Speaking Louder than Before (BCM Week 4)

It's that time again - weekly update for my BCM internship.

Every week I grow and learn so much. This past week God has taught me too much to put in one little update note, but I'll try and hit the highlights.

All of my girls are kinesthetic learners which really makes it much easier on me so I don't need to cater to different learning styles. The more hands on the better I've discovered. I've been taking the girls outside and pointing out trees as we learn about trees and plants and photosynthesis. I read my kids children's books about whatever we're learning and have them act it out. They are all very artistic so I have them color a lot. They love that! It's so exciting to see how much they want to learn. I've been trying my absolute hardest to make learning fun, creative, and exciting for them. Every morning when I bring my girls in from the parking lot I ask them if they are ready to learn and they always say, "Yes, Miss Hannah." It's heartwarming.

I may have mentioned Izzie, one of my students before. The first week she wasn't focused and she didn't smile at all. The 2nd year interns told me how they remember Izzie from before and not once did she smile last summer. Over 4th of July weekend, I prayed God would move a mountain and make her smile by the end of the summer. Monday morning I was shocked when Izzie walked in with a big smile on her face and said, "Miss Hannah, I am ready to learn." I really love these girls more and more every day. God has softened my heart toward them. They all have dreams and goals. Stephany told me she wants to "go to college to get more knowledge." Pray these girls continue to excel in school, that they are blessed with teachers who want them to learn and make learning fun and who care about them individually, and that they pursue not only their education through college, but a relationship with God and see it as fundamental in their lives.

God has really shown me the power of prayer this week. Not only did Izzie smile simply hours after I prayed about it, but God took away the migraine I had on Tuesday also. I was back to normal within 8 hours. I came home this weekend again to escape the germs, but many of our interns are suffering from illnesses, stress, and headaches. Pray for mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health.

Funny story. I really needed a new flashdrive since my first one completely died. I was hunting in the electronics section of Walmart for one at 10 of 8 knowing we were meeting in the front of the store at 8. I asked an employee where they were and found them. But then there was a lock on the end of the rack. I couldn't get it off. So in the middle of the aisle, I placed my hand over the lock and prayed, "God, I don't have time to find an employee. I really need this. Send someone." I opened my eyes and someone said in a deep Arnold Schwarzenegger voice, "Can I help you with that?" The guy obviously didn't work there. He helped me get the flashdrive and I put it in my cart and turned to say thank you and he was gone. The aisle was ridiculously long and I would've seen him if he passed me and unless he was running at the speed of light, he couldn't have gotten to the other end of the aisle. I guess, God has a sense of humor when He sends His angels. Apparently my Angel Man sounded like the Terminator and looked like Chuck Norris. But God is good.

Something God made clear in my life this week is to seek after Him passionately and to be real. This is already my lifelong goal but God reinforced that this week through various methods. As Christians, are we HOT for Christ? Are we on fire for Him because if we're lukewarm or chilly, God needs to work in our hearts. God is working in my heart for sure. This week I was reminded that I really am there for the kids, to be in their lives, to care about them, and to show them the love of Christ daily.

Finally, God made something else clear. If we are constantly surrounded by people who only think, dress, act, speak, and look like us, we’ll never grow. God brings differences together to challenge us, to break us for Him, to encourage us, and to ultimately bring us back to Him. If we aren’t being challenged, we aren’t growing. Wow! That was a tough pill to swallow. God’s still working in me on that one.

Thanks again for your prayers. I appreciate them all. I see them at work. God is really blessing this experience for me. This is about God, not me. This is for the kids, not me! I am really seeing the desperate need to be in with my Father daily… praying, in the Word, and praising Him and remembering how holy and worthy of praise He is.

I was listening to Jeremy Camp this week so this week’s song is “Speaking Louder than Before.” Why aren’t we, as Christians, speaking up and speaking out and doing something about these hurting, broken people right in our own backyard? God has really convicted me of this is the past year and especially in these past few weeks. I want to make this song my life’s work. I think this song nails everything I’ve been working for: boldness, healing, hope, love, passion, unity, service, compassion, and genuineness.

Ponder the lyrics with me.

Hear now this declaration
From out across the nations
We need to wake up and understand

Many hurting hearts are crying
But our voices seem to be dying
Can you see the battle raging on?

Bridge: We are the light to reach this world
We are the salt preserving these souls
Let’s show them the love we’ve received now

Chorus:
We are, we are in desperation
We need to reach this generation
We are speaking louder than before
We are the hope that’s been forgotten
We have the love that will be brought and
We are speaking louder than before

Take every chance that you can
Move together taking a stand
Never losing heart, we’ll speak as one

We are the image of Christ
Show love and serve at all times
We can make a difference in these lands

Bridge
Chorus

Every thing’s so surreal
But this urgency I feel
We should be reaching out to
All these desperate pleas
Oh the meet is real, can’t you feel
Let’s call it revolution
My beating heart is breaking for them
That’s why I’m speaking now
That’s why I’m speaking now

Bridge
Chorus
Chorus