help of two AO summer missionaries: David and Jason to help us out. So far they've been great and the kids seem to enjoy them (almost as much, if not more, as the college team). By the end of the week, I believe the kids will adore the boys. All they want is to be loved and the guys are loving on them so we'll see how it goes. I'm worried about a few of the kids. The way they interact around others makes you wonder how their home lives are. It breaks my heart to have to see them leave, knowing full well their home situation may not be the best. The few hours I have with them are very precious because in that amount of time, Taira and I must set a loving and safe environment. They should be willing to come to us with anything and tell us. I think so far, God has worked with us in order to establish that sort of environment.
There are a few kids who are new and we're trying to figure out their situations. Keep the kids in your prayers.

#2. Since the groups started coming, I've been having physical pain. Practically everywhere in my body has had some sort of ache. Right now, my knees feel as though they're going to bust out of their sockets. The tops of my feet hurt as well as my shoulders. I was crying out to God and was a little frustrated a few nights ago. I cried out to Him and asked Him why I was in such pain if I was doing His work. Shouldn't He be protecting me from this? Yesterday and today I realized it wasn't so. Instead of complaining, I need to be rejoicing. I stumbled upon 1 Peter 4:16 last night and this has been my creed for today and will be for the rest of my life. Read it. It's pretty sweet and puts a lot of things in perspective. I'm rejoicing in my pain because I know God is using me. I wouldn't have opposition if I wasn't in the shadow of God's will for my life. It's because of this, that I'm in pain. To which I say what Paul said, "Rejoice! Again I say Rejoice!" But keep me in your prayers, if you would, that God would continue to use me and heal me so I can properly serve Him.

I think that's it. Other than trying to make time to stay filled with the Holy Spirit by daily Bible readings and prayer, I think we missionaries are doing a good job. We're allowing God to use us. I don't think I'd have it any other way. Though the work may seem daunting and exhausting, God is using us.


Ciao!