I fought back tears all day...

Today I had no expectations of what the day would bring. It was truly a blessing not having any idea what joys and sorrows would wait me. I fought back tears all day. Even as I write this I am tearing up reflecting on the powerful emotions of this first day.
I awoke to get my first glimpse of the outside surroundings of the "middle class neighborhood" I am in. If I had not been told I was in a nice area I would of thought I was in the slums. My flat mate from So Cal referred to our area as looking 'like the projects'. I do not feel unsafe but the visual first impression is daunting. 

After a young man cooked us a simple breakfast of eggs and toast, a nice prayer time with the team and a quick cup of coffee our drivers from the Good Samaritan Schools showed up at 7 am to drive us to the school. Our driver woke us up with another roller coaster heart stopping drive to the school. I saw things I could never fully appreciate from a book or movie. We drove past a water ways with litter covering its beautiful tropical green banks with heaps of garbage, a dark mold that grows on the walls and buildings, people cooking on the side the road just outside their shacks made from random pieces of tarps, wood scraps and plastic, traffic jams that included many bicycles and honking filling the air as it is used as we would use a turn signal. They honk as if to say hey I am here and I am going to pass you so stay where you are. As our driver turns the two lane dirt road into a five lane road on slippery mud, I feel we are going deeper into a depressed area, the random shack homes become more abundant, but we are still not in the slums? Our driver speaks very little so I am confused as we drive even further down dirt roads and pull up next to a one story complex. I thought the school we were going to was big and lavish, where am I ? I am at one of the four schools of The Good Samaritans, I had no ideas here are FOUR schools. So in my ignorance I was able to have quite a surprise. We are hurried into the outside school assembly that is taking place. The kids were all lined up and waiting for us. The youngest students had leis made of marigolds they placed around around our necks. I fight back my tears for the first time of many today. What ? Why are they making a fuss over us? We came to serve them and they are giving us the royal treatment. I was overwhelmed with their affection for us.

The children sang praise songs loud and sweet, lead by a teacher on a guitar. They did their daily prayers in unison lead by the older students. Their pure voice filled the thick muggy air with hope. We spent the rest of the day visiting each of the elementary class rooms. The ages ranged from 3 years old to 14 years old. Each class room was packed with 40-50 students. All so well behaved, sitting at attention and eager to learn. The teachers told us the kids love being at school they do not want to go home at the end of the day. I can only imagine what awaits them at home, soon I will not have imagine as we have home visits planned soon. We we traveled around to the desks of each of the 250 students in six rooms. The children were eager to show us their school work and art projects. They asked us questions, "how many are in your family ? what is your favorite color ?" Chaos broke out in one class room where the older students decided they all wanted our autographs. It felt so wrong. They are the little heroes and they wanted our autographs, time and attention, they treated us like rock stars. Again I wanted to cry as the emotion of miss-placed importance overtook me. How can I honor these children Lord? I signed their papers "God Speed to You, God loves you and God bless you". Even the teachers were so appreciative of us being there. We had not even done anything yet. How could they be so welcoming ? The energetic young librarian lady was so proud to show us her one room library complete with computers and a projector. She share her love for the school and the children like someone would talk about their favorite vacation. Her passion for the school made me realize what a responsibility we have to to bring our best, to show Christ love to these these children.

As we journeyed through the class rooms it began to rain. God was not hold back tears from heaven. It was not just rain, it poured it thundered it lightninged all around us. As if God was saying see ! See what I see, see what breaks my heart ! 

As I interacted with the children I noticed so my of them had burn scares, cuts and bruises, all wounds from the life of living in a unsafe slum. I learned more as the day progress about the plight of many of these children. I heard story after story of these lost and hurting lambs. One story of a young boy of 5 or 6 years old missed a few days of school upon questioning him they found out he had been hung from the ceiling by his father with ropes by his legs for two days as punishment. I fought back tears. 

It was glaringly obvious to me the number of boys at the school out numbered the girls 16 to 1. Where are all the girls I asked ? "They are at home cooking and cleaning" I was told their culture does not see a need to educate many girls. Then I heard the story that broke me. Girls may start here but rarely finish because they are married off to whom ever will have them since the families have no money for a dowry. One girl was pulled out of school at the age of 10 to married off to a 40 year old man. I tears could not be contained any longer. I privately wept.

The rain had turned our walk ways and roads into rivers! 

We were then driven or floated over to the main school site. It was the big nice state of the art Good Samaritan School I had heard about and read about. This is where they have there have all their operational offices. This school holds 1500 students from the ages of 5 -18 mostly all upper grades. It could hold more students but more teachers and resources are needed.

We had lunch with the founder of the school and heard her amazing tale of God's favor opening each door as she started this free Christian school from a toilet area in the slums. Her tale is so great I will need to write a movie script to capture all the details.

We spent the rest of the day planning what we would teach the children in the week to come. I asked her what do the children need most ? Her response was no surprise to me "the children need a lift up, they need to feel Christ unconditional love". The task seems easy enough but the great responsibly  to make it really honor the kids and meet their needs is what is overwhelming us. "God give us the right words at the right time to serve your lambs?!" I pray. 

This day ends with a much needed nap back at the flat (as I have no idea how much sleep I have gotten) a pizza, writing my blog, team time preparing to teach the children and many prayers. I  have many prayers of thanks to God for answered prayer. Your prayers for me are very much felt. In all the heat, humidity, lack of toilets and strange food and water I have never felt better. No discomfort at all. God is good. Answered prayer overwhelms me... I fight back tears.