So, a few weeks ago, a friend sent me this picture.
Yep! This is my brain in a nutshell …
My brain is all over the place.
My thoughts are everywhere.
If you've ever talked to me, this image explains why sometimes when I'm talking it may take me a while to get to the point…
It explains why it may take me a while to publish a new blog or why ideas may seem jumbled or why when talking if I haven't planned what I'm going to say, I may just end my thought mid sentence (and yes, that did happen once in a devotion that I was giving and happens all the time in prayers!)
There is just so much going on in my brain that I often have a hard time articulating everything that I am seeing, hearing and thinking. And yet, I smile -- understanding that God made me that way. I know that I am not the only one like that and someone who is reading this relates to me. But for those of you who don't, this is my brain!!! Seriously… and like 20 times more like this since I've moved here...
So, over the past month, in some ways it seems like so much has been going through my mind and it is hard sometimes to write it all down. In other ways, it seems like life is just passing by, and while I am walking day after day through life, trying to live intentionally serving the Lord, I feel like I don't have anything "good" to write about.
Anyhow, I figured that for this blog, I would write random thoughts or happenings … things that have been on my mind or that have happened over the past few weeks… things that God has told me through His Word and events of my every day life. They are connected in that God has allowed them to happen in my life, but at the same time, not connected at all. I hope that you enjoy them and maybe can see that God is working… in small and big things.
Collecting kids stories and pictures for child sponsorship, translating, and sending letters to sponsors.
Working with my team which is composed of an Emanuel House teacher, the twins and some other teenagers to share the Bible with neighborhood kids once a month. Sharing the Easter story and why we celebrate Holy Week. The girls acted out the story while I read, we enjoyed an activity, and we watched a movie with popcorn! Praising God for helpers and the ability to teach others to lead as well!
Enjoying something a little different… visitors from Florida, the capital, and from Washington DC came to spend time with the kids doing art and singing all for God's glory. Recognizing that God gave us outlets like art and music to get out frustration and sadness and joy. Appreciating Him for providing space to enjoy our artistic abilities in the last month!
Teaching my kids….
Calendar time…Day 15 of counting popsicle sticks...
The letter L...
Counting backwards and forwards from 30...
Sitting in a circle for the first time…
Picking out numbers that they recognize and putting them in a bucket...
Little Arlenis getting out of her seat, walking over to me wherever I am in the classroom, and putting a star stickers on my arm over and over again throughout the morning…. This sweet little gesture makes me appreciate 6 year olds. Thinking about the book by Max Lucado You Are Special.
Spending a full day at the zoo with 6 kids whose sponsors sent birthday money for them to enjoy and spending it with a close friend and his family. Seeing kids enjoy their first trip to the zoo while experiencing God's creation up close. Realizing that snakes and monkeys and alligators and ponies and and flamencos are all real, that chimps do beg for food, and that hippos like to be in the water and out of the water. It was a first going to eat at Burger King before the zoo and getting to shop for a gift themselves after the zoo. And, something I'll never forget… car sickness. I've never had kids, but I think car sickness is pretty normal. Every time that we have gone on a trip in the Dominican with kids (who rarely travel by car or bus), every single time… (minus one) there has been vomit. And this trip to the zoo was no exception! I don't know if I'll ever get used to it. Plastic bags are a must!Saying goodbye to GAP students who have been here for 8 months, three of whom who have been working at Emanuel House by working with kids who are really behind academically, helping with Child Sponsorship behind the scenes, and leading PE. Hoping that they have seen God's light shine through me somehow, praying that their spiritual walk was strengthened, and praising Him for what He has in store for their futures!
Reminded of Romans 12:1-2… the verse that helped me know that loving the Lord is not just being saved from Hell, but that loving the Lord is something that we do with all of ourselves. Reminded today that in sacrificing ourselves, surrendering our bodies and our strength and our mind each day to Him, he will reveal His will to us. Thankful for that reminder.
Confirmed in my love for and giftedness in relationships with teenagers and kids. Wondering what God has in store for me longterm in that!
Raising kids is not easy. Working with twins 24/7 is not easy. Disciplining isn't easy either. Yet, I really like the "mom-ish" duties. I'm enjoying making dinner, speaking to, and spending time with Josefa and Josefina who've come to live with us.
Having to cut off all of the damaged hair into a "boy cut" caused lots of tears and defiance. One was obedient, one not so much. God provided opportunity to share about how we are all His creation and how we are beautiful hair or no hair or little hair. Hair is not what gives us identity nor what makes us girls. So, having confidence in Him and not in what others say to us is important. Praying for identity in Christ today.
Fighting.
Disobeying.
Not forgiving.
One of the twins has a disobedient streak it seems.
Anger. Sadness. An unrepentant heart.
Talking with her often about the need to forgive and to have a good attitude. Encouraging her and teaching the importance of being in the Word, memorizing scripture, and applying it to life while trying to do those same things in my life.
Spending time with the girls watching movies (Akeelah and the Bee / Anne of Green Gables), going to church, cooking and eating together, visiting their brother in a nearby orphanage. Doing life. They love going to Bible Study with me and going to church with Mirqueya and Niña, the Emanuel House cook!
Reminded of Job today who God allowed to go through hard times in health among many other things. The devil thought that Job would be angry at the Lord for it. But, Job praised Him anyhow. Encouraged by Job to keep going even though I don't feel great every day.
Retreating for 3 days on the northern part of the island at a beautiful house with other missionaries. It was a wonderful getaway…. having good conversations, painting, walking on the beach, and enjoy seeing mountains! One of my favorite parts was teaching the missionaries a Wesleyan favorite game -- pterodactyl. So much laughter! And, while we were gone, the girls behaved so well that we got to take them to the pool on Sunday for an afternoon of pure enjoyment and laughter.
Reading about Joseph and his brothers and how even though his brothers were not nice to him and he became a slave… and even though he got thrown into jail… he remained faithful to God. Reading about how he still used the gifts that God had given him even while in jail even in hard times. And how in remaining faithful to the Lord, God lifted him out of hard times and eventually he became an advisor for the king -- which eventually led him back to His family. Reading about Joseph's forgiving heart and desire to truly please the Lord and the use of His gifts is an encouragement to me to keep on walking!
Encouraged by God's work in spite of me. Encouraged by how He has equipped another teacher alongside me, Natalí. She's learned so much and gained so much confidence as a teacher this year.
Encouraged by the kids who are learning! Today in class, one of my kids (not the smartest) spelled out the words, licuadora (she spelled it liqadora), lapiz (she spelled it lapis), loco, luna, lampara (yep! She got those right!). They are learning! Even though I still have little Jhojancel who cannot spell his name (I mean it is hard!) and others who struggle still with numbers 1-10, they are learning. And for that I give ALL the glory to God! Focusing on the small improvements!
Praying for God's continued direction, guidance and clarity. Praying for His will and not my own. Praying for continued depth of community, support and love. Praying for all those who support and love me back in the States. Praying for good health. Praying for obedience in His call for my life. Praying for a pure heart, deepened faith, and more of Him every day!
