The Power of Belief

   I love my job in sponsorship. I love to see the way that children’s lives are transformed by having someone believe in them. Belief is such a powerful weapon for restoration and transformation. 

   This past month report cards came out for our second semester of classes. It has been fun to see how many of our students are succeeding in school and have grown within the past several months. I want to celebrate one student in particular. 

    Meet Justin. 

     This precious little boy joined our sponsorship program in February of this year as the new school year began. The first time I talked with his teacher, she told me that Justin is a distraction in class, often acts out, and fights with other children. She said that his behavior was affecting his performance in class. It was hard for me to reconcile what I knew of this sweet, joyful kid with the report that I was hearing from his teacher. Yet as I observed his class, I saw Justin pushing other students’ desks, shouting out in class, etc. 

   The following Sunday I pulled him aside in Sunday school to talk to him about his behavior in class. His eyes welled up with tears. He talked to me about being picked on by other kids. I began to talk to him about healthier ways to handle these bullying situations without resorting to violence. I told him how much we loved and believe in him and how much we wanted to see him walking in MORE.  

 

    For the past several months we have continued to check in on Justin and encourage him. He has come to tutoring with our New Song staff and some of our visiting teams. One of our World Racers in April, Karissa, spent an entire month loving, teaching and investing in Justin. (To read her blog, read: Mi Querido Dinosaurio). Through this belief and love, Justin is growing in incredible ways. It is beautiful to see the transformation in his heart.  

    This past month as report cards came out for the second grading period, Justin’s grades had improved in all of his classes. Cadence visited his school again last month and his teacher said that Justin’s classroom behavior has improved greatly as well. I am so proud of this sweet boy and the progress he has made this year! 

    I absolutely love these stories of transformation. This is one of the many reasons that I love my job and am so thankful to be a part of what the Lord is doing in these beautiful kiddos’ lives.