Week 3-4

The past two weeks were school break for the kids, so all but seven(three boys and four girls) left to visit their families/guardian. It has been an awesome two weeks getting to really know these seven.

Thought I would share a few things that I have learned about each one....

Isaac is 15yrs; very humble but humorous young man who loves Jesus and shows proof of it everyday. He is great with the little ones, treating them like younger siblings, and is always making us laugh. He plays the keyboard and viola, and he loves classical music.

Grace is 14yrs old; very sweet and smiley girl and is quite goofy. She is very handy in the kitchen and is quick to serve. Grace's favorite Bible verse passage is Psalm 23. She also likes to laugh at my "not so good" Spanish skills. She wrote me a sweet little note saying she is praying I learn Spanish faster, so she won't feel bad about not talking to me much anymore. Haha love that girl!

Then there is Eli, Grace's brother; 15yrs old, very quiet, thoughtful young man. He is very caring and has a servant's heart. I watch him do things everyday for others...and me. He likes to play soccer and his favorite Bible verse is Psalm 23:6, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. And I will dwell in the house of The Lord forever."

Rachel and Rebekah are very similar, but Rebekah is 14 and Rach is 15. They are both almost always smiling and/or laughing and are very much girly-girls. Rebekah's favorite things to do are play volleyball, swim, and play her violin. Her favorite Bible verse is Philippians 4:13. Rachel likes to play volleyball and her violin also, but she likes to sleep as well. ;P Her favorite Bible verse is Philippians 4:13 also. See, they are very much alike.

Last but not least, there's Daniel...always smiling or laughing. He has done very well in his English class at school and actually wrote me a short letter in English...I was impressed. I find myself asking him what this or that word is in Spanish quite often, and he helps correct me. He is 14 and likes to play the oboe. He loves classical music as well and his favorite Bible verse is...PHILIPPIANS 4:13!!

I love these kiddos a lot! They keep saying to me, "Ana, we love you a lot and would love even more for you to speak Spanish!" Me too!

I got more impatient the past week because I really want to be able to talk with them and participate in their conversations! I know The Lord could choose to give me the language faster, but He hasn't. He keeps telling me to just 'be'; I am learning more and more what it means to love through my actions-by just being.

I am finding that because I can't speak everything I would like to...words of comfort, etc. or simply telling a joke...I am having to let Jesus completely do the loving and shining. I think I am more dependent on Him to "say" the things I would like to say.

Praise!:

I feel like my Spanish has improved the last two weeks!!

Prayer requests:

1) We have a mother staying with us, because she didn't have any money to feed her or her baby, who is a one-year-old boy. She has been with us two weeks now. I was able to hold the baby earlier this week. This little guy's stomach is swollen (from mal-nourishment); his limbs are too small; and he is overall too tiny for his age. He cannot crawl or walk and has a very obvious gurgling in his lungs when he breaths.

2) That I would have patience in learning the language, so I won't miss what The Lord is trying to teach me right now.