2 Corinthians 4: 16-18

16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

This past week it’s been a little hard to see the struggles at the home as “light and temporary troubles." Since I’ve been here discipline and relations with the kids have been a problem off and on, but not quite like they have been recently.

We had to step in and discipline one of the girls to prevent her from hurting another child. After this happened the girl, as well as a large portion of the other girls and a few boys decided they were no longer going to greet or talk to any of us.

This might not seem like a huge deal, but when you live with these kids who are giving you the cold shoulder and saying things about you in a language you don’t know and they are the kids you have to step in front of the next day in class to teach it gets a little trickier.

It also hurts because I want nothing more than to love on and plan fun activities for the kids at the home, that’s why I moved to Africa; to do crafts with them, to take them on walks, to play games with them, to read with them, to decorate for the holidays with them… the list goes on and on. And that’s what I’ve been doing for the past two and a half months, then you have to discipline someone (who they all saw was in the wrong) and all that progress made forming relationships with some of the kids seems to be gone. It’s frustrating and seems pointless.

This week it’s a comfort to read that what is seen is temporary, because what is seen is hurtful and not the most fun. I pray that someday the kids will understand that we love them and more than that that God loves them. It’s hard right now to think about doing anything fun with certain kids who have been ungrateful, rude, disrespectful, and mean to both kids and adults at the home.
But I’ll keep doing things with the other kids, thanking God that he renews us each day, and praying for those who don’t want the obronis to come near them.

Please join me in praying for them.

Obroni Amanda