Highs and Lows...

When I imagined being a student missionary at an orphanage, I imagined being loved at all times by the kids, and appreciated at all times. That would be nice, however it’s not like that at all. I want to always be completely honest in my blogs because I think you all deserve to hear the good AND the bad…

I'd like to start out with the “bad” because then I can end on a good note! It’s been really stressful with the kids lately. They have not been showing any respect to the volunteers here, and we are running out of effective punishments… the staff do not appreciate the hard work that we do, and the work loads are not evenly distributed at all… I have been tempted to let my temper take over when the kids are disrespectful, but I have been trying my best to remember why I am here… and I am not here to impress the staff or get a pat on the back, however, it would be nice every once in awhile. Hannah (friend from school, and fellow student missionary) and I were talking about how little we are going through compared to what Jesus went through when He was on earth. People spat on Him, talked bad about Him, and treated Him like He was just another crazy person on the street. Jesus was not respected by many people, but He did not let that get the best of Him. My time here is already building patience and character, which are both good things for me… it’s not always a walk in the park to work for God… but it is worth all of the short-term struggles that I am going through right now… II Corinthians 4:16-18… that’s what I keep reminding myself of… “17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;” Please continue in praying for all the volunteers here because we are getting a little burnt out as of right now…

Now, for the part you have all been waiting for… the good new! Most of you know that I was a music major in college and studied Piano. I had been missing playing the piano so much, and did not even expect to be able to play the piano again until I got back home. Last Sunday afternoon I heard a knock at my door. Normally it’s just one of the kids, but when I answered the door I saw one of the other volunteers, Mandy. She looked at me and said, “Hey, why have you been hiding your talent!?!” I said, “What do you mean?” She continued to say, “You play the piano, right? You even majored in it, yes?” I jokingly asked her if she had heard the piano in the devotional room and she said, “Well, I know that one is horrible, but we have a keyboard for you to keep in your room! The staff wants you to play for devotionals on Friday nights!!” When I saw the keyboard, and had it in hand… I was about in tears!! I did not ask God to bring me a keyboard, but He knew that music is such a huge part of my life, and that having access to a keyboard would make me so happy! I have been practicing the worship songs, and God has really helped me with playing by ear. In the States, I’m okay at playing by ear, but here it’s like second nature to me! I KNOW that God has increased my ability to play by ear since I will be using my talents directly for Him… God is SO amazing!
There’s more good news… I talked to Ryan last week and he is going to come visit me for a week in December! The 24th-31st to be exact! God is so amazing! I did not think he would be able to come visit me, but his parents are going to pay for one of his tickets as his Christmas present! What a blessing! I was so happy when I heard that news…

So, in spite of all the stressful things that have been going on around here… it’s my purpose to look for the good things, and fight through the hard times… God is always working behind the scenes, and it’s my job to see that, and to look for that. I mentioned before that it’s always easy to focus on the bad, and I’m guilty of that as of late, but I hope to continually grow in Christ so that I can get to the point where the bad days do not affect me as much, or at all. I want to have faith in the things unseen…