By Dila* (Klik disini untuk baca dalam Bahasa Indonesia)
Praise be to the Lord, who has given me health and wisdom. I am very grateful for the Lord’s kindness and presence with me as I do my internship in this place. It has now been more than four months. The longer that I am here, the more I learn and continue to have new experiences. At first, my transition here was fairly difficult, but now I feel like I have adapted well. I have met many kind, sincere people here. I have learned so much from the amazing people in this place. I can also feel the warmth and joy from the children at House of Hope.
Facing children every day in this place has been a lesson in sincerity and patience. Christ has been teaching me to love these children with His love. I want to be a good role model for these children, and I hope that through me they can experience the love of Jesus Christ in their lives.
Feeling failure & encouragement
However, sometimes I have felt like a failure, like I am not making any difference in this place and that I am not actually doing anything to help the children here. One day when I was really thinking about this, I felt like a failure and hopeless. I know that the truth is that everything we work at is a process, but I felt like I was not able to do anything. At that time, I read a verse from 1 Corinthians 15:58: “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (NIV).
This verse gently rebuked my feelings of hopelessness and encouraged me. The Lord encouraged me to stand firm, without moving, and to continue serving in this place where the Lord has placed me. I should not listen to the voices or whispers that condemn me, whispers that want to make me fall—these voices are not the Lord. This verse also strengthened me to continue serving in this place; whatever I do in the name of Jesus will not be in vain, there will be fruit (whether or not I get to see it). This verse encouraged me to continue to believe, to remain enthusiastic, to have faith to continue to do everything for the Lord—and everything only for the Lord’s glory and so that people here can feel the Lord’s love through me.
God answered my complaint
One day, I felt like the Lord answered my doubts and my feelings of hopelessness. I went to visit the home of one of our students; I got to meet the student’s mom and dad. I was not expecting it, but the mom started to share about her daughter’s good grades in school. The mother’s story made me realize that what I have been teaching during daily lessons to the children does have an impact. I felt like this was God answering my complaint. The mom continued to share about how lessons at House of Hope helped her daughter for many years, and how what she learns at lessons often has not even been taught in school yet—giving her daughter a head start at school. I was very happy to see the girl’s report card, with wonderful marks (many 100%!). I know her good grades are not all because of me, but I felt happy—I felt like this was a little bit of proof that my being here is not in vain, that in some small way I am helping these children.
I am very grateful to the Lord, who did not leave me feeling like a failure, but gently rebuked me, strengthened me, pushed me, and answered me. My greatest hope is that these beautiful people will come to know the Amazing Lord. Jesus Christ is good.
This is my short testimony. God bless you.
*name changed for security reasons
