Last night, as I was ending the day, I felt a little upset. I had found something on the internet that left me feeling disturbed (what’s new?) I was trying to think happy thoughts, and find something positive to think on from the day. I realized I had rushed home from work and went through all my plans for the day in such a hurry, that I hadn’t taken the time to REFLECT on what all had actually happened!! And there was a TREASURE!! That I had almost MISSED!!!
Maybe 2 months or so ago, I started doing an impromptu Bible study after school on Monday’s. I sort of made the invitation to the teens as, “Well, I’m going to be here reading my Bible, and if you’d like to join, you’re welcome to.”
It turned out that the first week, because of a COVID scare, the teens’ school was all virtual for a short time again, and they were excited for a chance to see each other “outside of school,” even if just through another screen, and through another, “adult led” activity.
Due to other complications, our little Monday Bible study has bounced between, virtual, in person, or hybrid for the length of its short life. Normally even, it’s just me… sometimes 2 or 3 of the girls from our youth group tune in, but often it’s just me… But you can bet, every Monday, at 2:45, I’m there. (Wherever “there,” is…) I’m hoping that consistency will win them over, or at least I’ll grow some from slowing down on Monday afternoons to spend some time with the Beloved.
Last Friday, the whole school found out that the current day would be their last day of in person schooling for the rest of the school year. That’s right, the Ministry of Education had to make some tough decisions and decided that all the schools would have to close or go completely virtually. The sad thing for our teens is that our school, unlike most other Costa Rican schools, is on a North American schedule, and they only have 2.5 weeks left until graduation and summer vacation! Everyone was devastated, seeing as how we were all doing the best possible to be able to stay open until we finished the year.
So, yet again, this Monday, there was a higher attendance at my one person Bible study. ;) All 3 girls who occasionally come were there!
We looked at Psalm 13, and were able to commiserate with David, saying, “How long, oh Lord, will you forget us?” (How long will we live under COVID conditions?!) But by the end of the psalm, we agreed with David, “But we trust in your love.”
To close, we each took a turn to pray, and I was surprised to hear the first girl say, “and thank you for Rosie, who started these Bible Mondays-“ (Me in my head: But you guys never even show up?!?!) “-because it’s such a nice, relaxing- well, yes, a nice relaxing time, even though we have so much homework, to just take a little break, and laugh and grow together, and read the Bible, before we have to go and do all of that homework, so thank you for this time…”
I think after that, all of the girls mentioned a thanks for me in their prayers, and the last girl, prayed out loud for maybe only the second time I had ever heard. She says normally she prefers to just pray quietly.
What an encouragement to see the growth and to find that something you’ve been doing with seemingly no results is indeed making an impact.
*****
How sweet to be blessed by those you came to bless; encouraged by those you came to encourage.