Ponderings: Humbled and Stripped

Hey folks, prepare yourself for some deep thoughts here...I've been feeling like I need to share with y'all the things (namely tough!) which God has been showing me throughout the past month or so...so hold on to your hats and be prepared for honesty...
Well, first off, God showed me something pretty profound last Monday—a sort-of culmination of the spiritual insights he had recently given me--in a very concrete, physical, hands-on way.
I was on the slow return home from my first vacation time here—I had had an amazing time traveling through Guatemala and Belize with 2 friends from home and my sister—and now my sister and I were spending a bit of time on the Honduran coast before returning to the Ranch where I work. It was a bit late, and we are two very tall blondes who happened to be carrying big purses with the words, “Guatemalan Coffee” written on them...and I was taking a picture of one of the night views on our walk—we totally screamed 'tourists!!' That's pretty much when I became an easy target for a mugging. It was scary, it happened fast, and I lost everything. I had been in the habit while in Guatemala of keeping ALL of my valuables with me in my purse, because I didn't trust some of the places we were staying, and we had been traveling so much that it was just easier to keep my stuff close to me. Well, when we arrived in Honduras, I should have left my things in our hostel, but I felt so much more comfortable in my 'home' country and didn't give a 2nd thought to my belongings. And so, yes, I lost EVERYthing valuable, to make a long story short. It was so hard to deal with this afterwards, and I was just scared and angry at the world. I don't consider myself a very 'materialistic' person, but I was the SADDEST about losing my (BRAND NEW!) camera with ALL of the pictures from our trip (and have I mentioned that I'm really into photography lately and my camera takes GREAT pictures??). I was left feeling so violated and empty and just wanted to return home to the States as fast as I possibly could. All I wanted was comfort and security.
And so begins the introduction to the theme of my life and struggles here in Honduras. It provokes the question: how would I or do I react when I am stripped of the things that are 'me?' Not so well, I've learned. A verse came to mind today that explains life here well: “Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her...” --Hosea 2:15
I feel like the Lord has purposely lead me into the valley a few times in my life to allow Himself to be heard amidst my tendencies to avoid or be distracted from things...and it becomes more and more clear while here that this place is another 'desert' for me from where I can learn more about the Lord's character and how MY character is SO different from His and how I need to learn FROM Him to become more LIKE Him...and it is when I become more like Him that I find true LIFE...but a dying, stripping process happens in the meantime.
ways I've been very humbled:
--I've learned just how much 'ME' time I like in my life, and just how crabby I get when I don't get that 'Me' time. Here on the Ranch, it's definitely hard to get away from people, and especially the kids here. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love my kids, but when they are at my door so many hours of the day, I get pretty selfish. I always knew I was an introvert (though no one yet believes me), but this quality has been exemplified here as I struggle to find time to myself. Why do I need so much alone time? Yes, it's important, but don't these kids here NEED me? And doesn't my spanish greatly improve when I spend time with them---which is what I want?? It's a constant battle, and I feel very selfish in the ways I use and want my time...and things. I've always wanted to be a parent but wonder how selfish I would be if I actually had little rascals calling, 'MOMMY!' all day long...
--I've learned how much 'comfort' I long for...good foods, a HOT shower, money, my own car, my own language, friendships that are easy, ministry and job roles which I'm an 'expert' at, etc etc. I don't feel like I have much of any of these things here, and I am experiencing that 'grass is greener' affect which leaves one constantly feeling a longing for 'better' things. Some days, it just seems so much easier to pack up my bags and go back to my 'previous' life when I didn't have to plan to much ahead of time to obtain what I wanted, needed, etc. I don't necessarily miss the fast pace of America, but I do miss the sense of being able to do things in my 'own' way.
--It's REALLY hard to love day-in, day-out, no matter the circumstance and no matter the attitude or receptiveness of the other person. Yes, I know that I love my kids, but sometimes I feel more impatience, tiredness, or frustration than anything else. And sometimes my Honduran friendships here are so different than those in the US and I am confused by the cultural differences...and am often let down when I depend too much on the new friends I have. And when my godson, on his birthday during the party which I planned for him, said, “I'm bored.” and “The shirt doesn't fit me.” rather than, “Thank you,” I just wanted to throw in the towel and say, “Well, you know that I really didn't HAVE to do this,” and “Do you realize what I did for you because I love you?” And then I remembered how much God loves us when we're ungrateful...and just how ungrateful I can be...and how often I don't say, “thanks” and instead take things for granted. Ouch. It's amazing how God shows up and teaches us through kids, huh?
So yeah, I share these 'tough lessons' with the hopes that some of them can resonate with you and some deserts of discipline maybe you've been through with God. I feel very called to be here, and I see His beauty and purpose in so many things, but it's the 'non-emotional' things that at times make me question my effectiveness here and lead me right back into the Lord's arms...oh, to be so needy...it is a difficult yet perfect place to be. The more time I spend in a developing country, the smaller I feel...the needs of His people are SO great. Rather than feeling like I'm conquering the world, I'm try to just do what I can day by day...hoping to survive...haha.
But I do find hope, even more purpose, and encouragement in the way in which the verse in Hosea concludes: “...[in the desert] I will give her back her vineyards, and I will make...a door of hope. There she will sing as in the days of her youth...”
I sense some singin' coming soon.:)
Love to you all!!

Christmas re-cap

Greetings, y'all...I hope that the recent holiday season was blessed and beautiful for you! Christmas and New Years were already a few weeks ago, but I do want to share a bit about the celebrations here...and since there's still plenty of snow in MN, I'm sure a holiday re-cap for you all up north will feel a little less overdue than it feels here.

Well, in my last blog I mentioned our "Cena Navidena" for all of the kids in my house...and wow, that night was SO special. A fellow volunteer and I made more cake than I've ever seen in my life (each of the kids got 'triple' dessert that night! It had to be Christmas!), and we all ate pinchos (kabobs), rice, and of course fried beans outside beneath the stars and amidst all of the lights from the tree, decorations, and lit candles on the tables...completely and utterly beautiful. And, to close out the night, each Tio gave a blessing for the sacred celebration for the kids, as well as a reminder to SE PORTEN BIEN (behave well!)...these employees knew all-too-well the chaos that would ensue upon their exit to vacation time...haha....

Once the employees left for their 2-week stretch of holiday time, the madness truly did begin...lots of activities, late-night movie-watching, 'bajando los colchones' (putting all of the kids' mattresses on the floor to sleep all together in the dorm!), plenty of junk food, and of course a slackage of the rules and more 'tranquilo' discipline for the kids by the high school and college students in charge of everything. It was completely crazy and exhausting, but I really loved it. Sharing the special moments made me, as well as the rest of the volunteers, feel even more bonded to my kids, and I discovered my new love for 'turno' over-night stay with my kids. I did it for my first time and loved the snuggling with my kids for the night, so I volunteered it 2 more times...and have done it another time since the employees returned...and plan to continue volunteering my nights at the baby house. No, I don't get much sleep, but I love feeling even more like a mom...I thought my maternal longings would be put on hold while here and surrounded by SO many kids, but I was wrong...haha!

Well, on Christmas Eve night I definitely felt like a mom...we had a late night with the kids which involved a Pastorela (Nativity skit...very beautiful!), the tradition CentroAmerican Christmas meal of tamales, and activities in the courts outside. By the time we got the kids to sleep, it was already late, but the volunteers' night of preparing and placing gifts out for the morning had just begun. We put out all of their individual little bags of candy and little toys, the gingerbread houses for both sides of the house, the big toys for everyone, the picture collage of all of the kids, and the special illustrated Bible for everyone....and then we finally went to sleep. A couple of hours later, I just HAD to wake up before the kids to watch them open everything...so fun! And surprisingly more calm than I had anticipated...it was a Christmas miracle...haha.:)

New Years also was full of activity...a great dinner outside, a late-night dance, fireworks, and plenty of chocolate and candy. I worked 'turno' that night and was loving spending my new year with so many kids...it's never been my favorite holiday, so I enjoyed it with all the little cuties.:)

Overall, I thought I'd feel more homesick over the holidays than I really did...I think knowing that Minnesota was cold and snowy and that I was privileged enough to miss out one at least one MN winter in my lifetime made things a lot easier.:) I missed my family a lot when I talked to them on Christmas, and I did feel nostalgic after the holiday when my roommate and I prepared a very American breakfast together and listened to Christmas tunes and talked over candlelight...ahhhh. That definitely was a tradition I missed here...Christmas carols...they don't really sing them here, and when I went to my church for its annual Christmas dinner/program, I was shocked that the church didn't sing all of the traditional hymns we do, just translated into spanish...haha. But everything was still beautiful. And living with Germans made the festivities more fun, too....they really know how to 'do up' Christmas!

So that's that for my Christmas re-cap. It truly was a 'magical' time here...full of Christ's joy, love, peace, and beauty...and I will never forget the experience. I was reminded that God calls us to 'come unto Him as little children'...and I was thankly to experience the significance of that this Christmas.

A Rough Patch

Hey everyone!

Well, my regular 2-week check-in has slowly turned into a 2-month one...yikes! Sorry for the long delay...the rollarcoaster life of Honduras has continued to have its adventurous ups and downs...

Hmmm...where to start...

Well, about a month and a half ago, I went through the dreaded 'culture shock' syndrome, and it was not-so-fun. I was incredibly homesick for a good 3 weeks, as well as physically sick with the worse 3-day virus I've ever experienced...blah!!! I wanted nothing but to return home. I had no desire to be here, and I even started looking for jobs (even those in spanish!) and potential grad schools to start back home...I seriously thought that, if I hadn't already made travel plans with my sister and friend in January, I would have very quickly booked a flight back home. It was definitely a rough stretch, because I also switched my job in the baby house for 2 weeks, and I was no longer working with 7 babes ages 2 to 4 but with a whopping 37 boys ages 4 to 10...whom had no desire to listen to me, their new tia. It was complete chaos! I also switched my weekend rotation, which meant I was working with a whole new group of co-workers and had my break weekends to relax with a different group of volunteers. And amidst the transition, I had my camera and half of my month's stipend stolen from me on the city bus...NO FUN!!!! Lots of new stuff and worries after having been here for about 4.5 months made for an uncomfortable combination and long stretch which I just had to 'get through.'

Well, thanks be to God, I have made it past the rough hump and am now on the up-swing with things...back to enjoying the culture...time with my godson and time at my new church with new friends...and the warm weather! And of course the Christmas season is always fun, especially with the anticipation of dozens of little kids filling the air! Each day with my little kiddies, I try to share the Christmas story of Jesus' birth as we munch on bon bons (suckers) from the daily calendar. Last night, we planned the grand 'Cena Navideña'...the biggest, best dinner of the year for the kids and staff! It was the true beginning of the Christmas excitement for me.=) The kids and staff are also currently constructing a huge nativity scene in the middle of the baby house, so I can't wait to see that finished! I know that I will definitely miss celebrating Christ's birth with my family back home, but I am very excited to experience Christmas here with so many children...the word 'magical' comes to mind, especially since I know that SO many ex-volunteers return here year after here for the holiday!! I will let you know how it goes! Though I must say, I am definitely missing the Christmas tunes in english right now...

Though things have been going better for me, I do have a big prayer request I want to share with y'all. I absolutely love my little kiddies with whom I work, and I really fall more in love with them everyday, but I am still considering a job switch here on the Ranch. I am constantly exhausted here and work a lot more than the other volunteers, so I really struggle with this and my lack of energy for the kids most...if not every...day. There is a job opening right now in the office which translates letters to and from the children and their monthly sponsors. I feel that this job could be interesting for me since I'm a madrina myself, but I do not want to switch jobs for the wrong reasons or against what God wants and has for me here as a volunteer. Please pray that His will be done, and that if I need to step out of my own physical feelings and selfishness, I would do so. If I switch jobs, I will still be working with my kids in the baby house, but just for dinner each night and every other weekend. And I still plan to do my Bible classes with them!

Well, amidst the struggles and longings for home and comfort, I have reminded myself almost daily to laugh and find joy in the little things I experience with the kids. I've made mental notes of the things that make me laugh or smile each day, and I will try to share those things with you the best that I can:

Daily 'warm fuzzies', courtesy of my little babes:

1. Little Kevin, age 4, who asks me 2 questions EVERY day: 'Where do you live?' ('Kevin, I live in my house, close to the boys' dorms on the other side of the Ranch') And, 'Can you remove your finger?' (I have a trick I do with the kids that my dad taught me as a kid...I act like I'm taking off my finger...the kids totally love it!) I think the 2^nd question is asked like 5 times a day, actually, though I only actually do the trick like twice a day...the other times I have to disappoint him and tell him that I just can't do it because it hurts too much....haha!

2. Little Maynor, age 3, who tries desperately to explains things to me all the time, but because his language can't keep up with his busy, intelligent mind, he ends up spouting out a couple of words with much exasperation...I giggle every time, and he just smiles back at me with his, 'thanks for understanding me, Jenna' look.=)

3. Josue, age 4, who randomly has his moments of extreme joy in which he is jumping up and down and giggling profusely...for no apparent reason...all I want to do is hug him and jump with him.=)

4. Mauricio, age 8, who daily comes and hugs me during meals at my table. At first it was so precious and I thought he really loved me, and then he daily started asking me for the food in front of me which he knows I don't like...aprovechado! These kids are more obsessed with food than me, it's hilarious.

5. The fact that 8-year-old girls can kick my butt in soccer makes me both laugh...and cry.

6. Jarvin, age 4, who rolls his spanish Rs (rrrrrrrrrrr) like no one I've ever heard...he needs to teach me his spanish...his is beautiful and hilarious at the same time!

7. Every once in a while on the weekends, we head to a big field in a nearby town with all of the kids from the Ranch. Because the walk is too long for the little kids, we pack all 60-SOMETHING of them into the back of a big truck, and though the trip is only a few miles, it is the funniest yet most dangerous thing of my life. All the kids have to stand, but every time we make a turn or go over a bump, they are falling all over each other, screaming and hitting each other. Also, there is not back door to the truck, so the Tios have to guard the back with their life so that the kids don't fall out. I feel so bad for the little kids who are always getting crushed on our 20-minute tour, but at the same time I can't help but laugh..only in Honduras! It's a 'you have to be there!' kind of experience!

Ok, so there are many more little moments, but those will have to come in a later post!! Don't want to bore you all too much...

Sending you all my LOVE, HUGS, and CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS!!!! May the Lord bless your Christmas moments with His love, peace, joy, and incredible presence. Glory to God in the highest!

“Come to Bethlehem and see Him whose birth the angels sing;

Come adore on bended knee—Christ, the Lord, the newborn King!”

95% Catracha

So this weekend completes my first 4 months here in Honduras...the period of time in which most people back home told me I would begin feeling more comfortable with the culture, lifestyle, language, etc here. And, I must say, all of the words from the wise were definitely true...I officially feel Honduran...or like a "Catracha." Of course I will never be 100% Catracha since I'm way too tall, way too white, and way too blonde...but...I sure can try to fit in here for a while, can't I? Here are some recent acquisitions I've made my own here:

1. I use the words, "pucha!" (shoot!), "cheque" (cool), "fresa" (cool, fresh), and "Que onda, vos?" (What's up, dude/man/etc) WAY too much here! Just trying to talk the slang of the locals!

2. I've started regularly doing the 'exaggerated finger snapping' motion that the Hondurans do when they're really excited or emotional about something...it's hilarious.

3. Last week, for the first time, I ran out of 'saldo' (balance) on my cell phone. Everyone's cell phone minutes here are bought in given amounts of minutes (or lempiras), and EVERYONE in Honduras seems to run out of 'saldo.' It drives me nuts, 'cause people are always asking to use my phone since they don't have any saldo. Well, I finally ran out of my own saldo after everyone continued to use mine!!

4. I drink my coffee (nearly every day now!) just like a Catracho...not too strong, and with sugar. I always assumed that, since much of the coffee we drink in the U.S. is produced here, the majority of the people here would drink their coffee 'straight up' with nothing added...but I was wrong. Everyone needs azucar with their drink!

5. I have begun hanging out with Hondurans during my free time. The first few months, when I wasn't working, the last thing I wanted to do was continue to talk in spanish! But now, I'm really interested in seeing the lives my employees life outside of work. I visited my fellow 'tia' at her house 20 min. away from here this week, and I'm planning to visit other co-workers' houses and towns in the near future! YAY. Their lifestyles are so interesting, and I'm all about free baleadas (flour tortillas, fried beans, and mantequilla).

6. I finally understand the difference between 'quesillo' (a sweeter, better cheese here) and 'queso' (regular, not-as-good cheese:); I was confused for a while!!:) And I made the big mistake of buying queso instead of quesio once...my godson was not too happy.

7. I'm doing what I can to make things from scratch...tortillas, cakes, breads...and trying to improvise with whatever we already have at a given time...saving the little money I make is a great thing! And I'm finally learning to cook---WHEW.

8. I can finally do the girls' hair here like the Hondurans do...it was really tough for a while...they do it so perfectly! In general, the Hondurans are very up on personal appearance...I'm always impressed. And I love that everyone here uses gel in their hair (hence, "gelatina" in my previous post's title...never got around to talking about it!)...the kids are so dang cute when I put it in their hair for school!

9. I frequently call people "guapa/o" (good-looking) 0r even my "novio" (boyfriend...ha!), and I use the word, "feo" (ugly) to describe not-so-good things...some of the most common words here.:)

10. I get just as excited as the kids when there's pan, leche, and arroz for dinner (bread, milk, and rice)!! Anything but beans, please!

11. I finally use a sombrilla (umbrella). Never in my life have I owned an umbrella...I always just ran through the rain quick or used my rain jacket. You can't buy rain jackets here (just sombrias everywhere!), but there's been TONS of rain for this rainy season...it lasts for 6 months here, until December. From Jan. to June there's nothing but dry heat!

12. I actually know a tad bit about the big wide world of soccer/futbol...can you believe it?! Sorry, bro! And I've seen the lines outside of the fast food joints in the big city after Honduras wins...free food for everyone!! Totally cool.

13. I've actually watched parts of a telenovela (the infamous spanish soap operas)...and I must emphasize the fact that it happened ONCE...it's all I could handle...haha! And the television acting is definitely not up-to-par with Hollywood standards...well, maybe Full House, but that's it!!!:)

There you have it, the life and times of the new Honduranian...besitos and abrazos to you all!!

P.S. Please note that, in the pic of me with the ladies, I am actually totally croutching down...and I'm still huge! Eek!

Responsibilidades, Enfermadades, Polvo y...Gelatina??

Hey folks...wow, I am continuing to slack on my blog updates here...sorry! I have a good excuse this time, though...well, several, actually, so THERE!:) Ok, so it's been about a month...



Well from mid-September until the beginning of October, I struggled with my first bout of true homesickness...for about 3 weeks. It was a tough stretch, and I think that a variety of things contributated to this...many announcements from home about engagements, babies, pregnancies, etc; thoughts of the beauty of fall in Minnesota (Sept is my fave month there!); birthdays, and my own stretch of physical sickness on and off for the same period of time...blah! God has shown me so much about the gifts of the people He's given me back home...I have really learned to never take for granted the amazing people that come into my life! I miss you all oodles!



Mid-Sept. also marked a whole new world of responsibilites for me in my job. My fellow 'tia', my sort-of supervisor and co-worker with my 6 chiquitos here, left for her 5 1/2-week vacation on Sept. 20th, also leaving me with all of her responsibilities surrounding the daily medications for all the kids, key-entry access to all of important doors involved in my job, the 'training-in' responsibilites for the new 'tia' substitute, daily chores, etc. I was definitely ready for the new challenge, yet also definitely beyond nervous, because I had to work with a new girl who wasn't used to my 'beginner' spanish (as well as my nice gringa accent:) and with whom I had to instruct in EVERYTHING...in spanish...yikes!! Also, I knew that the medications at this time were many for my kids (they all were sick with me:), so I was a tad overwhelmed with the list in front of me everyday...

WHEW! Ah, well...lo and behold, God was once again faithful in EVERYthing. The 'new girl' turned out to be super nice, super talkative (which at first was super tough because she talks REALLY fast...ayyy!), and a very helpful support. Yes, sometimes she tries to run the joint (I've been humbled constantly when others underestimate my spanish...being put into the shoes of a foreigner has taught me incredible amounts which I cannot verse here), but it's been good for me to learn to be more confident in my abilities as both a Tia here and as a spanish speaker.

Also, God has once again reminded me of my purpose here at the Ranch through these new responsibilities. One of my little kids is HIV positive (there are about 30 kids here with HIV), and so each day when I give him his meds I am reminded of how precious life is, and just the huge contribution I can make to each little one's life here. I am also reminded of the gift of NPH for each of these kids...many have come from horrible and hopeless situations and have been brought to a place of support, love, and definitely a bright future...it is so beautiful. He has not forgotten a single one of these children.

God's voice also spoke to me loud and clear when I attended my first english church service here a few weeks back. Firstly, during the service, I was shocked to realize that, right away, I really missed the challenge of the spanish language. I couldn't believe it! I thought I'd enjoy the ease of the english language, but I actually felt kinda weird throughout the service. Wow. What a long way the Lord has brought me...little steps day by day add up to so much! And as I write today, I can honestly tell you that, after nearly 4 months of living in Honduras, I have been brought to a whole new level with the language...in comfort, confidence, ability, and ease...wow. He does work miracles...haha. And why did I doubt so much, again?

But what God REALLY spoke to me through that service that day actually continually brings me to a place of humility and serves as a reminder to keep my eyes and my praise focused on Him. The message that day was all about how we, as God's servants, are dust (polvo)...fading like the flowers...gone in the blink of an idea. We often set out on these big 'missions' from God, ready to conquer the world and ready to receive all of His blessings and hand-outs along the way. We often expect God to revolve Himself around OUR plans and OUR great good-doings rather than allowing ourselves to revolve completely around Him. I was brought to a place of conviction during the sermon, because ever since I'd set out on these 'big journey' from God that was obviously not in MY plan of things, I've focused a lot on myself, my needs, my survival, my accompishments, my 'winning of souls' rather than allowing myself to be completely moldable clay in the Potter's great hands.
I've learned that I was not brought here to become famous for God, to be known, to make drastic changes at NPH, to show-off my true intelligence and skills, etc...
I have been brought here to die unto myself...my pre-conceived notions, my desires, my 'abilities' or lack-there-of...my will, my way, my emotions, my all. And oh, I am far from a finished project. But in this stripping process...this place of, at times, absolute nothingness, one thing seems to glimmer ever more brightly with time. One thing remains when all else is stripped away. One voice rises above the rest.
'LOVE.'
Love these kids with all that you are...with all that I, the great I AM, am making you to be...
Love these kids when you don't feel like it.
Hold the hugs. And give them frequently. The children yearn for physical touch.
Don't stop telling the kids that you love them. Do it every day. And remind them how much I love them, too.
Encourage them daily. And stop when they ask you question. No question is too impertinent or too often repeated.
Smile. Tell them how beautiful they are.
Praise them. And acknowledge each one's presence.
It's what Jesus would do.
And you may be the only Jesus they ever encounter.
Just give them Jesus.

Out of time...will write more soon!

Life is Beautiful

Here are just a few pics of some of the activities that have been happening on the Ranch in the last few weeks...

Back in August we had the annual 'Olympiadas' games here on the Ranch...so fun...and my team actually won (well, duh, right?)! So this past week, a total of probably about 50 of us packed into a bus and headed to the big city for lunch at Pizza Hut...yummmm...and a movie at the cinema. It was a great experience for me...and the first time I had been to a spanish theater. The movie was the latest one with Eddy Murphy (can't remember the name), so of course it wasn't too tough to follow...haha. And it was so cute to see these kids in the big city...they don't get off of the Ranch much, so so many things are novelty for them...escalators, movie theater seats (they thought they were broken because they folded up on them...ha!), bathroom sinks with hand-sensored water, soap that looks like 'shampoo'...hilarious!! So many things we take for granted...

The past couple of weeks have also been full of random festivities...
A few of us took a trip to another city that had its annual "Corn Festival," which resembled the Minnesota State Fair, so that was a great taste of home for me! And the honey-covered apples were glorious, though incredibly sticky.:) I even went with a fellow MN volunteer, so there was plenty to reminisce about.

One of my little chiquitos turned 4 at the end of August, so 2 weeks ago we had a big Honduran-style little-kid bday party for him, which included plantains with quesio, a pinata (of COURSE! It ain't a party here without a pinata!), plenty of candy, and of course cake. So fun, but definitely crazy with about a dozen 5-and-under kids running around my house!

I've also just learned that September is the month of holidays here...Last week was El Dia del Nino (Kids' Day), which included nothing but games (with pinatas) during school and lots of sugar-coated food. This week is the Honduras Independence Day, so on Friday the kids participated in a parade close by...they were so cute in their little outfits for it! Then I guess the next week is Teacher's Day...and I've also heard that October is a big month for holidays, so it should be fun! I'll keep you all posted on the activities.

By the way, I must note that I made my first batch of flour tortillas from scratch on Friday...I felt so cool...haha. I had Fernando (my godson) over for the day, and all he requested for lunch was flour tortillas with quesio (a kind of cheese here)...it was great. Finally I was able to relax with him for a bit...there usually isn't much time for that here!

Prayer request: This week I am starting a "Bible School" for my little chiquitos...this is something I felt led to do, but I'm a bit nervous about teaching a dozen kids this much in spanish! It will be a good challenge, and I hope that kids will love it.

I hope all is well up north...I've been beginning to feel that I won't be able to make it a whole year without returning home to see y'all!

Milagros y Misericordia

Hey all, I'm back! Sorry for such a gap in time since my last post...life continues to get more and more busy as I slowly integrate myself into the culture here. And...there have been quite the random happenings in the past couple of weeks that I'll make note of here...hence, my title: "Miracles and Mercy."
(Don't think I'm even slightly close to being fluent yet...I had to look the 2nd word up in my dictionary...haha!)

Well, a couple of weeks back, we here at the Ranch experienced quite the scare. Three of our volunteers and one of the Ranch's employees were involved in a pretty serious accident. They were hitching a ride in the back of a truck when it spun out of control and rolled into a ditch. The four passengers were all obviously flown from the truck and had serious injuries...BUT, by the grace of God, they are all ok...in much better condition than they should be after such an accident. Only one of them had any broken bones, though all of their heridas y cortadas (injuries and cuts) were definitely not sparse. The recovery process for them has been slow for each (involving casts, crutches, and stitches), but with such a big team here, we've been able to support them pretty sufficiently (I hope:). (By the way, Mom, I'm really sorry if I made you worry even more with this story--all is OK!!:)

Well, shortly after the accident, I had my own personal little miracle (ok, tiny in comparison to the previous story, but a miracle nonetheless). But it didn't start out that way...
Well, my injured roomie Tezra was the only one home one afternoon when one of the orphans here walked into our house (only the screen door was closed). He walked right into my room and I guess sat down on my roomie's bed. Tezra tried to get him to leave, but he was resistent (I found out later that there's been lots of difficulties with this young boy here), so she left to go call someone for help. He then walked out of our house rather ubruptly, leaving Tezra feeling a bit emotional and violated.
Later that night, I heard the story. And an hour or so later, I decided to show my roomie one of the pics I had recently taken on my (less than 1-yr-old) camera. Well, lo and behold, the camera was not there. Right away I knew where it most likely was...or had been...in the hands of this little boy. So...the search and recovery process for my beloved Canon quickly ensued. The story is long, and I will spare the details, but I was stressed for a couple of days because the boy admitted having taken the camera, but we couldn't find it where he stated he left it...and the day after he had entered our house, his brother mysteriously fled from the Ranch for a couple of days. Of course I had my presumptions. Of course I felt violated. And angry. And I couldn't believe this kid who had lied so many times before. Oh, and mustn't I mention that I felt bummed about my cute little material item being...as far I as I knew...long gone. I really was just a ball of emotions, but I tried to keep it all in the Lord's hands.
And guess what happened 4 days later?
The camera was recovered. AND it was found very close to where the boy claimed to have lost it.
BUT...
It had been left outside in one of the BIGGEST rain storms I've experienced here yet.
The lens was completely washed out.
The buttons didn't work.
It was all beat up.
BUT...I could turn it on.
There was hope.
But I still cried when I saw it. (Ok, ok, I know it was just a camera, but I think I was having a hard day that day...or something)

SO...I waited. I pried open the face of the camera to dry to air it out...and I tried to be patient.
A couple of days later, I could see through the screen...but the buttons still weren't working. And then a couple more days later, the buttons worked, but my lens wasn't zooming in and out correctly.
But then...finally...I could take pictures. And man, my camera takes good pictures, if I do say so myself.:) I was so happy. Who woulda thought that such a little gadget could have such a big story behind it!

So...aside from the functioning of my camera, I went through a process of trying deal with my emotions with this boy...it was a prayerful process, and through it God taught me about mercy, forgiveness, and love...it's a freeing feeling to be able to look at someone who has somehow violated you and still really care about that person. I know the story may be a little one in comparison to other stories of forgiveness, but God spoke big through it, so I had to share.:)

Wow, I have more to say, but this post is WAY too long, and in an effort to keep you from (more) boredom, I'll write more in a couple of days, and I'll add pics, too!