Humbled

This past week has been a bit strange for me.  I was sick -- coming down with pneumonia, so God put a halt on most ministry... and because I became sick away from Quisqueya, I have been at the SCORE complex since last Sunday.  Most who know me though know that not doing anything and just resting is a lot easier said than done.  But, I did rest completely for 2 days.  Then, slowly, I would rest during the day and help out with the Baseball conference that was here, sharing about opportunities for sponsoring a child through SCORE at the orphanage or at Emanuel House.

The other thing that I did do this week was work with Dalma (the founder of the orphanage that I work with.)  I took her shopping for a second set of school uniforms for the girls and helped a future missionary family get to and fro.  They will be moving to Pasitos Orphanage sometime next year to help out with the ministry.  I think it will be a true blessing to the girls and to Dalma!  Please pray for them.  They are just starting to raise funds and trying to figure out their exact ministry.  They are the Enget family and are from Tampa.

Anyway, in the midst of being away from my normal routine, not feeling completely myself, and not feeling like I was being helpful in the way that I normally am, the Lord embraced me through the girls and Dalma at Pasitos.  I had spent most of Thursday with Dalma and the missionary family that will live with her. And then on Friday returned so that they could say goodbye and so that I could help her with some other errands, and I had the privilege to see her home.  (That's where the humbling comes in.)  I don't know what I expected, but her home came as a surprise to me.  She had a beautiful house, peaceful, still humble, but so nice.  She told me she had lived there since she and her husband were married.  But, 6 years ago when she started the orphanage, she began dedicating her whole life to minister to the girls through the orphanage.  She no longer lives at her house nor with her husband or sons.  They stay at the house and she and her daughter are at the orphanage.  Not that the niceness of her house made a difference, but I realized in that moment all that she had left behind for what she does.  And, I had the opportunity to understand her life a little better as well by looking at old family pictures of the kids when they were little, what life was like before she started Pasitos de Jesus.  They were not a poor family like many here.  They seemed happy and clearly loved and were following the Lord.  And she gave it up!  Still happy, their life looks very different.  She does not enjoy many of the conveniences that she has and chooses to live in a smaller, less comfortable place.  GOD IS SO GOOD!  I praise Him for Dalma and what she is doing with those girls.

I know that part of God's BIG plan here in using me involves building relationships with people here.  The fact that Dalma took me to her house shows me that more and more, she is feeling comfortable with me and wanting to share life.

When we returned from her house, I thought I was leaving.  And, Dalma told me, "nope."  She called some of the older girls over to wash my car.  (It was pretty dirty.  Traveling on dirt roads daily does not lead to a clean car.)  Having them wash my car was such a humbling experience.  They took out all of the mats, washed them, there is no vacuum so they brushed out the dirt from the inside using a broom and even wiped down the seats.  They let me help a little... but I was just amazed that they would do that for me.  I recognize their love for me -- enough to notice my dirty car which I hadn't had a chance to clean  -- and then wash it.  (They washed it, by the way, without one single complaint.  Those girls are so obedient and love serving.) And, that simple action made me think of home.  In the states, I sometimes would get in the habit of being so busy that I didn't take care of the little things of my own -- like washing my car.  My dad always made sure that my car was clean when I went home.  So grateful for those who notice.

And, probably one of the funniest and sweetest things of the afternoon was that in the middle of us washing the car, it began to rain... and little by little I witnessed little girls running out of the building with only their underwear on shrieking and giggling as the rain fell on them!  Pure heaven!

I am thanking God for the relationships that are being built.  I thank God for the sacrifices that people have made and continue to make to be in ministry here.  I praise God for beginning to feel better.  May He continue to strengthen my body, my spirit and my understanding of His truth!

Lord, may you bless Dalma and the ministry that she is doing at Pasitos.  Recognize the sacrifices that she and others have made to do Your work!  Keep the girls safe and full of your joy and continue to bring them closer to you.