Imma is Reading

As I write this blog entry I am sitting in my office with baby Andrew on my lap listening to the younger kids in the next room having their tutoring time.
I can hear Imma...he is reading.
Imma is twelve years old. He had never been to school before when he came to live with us on March 26th. He had to be taught how to sit and listen, hold a pencil, recognize the alphabet, sharpen a pencil, and other simple tasks before we could enroll him in school. He is in first grade. At first this was very hard for him. He is not a big boy but he is bigger than all the other first graders and quite a few years older.
In the beginning school was a struggle and he would get frustrated a lot. His two hour tutoring time turned into three and four hours because he would get frustrated and give up.
One evening during the evening prayer and devotional time Imma prayed aloud to the Lord for help in school. He said that evening he felt in his heart that God was making him smart. Not long after that things began to click. Imma became more focused and less frustrated. Math was becoming more and more understandable to him. Everything was becoming easier...except reading. Imma was improving in so many ways but reading was still so hard. But he was not giving up...he didn't give up and become frustrated. His tutors worked hard with him for hours.
This week there was cheering in the classroom. Imma is reading! It has been a long road but one paved with perseverance for Imma. I am so proud of him.
Imma knows the Lord is with him helping him in school.

As I sit here with a baby on my lap listening to Imma read my heart is full of joy. God is good. I am so thankful. To be here and to see such wonders taking place. It may not seem like a lot but to all of us here it means the world. This is what it is all about...why I am here. I am looking forward to all the other wonders God has for these children.
They know the Lord loves them and He is here helping them and answering their prayers. I can see God doing so much.
Imma is reading. We are so excited. God is so good.