Die Kinder

Well, I am falling in love, and all it took was a couple of weeks. The first few weeks were extremely difficult because I did not know what my role as a nanny should look like...should I try to play the role of a parent, should I be a friend, should I be the cool-fun one that everyone loves all the time? I finally decided on the older sister role; I have always wanted younger siblings (especially brothers), and I figured this is the best way to lead the kids while still having fun with them.

The three kids here took awhile to warm up to me, and for awhile I thought they never would. There were several days when I struggled to see my purpose here, and I questioned God's reasons for bringing me to a place where I had no chance of making a difference. He quickly reminded me my only purpose for being here is to love these children because they need it desperately. Just as quickly I have begun to see the kind of love that God must have for me.

Frani only talks to me when she wants something...yet I still have a heart for her, and I am constantly pursuing her. (I imagine this is what God must feel like when I pray to him only when I want something.)

Ben has an extremely unpredictable behavior, and is usually angry for no reason...yet even when he is cussing at me, I love him and think he is great. This is the kind of love God has for all of us because we are constantly cursing him when he only wants to show us love.

Josh is somewhat fickle...for example: this morning we were walking to the school house, and he gave me a big hug before he went to class. Then, the moment he got home he told me we weren't friends anymore. Clearly this is an example of my fickle relationship with Christ.

I am just amazed that through all of this I absolutely love these kids; they make me laugh, they teach me German, we just hang out together, and we are starting to become like family. (I just hope I really am like the cool-fun older sister in their eyes, and maybe they will be able to see God in me.)

The other day someone at church told me that if you want to hear God laugh, tell him the plans you have for your life. I think God is probably getting a kick out of my life right now because I never would have imagined I would be spending so much time with kids; I am a full-time nanny, I coach a little girls soccer team (that plays in the boys league), I am a youth group leader at the church I go to in Zurich, ha, and I am even taking German classes with a group of mothers, so there are kids at the classes every week. I don't know what God is up to, but I am enjoying hanging out with kids so much...they are great!