On Friday the junior high fellowship I help out in were carolling at a senior's home. I don't believe I prayed enough for the event, but God helped me through. He provided me opportunities to speak with people, the kids, adults, and seniors alike. The kids are starting to trust me, even though I still get some of their names wrong sometimes! In reflection, I was touched that one of the parents took the time to learn my name, as one of the new counsellors of WWJD. And I had the opportunity to help a small group of girls talk to the seniors, one gentleman was a reverend and he was so grateful to have had us sing to him and another I was able to talk to without abandonement about hockey. =)
Saturday was an interesting day. Stretched in terms of relationships and in terms of living out my faith in my community. Something happened early in the day which humbled me and caused me to rely on God evermore. However, he always delivers. Everything is good now, not great or awesome, but I will take good for now--God will deliver awesomeness in his time.
The prayer walk at Square One was also interesting. I liked that we took the time to pray for a number of things going on in the mall, where we can see God working amongst all the crazy shoppers and the rush of commercialism at this time of the year. I pray that our monkey goes to a child in need and for him or her to feel joy even in his or her circumstances.
That night my family went out to dinner to celebrate my brother's birthday that had just passed the day before. We went to Pizza Hut where we had some good family time. My daddy ordered a yummy pasta dish to share amongst the family alongside our pizzas, it was delish! I know that God had been telling me to share something with my parents for a while now. I got the courage after a trip to the washroom where I did a quick prayer and when I got back to the table I asked my parents and brother if they wanted to attend the Christmas banquet at church. It was surreal to me in a sense, that I was actually asking my parents to come to a church event--I had always thought that God would provide others to bring the gospel to my parents, but lo and behold he has been constantly pruning me for this instance. They asked questions about it, they show some to little interest (they think that buffets destroy your stomach... hahaha), but I am glad that I asked them. However, I think I failed when my dad breached the subject again later in the evening, I did not adequately answer him or spend time talking with him about it. This just showed how unprepared I still am, which brought me before God again asking for his forgiveness and being stupid. I am scared to pray about it because I know God will hear me and give more more opportunities, I know I'm silly, but this is new and foreign to me, look how long it has taken me to get this far! But I know I have to, thus, if my parents don't come to the banquet this year, I know that God is working in them, and I am his vessel.
Today was a day full of rollercoasters. This morning's message was interesting, I don't know what to totally make of it yet. Will need to pray about it more, but Rev. Tim Wai did remind me of a couple of things, nothing I have is mine, it belongs to God and I need to give back to where I take from, the church. One more thing that spoke to me after the day before, was that there are consequences to our actions. How true.
After church, Richard and I went to a shelter to carol and pass out gifts which was organized by Auntie Vivian. I have to admit, I was not totally sold on the idea when it was brought up at our meeting Thursday, but God was telling me to go. And I'm glad that I did.
The interaction with the residents was probably the best part. During carolling I was looking out into the small crowd of mainly children and teens, with some parents on the side supervising their kids, when I noticed this one girl staring intently at me. Not once or twice, but a number of times when I looked up from my song sheet. She looked familiar to me and I think she had the same feelings as well. I couldn't place it for a long while, where had I seen her before? But then it finally clicked, I had taught her during my last placement. She had not been there when I was teaching the first time, but she was in the classroom I observed alongside the Special Education teacher. It actually broke my heart because just from being in the classroom full of kids, you will never know their full stories. If I had been her actual teacher of course I would have looked through the OSRs and would have found out. However, as a mere observer and assistant at times, it is hard if not nearly impossible to know the stories behind each face. God knows though, he knows all and he cares for all his children. Now, I do not know if her or her family are saved, but I know that God convicted me to go for a reason, and seeing her and talking with her and her brother made all my fears, anxieties, worries, and doubts about going to the shelter disappear. This makes me a better teacher but even more importantly a better follower of Christ within the classrooms.
I thank God for this weekend full of stretching. It was definitely needed even if I didn't want it, he humbled me and put me in my place.
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