Hello friends and family!
What a wonderful and blessed month May has been.
We had an awesome team, called “Missions of Mobile” from the University
of Mobile out at the After School Program to share 2 days of music and
ministry with our kids. They were amazing! The performed for our kids
and then danced with them and taught them songs.
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The kids had so much fun and on the last
night the team worked with our older kids, in grades 5-8 and shared with
them their own personal testimonies of how the Lord has touched their
lives. They prayed for our kids and many of the kids put their faith in
Jesus that day! It was a great experienced that blessed us, the
teachers, as well as the children so much!
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It has also been a very busy month, with us
being one teacher short, Juliana and I have had to split up the kids
into our classes. It has been a bit crazy trying to get back into the
rhythm I had established so nicely with my own kids, but we are working
at each day!
I was also blessed by meeting some people who were instrumental in the
formation of the After School Program back in 2014. Jon and Marylois
came out for a visit along with Jon’s Assistant Matt. I had a such a
blessed time speaking with them for 5 hours one night! We spoke about
our hearts for the orphans and children of Romania. They had me share
my own personal experiences in Romania and it was such a nice time to
get to know people who have a kindred spirit for this country and its
people. Marylois even came out to the village and taught our kids about
dental hygiene! It was great!
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Having Jon, Marylois, Matt and the team from
Mobile out was such an uplifting experience for me. Sometimes you
don’t realize you have a need to be filled and encouraged by others
until you are surrounded by such love and encouragement that you feel
like your heart could burst! It was truly a wonderful experience!
This month I would like to highlight the story of another one of my kids in the village.
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This beautiful young lady, is Elena. She is
in the 8th grade and attends our After School Program (ASP) twice a
week. One of the things I wanted to start when I first began in the
After School Program was to have the older teens help tutor the younger
children. For this entire school year, every Wednesday Elena has been
my Assistant for my 5th Grade ASP class. She really has a gift for
teaching. About a month into have her assist me I began to allow her to
do most of the teaching. We would meet before and discuss what we
would do with the kids and then I would let her go for it! I would
guide her as she went and helped with the kids. It has been great to
see her grow as a "teacher".
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Elena and I with our 5th grade class
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This past week Elena began the process of
taking her exams to enter High School. She now wants to be a teacher! I
love that she was able to experience what it was like to be a teacher
by assisting in our After School Program. It is so encouraging seeing
the older teens getting involved with tutoring the younger kids in the
program and Elena is an example of how FFR's After School Program works
to transform lives!
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Elena is always asking me for books to learn
how to speak English, and any we have had donated she has read
through. I'm so thankful FFR sponsored the purchase of some REAL books
to help her as she wants to teach herself English this summer. She is
an amazing young lady, who is smart and determined! I can't wait to see
what God has in store for her in the years to come!
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The school year is winding down and the
weather is becoming very sunny and warm. It is getting harder and
harder to keep the kids attention as they come to us after already being
in school, they are wanting to go out and play. So I have been trying
to be creative in our learning, incorporating movement and art. Even
making snack time more fun, by teaching them English and having them
prepare their “fruit and yogurt salads” as they call them.
We are preparing for graduation in June for our Program and then will
have a limited summer schedule, to give the children a break and to
allow for some teams to come in and do special week long camps with the
kids. It will also give me time to prepare for my Interns who will be
arriving the beginning of August.
The Lord has shown me so much this past school year with the children. I
have many ideas about next year, and what should be done differently or
what to keep the same. Please pray for wisdom for me, as I am
processing and planning. I want this program to be the best it can be
for the children. To see them learn and be excited for their education,
but more importantly to see them grow in their relationship with Jesus.
Please continue to keep me in your prayers, I have been working really
hard at getting the Missions and Discipleship Internship Program put
together. I am really excited about what the Lord has in store for the
young women who I will be working with. I ask for wisdom for this
program and that I would know what the Lord has for the After School
Program. Please also pray for me as it has been much harder than I
thought it would be to let go of some of the projects I am working on.
This is one thing I know the Lord specifically spoke to me about during
my time in Budapest last month, and I want to be obedient. I’m still
not where I need to be yet, but I am trying!
Please also pray for the relationships the Lord has brought across my
path. This is an important ministry to me, and I want to be a light and
encouragement to those in my life. I am trying to be more consistent
in making time for these people, as the Lord was showing me the work is
not as important as the people.
"Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s."
Psalm 103:1-5
I do love hearing from you all, so please feel free to write!
Grace and Peace,
Rachel |
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