About halfway through....

Things are still trucking on over here. I think the longer I'm over here, the less and less updates I'll have to give and the more and more prayer requests I'll have. We are still privately tutoring, still having the public class, and still having the girls' d-ship group. All are going pretty well, but all need prayer.

We've developed really good relationships with these women that we're teaching. On Thursday night, we hung out outside of class with the family that we have been getting to know and we had so much fun. We also met about 15 crazy college students the other day randomly and hung out with them for the whole night. Those girls were awesome. We also really love the ladies that are in our Monday classes and have gotten to be really good friends with all of them, one in particular. It has occurred to me, though, the more i build relationships with these women that the main goal of my being here is not simply to build relationships. If that were the case, then i have done what i came here to do. I love these women and have become good friends with them. But i have been thinking a lot lately about their future and their destiny when this life comes to an end and it breaks my heart. Unless something changes or divine intervention happens, their future is grim to say the least. With this in mind, i have been even more diligent in lifting them up and looking for opportunities with them. I wish i could say more, but the language i would have to use in doing so prevents me. Darn it. Haha. Please join me in asking for something to change and something miraculous to happen in the lives of these women.

I would also ask you to pray for our girls' d-ship group. I mentioned in my last blog about the sleepover we were going to have and what a great opportnity it would be. It certainly was a God-given opportunity but it didn't exactly go as planned. That night our eyes were opened to some of the things that they are doing and dealing with at 13 years old that i never would have dreamed of. I was honestly a little disappointed but mainly just grieved at how they are voluntarily putting themselves in bondage at so young an age. Decisions they are making now have the capacity to ruin their lives. We have addressed these issues with them and explained to them how they have a higher calling than the world. They are followers and they are called to act on it. Please keep us and these girls in your prayers. We need wisdom on how to handle these situations and they need changes in their lives. These girls are still so great. They are continuing to learn and to apply it. The problem is what this represents for the rest of the youth in this country that are believers. These girls are the cream of the crop and they are dealing with these things; this does not bode well for the rest of the youth here. I love these girls so much and am, as Paul said "jealous for them with godly jealousy."

Those are the main things you can be praying for us. We are about at the halfway mark with our time here and i can't help but feel that what we're called to do will take longer than the time we have here. I'm not worried though. I'm taking one day at a time and doing what i know i am called to do each day. I'm really enjoying my time here, this is an awesome opportunity on so many levels. God is so good. Lately i have been overwhelmed with that fact.

Love you all!