God is so unbelievable! I continue to be more and more convinced of His hand in my life and in the lives of my students. Two amazing things happened this last week with my students. While the two may seem unrelated, I believe that one crucial thing connects them- the power of prayer. One is an answer to prayer, and the other, a call to prayer.
Last week, my 3rd graders were coming inside from their morning recess. Most often, this is a time when I stand by the door to the room and remind each of them that they are back inside and that their voice levels should now be significantly lower than before. :-) One student always seems to need reminding. Her name is Ana (Gabby) Munoz. She is a darling girl, who always seems to struggle with knowing when it's appropriate to talk, when it's not, and at what level all of this should be. This time, however, she was completely silent. At first, I was cheering, thinking, "She's got it!!". But then I noticed that she was silently crying. She rarely cries. I asked her what had happened, and she said, "I say sorry to Ana and she won't accept it." My heart broke.
So I pulled both of the girls out to talk this over with them. Apparently, they had each hurt the other's feelings, and when Ana had ignored Gabby, she lost it, and hit her. When she told me this, I can honestly say I wasn't super shocked. Anger, irritation, and revenge are pretty normal responses for her. While this all may seem trivial to read (normally I would agree), what she said next made me cry...literally and right in front of her. "Miss Cooper, I try and try to not be angry, and I pray and pray at church and in school, but it just builded up in my insides and I couldn't help it. So I hit her. Me was wrong. I say sorry to God, and to Ana, but she won't accept it."
Wow. This coming from a child who, last year, felt it was okay (normal even) to cheat on a test, and who had no problem doing and saying all the wrong things, had finally realized that the only way she could change was to turn to the Lord. She knew what she had done was wrong, had repented of her sins to the Lord first, and then had tried to restore her relationship with her friend. It was at that moment that, even though she had been horrible to her friend, I was so super proud of her.
I know it was because there are people, all over the world, who lift her up in prayer on a daily basis. She is not alone. There are people who are fighting for her life every day in the best place that the battle can be won- in the Spirit. It is making a difference in her life. It may be slow in coming, but the change is not just an outward change. It's happening on the inside first. That is the best place for it to start for it to create a lasting change in her life. So for those of you helping in fighting her battle, I say, THANK YOU! You are making a difference in her life!
When I think about the power of prayer, I realize that it is the best and, sometimes, the only way that a battle can be won. So many times, we are unable to be involved in helping with a situation. At times, it makes us feel inadequate and helpless. But that isn't the case. We can affect change simply by taking time out of our lives to communicate a need to the Lord. He hears and knows.
I was recently sent this letter from a friend about an opportunity to help change the lives of college students in Texas. I'm super excited about this! At first, I was going to do this by myself. But then, as I read Caitlyn's letter, I was struck by two things. First, the theme verse- Isaiah 40:29-31. It just so happens, that right now, my students are memorizing this verse for a presentation that we will be giving to parents for our 1st annual Open House. The second thing was the timing. The retreat will be held one week after our Open House! It may seem to some like I'm reading into this, but if I've learned anything from this group of 3rd graders it's this-God uses strange and seemingly insignificant details to make amazing things happen. For this reason, my students will be participating in the prayer project with Caitlyn and the other leaders of Raider Awakening. I hope that other people will see the incredible opportunity that this is and join with us!
Here is a copy of the letter that was sent to me. Feel free to pass it along to anyone that you know who has a prayer ministry, or just really has a desire to affect change!
My Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
My name is Caitlyn Ritz and I am a junior at Texas Tech University and an active member in the
Catholic Student Ministries here in Lubbock, Texas. I am writing you today on behalf of Raider
Awakening #47. Raider Awakening is a retreat for college students designed and planned completely by college students. Its purpose is to help the students strengthen their personal relationship with Christ and to find a community in which they can further grow and serve our Lord. I retreated Raider Awakening #41 during my first semester as a freshman at Texas Tech University. It was here at this retreat that God set me on fire for Him in a way that I had never experienced before. He presented me with a community that has pushed me to expand my faith and personal relationship with Christ, as well as to serve Him. Since retreating, He has called me to staff and even lead the Raider Awakening community. I now have the honor of being the Palanca speaker for Raider Awakening #47. Palanca is the Spanish word for lever. The Palanca talk uses the analogy of a lever to illustrate how, with constant prayer and sacrifice; we are able to be lifted up by Christ, especially when we are weighed down by sin and the hardships in our lives. It is through this lever of prayer and love that Raider Awakening continues to bring the retreaters closer to the Body of Christ. The theme for Raider Awakening #47 is A Hope to Live For. The verse accompanying our theme is Isaiah 40: 29, 31. The theme and verse for this retreat have challenged each of the staffers to discover what their hope for Raider Awakening #47 is and to pray for the hopes of the retreaters as well. My hope for this retreat is that the retreaters realize the power of love, prayer, and community on the retreat and in their own lives. This hope is what drives me to contact you today. What I ask of you today is a very important favor. I would like for you to join us in the Palanca of Raider Awakening #47 by offering up prayers for the retreaters. The retreat will take place on September 21-23, 2012. I would also ask you to write a letter of prayer for the retreat so that the retreaters are able to see the extent of the love, prayer, and community that surrounds them. A major tradition of this retreat is to wrap the entire room with a poster filled with these letters of prayer that demonstrate God’s love. These letters do not have to be elaborate and can incorporate anything from drawings or photographs, to sacrifices, to words of encouragement. Please involve as many people as possible in writing letters and praying for this retreat. In the past, people have forwarded letters to their schools, Sunday classes, and vacation bible schools. People have also sent letters to their priest or pastor, bible studies, and to their families and friends. There is no limit to what prayer can do, so please feel free to send as many letters as you can! I want the retreaters to be overwhelmed by the amount of love and prayer that not only surrounds them physically during the Palanca talk, but surrounds them constantly in their everyday lives. Below is my contact information. Please mail or e-mail the letters to me, whichever is more convenient for you. You may start sending letters to me as soon as possible. Thank you so much for your support and selfless love of our organization. We ask for you to please lift up and pray for the retreaters in the months to come. I cannot stress how much your prayers will contribute to making this retreat possible. I will be praying for you as well as we prepare for Raider Awakening #47! Please contact me with any questions or concerns. My phone number is 915-861-6577.
God Bless you!
With His eternal love,
Caitlyn Ritz
You may send letters to:
St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Student Center
C/O Caitlyn Ritz
2304 Broadway
Lubbock, TX 79401-2917
E-mail: palanca47@gmail.com
Phone: 915-861-6577
