American Days

A friend found me on Yahoo chat today to ask me if we could go out for dinner together this week. I explained my lack of a vital component to the success of such an excursion: house help. She said, “Ah, so you are an American Mom this week.”

I have felt so very American these last few days. I am so glad I have a comprehensive husband who is pitching in and helping with the kids. He even did the grocery shopping and picked up something for dinner while he was out. Then when he got back he said, “Why don’t you go to the gym?” He knows that is something I enjoy doing (very nice after a full day of home schooling and caring for a teething toddler). When I got back he and my son were finishing up on the mountain of dishes.

Some missionaries who live up the street asked me to watch their three young children for them the other day while they finished up packing for a three month furlough. So that even our family’s social activities had an American flavor, with a hint of Spanglish to spice things up of course. Have you ever watched Snow White in Spanish? Early Sunday morning I helped them get to the airport. We said Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year before hugs and farewell. I miss them! We are car-sitting for them while they are gone. (Thank you so much guys!!!) So I even feel more American in “my” truck / SUV with my kids all strapped down in the back. We are in the process of raising funds for our own car, so this is just whetting my appetite even more. Driving is one of my most favorite things to do.



I will just end by saying first Go Red Sox, second my heart goes out to the Californians devestated by fires and finally please enjoy some seasonal Peeps for me (those crunchy marshmallow treats are the best).

I Love My Church

Last night (Thursday) we had our mid-week service. My husband, our pastor, started a very interesting series last week. I am loving it.

He is looking at the lives of certain people throughout history and the relationship that they had with God; people like Martin Luther, Mother Teresa, Soren Kierkegaard, Billy Graham and other personal heroes that have impacted, and continue to mark his life.

Last night we looked at Martin Luther, very good stuff. Here are some morsels…

From the life of Martin Luther we learn to love a seemingly frustrating God. But it is not God who is frustrating, rather our misconceptions about God and the things of God that cause us to become frustrated.

We become frustrated when we find that God is not who we have always thought he was.
We become frustrated when religious models turn out to be inaccurate.
We become frustrated when we try to make good works do something they were not meant to do.

Loving a frustrating God:

Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”

Isaiah 55:8-9 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.”

Martin Luther said:
“The evil of good works comes when we consider good works as the payment for spiritual benefits and blessings. A sort of payment that gives us access to something that you really desire. It is in these instances that good works become a vice of the devil distracting us and giving us a false hope.”

DaRonn Washington said:
“A search for God through an inaccurate religious model will always lead you to frustration. God places that frustration within you to force you to examine your ways. It is in this way that frustration with your own religious expression can be your best friend.”

I especially enjoyed being challenged to let the frustrations I encounter push me towards seeking God and his kingdom thus stripping away the misconceptions and replacing them with a freeing truth.

My Man Loves Mii!

At the risk of sounding completely self-centered this post is all about me and Mii. (smile) We are now the proud owners of a Wii gaming system thanks to the man of the house my wonderful husband DaRonn. With the game you can create characters that look just like you to play with. It is quite fun. Here is my Mii standing next to DaRonn's Mii:


In other autobiographical news… I got my hair cut last night. It has been quite a while since I had it this short. I really like it! As I was searching for a before picture I realized that I had my long hair in a pony tail most of the time. So I am glad that I have a style now that is easy to manage and won’t be pulled back all the time. Best of all my man was the one who had the idea; we both like it. (Photos by my 9 year old, Raimy)

Before:


After:

100th Post

To commemorate my 100th post I am going to make a link list of some of my favorite posts up to this point.

My Hubby’s Home

I love my kids

Cochabamba, Bolivia at a Glance

Neighboring Market

Basement Beginnings 5 part series

What --> Who

American Weekends

Clouds, Cochabamba?, Customs and Computer Connections

Waiting for You

Las Gradas (The Stairs)

SE TU MISMO

You all right?

Dear Danny’s Dilemma

Extenuating circumstances contributed to a fatigued climb this bright clear morning. Last night’s rain had unforeseen effects beyond complicating the cold my climbing partner is trying to fight off. Who could have known that the doom of Danny’s messages would come with the downpour?

Only muddy puddles remained on the steps. The anonymous yet encouraging author had made a slight oversight by using a non-permanent marker to inscribe the passages of hope to our mysterious Danny. Left was unintelligible graffiti sure to disappear completely with the impending rains.

Waxing nostalgic we desperately searched for the messages; mostly because they would have served as a great aid in our journey today. This came to no avail.

Reaching the end of the ascent our ears perked up as we heard a voice call out, “Vamos Danny. Vamos.” [Let’s go Danny. Let’s go.] We looked around. A mother was encouraging her young boy of 5 or 6 to catch up. Could this be our infamous Danny? We glanced at each other with raised eyebrows and shook our head in doubt. Simultaneously we reassumed our hike in the same dubious fashion regarding the hope of finding the final message: Danny te quiero [Danny I love you].

Yes! It was there, faded yet readable! And what is to become of the messages?

I wonder about the message of the gospel. It has miraculously survived millennia. The Author was not foolish in the choosing of his writing instrument. He chose a crimson ink that would endure for eternity. And though the stone we tread upon today is strong, it still is corruptible and will wear away. The Author of the eternal love story wrote his message on the hearts of humans. He did this so that the generations to come will know the truth that will pull them through the hardest of climbs in the journey of life.

What has he carefully written on your heart that has encouraged you to continue? Are these impenetrable messages neatly locked away? Or are you letting them be seen by other journeyers along the path? Even through torrential storms you can be assured that the messages of hope written on your heart will never fade.

Markers and Outliers

Unknown to every tiny baby there exists in this world a system of markers and outliers that separate and categorize unique individuals in nice little boxes and slots. And though we are born as a one-of-a-kind creation we spend much of our later growing up years trying to become a one-size-fits-all conglomerate mock up of all we have been told is approved and acceptable. It is not our intention to place these requirements on others; we just do it. It is not our intention to try to fit in; we just do it.

These same segregation attitudes have infiltrated the church system as well. We mark people based on what they do or do not do, what they do or do not wear, how they speak, who they hang out with, and even the material goods they own or do not own.

Would you believe that this even happens in the missionary world? Again – it is unintentional – but it does happen. For reasons I am still trying to understand it was not until this year that I have allowed myself to become close friends with other missionaries. And as I am branching out getting to know other people (and really enjoying myself doing it) I have been surprised to find these markers present. Markers like your sending organization or lack thereof, kids or no kids or how many kids, language learning style, the education of your children, long term or short term, and we have not even begun to talk about the type of ministry you do.

Intentionality breaks through the stereotypes to a place where diversity is treasured and division is diminished.

The choice to not judge, to not compartmentalize individuals, to not form prejudices is mine. Just because a certain person with a specific characteristic behaved a certain way in the past does not mean that another person with a similar characteristic is going to behave in a similar fashion. It would be contradictory if I were to assume that all people make these generalizations. Given the chance people will always surprise you.

This post is not a complaint – rather it is simply an observation of the way things are and the way that I have chosen to respond. It is a nice fringe benefit if you were challenged by these observations.

What do you think?

An intriguing conversation with my 9 year old daughter:

Her: Mom, why do we call people in church brother and sister?
Me: Because God is our Father.
Her: So who’s the mother?
Me: Can I get back to you on that one?
Her: I have asked other people that and they don’t know either.