Puerto Rico
Hi Everyone!
Boy do I have a lot of things to tell you! On last Sunday, the day before school started, the airlines called the school chaplain and counselor (since we have no phone), Abda Velez to tell her that they have finally found my luggage and they have it here in
I finally saw that this was literally a test of my faithfulness to God. I had been worrying about it since I got to PR and when I finally asked the Lord to help me to fervently continue on with my duties to Him whether or not the airlines found my luggage I was able to finally be at peace! Then, the next day my luggage was here! How insane is that!
I would like to ask you to please pray for a few people. As you know, I am the Bible teacher for 7th through 12th grades and in my 12th grade class. There is a girl who came to me the second day of class. She told me that she was “technically” a Jew because her parents are, but she doesn’t believe in the Bible. One interesting thing she said to me though, was that she had tried, last year, to become a baptized member of the SDA church but then her parents didn’t approve and they would get into these big arguments over it.
After that she got caught up in drugs and got kicked out of school and then she decided not to even bother with baptism anymore! She told me she just wanted to be open and honest with me and she didn’t want to seem as if she wasn’t trying her hardest in class it was simply that she doesn't believe in Jesus and all that stuff.
I told her that this class was not designed to force her to accept any point of view that she doesn’t want to accept, but that this class was designed to give her basic facts, proof and truth in order to enable her to choose wisely and to make an informed decision for herself. I told her that I hoped she’d change her mind about her views and I will be talking with her more and praying for her always throughout this year. Please pray for her.
Also, there is this young man (also in my 12th grade class) who I would like you to pray for. He’s a very kind and very sweet young man. He participates in class discussions (which is the major thing I asked everyone to do) and he is very respectful. I just found out today (20 August-the 2nd day of the 2nd week of school) that he had a nervous breakdown last year and he is now going through another episode.
His parents weren’t able to get a doctor’s appointment for today so he was in class today. He wasn’t much different except that he fidgeted a lot and he couldn’t stop drawing. I was told by the principal to keep an eye on him and just allow him to draw. I felt so bad for him that I almost cried right there in class as I began to teach class this morning. I had to stop for a minute and gather myself before I went on. That brings me to my next important prayer request.
All the stuff with this young man added to the fact that my roommate—the other female missionary from Union named Natali—just left for California this morning at 7:30 a.m. She just found out on Sunday that her grandfather passed away from Alzheimer’s disease.
They knew he was dying, but they didn’t expect him to pass so soon. She’s taking it roughly because she is very, very close to her dad and her dad was very, very close to her grandfather so it’s like a horrible domino effect. Please keep her in prayer because her whole family needs it.
I’ve only known her for going on a week and a half, but I feel as though she’s already a close friend. I felt so sad to see her go this morning and as I asked my class for prayer requests and shared my own concerning her it was almost too much for me to handle! I’m now here at the secretary’s house again because she invited me to stay here this week while Natalie’s gone so I won't have to be at the house alone.
As you can well see we need extra prayer here at Bella Vista. Please help our strength through your prayers. I’ll try to email you with some brighter news next time, but I’m basically writing to you the facts in the same way I write in my journal.
Love,
LaKeSha Morris