August 18

 The children had their first weekend at home this weekend and have been arriving back here since 4 PM. I don’t know if Monday will be worse or better because of their having been at home. Their home situations are generally fractured. That is one of the reasons so many of them are here – a grandparent has to care for them, and just can’t do it. One set of grandparents has four to raise, three are enrolled already, and the fourth will probably be joining my class tomorrow. If he does, that would be a good thing since I only have one boy so far.

I’ve been reading about Nehemiah and the wall building this week. The workers repaired the gates right away so they would be able to keep things out that were detrimental to the people. That’s what we want to do – keep out some of the “traditional” superstitions that clash and confuse. One of my girls wears her sacred stones, and one in Roger’s class told him that the medicine man went to her house when she was sick. A boy in 7^th grade threw a Bible across the room because something inside him could not handle the light of Christ.

The enemies tried to foil the building of the wall, but Nehemiah reminded the people that God was great and glorious. We fight together on this battlefield – fighting the enemies of these children’s souls. They do not know nor appreciate that they are loved and someone (many people) want the best for them. Please pray that the boys in Roger’s class will settle down, so he will be able to teach them something. Pray that he finds the key to open their minds and hearts. Right now he feels like he is playing “Whack-a-Mole.”

Continue praying so that no gaps remain for the enemy to get in. One of my girls was very offended when we discussed how everyone after the Flood knew the truth about God, but as the nations migrated away from Babel, they forgot the truth. She recognized immediately that we were saying her beliefs had only partial truth.

I like the part in Nehemiah when the wall was completed and the praise singers walked on the wall that the enemy said couldn’t be built. Pray that we will stand firm this year on God’s Word and will look back to see the many blessings God has brought.

Pray for me as I work with one of my other girls who gives a quick negative retort to everything. Pray that I can be like Jesus in my responses to her.

Thank you for your prayers and gifts. If you know anyone else who wants to be on our mailing list, just have them e-mail us.

Roger and Sara Everett
www.Indianschool.org