What do I really know about love?
Not so much.
Love is a noun
We see this in verses like 2 Peter 4:8 where "love covers a multitude of sin" and Corinthians 13:13 ("Still these three remain: faith, hope and love; but the greatest of these is love)")
Love is a verb
Love is a VERB. It is something we DO. In Spanish, the verb "to love" has three translations. (Kind of makes you feel like English is missing out, huh?)
Love is a command
Well, when you say it that way, it seems a little more intense. God commands us to love one another and love others as we love ourselves. That's where it gets hard, because if I truly want to be Christ-like, then I have to follow the commands of God.
And following God's commands isn't just a pick-and-choose kind of game.
So where does that leave me?
It's easy to love my parents and my friends, because they are nice to me and they love me back.
It is an entire matter completely to love these kids when I am living with them 24/7.
How do you love a 16-year old girls who hates listening to authority and thinks she's above getting a hug?
How do you love a kid who is always yelling and fighting for your attention?
How do you love a girl who cries because she doesn't want to study, do chores, etc?
How do you love the two brothers who are so lazy that they'd rather wear dirty clothes than do laundry?
I think the answer is: I can't....
I am completely unable to love these kids because I am human. We love conditionally. It is easy to love those who love us and treat us well. But it is so challenging to love those who are "rough around the edges" or who drive us crazy.
...but God can.
Luckily for me (and the kids), God loves us unconditionally. He doesn't care what we've done in the past, He doesn't mind when we're in a crabby mood, all that matters is that we are His children and He loves us.
And so, when I am truly walking with God and communicating with Him and doing His will...well then, things get pretty great. Because God knows that I can't love these kids, and so He sends me a double portion (some days a triple portion) of His love. And the love overflows from me to the kids.
Give me your eyes for just one second
Over the last few weeks, God has been giving me His eyes to see the kids and it has been incredible! Each day I am able to see past the faults and frustrations that the kids give me. I can see insecure teenage girls, homesick little boys, children who really are trying to do well. And most importantly, I can see a bunch of little kids who just want to be loved. All they want is for me to love them.
I can't love them with the unconditional love that they want. Only God can...and we teach them that each day. But I can love them with as much love as I have.
We love because God first loved us. Amen to that.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Friday, September 10, 2010
We're Celebrating WHAT??
I've been in Honduras for about 7 months now and I still don't understand their holidays. Honestly, it seems like there is a holiday for everything (and by holiday I mean full-fledged "don't go to work or school", "throw a party...with a pinata", kind of holiday.
Here are a few:
Lempira - From what I gather, he is an Indian Chief that fought against the Spanish conquesters
Day of the Pine Tree - it's the national tree
Day of the Student
Day of Teacher
Day of the Workers - I'll give them that because we celebrate that in the States too
Day of Soldier - different than Labor or Memorial or Independence Day (they have all those too)
Ok...you get my point. We constantly have days off. Today we celebrated The Day of the Child and next week the kids have the full week off to celebrate.
I don't understand...
I am very confused as to why there are so many holidays here. I think the Hondurans really like their pinatas.
...but I'm not going to complain...
I mean, hey - who doesn't love beating the candy out of paper-mache and wire? And really, who is going to say no to a little party?
...in fact, I'm going to embrace it...
I caved in. I bought the kids pencils that say "My Teacher Loves Me", and I helped load them up on sugar. I may regret it later tonight when they refuse to go to sleep, but right now I'm their Number One English Teacher!!
..but there's still work to be done.
I had no idea that this coming week was a break. So naturally I have English class planned. I think we'll have it anyways. I mean, if I have to be with the kids all day, they might as well learn something!
Eduardo, Miriam and I are putting on our game faces for the week ahead. I think it's going to be a zone-defense kind of week!
Here are a few:
Lempira - From what I gather, he is an Indian Chief that fought against the Spanish conquesters
Day of the Pine Tree - it's the national tree
Day of the Student
Day of Teacher
Day of the Workers - I'll give them that because we celebrate that in the States too
Day of Soldier - different than Labor or Memorial or Independence Day (they have all those too)
Ok...you get my point. We constantly have days off. Today we celebrated The Day of the Child and next week the kids have the full week off to celebrate.
I don't understand...
I am very confused as to why there are so many holidays here. I think the Hondurans really like their pinatas.
...but I'm not going to complain...
I mean, hey - who doesn't love beating the candy out of paper-mache and wire? And really, who is going to say no to a little party?
...in fact, I'm going to embrace it...
I caved in. I bought the kids pencils that say "My Teacher Loves Me", and I helped load them up on sugar. I may regret it later tonight when they refuse to go to sleep, but right now I'm their Number One English Teacher!!
..but there's still work to be done.
I had no idea that this coming week was a break. So naturally I have English class planned. I think we'll have it anyways. I mean, if I have to be with the kids all day, they might as well learn something!
Eduardo, Miriam and I are putting on our game faces for the week ahead. I think it's going to be a zone-defense kind of week!
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Got Milk?
The "old me" totally would have freaked out today.
That's what I told Miriam upon my late arrival to the Villa yesterday. I arrived at 4pm...the orignal plan was for me to arrive before noon.
What's my excuse?...I got stuck in traffic?
To say I got stuck in traffic would be an understatement. But I think we're most upset about the milk.
But let's start at the beginning.
8 pm Monday night: As Elvia drops me off at home after bible study, she mentions that I will have to leave Tegus at 5 am the next morning. "There is going to be a paro" she says. Paro = stop, aka the unions and maybe the transportation is refusing to work until the government changes minimim wage. This may or may not be an empty threat, but if it happens, the police will close off the exits and entrances to the city. Better if I leave early and beat the police to the exits. Normally this wouldn't be a problem since I'm already up at 5 am, but we are out of milk at the Villa. If I leave at 5am, there will be no place to buy milk and I will return empty-handed.
9:30 pm: Betsy calls me. The attendant at the gas-station says there won't be a paro tomorrow. I don't have to leave at 5 am. I am confused as to why we are relying on the information from a stranger at the gas station, but I am thankful that I can go to the grocery store and get milk.
10:30 am Monday morning: After running errands and picking up 4 gallons of milk for the Villa, I head out of town. About 2 songs into my journey, I realize that the police are redirecting traffic. But I don't see anyone on the road protesting. It must be an accident or something. Instead of turning around, I follow the taxi driver in front of me (taxi drivers know EVERYTHING in this city).
10:45 am: After discovering a ton of new little side streets, I pass another taxi driver who tells me to turn around. There's no way out of town. Great. Now I am on some street that doesn't have a name and I don't know where I'm going. I turn around and keep going straight. I know I'm parallel to the highway, so eventually I have to run into something I know...right?
11 am: The next thing I know, I can see the mall again. Praise the Lord! I find my way back to Jerico, we put the four gallons of milk in the fridge and laugh about the ridiculousness of all of this,
2:00 pm:Since most of the kids didn't come to school today (because of the paro), we decide to head home early. Saira (our office administrator) is pretty sure that I'll be able to make it out of town if I get on the highway near her house. I load up the milk, drive her home and recieve directions back to the highway.
2:15 pm:I can see the exit...I just don't know yet if I can get through. Turns out I can, Praise the Lord (again)!! Stop at the gasolinera for a Diet Coke and I'm on my way.
3:45 pm: I arrive at the Villa. It's good to be home and back to the calmness of life. The milk is returned to a cool environment. Refridgerators stocked with food, we have internet, cell phones are recharged, the staff is all together...the paro won't affect us here!
9:30 pm: Miriam and I decide to have a late-night snack of cereal and milk. We both agree that the milk does not taste right...perhaps the side-effect of spending the day in a car without air conditioning?
That's what I told Miriam upon my late arrival to the Villa yesterday. I arrived at 4pm...the orignal plan was for me to arrive before noon.
What's my excuse?...I got stuck in traffic?
To say I got stuck in traffic would be an understatement. But I think we're most upset about the milk.
But let's start at the beginning.
8 pm Monday night: As Elvia drops me off at home after bible study, she mentions that I will have to leave Tegus at 5 am the next morning. "There is going to be a paro" she says. Paro = stop, aka the unions and maybe the transportation is refusing to work until the government changes minimim wage. This may or may not be an empty threat, but if it happens, the police will close off the exits and entrances to the city. Better if I leave early and beat the police to the exits. Normally this wouldn't be a problem since I'm already up at 5 am, but we are out of milk at the Villa. If I leave at 5am, there will be no place to buy milk and I will return empty-handed.
9:30 pm: Betsy calls me. The attendant at the gas-station says there won't be a paro tomorrow. I don't have to leave at 5 am. I am confused as to why we are relying on the information from a stranger at the gas station, but I am thankful that I can go to the grocery store and get milk.
10:30 am Monday morning: After running errands and picking up 4 gallons of milk for the Villa, I head out of town. About 2 songs into my journey, I realize that the police are redirecting traffic. But I don't see anyone on the road protesting. It must be an accident or something. Instead of turning around, I follow the taxi driver in front of me (taxi drivers know EVERYTHING in this city).
10:45 am: After discovering a ton of new little side streets, I pass another taxi driver who tells me to turn around. There's no way out of town. Great. Now I am on some street that doesn't have a name and I don't know where I'm going. I turn around and keep going straight. I know I'm parallel to the highway, so eventually I have to run into something I know...right?
11 am: The next thing I know, I can see the mall again. Praise the Lord! I find my way back to Jerico, we put the four gallons of milk in the fridge and laugh about the ridiculousness of all of this,
2:00 pm:Since most of the kids didn't come to school today (because of the paro), we decide to head home early. Saira (our office administrator) is pretty sure that I'll be able to make it out of town if I get on the highway near her house. I load up the milk, drive her home and recieve directions back to the highway.
2:15 pm:I can see the exit...I just don't know yet if I can get through. Turns out I can, Praise the Lord (again)!! Stop at the gasolinera for a Diet Coke and I'm on my way.
3:45 pm: I arrive at the Villa. It's good to be home and back to the calmness of life. The milk is returned to a cool environment. Refridgerators stocked with food, we have internet, cell phones are recharged, the staff is all together...the paro won't affect us here!
9:30 pm: Miriam and I decide to have a late-night snack of cereal and milk. We both agree that the milk does not taste right...perhaps the side-effect of spending the day in a car without air conditioning?
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Back To School
All my UW-Eau Claire friends started class today. Although I do miss the "back-to-school" anticipation, I am so thankful that I didn't go through the normal beginning of the semester freak-out/"how am I ever going to graduate?" session in my advisors office.
However, the back-to-school bug must have hit me because I somehow managed to enroll myself in a Bible Class at our church in Tegucigalpa.
Well, that's not entirely true. Elvia came to the Villa and told me that she "had a plan for my life". That plan involved me driving into Tegucigalpa every Monday night for a bible study that she is facilitating.
Bible Study
I don't know if I can truly call it a Bible study. I mean, we are definitely studying the Bible (a lot) but it feels like a university class. Each year contains 4 parts, and each part is 4 weeks long (two hours each week). We have homework to complete each night and a quiz every Monday. At the end of the 14 weeks there is a final exam and class in mandatory.
yup...sounds like a college class to me
My group is mostly 20-somethings and I love each person! In only two weeks, we have connected on a deep level and I feel so comfortable with everyone. Our second week went nearly 3 hours and we didn't even get through all the content! In addition, I have a prayer partner named Mara. She is 32 and used to work in the Japanese embassy! She great and has been so sweet to me: sending me emails and texts of encouragement and of course praying for me.
The content is fast but not too difficult (considering that it's all in Spanish) and I am learning a lot. But the best thing is that this is a total answer to my prayers from the months of February thru June. So many times I had cried out to God for a friend and community. Now I have it. God provided in His perfect timing and I am so thankful!
Each week, we have to memorize a Bible verse and re-write it for the quiz. The first two weeks were pretty easy once I learned the vocabulary. This week's is a doozy...the Lord's prayer (Matthew 6:9-13). Not so difficult in English but Spanish is a whole 'nother level.
»"Padre nuestro que estás en los cielos,
santificado sea tu nombre.
10 Venga tu reino.
Hágase tu voluntad, como en el cielo, así también en la tierra.
11 El pan nuestro de cada día, dánoslo hoy.
12 Perdónanos nuestras deudas,
como también nosotros perdonamosa nuestros deudores.
13 No nos metas en tentación,
sino líbranos del mal,
porque tuyo es el reino,el poder y la gloria,
por todos los siglos. Amén".
However, the back-to-school bug must have hit me because I somehow managed to enroll myself in a Bible Class at our church in Tegucigalpa.
Well, that's not entirely true. Elvia came to the Villa and told me that she "had a plan for my life". That plan involved me driving into Tegucigalpa every Monday night for a bible study that she is facilitating.
Bible Study
I don't know if I can truly call it a Bible study. I mean, we are definitely studying the Bible (a lot) but it feels like a university class. Each year contains 4 parts, and each part is 4 weeks long (two hours each week). We have homework to complete each night and a quiz every Monday. At the end of the 14 weeks there is a final exam and class in mandatory.
yup...sounds like a college class to me
My group is mostly 20-somethings and I love each person! In only two weeks, we have connected on a deep level and I feel so comfortable with everyone. Our second week went nearly 3 hours and we didn't even get through all the content! In addition, I have a prayer partner named Mara. She is 32 and used to work in the Japanese embassy! She great and has been so sweet to me: sending me emails and texts of encouragement and of course praying for me.
The content is fast but not too difficult (considering that it's all in Spanish) and I am learning a lot. But the best thing is that this is a total answer to my prayers from the months of February thru June. So many times I had cried out to God for a friend and community. Now I have it. God provided in His perfect timing and I am so thankful!
Each week, we have to memorize a Bible verse and re-write it for the quiz. The first two weeks were pretty easy once I learned the vocabulary. This week's is a doozy...the Lord's prayer (Matthew 6:9-13). Not so difficult in English but Spanish is a whole 'nother level.
»"Padre nuestro que estás en los cielos,
santificado sea tu nombre.
10 Venga tu reino.
Hágase tu voluntad, como en el cielo, así también en la tierra.
11 El pan nuestro de cada día, dánoslo hoy.
12 Perdónanos nuestras deudas,
como también nosotros perdonamosa nuestros deudores.
13 No nos metas en tentación,
sino líbranos del mal,
porque tuyo es el reino,el poder y la gloria,
por todos los siglos. Amén".
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