It seems as the year has progressed, I've been getting worse about keeping everyone updated. I'm not sure where April went, but it's gone!
As of Friday, we have reached 4th quarter mid-terms. It came quickly. Partially because we had two four-day weeks in a row. The first four-day week had a day off in the middle and it threw everyone off. Behaviors were crazy and it felt like the longest week ever, even though it was shorter!
Thankfully, this past week made for a three-day weekend as Friday was Brazilian Labor Day.
April was a tough month for me. I experienced a pretty severe wave of homesickness that plagued me the entire month. I still haven't fully gotten over it. I was also mentally exhausted. God has been good through it all and provided much needed encouragement when I needed it most. Several friends Skyped with me, and on the weekends, a colleague has taken to having some of us come play tennis over at the condominium complex he lives in. I'm finally getting a little bit of the tan everyone expected me to have!
My roommate and I have been also taking a couple of students to an orphanage/state-run foster home once a month. We tag along with another missionary organization, called Pro Vida, who does weekly Bible stories, songs, coloring pages, and play time with the kids there. Because it is also a foster home, some kids are always there, but some are not and new ones take their place. This particular facility is for ages 0-7. There are about five kids who are always there. The kids are so excited when they see all of us coming in. Instantly they start running for us yelling, "Tia" or "Tio" (aunt or uncle). Pro Vida's visits are a highlight of their week. It's amazing to just love on these little children. Each time, a different child picks me to be their chosen buddy for the day. I absolutely love it!
Although Pro Vida missionaries organize the visits, they are slowly passing off the responsibilities to the local volunteers who partner with them in this ministry. The locals are starting to take over telling the lessons and leading the songs. The goal is to eventually hand it over completely so that Pro Vida can expand to other ministries, get more locals involved and hopefully pass those ministries on as well. It's really been good to see another side of foreign missions at work outside of our own.
With only six weeks left in the school year, I've started reflecting on the year and my students growth. When I look at where the kids started with me in November and the progress they've made, it makes me so proud. Some of them have really worked hard to improve their English skills. Some have had complete changes in attitude. One particular girl seemed very hard and had a whole lot of attitude when I first came. Now, for the most part, she has really softened, blossomed and seems to have a lot more joy.
We always pray at the end of our morning Bible lesson and I take requests. Off and on, I have several students volunteer to pray, which is always really exciting. This past week, I broke the prayer requests up and asked for volunteers to take just one part. I was so proud when four students raised their hands and specifically asked for one of the categories. My class still has some major issues with getting along, but I've seen them grow and their hearts soften towards the Lord. It has truly been a pleasure to invest in their lives this past school year!
Please continue to pray for the students at AVA- that they would make a daily decision to trust in Jesus and to want to grow in their faith. Please pray for our facilities as there is always something breaking down or not functioning....power, internet, the well, the plumbing. If it's not one thing, it's another. Also, please pray for the teachers to have strength and health to make it through the final half of the quarter.
As always, I would love to hear from you all! If you have questions or comments, feel free to contact me at breann (dot) lynn@hotmail.com.
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