Back to School!

Being at ANIJA this past week has been really nice. After being away from the kids for about a month, I was starting to realize just how much they mean to me, even after the short three months that I’ve known them. It’s nice to start out in a brand new semester, after having arrived mid-semester last semester, and never feeling like I had completely established myself before
holiday break. I love coming into the school now with children knowing me, and clearly expecting me to be there - asking me questions about the library and coming to me as they would any other employee in the school. Also, praise Jesus that I am now able to understand most of them …. for the most part. What an answer to prayer! Sure – I still feel new and like I am constantly getting my “bearings”, but I have seen so much growth in my interaction with the children now as opposed to a few months ago. Another answer to prayer – glory to God!
Above, I am visiting with some of the Haitian students in their home.

As many of you know, I have dual roles at ANIJA, and one of those is the librarian. Without having any true expectations about the job and my feelings toward it coming in, I can say that I have pleasantly found it to be a position that I enjoy. I know some of you reading may be wondering what the library is like and what I do there, so I will set the stage for you a bit. It
is small, much smaller than the libraries in the schools I grew up in. Half of the room is an area where there are four large shelves jam-packed with books of all different types (fiction, non fiction, sports, animals, science, sociology, Bible, and many more). I have an area on that side as well, and am slowly accepting the fact that it will never be able to stay in order for long. There
is a ton in that small little space, but praise God for all of it that is being used to better the children’s education and reading ability. The other half of the room holds two computers, two tables with chairs, and a couch, where the kids sit and read or wait their turn to choose books. Each class (3rd-8th) comes to the library once a week to check out books. The younger grades are not able to check them out, so I either read to them, have them do an activity, or both.

Above is a picture of a 5th grader who I've bonded with (Esmeralda) and her little sis (hermanita)

It really is a sweet time to be with the children. Like any subject inschool, there are some children that are more enthused about it than others. The majority though seems to look forward to the time, and I have one class that chants, “Biblioteca, biblioteca, biblioteca!” (library) when I enter the room. This class is consequentially my rowdiest as well. I love the enthusiasm, but it pretty much carries through until the end of the period, at which time I usually feel mentally exhausted! I am so glad to see that some students truly love to read, and the library is where they decide to go at recess. It warms my heart to look over and see them sitting quietly on the couch, engrossed in a story. There is a competition in the library and at the end of the semester the
best-behaved student from each class receives a new book. One student recently informed me that he would like to win the competition this semester, and ever since he has been coming to the library almost every day, changing out his book because he has already finished the other one in the series he is currently trying to finish. I loved hearing that, and I’ve had other students as well tell me how much they love a certain book, and how many pages they read the night before. I am the person they come to for that now and it is such a blessing. I am hoping to be a blessing to them as well. Through these relationships with these eager readers, I see so much possibility for God to work – for His Spirit to use me and speak through me during those times. In a country that does not necessarily seem to encourage reading or education, I definitely want to be an advocate and encourager for it. I am striving to submit to the Spirit daily so He can lead me to that. God has many plans for these children that I believe include an education, and it is so neat to be a part of.

I also love being in an environment that not only encourages and glorifies education, but glorifies the Lord most of all. Every morning we have a meeting at school, where we of course talk about issues, but also pray and worship God. The children all stand together in the "bandera" (pic above) before they go to their classes and pray, sing a Christian anthem, followed by their national anthem. The spiritual growth of these children is above all else important to each person I work with. I am excited to get started with OANSA again, the after school program in which the children play games, followed by time in God’s word, memorizing verses and listening to a short sermon by the head leader. Starting this week, I will have my own group. It will be another opportunity for God to use me in the lives of these children, to help them come to know Christ as their savoir if they have not, or encourage them once again to keep striving to know His word and grow in Him. I’m sure it will be a time that will challenge me to know His word better as well, since I will be a leader. Please pray for me during that time, just that I will submit to God’s Spirit and also that my Spanish will be right on, as it’s a very important time to communicate with them well.

Above are twins Carmen and Maria who live at the Ark ... always being silly!

Thank you as always for supporting me and praying for me! I am growing to be more and more acclimated here all the time, allowing me to serve better in this ministry. I do always need your prayers because though God is good and faithful every single day here, there are challenges every single day, and I in-turn need His guidance to walk through this in a conquering manner. I wish all of you many blessings in this new year!

“But Lord”, Gideon asked, “how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”
The LORD answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all
the Midianites together.” Judges 6:-15-16

God is the true encourager, and the One who uses and strengthens the “weakest”
and the “least”.