Lernhilfe

I have been trying to get in a habit of updating once a week and I picked my day to be Thursday. Since we have arrived home from our summer travels, I have been doing well at each Thursday morning, posting about the previous week (and I hope this continues). Today however was a little bit different, this morning, I completely forgot (even though I have an alarm on my phone). As I was getting ready to eat lunch before heading to the Lighthouse (I was covering the open office hours from 12-2) I all of a sudden remembered. I was thinking then about how that was probably a blessing because office hours tend to be rather slow and I could do it then. However, I forgot again. It ended up getting pushed back until now 9:40pm and I must say God made that happen for a reason. And I am excited to share with you a little bit about my day.

This week was the start of our after school tutoring program at the Lighthouse (it's called the Lernhilfe). School started this last Monday, and so we opened as well even though students won't have homework the first week. Because we do not actually need to help with homework, it is more of a hang out week. So far we haven't had a lot of students sign up, but that is mostly because there is not a need yet (I pray that we will have more next week). However we are very excited about the 3 new students we had sign up who have committed to come for the whole year, every day (most sign up for a semester first and only a couple days a week). We are very excited for those relationships to grow. 

Today, a mother came in with her daughter. She had received one of our fliers outside her daughters school that we were handing out a couple days this week. She had lots of questions and just wanted to observe how it worked before she committed to registering her daughter, understandable. With this week being different and just a time to hang out, I was a little nervous but her daughter jumped right in with different games and things that was going on and seemed to be having a great time. I could overhear Roman (our Lernhilfe coordinator) talking with the mom and she seemed to be very pleased with the environment and what she was hearing. Then one of the kids wanted to go downstairs so naturally she asked what was down there. He began to explain how it is a prayer room that a group of people use and have meetings at a few days a week. It is first and foremost a place to pray so if it is in use the students can not go down there but if its empty then they are allowed to go down and play the various instruments and use the space. The mother all of a sudden got very defensive, saying she did not want those kinds of influences on her daughter. Roman was assuring her that we do not preach to the students who come but they all know that we are Christians and that if they have an questions or problems we are always there to help. Some have taken us up on that. 

Right away I was bummed thinking we wouldn't get to see this girl again but at the same time happy that her mom knew right from the start and not later and be upset with us. I ended up going down to the prayer room with the kids that were there and we played instruments and talked and had a great time. I proceeded to play games with the kids throughout the afternoon, always being aware that the mother was talking the whole time with a couple of the other leaders (I think it was for almost 2 and a half hours). At the end of the day, I wasn't sure where she stood, I just knew her daughter had a great time and really connected with the other kids. After they were all gone I went to ask my boss if they would ever come back again. And he said definitely and shared about how the mother went from being skeptical to accepting to asking questions. They had a long talk about God and what they believe. In the end when we would be closing she asked if she (the mother) would be able to come back again and talk some more. I was blown away and am so amazed to see what God can do, even in just an afternoon. My first thought after hearing a little what the mother had to say after hearing about the prayer room was to accept defeat. God had different plans in store and I am so grateful for that. It says in the bible to ask and it will be given to you, I didn't even ask and even if I would have, it would have been that her daughter would be able to come back again. I wouldn't have even imagined asking that someone would be able to talk with her for hours about God. I am still blown away. I would love it if you all could pray along with us for the whole family and that God will continue to draw them in towards Him and that we as leaders at the Lighthouse would be ready and willing to be used by Him. Also be praying that God will bring in more students this next week and that He will use the Lighthouse to reach many more people.