Yoslena just turned 15. She is one of Camille’s students that we almost didn’t let enter our school because of her age, but she is so far behind that Camille really wanted her to be able to come to school. She doesn’t know anything. She can’t identify letters or numbers, she can’t read or write, and on top of all of that she is a little rough around the edges. It is for children like Yoslena that I feel I have been called to help. I’ve started tutoring the students that we have that are much further behind the rest. Yoslena is one of the worst, and I try to spend the most time with her. So I’ve set some goals for us; I want her to be able to know the entire alphabet and sounds that every letter makes by the end of the year, setting her up to start reading. This is my first time to teach someone to read.
When doing education ministry as a ministry it is important to evaluate what we do as a means to accomplish our goals. It is our hope that the children and their families would know the Lord and that He would be glorified. So I have been questioning what it is exactly that I am doing and if it is necessary in order for Yoslena to know the Lord. In the states we are given the mindset that we must be educated and successful. But does that mindset work in this country? If Yoslena never knew how to read, could she work? Could she have a family? And most importantly, could she have salvation? Does she have a need to be educated? She could work, she could clean houses, sell fruit, and other various jobs. She would be capable of being a mother, but would she understand the importance of teaching her children all that she knows? And of course she could have salvation, but she would never be able to read the Bible.
I believe that Yoslena has a need in her life to be educated, but I question it every day. I what to be able to meet her need and in doing so, love her with Christ’s love. Pray that I would have discernment, that I would know what to teach her, but pray that I would not become frustrated with her situation. There are other factors that play in to the difficulty of her education. I’m certain she has learning disabilities, but I’m not sure what they are and what the best thing is to do for them. She also comes to school quite infrequently. She has to care for her sister’s baby. It’s had to progress when I can’t work with her every day. Although she has all odds against her, I have seen progress, which is proof of Christ’s doing. The other day for the first time she was able to identify every letter of the alphabet. When we first started she would say, “I don’t know,” or “I can’t,” or “tell me again.” Now she has started to say, “No, no, no don’t tell me. I know it.” I can be very rewarding.
Pray for this child. She is hard to love. In some ways I don’t even know what to ask you to pray for. Pray that God would know.
A few highlights:
My mom came to visit. What a blessing! The Lord has given me such a wonderful family.
My Spanish is to a level now that I can fully communicate and teach!
Elizabeth, the intern from last semester came to visit.
I have been getting by with finances and the Lord has provided, but I still have money to raise.
Thank you for your prayers, love and support.
Cara
