We loved every minute our students were on the mountain. We made sure they had food, clothes, shoes—everything they needed every single day. But the day came when we had to say goodbye to our oldest students and watch them step into the real world.
For years, we knew they ate breakfast and lunch every day. We knew the extra food bags helped some of them get through the weekends. We knew they received love and support daily. But now, they aren’t on the mountain every day anymore… and it feels so different.
Still, we check in with them. I still receive messages when they need help. What kind of help? Unexpected expenses, University paperwork, decorations for new classrooms, excitement about an interview, help with resumes, and good news about a new job. And we love hearing from every one of them.
It was mid-January, and we were concerned about the lack of self-motivation we were seeing in one of our former students. For two months, we had watched her try to navigate life on her own. We patiently waited—hoping she would enjoy her freedom during the holidays, then get a handle on life in January. Instead, she chose to continue sleeping late, avoiding work responsibilities, and attending college classes only on Saturdays.
So it was time for a heart-to-heart conversation.
She sat in the office with me and Chino. Chino began speaking, and she immediately started defending herself. I waited quietly until it was my turn.
“What do you have right now?” I asked. As she spoke, I wrote everything down on a piece of paper where she could see it.
No money.
No car.
No house.
No moto.
No job.
Then I asked, “In ten years, what do you want to have?”
She didn’t hesitate.
“A job. Money. A house. A car.”
Next, I asked, “For six years, you came every day to be part of Grace Ministries. What did Grace Ministries provide for you during those six years?”
Without hesitation, she answered:
“God. Love. Support. Opportunities.”
I was taken aback. We had just listed everything she had and didn’t have—tangible things. But when she thought about Grace Ministries, the first things that came to mind were not tangible at all.
It taught me about God.
It showed me true love.
It gave me support.
It provided opportunities to serve.
“Food?” I asked.
“Oh yeah, food too,” she laughed.
We continued adding tangible items to the list: jobs, money, education, school supplies, clothes, breakfast, lunch. The list kept growing until I stopped her.
“For six years, we prepared you to enter the real world. We are not angry with you—but we are disappointed.”
(For anyone who has ever heard their parents say, “I’m not angry, I’m disappointed,” you understand.)
The tears began to fall. Her lips trembled. I pulled her close and whispered, “Our love for you will never change. But you are better than this. You were created for more than this. You were created for a purpose. We believe in you.”
She didn’t say a word.
I hugged her tightly and walked away, trusting God to bring to her mind every single truth she had heard over the past six years.
The very next day, she was offered a part-time job. The following week, she was offered another. We are perfectly fine with her working two part-time jobs while attending university. We are praying that God places godly people in her life. People who will always point her to Jesus.
And we will continue to love her, support her, and point her to Him.
She was created for a purpose by a loving God—one who knit her together in her mother’s womb.
Shining Light Abroad Ministries 