It's time

As a child, I remember watching a video my parents made with their small group before I was born.  They were in a garage with other young adults, acting out fun skits.  In one of them, they all sat closely together in a line of chairs, each leaning their head on the shoulder of the person to their left.

The person on the end looked up at the person beside them and asked, "Is it time yet?"  Not knowing, that person then asked the next one, "Is it time yet?"  The question was passed up the line through each person, "Is it time yet?"  "Is it time yet?" "Is it time yet?"

When the question got to the end of the line, the last person looked at their watch and said, "No, it's not time."  Again, it was passed down the line, "No, it's not time."  "No, it's not time."  "No, it's not time."  And with a sigh, the group waited a little longer.

After a long pause, the person on the end asked once again, "Is it time yet?"...I forget how long this went on, but to my delight as a child, at some point the person on the end answers, "Yes, it's time."  The message gets passed down, "Yes, it's time."  "Yes, it's time."  "Yes, it's time."

Then, once everyone has heard the message, in unison they all go from leaning on the person to the left, to leaning on the person to the right.  All that build up for a simple change of position.

We have been blessed with a new staff person from Chihuahua, Mexico.  She is highly educated, very wise, kind, and faithful - and best of all, feels clearly led to this place for this time. I have been training her to be the principal of the school and had mentioned that maybe in a month or two she could take over.  A little overwhelmed by it all, she assured me that it could be three months or more if I wanted.

Finally, a principal's desk  in an office, and not just a small table in a hallway. :)

But, I have found that I have had to be absent more than I expected, often leaving Aida in charge while I was gone.  This weekend I have the opportunity to take a trip to the coast with a friend, so I would be leaving Aida fully in charge for a full school day and a full teacher in-service day.

And I realized that, yes, it's time.  So, yesterday I held what will probably be my last teacher meeting, where I shared with the teachers that we are making the transition now.  Aida will be the principal, and if I am around it is as her assistant or to give her advice/help.  I then went out to the morning devotions with the students and announced the same thing, thanking them for showing me respect and love, and asking them to do the same with her.

It put me in mind of an early morning two years ago, when I first stood in front of the students as their principal.  A bad cold had hit the home and there was no one around to introduce me, so I introduced myself.  I'm very thankful for these last two years as the principal of this small school.  I've learned and grown so much, and am thankful for the ways I've been able to see others learn and grow as well.

The transition is hard, and most days I struggle to wrap my mind around all my new duties. I already miss spending time with the students and teachers, and having the influence on their lives as their principal.  But I remember how God has confirmed this new call, and I move forward trusting that this change is within his will.

I invite you to pray with me as we all go through these transitions in leadership.  May it be to God's glory.

Old Fashioned

We met at my house after church, the young man and young woman sitting next to each other on the couch, with the three of us on the leadership team surrounding them.  The pastor asked the young man begin, seeing as he was the one who called us all together in the first place.

He told us of his friendship with this young woman, who had grown up at the home, and of his interest of beginning a relationship with her.  They both attend the same university, and he actually also helps teach some classes as well.  A mature young man, and one with the courage and heart to ask for this audience with us.

The pastor then spoke as a father would, speaking plainly about expectations and rules.  The administrator spoke as a mother would, talking about watching this young woman grow up from a child into the beautiful woman she is today.  I just sat there with a silly grin on my face, finding the whole thing very sweet.

I don't know how this relationship will work out, but it was so refreshing to see this approach in a world ruled by emotions of the moment.  I know it's not healthy to be too nostalgic, and that times were not perfect when the picture above was taken either.  But through the discussions today, I was reminded of how good it is to have trusted advisers confirm and counsel you in the way you should go, with wisdom, truth, and love.

Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life. 

You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.

Proverbs 19:20-21

School Photos

As it turns out, starting a new job while continuing in your previous one can be time consuming.  But, I've finally loaded some photos from our first week  of school and would like to share them with you.

Sunrise on our first day in the new building.

Flag Ceremony and Dedication.

Praying for our new administrator.

Learning to line up outside the classrooms.

Learning how to use a water fountain.

Nice new bathrooms (and library in the background).

Sixth graders finally have a big classroom! (They were practically in a closet before)

Morning devotional time on the basketball court.

The view from my office in the early evening,

We have also been blessed with the return of one of our very talented teachers from last year, and the arrival of a new staff person who I am training to take over as the principal.  God is good.

A New Day

Today classes resume for  our little elementary school.  But the school is not so little anymore, as we have our first day in the bright, new school.  We're very thankful for the many who have contributed to this new building and pray that God will be glorified in and through it.

Here We Go

 

I flew back to Oaxaca last night, and a friend picked me up - a little late because of unexpected Three Kings Day traffic.  But that was alright, standing next to my suitcases in the warm night air, I called my family to let them know I'd arrived safely.

Later when I walked into our duplex back at the children's home, three women were around the kitchen table praying.  I had interrupted, but they got up and gave me warm greetings. Another friend had left my favorite order from the local taco place on the counter waiting for me.  It was a very nice welcome.

As I got to unpacking, the women got back to their prayers and I heard them praying for each other in this new year.  As their prayers went on, I had to set aside what was in my hands and kneel down beside my bed.  I thanked God for his faithfulness, prayed for my loved ones and rededicated my life and my work to Him. (His work, really)

And now the morning has come and I hit the ground running, with the classic awkward transition for my heart from the warm, comfortable home in Colorado with family to this beautiful, harder place where I feel called.

Lord, show me Your ways and help me to walk in them.  Lead me this day with wisdom and love and understanding.  To Your glory, Lord.  Amen.

New Year's Reflections

I have been blessed to spend time with my family in my home state of Colorado.  Early Christmas morning, with a snowstorm looming, we all piled in the car to go over the river and through the woods.

It was a treacherous drive, but we made it safely to our grandmother's house in Buena Vista, Colorado.

Very early the next morning, while I was lying in my spot on my grandma's living room floor, my sister read me the weather forecast from the nearby couch.

She decided that it would be a fine morning to go take pictures of the sunrise, so we pulled on some warm clothes and headed out.

 Despite the bitter cold, we enjoyed a lovely morning, and we were blessed with the sight below once the sun finally made its appearance an hour later.

Soon I will be heading back to the children's home in Oaxaca, but it will be with change, as I will be returning as the assistant administrator (while continuing as the principal until a replacement can be found).

I've learned a lot in the past two years, and believe I've grown a lot too.  Here are just a few of the lessons I've been taught (and continue to learn). 

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Necessity can force you to do things you didn't think you could do. "Just do it" and "Fake it till you make it" are not just nice catch phrases, they can really help.

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Trusting God's will is powerful, and sometimes painful.

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Show grace and mercy.

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It seems to be a common human practice to look for faults in others.  Fight this instinct.  Instead, look for the ways God has gifted them.

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A great blessing in today's world is to not be controlled by technology.  Turn off devices and look at the world that surrounds you.

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Prayer and faith are a powerful combination.

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We are a spot in time.  And a part of something deep and eternal.

So here's to a new year.  Full of new lessons, I'm sure.  As the children's home experiences changes, this is my hope and prayer:

May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; 

establish the work of our hands for us

- yes, establish the work of our hands.

Psalm 90:17