Encouraging Children

These kids found a half-working light switch, old batteries
and a small LED light-bulb.  They wired them together
and stuck them into holes in the wall of their compound
where they otherwise don't electricity

I get to tell on my wife a little bit. She’s pretty phenomenal. Even when battling back frustration with the way children are treated and behave in this culture, and with how little control we have at times over most things around our house, she still has an eye for reaching out to the neighborhood children that are always around. The biggest thing is greeting them and showing them we notice they are there, since they often don’t get acknowledged by adults. But La Maestra is also so good at taking time to see what they are working on. They are so creative that many of them will always have some new bit of cast-off material they are making a wheel from, or building little cars, or even doing some electrical circuits with cast off batteries. She’s also there to help straighten out a dispute or repeatedly clean and bandage a cut that would otherwise just get dirt rubbed on it and fester. Overall she takes seriously the ministry that could be overlooked, but is so available to her, the basic ministry of showing them they are valued. That’s how our oft told story of singing songs about Jesus to the kids started, how doors have been opened to take an interest in the families’ overall health, and what I’m sure will allow to spring forth many other opportunities in the future.  On another note, I think some of this attitude has rubbed off on our guard, as he's taken an interest in the neighborhood kids as well, and is even doing some small tutoring for a few older kids whose family doesn't send them to school.