Wow! What a week it has been! Thank you all so much for your prayers, i cannont put it into words how much it is appreciated. I don´t know if there could have been a more difficult way to say goodbye to everyone, first the majority of the group left on Sunday, then Sam, Hallie, Heather and Mrs. Leinbach left on wednesday, and finally i had to say goodbye to Peter on Saturday! But God has been good to me and i´m surviving :).
As most of you know I started teaching English this week. Monday was my first day of teaching. i had to teach 3rd grade and 7th grade. Honestly, I don´t think i have ever been as scared about anything as i was about teaching English. I didn´t sleep much Sunday night, and i thought that Mrs. Leinbach had done me in for sure this time. I had been praying a lot and i know that i had a lot of other people praying for me as well, even some from Canada that i didn´t know about. This encouraged me a lot! Monday morning and into the afternoon God gave me a peace about everything that was ahead of me. I went into my classes and taught the students and for the most part everything went really well, PRAISE GOD! After my classes i felt the biggest relief of my life, i was free, i could do this (with God´s help). Such a burden was taken off my shoulders that afternoon and i think for the first time since i got here (at Tony and Lary´s house) I was happy and able to be myself. I celebrated with the family by sharing some oreos with them :).
Now i feel like i can focus on the language a little more, since i don´t have to worry about teaching as much. Please continue to pray for me as I teach, it still isn´t going to be easy for 4 months. Pray for me as i am working with the language. I don´t think there are too many things more discouraging than not being able to understand someone when they are talking to you, or just not being able to understand whats going on. Also, there aren´t too many things more humbling than having to ask people to repeat and repeat and talk slower and talk slower and repeat. It makes you feel bad but its what you have to do. So please continue to pray for me as there are still many challenges ahead of me. Like Joe and Shannon, who could have known? but that takes away a little bit of a comfort zone for me also. Continue to pray for them and for Solid Rock as they look for a fill-in. Blessings to all and thank you all so much for your prayers!
En Christo,
Danito
Promises from God: "I will never leave you nor forsake you" -- God is good ALL THE TIME. Continue to revel in the differences, Dan.Looking forward to more updates.
ReplyDeleteTia Tammy (though it comes up as Josiah's account).
I am so proud of you Daniel in so many different ways!!! The first step is the hardest, but I knew you could do it!!PTL!
ReplyDeleteI fully understand how humbling it is to have to ask people to repeat & repeat and speak slower, the same thing happens when you can't hear. Hopefully people are being patient with you and will remain patient. It's even harder when they get frustrated with you. Your language understanding will get better as you work at it and you will have to ask them to repeat less & less as the time goes on! We are excited for you and are praying for you. Can't wait to hear more! Miss you! Love & hugs! MOM
Hola Danito! (I thought we named you Daniel?!) As Mom said, we are very proud of you! Not many kids your age have been given an opportunity as huge as this is! I know that you can feel the weight on your shoulders! Just remember Proverbs 27:17 says "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." I know it was hard for you when we left, but it was equally hard on us to leave you! It is such a Blessing to call you our son & watch as God leads, directs & comforts you! What a HUGE step of faith! We actually miss your singing & pounding on the table! And, Ellie misses you carrying her around the house! We are praying for you!
ReplyDeleteLove, Dad
Hey Daniel,
ReplyDeleteThis is Becca from ECD
I'm so glad that God gave you the peace and reassurance that you needed.
I'll definitely keep praying for you and the people you're ministering to... I know that it's hard even in Kenya when people start chatterring away in Swahili even when I know they understand English. I know that God is able to help you learn the language, and I'll definitely keep praying--especially for the language issues.
Hope you have an amazing trip!
Rebecca
Hey Dan!
ReplyDeleteSounds like an Awesome week. God has been working in many ways in your life! Glad to hear teaching went well! Praying that God will help with the language barrier and allow you to continue to learn the language! Loved the update......keep them coming!
Ashley :)