LEARNING TO LET GO AND LET GOD
What I am learning:
In just a little over a month I am entirely blown away by what the Lord has taught me. I think coming into this journey, I thought it was going to be similar to my Word of Life ministry experience. It's not. Reality is, my new community is different and I am living in a brand new culture. This is the rubber meeting the road. With this the Lord is working in my life and I know He is preparing me for something great. The things He is teaching me are numerous, and I’d like to share them:
I am learning that my age doesn't matter to God when it comes to His work. I am learning how to find comfort in God during loneliness. I am learning to trust the Lord to meet my every need. I am learning what it looks like to get down on knees and make my request known to God. I am learning that the Lord knows the desires of my heart and He meets them. I am learning how to rejoice and praise Him behind closed doors. I am learning in my weakness He is my strength. I am learning the power of His love and how it changes lives. Finally, I am learning to let go and let God. It is His work and His ministry, no one else's.
UPDATES!
The school is my favorite. I spend about 35 hours a week working at the School. Twelve of those hours are spent supervising recess. Working with the kids at recess can be discouraging at times because of behavior and how they treat their classmates. However, last week, there were so many times of praise when I saw kids act out of love and kindness. It's incredible to see God work in hearts and change the way the kids are playing and interacting with each other. The other twenty three hours I spend working in the classrooms of 2nd & 3rd and 5th & 6th grade. I lead bible for the younger grades. My main goal at the school is serving the students and the teachers in any way that I can.
The children's center is also my favorite. This is not in my direct work assignment BUT when I am not at the school I am usually hanging out with the kids at the children’s center. There are a lot of exciting things happening here. Like BIBLE CLUB!! It started this week and I gave a devo on Matthew 7:12 and challenged the boys in the club to work on treating others the way that they want to be treated. We talked a lot about taking initiative and acting the way that is right and not just thinking about doing what is right. I am praying that 4 boys across the street will join me and some of the MKs that live in the community. Right now, all that are there joining me are children from the center. I have said this before but it is such a unique opportunity to be a neighbor to the children's center. Several times a day I have kids at my door (more often than not, it is a middle school boy that wants snacks from the snack cabinet). Another trend that is starting is bedtime stories and prayer. It is so much fun to get to read stories with them at night and pray with them before bed. I love it when they are the ones reminding not to forget to come read and pray with them. SO MANY BLESSINGS.
PRAYER REQUESTS AND PRAISES
This is not an easy process but we serve an incredible God. I praise God that He continues to answer my prayer of “USE ME”. I am really starting to grasp that God desires my availability, despite my lack of abilities. I praise Him for that. In my last newsletter, I asked for prayers about Bible Club and entering into the Spanish Institute of Honduras. Those prayers have been answered. I have had ten classes with the Spanish Institute and the Bible club is up and running.
Please be praying with me as I continue to learn Spanish. There is a great deal of work that has to be put into Bible club and the school. Please be praying the Lord continues to give me strength and energy to conquer the task in front of me. Please be praying for my finances. I am still not fully funded. God keeps providing and I keep trusting that He will continue to provide. Be praying for the ministry opportunities that the Lord has in place for me.
I thank you all so much for your prayers and support. I wish I could capture how your prayers have impacted me and the lives of those I am interacting with. I hope this prayer letter has given you insight to what your support means. I need prayer warriors and God has made it known to me that I have just that.
I am going to delight in this comfort from God:
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
GOD BLESS
Chase Gray
