Sisters

We sat on the beach, waiting for sunset.  My sister took pictures of people's footprints as they walked by and I watched as a lifeguard on duty kept warning two foolish young men that they were wading out dangerously far.  Every so often we would be amazed as a surfer in the distance would catch a beautiful, big turquoise wave.

Then something in the waters nearby caught my eye.  It was small and black, but didn't seem like trash.  "Is that a wallet?" I asked my sister.

"Where?"  

"That thing floating in the water, I think it's a wallet."

Before I knew it, my sister was passing me her camera and leaping into action, dashing down the sandbank to grab the wallet that had finally come to rest on the shore.  After retrieving it, she found IDs and credit cards inside. 

"What should I do?" she asked.

My mind quickly dismissed the idea of a lost and found on this long stretch of beach. "Maybe give it to the lifeguards?" I suggested.

So she flagged down the lifeguard from earlier, who was now making his way back up the beach.  I couldn't hear their conversation over the roar of the ocean, but I saw her signaling to the water and the lifeguard looking around with curiosity.

As he opened up the wallet, he seemed to recognize the person in the picture.  He scanned the horizon full of surfers, and called out to those two young men who were still carelessly splashing around out in the powerful waters.

The lifeguard returned their wallet to them, pointing at my sister and me as she took her place beside me again.   They waved in thanks, and we all went on with our evening.  As I thought it over, I chuckled as I reflected on how this incident demonstrated the similarities and differences in our personalities.

My sister and I both have a heart for helping others.  But, I am a pensive person, constantly observing everything I can about a situation and trying to work out the best solutions.  My sister is more active, a seeker of justice and a champion for others.  So when she was here this summer and told me of a new job possibility, one where she would be supporting and advocating for people living in the low-income communities, I encouraged her to apply and see where it led.

In a few weeks she begins as a Healthcare Specialist at Mercy Housing, a place that "is working to create a more humane world where poverty is alleviated, communities are healthy and all people can develop their full potential." I'm excited for the possibilities that lie ahead for her, and I'd like to take this opportunity to ask that you join me in praying for my sister during this transition.  May she finish well where she is at, and be blessed in this new step in her life.

Thank you!

Depressing...

I arrived home from church disappointed in how I was reacting in frustration to the kids who were braking the rules and/or acting disrespectfully.  I wished I could respond with more kindness and patience, but sometimes I feel like Miss Hannigan from the movie Annie.

We won't get into how closely I resemble her on occasion ;).  But last night the thought of my attitude brought me to tears (I know, I'm very weepy lately).  As I entered my room, a thought came to me, "Is it possible that I'm depressed?"

Perhaps some of you already know this, but I suffer from minor depression from time to time.  A counselor once gave me a five-item check list that I have found to be very helpful over the years to combat this.  Here are things that people who suffer from depression can do to help:

1. If your doctor has prescribed medications, make sure you are taking them.
2. Eat healthily.
3. Get the right amount of sleep.
4. Exercise.
5. Have something to look forward to.

Simple, but effective.  So, when I'm feeling down and I'm not sure why, thankfully this list comes to mind.  And as I recall it, I usually realize that I am not doing several of these items.  And just the realization of that helps lift my spirits, followed by changing at least one or two of those behaviors.

So last night I got ready for bed and then started a new book by an author I always enjoy.  Almost immediately I started feeling more positive.  I share this with you not for sympathy or to complain, but to pass along a simple tool that has helped me a great deal, in hopes that it will help you or someone you know.

Now to work on that exercise bit... ;)

Daily Bread

The devotional book I'm going through this year prompts the reader to say the Lord's Prayer every day.  It has been an interesting practice.  For example, whenever I ask to be forgiven of my sins as I forgive those who've sinned against me, I am forced to consider how it is that I have forgiven those who sin against me.  Do I really want God to forgive me in the same way I forgive others?  But that's another blog post for another time.

Often when I pray for our daily bread, I'm reminded of how God already does provide for us daily here.  Living at a children's home, we truly live by faith that donors will help sustain us.  Each time we sit down to the table, there is food on it because someone gave.  Our foundation is supported by donations made by people mainly in the U.S. and Canada.  But not only that, we also see generosity from the Mexicans surrounding us here at the home.

Every Tuesday night we go to produce section of the big market in Oaxaca and ask for donations for the home.  This week I helped drive some visiting photographers to the market, and got to experience this for the first time.  I watched as our amazing cook approached vendors over and over again, asking with a cheerful voice, "Do you have any donations for the children's home in Tlacolula?"  And whether the answer was a slow yes or a no-go-away, she would always respond with a Pollyanna-positive, "Thank you!"

She warns those who go with her that whatever people choose to give us, we must not act ungrateful for anything, no matter what.  And so it was that I was surprised when the first people we approached pulled nice fruit off of their displays to put into our crates.  One of the visitors commented that it was like shopping without paying for things.

However, at other times we did get the bottom crate tucked in the back full of rotting vegetables.  After several no's, it is nice to get what you can, but it's not the greatest feeling to receive what is basically someone's trash.  Later on I found myself pondering, what kind of giver am I?  Do I give of my best?  Or do I give the leftovers that I'm not going to use anyway?  Interesting to consider.

Either way, it was a neat experience to see where some of the food that ends up on our table comes from.  Often we have vegetable soup on Wednesdays, I imagine to make use of those donations that are "on the edge."  This week we had another delicious meal, with a beautiful salad and papaya for dessert, both things people had placed in our empty crates the day before.  We thank God for our daily bread.

Pray like this:

Our Father in heaven,

may your name be kept holy.

May your Kingdom come soon.

May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us today the food we need,

and forgive us our sins,

as we have forgiven those who sin against us.

And don’t let us yield to temptation,

but rescue us from the evil one.

Matthew 6:19-13 NLV

In everything give thanks...

I took a deep breath and got out of the van.  The man immediately began accusing me of causing the accident.  As he was out of his truck and gassing up when I clipped him, I figured it was pretty clearly my fault.  Once he realized I wasn't contesting this, he calmed down and even began to smile and ask me, "What were you thinking, white girl?"

Not loving his patronizing tone, nor the crowd growing around us, I asked someone to help me figure out how to dislodge his bumper from my wheel well.  I got in the car and, hands trembling, called our mechanic at the children's home.  Hearing the men outside say, "Look at her, she's shaking," I grabbed the wheel tightly, frustrated when my foot also began to betray my nerves by quivering over the gas pedal as I tried to slowly inch the van back and forth.

Obviously it was one of those moments that, just after it happens, you so wish you could take back.  The visiting group was waiting for me to take them to church, the guy was waiting for me to pay him (and I saw the price going up in his mind the more he observed the Americans with me), and we were all waiting for the mechanic to come.

Not used to the size of this vehicle, and tired from not having a day off for a while, I cut the turn too close.  However, my deep scrape to the right of the rear wheel-well is obviously not the first problem this van has had...

But as I got ready for bed that night, I realized that it really hadn't been a bad day.   I had gone new places while I waited on the group to shop in the market.  I was able to relax and take in the sermon at church because it was preached in English and I didn't have to translate.  In the afternoon, when I took the group to a beautiful rock formation in the mountains, I sat atop a beautiful valley and got needed work done.

These are ruins I have never been to because they are small and I didn't want to pay the entrance fee.  However, archeological sites and museums are free to Mexicans on Sundays, and I was able to get in free with my temporary resident visa.  Nice.

This is the beautiful place I rested while the group hiked down to see the rock formations (Hierve el Agua).  I'm amazed I get to live and work here.

And this was my view of the valley as I worked on the devotion I would be sharing later in the week.  I was able to finish it just in time to get back to the van to meet up with the group.

Even in the midst of the accident, there were things to be thankful for.  The police that showed up as we untangled the vehicles didn't stick around long (here, you tend to not want police around...).  Our mechanic did come, quick as he could.  I was able to leave with the group while he haggled over the price we owed the man.  We got to church on time.  And to top all this off, the day began and ended with beautiful double rainbows.

The sunrise rainbow I saw as I opened my curtains in the morning.

The double rainbow as the sun set that evening.

So while I could've easily called it a terrible day - having to work on the weekend, getting in a car accident that I will have to pay for because I was at fault, and just being generally exhausted - I am glad for the perspective I was able to gain at the end of it all.  I am thankful for God's blessings amidst the hard places, and the ability to perceive them.

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus... The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you."

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, 28

On Call

We've had more rain lately, due to Hurricane Earl passing nearby.

Last night I went to bed crying.  Already tired from a week full of too much work, I had worked an extra hour in the office and then prepared several rooms for visitors. When I got home, I received an urgent message from the young woman trying to get a visa to come be our group coordinator.  She needed a few more documents before Mexican Consulate to accept her application.

I sent a barrage of messages to people in the California offices to try to work it out, hoped they would read them before the morning, and then got ready for bed.  After lying down to sleep, I answered a phone call from someone who had a few questions about their upcoming trip.  I asked if he could please call me back during office hours, laid down and the tears began to fall.

I put on some hymns to sooth my spirit and sighed through my sobs, acknowledging to myself and God that He was in control and could work things out according to his will.  Then I promptly fell asleep, wondering if I would be alert enough to hear a knock at the door in case the new girl needed me once she arrived.

I woke up this morning and heard my phone ringing and then there was a knock on the door.  It was a friend who was doing me a huge favor by picking up one of our visitors.  Then I checked the messages on my phone and found that the California offices had gone to extra effort and the papers we needed for the visa had been sent.  It was a great relief.  Tears may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning.


Being short-staffed has been a challenge, but we move forward trusting that God is faithful.  I have been reading recently in 1 Samuel of when Saul was called and anointed as king over Israel.  The scripture says that "Saul also went to his home in Gibeah, accompanied by valiant men whose hearts God had touched."   When I read that, it made me hope something similar would happen here.  That more staff will come, but that they be valiant men and women whose hearts God has touched.  May it be so, according to His will.

Double rainbow after the rain.

All in a Day

Many times visitors are very complimentary about their experience here, but they also tend to request that we let them know ahead of time what they will be doing.  I completely understand that desire, however living and working in Oaxaca, Mexico is another story.  When I wake up in the morning, I rarely can tell all that the day will hold, let alone know what will happen a month from now.

Today was a good example of that.  This week most everyone here at the home is on vacation, but as I took a break last month when my sister was here, I continue to work.  And boy is there a lot of work to do.  As I am covering for several people who are gone and a few positions that are open, the list of to-do's is quite diverse.  Ready?

I got up very early in the morning to run one of our summer volunteers to the airport.  I stood with her for an hour at the check-in line, drove back home before sunrise, threw in a load of laundry, and fell back asleep for a few hours.  After waking up a second time, I ate some breakfast and headed to the office.

The first order of business was to take care of fund requests from the staff, as our accountant is gone for a few weeks.  I ran upstairs to the visitors' center to start on some laundry, as we are also without a group coordinator and there were five loads of laundry to be done.  I checked in with the man helping with construction to see what his plans were for the day, because the construction supervisor is out of town as well.

Then I put on the hat of my actual job title and had a leadership team meeting with my boss for a couple hours.  I checked on some school stuff, as the principal won't be back before the teachers return, and then went home real quick, folded my own laundry, and put on a swimsuit to go check on the kids and staff at the swimming pool about 20 minutes away.

I took a quick dip in the pool (nice) and then headed back to the children's home.  Stopped by town to grab some lunch... or dinner? - it was nearly 4:00, so I'm not sure what to call it.  Came home to eat and relax a bit, then went back out to take down the 20 sheets I had hung to dry for the visitors' center.

By now it was evening, but I stopped by my supervisor's apartment to update her on some things we talked about earlier that day.  I also texted the teenage girls' housemother to try to work out her hot water heater situation, as the maintenance man is also on vacation this week.

Tomorrow is another new day.  It can be tiring and overwhelming, but you do what you can, make sure you take care of yourself, and trust that the rest will work out.  And we pray for more staff.  I welcome your prayers as well. "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." Matthew 9:37-38

Got the chance to take some visitors to one of my favorite places in Oaxaca, this old ex-monastery.