Do you ever have those moments when you really feel like you have made a difference?? Sometimes it feels few and far between, EVEN when you live in Africa! A lot of times here, I struggle, much like you, to make moments count, take time to notice little things, not get caught up in daily life activities, and not ALWAYS feel like I need a nap! I get discouraged over the millionth time of "saying it the wrong way" in Arabic, I get mad when I see poverty that could be averted, and, I admit, look forward to the kids going to bed for some "peace & quiet".
However, yesterday, I was encouraged. Yesterday, I made a difference. Yesterday, you made a difference. Yesterday, the Lord was glorified. Yesterday, me and the 4 ladies who work with me at Little Stars handicapp center, headed over to the handicapp school to gather 10 students to come for 2 hours and play at our center. We do this 2 times a week, and they always send one of their teachers with the kids. We try to love the kids, show them grace when they mess up, and tell the teachers that we don't hit or yell at the kids to obey us. We also spend time doing games, crafts and activities with the kids-to show the teachers that these kids CAN succeed, CAN have fun, and DON'T just have to sit in a room staring at the wall all day.
Like I said, we walked into the school and there was a group of the kids sitting outside playing-first of all, that was unique. They are hardly ever outside in a group playing, especially the more difficult ones. As we watched them, we realized they were playing "Duck, Duck, Goose"-a game we had taught them at the center!! Of course, they call it "CAT, CAT, Bird" One of the teachers had remembered the game and was doing it with the kids.
Now, you may think, wow, big deal. But, to us, it is. We are seeing our work, our dedication, our love for these kids coming back around to them from their own teachers. We are seeing something we have never seen there before!!! To us, Yesterday, was a great day. Yesterday was a day to be excited about. Never, ever did I think that the game, "Cat, Cat, Bird" would take one so much meaning for me.
