Here is the first of
the inspiring stories and experiences you have all been waiting for!
Love really wins
hearts, especially the hearts of children! But how does love work with a whole
room full of naughty, noisy children who don’t understand the language of the
foreign teacher? Keep reading!
Our Chinese student,
Anita was sent to a city several hours north of Manila for her OJT. She was the
one doing the child evangelism and another classmate was her partner for the
adult evangelism. The opening night of November 8 soon arrived and this was one
of the sites who were able to start that night since the typhoon did not reach
their area. Anita said, “Though there was little church support, we were still
blessed that there were many children who came to the opening night!”
The Pastor had told
them earlier that they would have 2 projectors – one for the adults and one for
the kids. But just the day before they were to start, Anita was told that one
of the projectors would not be available. Plus she didn’t have a sound system,
either. Everything seemed so hopeless, but Anita earnestly prayed that God
would provide. After praying, she felt peace in her heart and was no longer
anxious. Just before the program was to start the opening night, another pastor
came and brought his projector and sound system and let them use it! Commenting
on the story, she said: “My heart was filled with joy and I was so thankful to
the Lord! He really answered my prayers and He always provides for us at the
time we need it most.
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| Some of her friends. |
Since the children did
not understand English, Anita used a translator to help them understand the
message. As she continued her program, the first 4 nights were very
challenging! The room for the
children was so small and it was crowded full of
lots of noisy kids. Probably just being in such a small, hot, stuffy room made
them so noisy! Sometimes the children were talking so loudly that Anita had to
stop her presentation to discipline and restore order to the place.
But on the 5th
night, something changed! Anita took time to talk to the children – especially
to the boys who were the major source of all the noise most of the time. She
said, “When I talked to them with love from the bottom of my heart, things
began to change. My attention for them worked wonders! Since that night, they
behaved far better than ever before and kept quietly listening to my story.
Love can do so much!”
During the second week
of their seminar, the children got better every day. Some of them would come at
4:30 in the afternoon, though they didn’t start until 6:30. They wanted to make
sure they were there and how they loved to learn their memory verse! The truth
was really touching their hearts and they began to listen much more carefully
to the stories. Anita added: “What a big difference it was to compare them with
the first week when they came. They were just busy talking to each other or
sitting there absent-mindedly. God really changed them!”
Thought Anita didn’t
speak the children’s language, she spoke something that all of them understand
and that was the message of Jesus’ love shining through her heart to them. She
said, “Love is the best way to work with kids. I never shouted at them and
every time they got noisy, I just smiled at them. I was so blessed that God put
His love deep in my heart for these children and that’s the only way I was able
to be calm and patient with them. Only love can awaken love. I worked with the
noisiest boy the most and his attitude has changed a lot! Now he speaks
politely to me and listens very quietly in the story. When it’s time for the
children to go home, many of them want to shake my hands. Someone nearby told
me, ‘The children love you so much.’ I know there is a reason why they love me,
because I love them from the bottom of my heart – a love that only comes from
God, the source of love.”
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| Anita and her translator |
Yes, Anita was the
children’s friend because she had Christ’s love for them in her heart. Most of
the children could hardly speak English, but they all tried to talk with her
and one little 8 year old boy became her translator when the children wanted to
communicate with her since his English was quite good. They had such fun
together!
One night just before
the meeting, it rained very heavily. They were worried that the children
wouldn’t come since many came from far away. But when we started more than
2/3rds of our children were there! That was a great encouragement that the
children would come even through the rain to hear God’s words!
Day after day went
swiftly by and soon one month was over. During that one month, Anita’s
friendship with those children grew deep and strong. They would love to sit
with her and were so interested in her Chinese language that she taught them a
Chinese song. All carefully learned it and in just a few days, they could sing
it so well!
What was her counsel
for those working with children in God’s vineyard?
“When the children get
noisy and disobey, don’t shout at them! It might work for awhile, but it won’t
change them. They will do the same thing later and sometimes even worse than
before. Shouting is not the solution. Smile with love is a powerful weapon and
no one can reject its power. If you want to change children, there is really no
other way but to love them. There is power in love, which can change their
hearts. Drown their disobeying with your love. Children are very sensitive and
they can feel and receive your love when you really love and care for them.
When they love you, they will listen to you and respect all you say.”
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| The team and their baptismal candidates. |
