Week 18

Dear Family and Friends,

 

             This week has been awesome. I apologize for not writing last week, but I did post a video on facebook and youtube about the village trip.  There have been several changes in my schedule. I am taking Bambara classes three days a week now and meeting at a school to do so. I hope to learn enough to where I am explain the gospel message adequately in Bambara. Addtionally, I am going to the deaf school twice a week now. I am dropping the day of the week that I spent at the orphanage and I am going to be at Caritas Ministry several days of the week. I am also part of the praise and worship team at our home church and I meet with them on Thursdays and Saturdays. Teaching English at the schools and teaching the missionary kids has ended because the school year has  ended.

Some of the girls at Caritas and me. :)



 

The most eventful thing that has been happening lately for me has been working at the deaf school. Last week, we went to the park with the deaf students. We had about 100 deaf kindergarten and first graders. It was an experience. The kids were so cute.  We were planning on going ot the zoo that day and it was closed so we went ot this beautiful garden park with them. It was an interesting experience to say the least. There was a small play ground area there and the children began playing. However, if you didn't watch them they would get into fist fights over the swings and springy toys. Literally, they could throw some good punches at a young age.  The teachers and I had to supervise them on the toys. I watched them on the springy toys. We made a line and I had a count down for 10 seconds before the next child's turn. It was enough time for the kid to have fun and keep the line moving. I had to keep a special eye on the boys because they kept cutting each other in line and hitting.

 

The reason I am telling you this is not to paint a bad picture of the deaf children in Mali, but because God taught me a lesson in all of it. God began showing me what it means to lay down my rights. Now it doesn't mean that you are going to make yourself a door mat. However, if someone cuts you in line or inconveniences you, or you know that you were wronged that you don't have to get into a fist fight about it(figuretively speaking). God has been reminding me that Jesus laid down his rights for me, when He went to the cross. He has the right to have a fit. The perfect lamb that was slain for the sins of others. So if I am minorly inconvenienced by what someone else is doing does it truly matter? Dying to myself daily has been a conscious thing. A very hard conscious thing on most days. There are things in life that aren't fair that I don't want to do, but in 20 years will that minor thing truly matter? Instead that thing will become a character building experience.

 

Well, after playing at the park for a while, we ate then left. The kids at the school can't speak but they have their own loud personalities. I feel truly blessed to be here and I love what I am doing at that school. Sadly, I don't have any pictures of the deaf students with me because I forgot my camera that day. But hopefully I will get some good pictures of them before the next blog. Thank you for your prayers and support.

                                 

  Love and Blessings,

                                                                  Cami Lynn