Saturday, December 24, 2011

The End of the Year


December 18, 2011



I do not even want to know when the last time was that I blogged because I know that way too much time has passed. I had hoped to keep my blog more up-to-date as I returned to the United States, but that has not happened.



Life has been busy but good. I am one day away from completing an Early Childhood Education class at an area community college that ended up being required for work. I look forward to being done with that and with the assignments that went with it.



Over the past few months I have gotten more accustomed to work at Mom’s House. I still have a lot to learn but I have passed through the season of inspections and turnover in moms and soon the Christmas season. Christmas is a busy time because many churches and organizations generously donate gifts to the families. On Tuesday we will have a Christmas party and give out those gifts on behalf of others. The families can then take them home and open them on Christmas Day which will help out the moms because they will not have to buy other gifts that they cannot really afford. Over the past few months I have had the opportunity to get to know the mothers on a deeper level and ask questions of them to help them think and consider the potential obstacles before embarking on an idea. I have gotten to share stories with them to also help them to think from a new angle. And then there have been the opportunities to pray with individual mothers during moments of stress and/or crisis. As new moms come in with this new year, I expect that I will get to establish some new relationships and hopefully to encourage the women in the Lord.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Backpacking At Last

I find myself in the midst of busy times. Though I kept a slower pace during my first few months back in the country, life has sped up. And somewhere along the way, I forgot about making time for blog posts. So many times I think about it, but I do not get there. It is not even that fun or exciting things or God stories are not happening, it is a matter of priorities. This past weekend I went backpacking in the Shenandoah National Park with four friends. We had a great time and started out with a pretty clear plan, but the circumstances of the day (Saturday in particular) led to changes -- Plan B & C. On Friday we hiked in to a beautiful campsite that boasted a nearby swimming hole and waterfall. It was too chilly to consider swimming but the view was great. We cooked our dinner near the water. In the park you are not allowed to build fires so we had to use a little camp stove. It meant early to bed since there was no light to really visit by. A small group had wandered into the camp after we did and ended up camping just up the hill from us. Thankfully it did not turn out to be as loud of a party as we had expected and I slept fine. My biggest disappointment in their presence was that the extra hole I had dug that evening for the next morning (when in the woods backpacking, you have to dig your own latrine which is often a time consuming process) was right by their camp which means my efforts to plan ahead were in vain because I was going to have to dig another hole in the morning. I found myself frustrated with this fact and the realization that my well-laid plans had been in vain. I was reminded of how in life I like to plan ahead and I do not like when unforeseen events mess up my plans. I can put way too much stock in my way of doing things. It was good to ponder this realization a bit and recognize that I need to grow in the area of flexibility. I must also recognize that God can at any point change my best laid plans because they may not be His plans. ("Your ways are not my ways says the Lord" -- Isaiah 55) Needless to say I was delighted when the group packed up early and moved out, making it possible for me to go and find the hole that I had dug. So all of my worrying was also in vain which is another good lesson. Because it was raining Saturday morning and we only had 3.5 miles to hike, we stayed in the tents until about noon. Then we decided to have lunch and move out. We soon discovered that the camp stove was not working and in looking at the skies we were not sure if the rain would continue all day or not. No stove meant no more hot food. More rain would mean wet feet for some of the group. We decided to change up the route and take a trail that would mean less hiking on Sunday and also put us near a campground in case we could not find water. The hike that day was nearly all up hill and we had to take one step at a time, sometimes focusing on using a rest step. By the time we were ready to set up camp, there was no site to be found. And so we walked into the campground to ask around. In the end the lure of bathrooms and the option of building a campfire captured us and we set up camp there for the night. Two of the group hiked out to bring the car over which was not far away. I never realized what a luxury campground camping is. We could store the food in the car so there was no need for setting up a bear bag. No digging holes. No packing out the trash. It was a good evening and delicious meal over the fire. On Sunday we sat around and played some games or journaled and read. I was disappointed that I did not get in more journaling throughout the trip but at least I had some down time for it. Around 11am we headed out to pick up the second car and then go our separate ways after a lunch that we did not have to cook. Overall it was a very good trip and though it was not physically relaxing (carrying 35-40lbs on your back rarely is) it was refreshing to be out in God's creation with friends. Life at work has been busy as I balance several challenges at work: finding temporary help to cover a vacant position, figuring out how many moms and children we can bring into the program, taking a college course to work towards director's credentialing, and trying to keep my hours close to just 32 per week. Overall though it is good and I am thankful to be working at Mom's House. This fall I have also picked up some hours at Cherry Crest Adventure Farm as a Maze guide. My first shift was interesting since I was still learning my way around and people would stop me and ask me for directions. Thankfully I had other guides to call upon when I felt like I would be the "blind leading the blind". All in all it should be a busy fall. Oh, and when I have another moment I will have to share some answers to prayer as far as housing and how things are going as I look to do foster care in the near future. For now though I need to take care of a few forgotten tasks.

Sunday, September 04, 2011

The Happenings

September 3, 2011

Life has been pretty busy for me of the past month. I had a week off in August but I ended up working at Black Rock for quite a few days and spent time driving around Maryland and Pennsylvania visiting some Honduran friends who were vacationing up here. I enjoyed showing my one friend around Lancaster, ending with a tour at Herr’s Potato Chip Factory. The season of working at Black Rock has pretty much ended up now I will be working quite a few Saturdays at Cherry Crest Farms in the Corn Maze. That should be a fun new adventure. Hopefully I will find time to move when that comes around.

Work at Mom’s House has been good though I am still just getting lots of things figured out. I am always thankful for the moments when I get to talk and pray with the moms and encourage them. Just this week I realized that the Life Coaching courses that I took were useful because as I talked with a mom and asked her some perspective altering questions she was able to see e of her current situation from a different angle. There are times though when I am at a loss as to what to say or do to best encourage the moms. Thankfully the Lord is strong in my weaknesses and can shine through.

I have continued to spend a lot of time with my adorable nephews. Taking my nephew Jack to Splits and Giggles (an ice cream shop in town) with my dad for his second birthday was a lot of fun. He apparently loves ice cream because he finished his kiddie cup and then wanted some of ours. Jack is talking more and more which is also fun.

All in all as I look back on the summer, I am thankful for being here in Lancaster and enjoying time around family.

From Clouds to Answers

September 3, 2011

At long last I settle in to play catch up with blog entries. Yesterday morning I was returning home around 7:45am and I happened to notice the clouds swirling overhead. It was a mesmerizing sight because the clouds seemed to be like waves in the ocean, rolling and merging into one. I felt like I could have stared at them and gotten lost in them forever, but that would have made driving hard so I did not. Yesterday’s view as well as various sunrises and sunsets have reminded me again and again of God’s awesome power and majesty. I am very glad to serve Him.

This week I have also experienced several answers to prayer from the work of His hand. At Mom’s House I have been wrestling with the issue of capacity based on the number of staff that we have. There is a demand for more spaces for children in many of our rooms but because of our staffing, we cannot take on any more moms and children. Earlier in the week I received a call from a college student who has volunteer hours to do for her Social Services major and she wondered about helping at Mom’s House. Yesterday I interviewed her and was delighted to see that she looks like a very good fit for us and us for her. The other answer to prayer is not a definite answer yet but regardless of the outcome it has reminded me of God’s power to make a way where I least expect it. I recently began the search for an apartment again because it is about time to move so that I can be available for foster care later this year. Monday and Tuesday I looked at 3 apartments, all of which had potential, but at least one or two drawbacks. I would like to live in the city so that I have the option of walking to work, especially on the snowy days, but at the same time I do not necessarily want to deal with the street parking. The one place I looked at was in Millersville which had the benefit of being just down the street from my sister and her family and my garden. As I shared with one friend about the pros and cons of the apartments she told me that she feels like the right place will come up without all of the issues. Later that same evening I received a call from my sister saying that one of their apartments was unexpectedly opening up if I would be interested. So on Thursday evening I went and looked at the apartment and it seems almost perfect. In the city, off-street parking, two good sized bedrooms, a nice layout, and good landlords. The couple living there is not positive that they are moving because it depends on whether their offer on a house is accepted, but it is very likely. If they do not, I will have to check to see if the other apartments are still available. But if they are not, I have complete confidence that God will open the right door.

Sunday, July 31, 2011

Thirty Second Entry

July 31, 2011

When I saw (or thought I saw) that I had not written any blog entries in July, I decided that I needed to do one this evening even though I would love to be asleep. So this will be a whirlwind summary of the month with the hopes that in the following days, I can do a better catch up of life here in Lancaster. July has been a month of family time as I have spent a lot of time over at my sister's house helping with the new nephew and my older one. They are both adorable, by the way! I have spent quite a few Saturdays at Black Rock Retreat working on the Ropes Course. This past Saturday was particularly fun as I was able to work with a group that is headed out on a mission trip next week. It was an honor to be able to help prepare and encourage them.

At Mom's House I was busy with staff out sick and/or on vacation. I was able to interview a couple of new mom's whose children have started or will start with us in this coming week. Several of the moms during the initial interview expressed their desire to grow spiritually and so it is exciting to know that I will have more freedom to share with them. One of our moms has been going through a particularly difficult time as two of her five children have some serious health issues. The one underwent surgery this past week and is not recovering like they had hoped so she may have to return to the hospital. The mom is a Christian and has been grateful for our prayers and support. Thankfully she does have a church community to stand behind her too but she is juggling so many responsibilities and challenges right now that my heart goes out to her. Please pray for that family.

Other events of the month included mountain time, giving Spanish lessons, my first Barnstormers game (thankfully I did not have to watch much of it -- I supported the Black Rock stand by helping with the bearded dragon), and I cannot remember what else. So that is the longer than 30 second version but then again, I can never write only thirty seconds worth of information anywhere. :)

Monday, June 20, 2011

Celebration & Settling In

July 5, 2011

Today is a day to celebrate because my second nephew, Calvin James, has entered the world. I am waiting for his older brother to wake up so that we can go in and see the new baby. Jack has been lots of fun to hang out with over the last few months that I have been back in Lancaster. Whether it is pushing him in a stroller for 3 miles while I jogged up in the mountains, splashing each other with water, watering the garden, or just receiving hugs, I love being a part of his life. It is nice to be an aunt who is close by.

In other areas of life, I have been settling in to more of a routine here in Lancaster. I am enjoying life in the city and the 1.2 mile walk to and from work most days. This week I actually have off because Mom's House closes twice over the summer months so I guess I will have to look for some other exercise on the days when I do not play basketball (of course hanging out with Jack might suffice depending what we do). I have been at Mom's House for one month now and for the most part things have gone well. I have begun to do interviews with potential parents to help fill some of the open positions in the children's rooms. The other week I was able to do an interview in Spanish which was quite fun. I hope to use Spanish on a more regular basis at work. I still have lots of orientation videos to watch and files to go through but little by little I am finding my way through the various facets of my job. Next week I begin a Food Safety Course to give me more preparation for being in charge of the kitchen.

I have continued to meet the moms who are in the program and try to begin getting to know them. I have been impressed with the dedication of many and the desire they have to move forward. Sometimes I have a pre-conceived idea of who they are or where they have come from but justlast week the Lord reminded me that I cannot judge. I do not know the stories and even if and when I do, God is the judge and I am not. I am called to love the people who I come in contact with and point them to Jesus. More often than not, my pre-conceived ideas are wrong and the stories that I encounter hold pain and tears. Thankfully God is in the business of mending hearts and lives!

Another Reason to Be Thankful

June 18, 2011

While driving here in the mountains with my family, I was reminded of a sight from a week or two ago in Lancaster. I was sitting at a stop light by Lancaster Shopping Center and I noticed the two people in the car behind me communicating with each other through sign language. I pondered the situation because I realized that once they started driving again, it would be very hard to communicate. The driver would not have her hands free to sign nor could she always be looking over at her passenger’s signs. I suddenly realized how blessed I am to be able to both speak and hear, thereby making conversation possible while driving. I take it for granted but really should not.

Friday, June 10, 2011

I Stand Corrected

June 10, 2011

I thought that I should correct a statement I made in the previous blog. I said that there are no current volunteers at Mom's House and that is not true. I have not met many but there are apparently a few that come fairly regularly. Today I was surprised to learn that two volunteers were at Mom's House looking for a job to do. Since there were only 2 children in, there was not a big lunch to prepare but thankfully the volunteers were willing to clean. I quickly realized that I need to familiarize myself with all of the jobs around Mom's House so that when someone shows up unexpectedly, I know what to tell them to do and where the needed supplies are. This morning was a juggling act because I was also helping one of the moms figure out her new cleaning job and trying to get some things done in the office. I have fifteen hours of training videos to watch too so I probably should start on them soon.

This evening I attended an International Fundraising meal for a friend who will be heading to the Czech Republic later this year. The wide array of ethnic foods was great but also the fellowship. I realized how important networking is as I shared with some others what I am doing. One girl works as a Prison Chaplin and so she daily encounters women who may need help moving ahead and even getting back to school. We live in a small world but a world that can be made even smaller as we work together with others to share the love of Christ and proclaim His as Lord.

Wednesday, June 08, 2011

New Beginnings

June 8, 2011

Life has a way of ticking by and my blog entries go unwritten. I have decided that tonight I will write though because I promised that I would keep my blog up to date. One week ago today I began my job at Mom’s House of Lancaster. For those who do not know, Mom’s House is a pro-life ministry that provides free childcare for single parents who are still in school be that high school, college, nursing programs, or a vo-tech school. The motto is: “Choosing life should not mean choosing poverty.” I realized my first day there that I do have a lot to learn but thus far it has not been overwhelming. I am overseeing the daycare and staff, the volunteers (none at this point), the parents involvement (including their service hours and parent group), and the kitchen. One of my first tasks was to come up with the menu for June.

Because I have been going through files and trying to figure out the capacity of the daycare and how many more children we should bring on for the summer, I have not gotten to spend lots of time down with the children. There will be times when I fill in and cover one of the three rooms: Pre-K, Toddlers, or Infants. I did make it out to the play and garden area my first day on the job and rejoiced with the children in walking through the sprinkler. That was the same day that I covered down in the infant room for a few minutes and had time to read a book entitled, Snow. I loved the conclusion of the book which was, “I like snow!” The children helped their teachers and some volunteers plant a garden in one area of the little “yard”. I will be excited when we can harvest the fresh vegetables to serve to them for lunch.

On Friday when I met the Administrative Assistant she felt like she knew me from somewhere. We eventually figured out that I had led Mom’s House staff in teambuilding activities at Black Rock Retreat five and six years ago. It is a small world! There seems to be a great staff in place which is always a good thing for any organization. I know that I have a lot to learn from each one of them. As September approaches I will be preparing for the parent groups with all of the parents of Mom’s House. Every Tuesday we will meet for an hour and I will bring in resource people as well as lead at times the group time. Little by little I have been meeting some of the parents but many are on break over the summer so their children are not back in until August.

Last weekend I moved into the city with Kendra and so I am getting use to that. I still have not heard Spanish outside on the street in front of my window which has been disappointing. On Tuesday I walked the mile to work and I plan to try to do that regularly. Tomorrow might be a little miserable come afternoon if it is as sweltering as today but since it is street cleaning day on Queen St. where Mom’s House is, parking is hard to come by without walking anyway. I notice much more when I am walking such as places to rent, a Spanish Christian bookstore, and tucked in gardens. My goal is to walk as much as possible and leave my car sitting.

I am very thankful for both my job and current place to live. They are both a blessing. I know the housing is just for a season but it will be a good season.

On The Receiving End

May 26, 2011

Yesterday I had a blog post brewing in my head but till I got home to record it, it was too late to do anything. The day was a very good day with quite a few unexpected joys. These past few weeks I have been visiting with different friends across the State and yesterday I ended up visiting my former neighbors at Black Rock Retreat who are now in a nursing home. I did much more listening than talking but it was a good time. On Tuesday I met with a friend, Kendra Denlinger to explore the option of renting from her for a few months there in Lancaster. After a good conversation, I decided to walk to the Lancaster County Library Book Sale which was happening on F & M College Campus, not too far away. I set out with only my purse. The sale ended up being on the other side of campus and further than I had expected. I arrived there and was delighted to find some books that I figured I would have to buy new or on Amazon. Since this was the half price on all books day, I felt like I had found a goldmine. The problem is that when it comes to books, I love to read and have them on hand or even have some to give away. And so when I left the sale I had a large box of books with me and a ¾ mile walk ahead of me. I ended up walking through the college campus so that I could stop frequently and put the box down. There is nothing comfortable about carrying a large box for a long distance.

When I finally left the campus and started down the sidewalk, a uniformed young man on a bicycle stopped to ask me if I needed a hand. I really hate accepting help, especially when it was my fault that I had the heavy box, but I decided that if he wanted to help, I would not say “no”. And so he left his bike and carried the box the next 5 blocks for me. Apparently there are neighborhood security patrols in that area of town who ride around looking for ways to help people out whether that be aiding a stranded motorist or a young woman who bought too many books for 50 cents. I was thankful for the help and returning to my car, I headed off to pick up some free furniture. A woman who use to live in the area and do foster care was getting rid of furniture and was glad to pass it on to me for my future home with foster children. I rounded up some help to go and pick it up and of course it took longer than I had planned. Just before returning my dad’s work van to his house, it stopped working in that it had no power steering and though it turned on, there was no power to move anywhere. I had to leave it at my brother-in-law’s apartments and of course the next day when my dad checked it out, it was fine. I am not sure why I frequently encounter such “problems” with cars.Overall it was a day of unexpected help which was a blessing.

Wednesday, May 04, 2011

Traversing the Back Roads & the Raging Waters





May 4, 2011

I love backroads and so travels in northern PA and western New York are always fun. I am up in my old home area of Houghton College. On Sunday I shared at the church I had attended while in college and spent some time with a family there. Since that time I have been visiting friends and professors around Houghton. The weather has not changed much since college in that it is still rainy and dreary but at the same time beautiful. Yesterday I decided that I was just too close to Letchworth State Park to not go over and see the falls. With all of the rain over the last few weeks, the falls and the river itself were a raging torrent. I stood above them and looked down, mesmerized by the power. One slip or accidental fall into the water would be the end. There would be no escaping the power of the water whipping through the canyon. Even the waves in the ocean have not put such fear in me as looking at that river. Staring at the Susquehanna River which was above flood stage on Saturday's drive north, was also nothing in comparison to the Genessee River.

Whenever I am in a place close to a powerful body of water, my mind wanders to the Lord and His mighty power. Psalm 77:16 says of the waters, "The waters saw you, O God, the waters saw you and writhed; the very depths were convulsed... Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen." I am pretty sure this refers to the waters the Israelites passed through, but it is amazing to think of the Genesee River, in all of its current power, convulsing in the presence of God. My mind cannot comprehend His mighty power and His holiness. (I will post some pictures of the falls as soon as I can get them uploaded.)

I am now heading southward again but with one more stop on my way. I have a couple other road trips in the next 3 weeks before beginning my job. I doubt that any will involve quite as many backroads or raging waters but wherever I go, there is good fellowship. With all of the people whom I have also met while overseas on work teams, I feel like I know people in most of the country and many parts of the world. It is a blessing!

Friday, April 22, 2011

"Wanting to Satisfy the Crowd..."

April 22, 2011,

Today is Good Friday. The weather is a fitting reminder of what it might have been like over 2000 years ago when Jesus was nailed to the cross. I did not spend much time outside because of the chill and the drizzle, other than to get in and out of my car (and to walk around a block to copy down some numbers in the city for apartments to rent). This afternoon the words, "Wanting to please the crowd, Pilate released Barnabas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified." (Mark 15:15) caught my attention. The first five words were the ones that resonated in my heart because they can lead to so much trouble. How many times have I said "No" to something I should have said "Yes" to or "Yes" to that which I knew in my heart was not God's best? How many times have I been quiet when I should have spoken up or on a different occasion spoke a word to contribute to gossip? How often have I not done something for fear of what others will think or on the other side of the coin, done something because of the pressure from those around me? Basically the reason captured by those five words, "wanting to please the crowd..." have the power to lead us where we do not want to go -- all because we want to please others.

Pilate had power over those who brought Jesus before him and yet he feared their power. He feared losing his position. He feared creating a stir. In another of the gospels we are told he clearly knew that Jesus was innocent but releasing a guilty man and sentencing the innocent one was to Pilate worth the price. Because had he not done so, he would have been accused of harboring an enemy of Caesar. His decision to satisfy the crowd led to the crucifixion of an innocent man, which we know had to happen to the Son of God because of the prophecy in the Old Testament. The death of His only Son on the cross was God's redemption plan for the world. And I am oh so thankful for it!! But at the same time I do not want to be like Pilate who made his decision so as to please others. To appease, to satisfy. So often those motivations cause us to take our eyes off of the One who we are called to please -- God our Father. I am challenged again in this Easter season to look at what is the motivation behind my choices. I want to choose Jesus in everything.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Lovely Spring

April 20, 2011

And so months after my last entry, I finally return to the blogging world. I have lots to write but other things have taken priority. This afternoon I am sitting outside with my computer taking care of details. The rain has temporarily passed by and we are left with a glorious spring day. Before me is a bank of yellow and white daffodils; purple, blue, and yellow violets; bleeding hearts, and the beginnings of blossoms on a dogwood tree. I do love spring in spite of the fact that I also love snow. It was a gift (for me an probably no one else in Lancaster County) to have seen snow and daffodils on my second day back in Lancaster -- April 1. What caught my attention just a few minutes ago were two ants. At first glance it looked as if they were working together to carry a long blade of gress. But upon closer inspection I realized that the one ant would periodically hop on the grass and be carried. Other times it would step off and crawl in a different direction. Dead weight more than a helping hand. It was an interesting sight among ants who so often work as a team. Many analogies could be made but I will not make them today. I simply enjoyed the scene.

Adjusting back to the United States is going well overall. There are definitely challenges and moments of sadness. A few things just do not seem normal yet. I am so accustomed to handing my credit card directly to a cashier that I had to be told there was a scanner in front of me to use. While helping out at Black Rock Retreat these past few days, I realized that my tolerance for others talking while I am has gone up. It almost head to because culturally it happened much more frequently in Latin America and I had to get use to it. I have quite a few praise stories to share, but I will have to wait until another moment. For now I will just mention how thankful I am to be able to enjoy the views of this spring as well as the time with my family and friends.

Friday, March 25, 2011

A Week of Baby-sitting





March 25, 2011
As the week draws to an end so does my babysitting. I just left little Lisbeth with Wes and Cindy Williamson and am now on my journey back to San Pedro Sula. The goodbye was definitely with sadness in my heart because I realized that Lisbeth had become attached to me again and she trusts me, and now I am leaving for a long time. I will always treasure this week and its special memories as I played with her, held her, read to her and sang with her. There were various moments when I wanted to cry, both from joy and from sadness.

This week with her showed me a lot about the heart of a three year old. Tuesday morning LIsbeth woke up sick and so I stuck close by her to make sure that she had the bucket in time no matter where she was. We ended up watching Nemo and then reading. By late afternoon she seemed a lot better so we headed down to the beach with another missionary family. It was Lisbeth’s first time to see the ocean (well the Caribbean) and the waves. She was appalled when Becca picked up the sand, saying it was dirty. And it took her a bit to get accustomed to the waves but soon she was delighting us all with her laughter each time a wave came in and whoever was holding her jumped and held her high above the swell. It was probably only the cold that drove her out of the water before the others.

Wednesday I headed to La Ceiba to finalize my car sale. Thankfully things went quite well and we found someone to do the paperwork and standing in line for us so the new owner was even able to pick up insurance while we waited. I returned to Balfate with no car in my name which felt a bit weird. When I got there, Lisbeth was still down for her nap but when she awoke she was happy to see me but then stayed rather somber. Becca said that she often likes to be held after her nap so I picked her up and cuddled with her. Before long she started to whimper and then cry. She would not respond to the question of whether she was sad or not, but we were pretty sure that was the case. Perhaps she thought that Wes and Cindy would be coming back to her or her mommy or who knows what. Whatever the case she spent the next half hour or so crying and Ellie and Becca joined me in singing, praying and holding her. In the end Lisbeth calmed down and she looked up at me with deep eyes that seemed to hold the question, “Can I trust you?” I eventually got up to make dinner and minutes later she was laughing and playing with Becca. I saw though the raw pain in her heart and eyes as she struggles to understand the changes in her life and particularly why her mommy is not around.

Throughout the week I discovered that any personal time I wanted pretty much needed to happen early morning or late at night, though I was always very tired with the latter. Thursday morning I finally made it a priority to go for a run so I headed down to the dirt road in front of the hospital community to run. It was all good until a vehicle would go by and stir up lots of dust. I concluded the run by running on the beach along the water’s edge. This morning I made that my whole run and ran up and down the beach line. It was a tranquil spot with an awesome view of the water, the Cayos Chinos (islands) across the way), a mangrove swamp, terns, and a kingfisher. I paused in the run long enough to catch three leaves amongst the many that fell on that beach. My feet stayed dry but when I would retrace my steps, many of them had already been washed away and forgotten. Hmm… does that hold true to life and wherever we tread? There are those places and people whom we will forget and they will also forget us. Our impact may not remain visible. But then there are those lives in which the footprint we leave behind is permanent. I want to be the kind of person who leaves footprints that are permanent because they speak of Christ Jesus.

Thursday itself was more of a challenging day with Lisbeth because shortly into the morning she scraped her knee (slightly) and that set her off in crying. It was humorous seeing her kick the soccer ball later favoring only the one leg and maintaining the idea that the other was hurting. There was a lot of whining and not wanting to leave Ellie and Becca alone so that they could do their school work. I discovered that you sometimes have to be creative to get cleaning down with a toddler around. Thankfully she became entertained with an indoor swing that they had at the house where we were staying, but I had to push her every few minutes since she has not gotten the art of pumping ones legs to maintain the swinging movement. During her nap time I finished the preparations for a dish to take to the Thursday evening fellowship meal that happens nearly every Thursday night in this missionary community. Because I knew that I was leaving the country in three days I was not exactly excited about meeting lots of new people, but it was good in the end. Throughout the course of this week I have read Green Eggs and Ham or Huevos Verdes con Jamón more than any other time in my life. It is Lisbeth’s favorite book and she wants to hear it before bedtime and every naptime. I usually enjoyed bedtime though because after reading a Bible Story and then Dr. Suess, we would sing and pray with Lisbeth. Many times she would join in on the song to the best of her ability. Her singing of “Jesus…” or “Worthy…” touched my heart.

And now here I am at Friday and my final days in Honduras. I left the Williamson children around noon today, taking Lisbeth with me so that they could get school work done and so that she would see Wes and Cindy were back before I took off. When I mentioned to her that I would be going on a trip and not see her for a long time, she got sad. I thought that she might choose the rejecting (“well then, I am just not going to love you anymore”) stance but she did not and was willing to hug me up until we parted ways. It would seem that I am a post griever and that the realities of all of my goodbyes this past month will not hit me until later – probably when things slow down a bit. Right now, I continue to move from one thing to the next and from one visit, with its goodbye, to another.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

The Chicken Bus Travel

March 14, 2011
In amongst the scary turns and the construction on the highway from Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula I am taking a few moments to update my blog. I am returning from a trip to visit missionary friends in Tegucigalpa and a few days with Evelin at the rehab center. My friends, whom I had known from Costa Rica, just arrived in Honduras the end of January so I was able to hear about their ministry and see a bit of their life. I was reminded of the instability of life in Central America the one afternoon as I sat with my friends outside playing a game of Settler’s in the green area within the walls of their apartment complex. All of a sudden, not too far away, we heard the rattle of gunfire. It broke the tranquility of the afternoon. A little while later we heard a car alarm going off but it was a moving car alarm which meant it was probably being stolen. And then the final break in tranquility was when their neighbor, a lawyer with a bodyguard, pealed into the parking area and then left quickly. You just never know what to expect. But I am reminded that it is nothing in compared to the tragedy and instability in Japan right now. Because I had no internet much of the weekend I have not been able to keep up on what is happening there, but I know that it is not good.

The other main part of my trip was a visit with Evelin. I knew that it would hold challenges because on Friday she told me that she was ready to leave even though she is only two months into what is at least a four month program. I knew that there were lots of prayers being lifted up as I went into the visit and looking back I see God’s hand at work. I have discovered over the last few years that God seems to bring me back into Evelin’s life in just the right moments. I am honored that He continues to work through me in her life. Saturday evening we talked with one of the staff at Door of Hope and presented Evelin with the reality of the future, that which she preferred to overlook. Through sharing with her and a time of prayer, God spoke to her heart and convicted her she recognized that this was not God’s timing for her to leave. Her desire is to submit to His plans. I know that the road ahead of her will still hold many challenges but I am thankful to see her looking to fix her eyes on Jesus and not the battles within.

These bus rides are interesting. Whether it be bad movies which I would rather not see or now opera, I have not been too impressed with the on-board entertainment. I try to drown out the sound with an I-pod and music but it only partially works.
As I return to San Pedro Sula, I will be picking up my car from the mechanic and hopefully everything that needs to be fixed for selling it will be taken care of. Things seem to be working out quite well with selling it but I am praying that on the day of signing papers and everything there will not be any glitches as can happen in this country. I feel like I do not have too many days left for meeting up with friends to say goodbye but I am hoping that the time I have is sufficient. I just need to plan ahead and plan well.

With all of the curves right now, I am feeling that I would be better off not looking at a computer screen so my entry ends here.

*I must add one more comment on my trip, now that I have reached my destination. I was traveling in a coach bus which provides extra security and a place to store your luggage. It is not what they call the “chicken bus” – the type where you may have a live chicken trying to sit in your lap. Well, I discovered that I was on a “chicken bus.” Mid-way through the trip, a bag that had been precariously placed in the overhead compartment, came crashing down to the floor and rolled under my seat. I could not reach it so I left it there, especially because no one seemed concerned about it. When we reached the city and the bag rolled in the other direction, a bunch of liquid spilled out onto the floor. At first I thought it was my soda but upon closer examination of the bag and its contents, I realized that what lay at my feet was a thawing chicken – and a big one at that. Why someone decided to transport a chicken from one city to another on a four hour bus trip, I cannot pretend to understand. All I know is that once the bag was open more and juices were running out a very unpleasant odor began to seep from the bag. I was thankful to get off the bus and move into the terminal.

Tuesday, March 08, 2011

The Heart of a Child




March 8, 2011

These past few days have contained lots of moments with little Lisbeth. So that the Williamson family could have a break and some time together, I took care of Lisbeth for various moments. Since a lot of the time overlapped with her naps, it was not very difficult. She has become a sweet little girl with a lot more joy in her heart. Her favorite past-time in preparation for sleeping is that of reading "Green Eggs and Ham." It is a tongue-twister in English but try it in Spanish for an even greater challenge. By the end of the month, I should know it pretty well. How precious it has been to watch her growing more mature and becoming more loving! She gives hugs out quite freely this days and when she needs to seek forgiveness, she will also give a hug of pardon. Her vocabulary is growing daily and so there is a spattering of words that you can here any given day. "Hola" is always said with a smile and a tilt of the head.

Yesterday morning we played make believe travel in a car as she sat in her car seat which had been left on the porch. Later we went over to her cousin's house where we played some soccer. It was an interesting game considering that she is only three and her one cousin is a year and a half. He was more interested in picking off the flower heads than in playing but Lisbeth could turn out to be a very good soccer player with all of her spunk and energy.

I am treasuring these moments to spend with Lisbeth because I know that they will not be many more. Tomorrow I will be in the city to get my car repaired and then heading to Tegucigalpa to visit missionary friends. My final stop will be a few days with Evelin as I both say goodbye to her and also encourage her.

These final days here in Honduras will be busy and I am praying that I can get everything accomplished in good time, in particular the sale of my car -- which is coming along as long as the one missionary family decides that it is a go.

So I am off to finish some details at camp before heading to the city this afternoon or tomorrow morning for car repairs.

Saturday, March 05, 2011

The Whirlwind of Time




March 5, 2011
I had no idea that I would get so behind in blogging, but it has happened thanks to a myriad of events and busyness. These few current moments of quietness that I am enjoying are taking place at a hotel/restaurant in Honduras not far from the camp. I came here this morning to do a Skype call since the connection out at camp is sporadic at best. Soon I will head back to camp to continue my packing and organizing of things and then later to participate in a Young Adult retreat with the church I attended while living here. It will be a good way to re-connect and then say goodbye to a lot of people at once.

So much has happened in these last two months. Since returning to El Salvador after Christmas, the time was like a whirlwind, whipping past me. I spent over two weeks as a tía for several different age groups. Day one of my time with the six youngest girls, I realized that maybe I do not ever want seven children. Well, at least not all around the same age and all girls who do lots of fighting and complaining. Thankfully things improved after Day 1 but I was grateful to be able to move up and care for the four middle aged girls.

Just over a week ago I had my despedida “farewell party” at La Casa de Mi Padre. It was a bittersweet time as I enjoyed the songs and sharing of the children but also knew that it was “good-bye” as far as for me playing a significant role in their daily lives. They have taught me so much and I was thankful to hear from their own lips or pen that I have made an impact on their lives. Two days ago I received word that they father of a six year old girl there, was killed on his way to work. In moments like these, it is hard to not be closer to the children and staff to support them. The father was one who participated in family visits and showed lots of love to his daughter. I can only imagine the grief of little Karla at this point.

Last Saturday instead of traveling to Honduras as I had planned, we waited a day so that I could better pack and rest a bit. That morning as I ate breakfast with a family in a relatively safe neighborhood, someone came along and stole my spare tire. And so the rest of the morning was spent looking for a new tire and lock with the help of the one housedad. I could not believe that the theft had happened on my very last day in the country. In reflecting on the situation though, I realized that there are things for me to learn. All too often I am very dependent on my “spare tire” or “Plan B.” I like to have a back-up plan and know my way out of potential problems. Sometimes all of my planning comes at the expense of fully trusting in the Lord and His sovereign plans. And then too I often have way too many things with me, like an abundance of spare tires.

Well, that is an overview for the moment of a few recent happenings. If I can make the time to write, there will definitely be more to come. Car problems hours from the city, giving a ride to the police and their machine guns, Lisbeth’s latest development and skills and other such things. I will try to keep you posted.

Saturday, February 05, 2011

A Few Random Stories

February 5, 2011

Well, I am not doing a good job this year of keeping up with my blog. Life seems to have gotten so much busier somehow and at night by the time I return home (if I return home and am not a tia), I am thinking about sleeping or some other task at hand. At any rate this morning while I wait for the family members to arrive for Family Visit Day, I have a few moments to reflect on the week. This has been the first week back as far as staff meetings and childcare trainings -- the things that normally happen when school is in session. I have been busy preparing for some of the future childcare trainings by working on putting together (or translating) questions for the book Boundaries which the staff will be going through. I will be giving the introduction to the book on my last day at La Casa -- February 25. I do not like to think too much about that day because it will be difficult one. A big part of me does not want to move on and yet I know that it is what God is calling me to do for this season.

Over this past week I have found myself smiling and laughing at random questions that the young children ask or the conclusions that their brains come up with, bringing two unrelated matters. Children do make me smile. Last night some of the youngest ones participated in a little song and creative movement at the farewell party for their tia. It was so cute to see them so dressed up and then spinnigng around, partially doing the movements.

As far a few other random stories in the week. I must remember that three short honks is not a friendly reminder to keep moving! In fact that is the equivalent of giving the finger in the States. But three honks seems so much more natural than two or four. Yesterday I almost got in trouble when I unthinkingly honked three times. I gasped when I realized what I had done and quickly added a fourth. I was apalled to think of the message that I had just sent. Also having to do with roads, I have been noticing a lone corn stalk on my way to work each day. It is growing right on the road, just at the edge of the sidewalk. Apparently if found a way to reach a bit of soil and anchor down. There are tassels on it right now but I would be surprised to see any ears of corn result from it.

On Thursday I went for a twenty minute run with two of the older children at La Casa. They both need exercise and the one in particular since she just discovered that at 18 she has high blood pressure. I am trying to instill in the children the importance of healthy living though I realize that my making cookies with them did not exactly support that lifestyle idea. I would love to see a few of the chidlren continuing to run even after I leave. Earlier in the week I had gone on a walk with few of the children and the dog. There was a close call as one of the girls started to follow the dog across the street without looking as to if any cars were coming. I grabbed her arm and stopped her and so the dog stopped too and just in time because a car was coming. The young girl was scared by the close call and realized that she has to look and not impulsively run. I pray that the incident was enough to make her remember to be careful next time.

And so those are a few stories though I know there are many more to share and maybe I can get a few more written down.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

What 2011 Will Not Bring...

January 27, 2011

It would seem that 2011 will not bring lots of blog entries. I simply have been out of time for writing and updating my blog. I suppose that I could be writing at 4:00AM when I first wake the girls up to get ready for school but for now that is a good time for me spend with the Lord.

The year will probably not bring me much snow either though I know that Lancaster County is currently covered with a blanket of white snow. I am sitting here in El Salvador on the porch on a bright, hot sunny day. I know that many would like to trade places with me and I of course would love the snow adventures. This past week and a half have held lots of days as a tia. For the most part it has gone well though I am getting tired and looking forward to some time off on Saturday. The children are in school this week which does mean that I have some free time in the mornings -- a big blessing. I have yet to actually sleep though as naps have always been difficult for me. I am with the "medianas" or girls between 11 and 14. There are only four of them and really they have been doing quite well. They are much easier to be in charge than the six youngest girls as will be my responsibility several days in this next month.

As for what else the year will not bring, I do not know since we are only in 2011. But realy overall, I expect 2011 to bring adventures, joys, and of course challenges since they are inevitable in life. But as I have seen in the past, I believe for the future that God will continue to show Himself faithful.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

And I'm Back!




January 12, 2011
After what seems like years (and really it has been a year as far as the numbers go), I am back to blogging. My travels over Christmas and New Year’s ended up being longer and more involved than I had originally thought and so writing did not make it on my “To-do” list. But now I am here in El Salvador once again getting settled into a routine that will change in another two weeks as the children head back to school.
All in all I was out of El Salvador for almost 2 ½ weeks and when I made it back to the home for the first time last Saturday, I was very happy to see the children’s smiling faces. They are good at giving hugs! At the same time I did enjoy the majority of my time away. How thankful I was to be with my family again – all thirty-five of them over Christmas! This was the year where all of the cousins show up so we had lots of fun together. Because of a large portion of us getting sick on Christmas Day, our annual soccer game did not make it on the agenda. But there were other fun games and good conversations. I, of course, was delighted to be with my nephew Jack again and to see his love of water (including seeing others get wet – I think he will be mischievous yet). A few of the small luxuries of the United States that I enjoyed were: driving with the windows down, brushing my teeth with tap water, and not having to worry if my dishes or foods were completely dry after having been washed.
On December 28th I set off for Central America with a stop in Honduras. Due to snow in the north I ended up spending more time in the airport than I had planned, but thankfully I still got out the same day. My intention was to be in Honduras until the New Year since there were no children left to take in here in El Salvador for New Year’s. (The children at La Casa de Mi Padre are divided among the staff families for Christmas and New Year’s so that everyone can experience Christmas in a family setting.)
I will expound on the Honduras happenings in the next blog entry. For the most part settling back into life in El Salvador has gone well. It was good to be back at my church here in San Salvador and be challenged by the message once again. I had opportunity over the weekend to connect with some of my friends from Bible Study here. For me, one of the best things too was just to have some time alone. For 2 ½ weeks I had been living out of a suitcase in places that were not my home and I was ready for more of routine.
This week I have gone with the girls to the park several times to help them both get exercise and have some fun. I enjoyed introducing some camp games from years ago when I worked at Black Rock Retreat. Of course some ended up being rather chaotic considering that the age range was 5-21 (and then two adults). From that time in games, I have on my heart trying to help the girls become aware of (and care about) the power of their words. It seems worse than before the manner in which they talk to each other. Perhaps it is good that vacation time is coming to an end and they will be spending time at school and not always with the same sixteen girls.
Today we had story hour with the younger girls and due to be able to mold play-doh into something mentioned in the story, they enjoyed the time. Even Ralph and the Motorcycle has a lesson or two to teach to children. With a few of the older girls, I played a table game before they got involved in a movie and game cube. I am all for challenging the minds, which is what the game Blokus does. Yesterday I baked Jamaican Banana Oatmeal cookies with a group of the girls so we have been busy.
Perhaps my favorite moments since my return to El Salvador have been those of praying with various staff members and encouraging them. The Lord taught me a lot personally through the coaching course that I was finishing up last year and many of the concepts I am finding applicable to all areas of life. I pray that the Lord can continue to use me to encourage and be present to support those who are passing through difficult moments.