Ups and downs
It's a roller coaster sometimes. Of course life in general can be like that, but somehow it seems that what we do has just a little more peak and valley than average. This is essentially youth ministry, and perhaps every youth pastor knows the feeling.
There are days when you see someone "get it". They make a good decision, show some insight, change their interests and behavior. At the same time, someone else is careening madly downhill. Sometimes a whole bunch plummet together. Sometimes someone that just hit a peak one week completely dives the next. Those times are when the temptation to pack up and go back to America comes to mind.
It doesn't last long. We've been in ministry with broken people long enough to know that these kinds of trials do come, that most new Christians go through periods of testing and backsliding. Last Sunday Mae, our 14 year-old, announced she was quitting school. She took her things and went to stay with her mom across town. Her mom agreed by phone that Mae should stay in school, but it is apparent from Mae's history that her mom does not stand up to her daughter. Thankfully schools closed for a few days due to the protests happening in Bangkok (although far away from us), so Mae only missed 2 days instead of 5. Through the prayers and intervention of several, including a couple of our own students, Mae will be back in school Monday.
But otherwise it's downward momentum for quite a few, at least today. Ae, 19, is a motivated student with a very bright mind. She has been a Christian just long enough that the honeymoon has worn off and doubts are creeping in. Today at church she had on a nightclubbing top--not terribly sexy, but unusual for Ae. She had told me several times that she used to enjoy wild living, but not anymore. Today however at church she was spiteful, saying she wanted her old life back.
Joy has been sick and discouraged, pulled down yet again by her dysfunctional mom. Jane has been extra self-centered and shallow. Waw is tired and depressed. June started worry about money again--probably her biggest weak spot. Wan left as quickly as she came back and obviously still needs more time. Mint is just as stuck as ever in a sick codependent relationship.
Sigh. It's ok though. We'll keep going, and God will use these slips and slides to teach and grow leaders. The general direction is still upwards.
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Reply #9 on : Sun September 14, 2008, 18:21:47