Restless

It’s late. I’m restless. Honestly, I’ve been restless for the last 24 hours or so. It took me a while to pinpoint the issue. I fell asleep last night praying and crying out to God as this uneasiness in my soul is uncomfortable. Then it hit me... tomorrow will mark the beginning of my last 30 days here with Futuro Lleno de Esperanza. 

I’m thankful for this 9months. I can’t believe how swiftly it has flown by. It’s been amazing, rewarding, strengthening and purifying. It’s also been hard. Lonely at times. Challenging.   That’s what happens when you step out on faith. The road is not always smooth, but you always finish the journey having grown in ways that you didn’t sign up for. Seriously. 

I leave tomorrow for a couple of days in Santo Domingo.  I’m excited to see the capital city and the southern part of the country.  I’m excited to meet some folks who I most likely will be spending alot of time with in August. Yep, it seems that the Lord has me on this island for a little while longer.  And that’s a good thing. I’m excited to be able to continue to serve here.  I don’t know about you, but for me, anytime when I think about launching out into a new direction, a new assignment, DOUBT, creeps in. big time. 

Like the disciples in Matthew 8, I'm so prone to forget that I'm not on the ship by myself.  I'm not journeying alone.   I have a heavenly father, who is Super-Capable, can not fail, who is with me. I have no need to be afraid or worried.  I was looking for devotionals on this topic and ran across Renee Swope’s 7 day doubt diet/devotional. It’s free on itunes/ilibrary, nook, kindle, etc. Maybe doubt is keeping you from making that tough leap, from starting a new job, getting involved in a new area of ministry, etc, etc. As Renee says, maybe it’s fear or worry that you have blamed all these years, when at the core, it’s self-doubt.  ........ I double dare you to join me in this 7 days of digging into the Word of God to see what He says about having a confident heart in Him.  

Prayer Excerpt from day 1 of  Renee Swope’s devotional 7-Day Doubt Diet

{Lord, I want to become a woman with a confident heart in Christ.  Show me how to recognize when I’m tempted to throw away my confidence, and help me throw away my insecurity instead. ... ... When doubt or insecurity tells me I can’t do something, I will remember that all things are possible to her (him) who believes. In Jesus name, Amen. } 

Meet Robert

Meet Robert.

Robert Luis is one of the l8 five year olds that I have had the privilege of teaching over this last year.  Robert has worn glasses for most of his five year old life. However, they are usually hand me down glasses, that often don't fit well. Mom, has a hard time getting Robert back for follow-up visits so I really don't know how old the prescription is on these glasses. What I do know is that Robert still can't see with the glasses on.






So, Robert passes most of his days getting himself into trouble. Because, what is a kid to do when you can't see the board, nor the paper that is right in front of you, or the book that is 3 fingers away from your nose.  If you are Robert, you climb under the table, you run out into the hallway, you try fighting with the other boys. If you are Robert, that usually doesn't go so well, because he can't really see the other boys to hit them, so he throws a lot of air punches. The other boys, can always see Robert and their punches hurt.









Guess what?? Robert got new glasses 3 days ago. His mom took out a pretty significant loan to take Robert to a local eye doctor and a special pediatric optics place to get glasses that actually fit, are child friendly (Green - Robert's favorite color and plastic), and are the correct prescription!! Woo-Hoo! I must tell you as his teacher I was hoping for a Robert that would sit still and get some work done instead of wandering all over the place. Did. Not. Happen. I'm still hoping, but I imagine it's a process. But at recess, I was looking out at the playground and guess what. Robert can play now! Robert can socialize with other kids. Is that Robert in the line for the slide??

Notice that there is no gap in the line. Robert can keep up now!

That never would have happened before. Robert would barely make it to step #1 or  2 before the other kids would pass him up as he tried to find his way back down.  C'mon now, this is the slide. The most popular thing on the playground so you can't be holding up the line. It really was a safety hazard as the kid could not see the step! If you could see Robert now. Robert went up the slide over and over again. Then down the slide backwards. Then up the slide side instead of the steps.  He had so much fun. Check him out!

Well, I must admit that I had some ulterior motives in introducing you to Robert. He is one really cute kid... and pretty smart too.  Those glasses and the consult cost a nice chunk of money and the loan is fairly significant for this family of five.  I'm not sure of mom's plan for paying it off, but as you mother's out there know, that a true mom will find a way to move mountains for her baby! Mom took a big leap of faith with this loan.  Melanie and I were chatting and trying to figure out how to best help this family.  Melanie got to talking to some friends via social media and before we knew it some $$$ started rolling in. I was working on this blogpost all weekend but blogger was being really crazy and erased my post. Then last night I got a surprise donation on my Pay it Square fundraising page!  What an unexpected and surprise blessing!!  Thank you LORD!!! We now have enough to pay for the consult, the glasses and are well on the way to being able to purchase a spare pair!!

I'm praising God for these wonderful blessings!

Missing You

It's been an incredibly hard week. It's nurse's week.... and I realized how much I miss this wonderful group of nurses that I worked with at LCHC.  They are just a great group of professionals living out their call to Love God and Love People. I miss them. I really do.

It's teacher appreciation week... but I'm not really a teacher, but in obedience I'm teaching kindergartners for 9 months.  Did you know that as the school year winds down to an end that the kids are more hmmm.....  energetic than ever! Which also means more defiant and disobedient as they test limits over and over again.  That can be exhausting. 

Robert, this is NOT OK!!

My uncle died on Monday and I found out on Facebook. Nothing makes you feel more out of touch. Homesick. Grieving the loss of an uncle. Grieving that I'm not physically close to my mom as she buries another sibling.  Top that off with the rainy season and cloudy, gray humid days and I was in the pits. 

Some days it's a choice. You choose to be joyful, when you would rather cry. You hold on to the promises in God's word knowing that he is faithful. My promise for this week comes from Psalms 16:11. 

You will show me the path of life: in your presence is fullness of joy; at your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.  NKJV

Today, those five year olds must have sensed the heaviness in my spirit. As they went back to their seats after story time, one of them noticed that the teacher was still sitting in the reading corner. Before I knew it I was embraced by two little tiny arms. Those little arms disappeared and there was a new set of arms squeezing tight. The next little one gave me a slight kiss on the cheek. and this parade of hugs and kisses continued. and continued. and continued.  As these little ones ministered to me I was reminded again that in God's presence and in HIS will there is fullness of JOY, even on the tough days.

Trust the past to God's mercy, 

the present to God's love 

and the future to God's providence. 

St. Augustine

Let's move it... walking

It's Saturday morning... and I just returned from my morning walk. I woke up excited to go for a walk today. Usually I'm dragging myself out of bed on Saturdays to maybe do a brief exercise circuit.  I'm off the regular weekday walking schedule because my walking buddy and next door neighbor, Chiquita,  has family visiting from the US. After a week of being lazy I decided that I was more than ready to move it, move it. We have walked the same route enough that I felt safe to venture out by myself.

Shortly into the walk I realized that I was sort of making a mental note of all of the 'not normal', but normal for here stuff that I was seeing. Wow, I probably looked really cheesy walking with a stupid grin as I took it all in. It was pretty funny. So, here goes the list. No pictures though, because who goes walking with a camera :).

1.  Are those carcasses? Yes, they are... oh no, I just saw that one get beheaded. Oh, and there is the next goat waiting his turn. Note to self... no goat meat please.

2.  Sidewalk food stands... so this is where it's happening on Saturday mornings. All of the stands that are always parked and empty are busy on Saturday frying salami, serving up yucca and onions or spaghetti to hungry folks. Strangers sit down at a table together and enjoy a quick meal on the go.  Chicago may have some competition for the food truck scene.

3.  Street salesmen who carry all sorts of wares on their head. He was calling out that he had beans for sale, but what's on his head are flowers. I thought I misunderstood (which is completely likely) until the old lady came to her gate asking for beans. I couldn't stick around for his explanation. I gotta keep moving.

Well, there was other stuff too on my list, I promise, BUT I came home and showered and dressed, etc, etc, and I can't remember the rest of my list anymore. I promise you it was really amusing. Is this a sign of old age??

Anyway, about 1/2 way into the walk I was reminded of something that I have not done in quite some time, prayer walking.  Are you familiar with prayer walking? It's a great way to be mindful to pray without ceasing. As I passed businesses, I prayed for economic growth for the DR. I also prayed about the distribution of wealth that has created such disparities between the upper and lower class. When I passed a group of concho drivers (public shared cars) I prayed for safety on the highways. Accidents are the number one cause of death here. I passed a church and prayed that God would continue to raise up Biblically grounded leaders and bring a spiritual revival to the people. I prayed for everything and anything that I passed. I prayed intently and fervently and before I knew it I was almost home.  I may have a new Saturday morning routine!

1Timothy 2:1-3 (The Message)   The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live.