day 149: overwhelmed by endless need

honestly, i'm not sure i even know how to really put my thoughts from today down on "paper." 4 classes & after-school club is the typical plan for thursdays at mzamomhle. but, both last week & this week we've been thrown a few unexpected curve balls. "t" again co-taught with us throughout the day & that went so well! the Lord is truly working in & through her & we are excited to see what comes of it!

some learners are coming forward & asking for help from some tough situations. "t" spent an hour talking with one learner & her teacher after school.

other learners are silently struggling...though their sadness is oh so evident. tough to look at kids who come with bruised faces & new scars each week but who avoid conversation. tough to hear them boldly profess their love for sex at such a young age. tough to continually hear them proclaim that condoms are the answer to most problems. tough to hear the questions they're asking realizing that they've experienced far more than i could imagine. & on & on it goes.

as we walked inside from a game today, i put my hand on the shoulder of a student who walked alone & simply asked, "are you having a good day?" to this, she dropped her head in her hands & began to weep. she quickly ran to the bathroom & avoided eye contact w/ me the rest of the day. after school, she came back to me hand-in-hand with another student. but, she wouldn't say a word. tough to see so many of them struggling but, in a sense, remain trapped.

spent a LOT of today silently PRAYing for wisdom:
as i sat & watched "t" teaching - i PRAYed. as i looked around the room & noticed learners with new wounds who were staring off into space - i PRAYed. as i walked from classroom to classroom trying to track down ANY teacher with whom we could talk to about a student - i PRAYed.  as i was reminded AGAIN that many of the kids come to school everyday & sit in a classroom WITHOUT a teacher - i PRAYed. & as we sat in the car because not one student showed up for club, i watched the people walking in the streets, carrying on with their daily lives & i was overwhelmed again with the need to PRAY.

i found myself wondering, the needs here are ENDLESS...WHAT are we supposed to do?? & i was reminded that "Jesus' yes to the Father's purpose [often] meant saying no to urgent demands of human need." our Saviour simply remained close to the Father & PRAYerfully waited for His instruction. please, friends...PRAY with us for wisdom!