There are days that I have to ask myself why I even try. Hannah is screaming and throwing things at me because she does not want to take a nap today. Meme is sitting at the table pretending to not understand her math, which she did perfectly yesterday. People everywhere lie to us, steal from us, talk about us behind our backs, and try to trick us. There are very few here that we can trust totally. Even our caretaker steals from us and lies to us. The government does not want us here helping these people. So, why are we here? Why do we stay when we are working against such odds?

These were my thoughts the other day as I was overloaded with problems. Our translator was discouraged and talked of leaving, two of the boys were giving me a really hard time about the school rules, and I was tired out from having worked so hard on the house.  I realized right away that Satan was attacking, and that I had to reconnect with God so that I could meet the challenges. After some prayer time, I went back to the living room and had a long talk with Pearl. We were able to work out her troubles, and she is thrilled to be a permanent part of our team.

Next on the list were the naughty boys. I sat them all down and had a long talk with them. They hung their heads and did not respond to my earnest entreaties. So, I assigned their work for the day and went to my teaching. During Karen class, I watched them steal food and run up to the caretakers house with it. (They probably thought that since I was studying, I would not notice) I knew then that I would have to do something, but what? How do you help people who are rebellious? So, I told the other students that they could not ask these two naughty ones to do anything, or to come for lunch, or anything until I had decided what to do about them. We would not stop them from participating with the school program, but we would not keep reminding them about things either. So, we all slyly watched while they played their guitar, and swung in the hammock during work time. Every move they made was full of rebellion, and an “I don’t have to” attitude.

Finally, in the afternoon, Roy called me! I had been waiting anxiously for him to reenter the country so that I could talk to him about things. He agreed with me that something had to be done right away, and we both felt that God was telling us to have them leave the school. That morning as I watched them steal, and be lazy during work time, I was pretty angry with them. (Travis called it righteous indignation!) But, by the time I had to talk to them about leaving, I had no indignation left, only a lot of pity and concern for their futures. God is sure good! I was able to talk to each one separately and they both admitted their guilt. We sent Senaytoo away, and then we took Seh Doe to the Pastor’s house to spend the night before hiking back to his village. Before leaving the house, Seh Doe handed a note to Travis. In the note, he stated that he was very thankful for what we had done for him, and that he understood more about God now. After the Pastor talked to Seh Doe for a while, we decided to let him stay with the Pastor until Monday, when we will talk with him again. He does not want to leave us, and we do not really want to see him go! He was a very good student before Senaytoo came.

While we were talking to the Pastor, a girl from church came up to us and asked if she could attend our school! This girl is fluent in Thai, but wants to learn English and Karen. This was an amazing answer to prayer, since Senaytoo had just been kicked out and he had been our Thai teacher for the brief time that he was with us. Meme has to learn to speak Thai since she will go to a Thai school when she is ready, so I was worried about what we would do without a teacher. Like I have said before, God has a thousand ways that we know nothing of!

Then, just to encourage me, God sent another blessing this morning! We got a phone call from a girl who had seen us drive by her house on the motor bike. She had noticed all the kids in our trailer, and asked questions until she found out who we were and what we do. She is not a Christian, but is wanting to come to our school and learn. She is willing to learn about God and study the bible. So we asked her to come and visit us so that we can meet her in person. If she is willing to come after she learns all the particulars, then we will have yet another student.

I think that this is the reason that Ellen White tells us that we cannot go by our feelings and emotions. We stay because God put us here. We know that He is in control of this school.  If people charge us too much, steal from us, and lie to us, then they are not doing it to us, but to God who sent us. We can share in the tears that are shed in heaven over the sin in this dark world. And in the end, isn’t this helping us? We are having to put more and more confidence in the guidance of God, instead of our finite understanding.

At the same time, we are experiencing the joy that submitting to Christ brings. I was really, REALLY worried about Thau Me while we were dealing with the other boys. He hovered around, listening in to each conversation, and pacing back and forth. I knew that he was having a real struggle in his mind. He has had some problems, and almost left us once. But, he had made the decision to follow God, and had been doing a great job. But, to lose both of his friends in one day, and be the only male student left? I wondered if it would be too much for him and he would leave also. But after listening in to the conversation with the Pastor, and hearing our responses, he was jubilant! I have never seen a happier young man in my life.  He and Pawkuhmooeydee  were in rare form at English class…I had not realized how much stress the others were causing to our gentle Pawkuhmmoeydee. Then, at bedtime, Thau Me went and got all the blankets that the other boys had been using and with much glee, started padding his bed with them! Travis got into the spirit and brought out an extra foam pad to add to the bed, and when it was done, Thau Me laid down in great comfort and contentment! The girls were  laughingly complaining about their hard beds in their rooms! I think that soft bed did him a lot of good, because before I got up at 6 this morning, he had prepared breakfast, cleaned up the yard and burned the trash, and repaired the porch which was falling down.

What this tells me is that if I follow God, he will work things out for His honor and glory, and I will find that life is better than I thought possible. Why try? Because it is SO worth it!