Hey guys!
Sorry it’s been a little since my last post, things got a little busy, but I’m here to tell you about this past week of ministry.
This week the boys team that has been staying with us got to come with us to ministry. The teachers at the school they were teaching at had the week off, so they came with us all week. This was a cool and unique experience because we got to invite them into the work and relationships we have been making. It was funny too because there were a lot of us, 17 to be exact, to help teach the kids. At most of the villages we go to we have around 30-40 kids, so it felt like there were too many of us to be helpful and honestly, gave flashbacks to first week of ministry where I felt like I was just getting in the way, but as God’s been showing me, I’m here to bless my hosts and to continue doing the little things, and it was also a blessing because I got to rest and enjoy time with friends and play with the kids. We got to introduce the boys to the people we worked with, show them how we do things and invite them to do it with us. I don’t mean to pick favorites, but the village on Thursday’s truly truly has loved us since day one and we’ve gotten so close to the kids there. It was amazing to see how gentle the guys were with them and how engaging they were when invited to teach. It was so exciting to be able to bring them into this and I love that they were able to experience a little of what we’ve been doing.
Another thing that really touched me was that the kids on Monday saw that my hair was in twists and even though they don’t speak English, they pointed at my hair and pointed at themselves and they all got their two little hairbands and got in a line so that I could do all their hair. It was such a tender moment and just a sweet reminder that even though I can’t always make the connection I would like, God still gives us opportunities to speak into another’s life and bless them. At the same time, it was sad too. This next coming week is our last week of ministry here and will probably be the last time I ever see these kids. I didn’t think it would bother me too much going from country to country, but we’ve gotten so close and shared so many sweet moments and it’s going to be so hard to say goodbye. Even our hosts told us that it’s going to be a hard goodbye, but they want us to stay strong for the kids because if they see us sad or emotional, they will feel it too. They have different teams come all the time and they have to say goodbye all the time and it doesn’t get any easier. Our job, once again, is to listen to our hosts, put our brave face on and love the kids the best we can. It’s been amazing to see God show his tenderness through the way he loves his children, and knowing that I am his child, I know that he loves me with that tenderness as well. God is great, he has so many different characteristics and a huge personality and it’s been amazing to see the little ways he is present in the everyday things. I am so blessed to be here and it has truly began to feel like home. It’s crazy that we have less than two weeks here then off to a new country with new people, new hosts, and a new culture. I’m excited to see how God moves everywhere we go and I cannot express enough how thankful I am that I am here, surrounded by these people, and blessing His children.
Thank you for all the continued prayers. Once again, some of my teammates are still not fully funded so if you are interested in helping them out please contact me at [email protected] or (805)-825-7759.
With love,
Gianna Ramirez
