Two Years
Hello! I know it has been FOREVER since I last posted. This is a perfect example of why I decided not to study art. I don't do deadlines. When creativity strikes I run with it, but when it doesn't I simply don't have the ability to create anything. However, the occasion calls for a post! January 14th marked two years since I took not jus literal, but figurative steps to give my life to serve Christ when I stepped aboard that plane with just one bag and decided to move to El Salvador. Crazy right?? There are literally probably a million stories I could tell to recount the last two years, but I think I'd rather take time to just praise God for who he is and what he has done. So, without further ado here are some of my favorite things of the last two years.
Two CDIs
What does that mean? That means twice the number of kids to love, twice the number of hugs I get each day, twice the number of times I have to correct the kids, but most importantly two times the opportunity to spread God's kingdom. I can not begin to express the blessing it has been to have two centers. In the kindergarten we have the younger kids, many of whome are still just learning to read and write. I think my favorite thing about them is that they are still in such a formative stage of life. It is really easy to see tangible changes and the influence we have on them. It gives me unexplainable joy when I overhear one of them in a disagreement quoting the Bible to another kid, or telling one of their friends that they need to "bear good fruit," as we have taught them time and time again.
The other CDI, which is in the church basement, is a completely different set of challenges and blessings. The older kids have a lot of their character already formed, but over the past two years I have definitely seen changes in some of our most needy kids. A lot of them are at a critical age where, at least in this country, they are starting to make decisions that are going to affect them for the rest of their lives. For me, if even just a few of the biblical principals that we teach each day sink in and they can hold onto that, it is a win. I also feel really grateful to have a place where they feel safe and comfortable. Just before Christmas I had the kids sit down and write about things they are grateful for and what they are hoping for in the Christmas season. It made me sad, but also so grateful to read one of my girls journal that said, "I hope that vacation goes by quick. I love the CDI and it is the only place I really feel happy." Sad, but also, thank God that at least she knows that there is a place where she will always be welcomed and always be loved.
Friends
You may or may not have read in my previous prayer letters that I had been praying for a solid group of friends. I think it is something that seems so simple, but when living away from your native home it is so important to feel some sort of sense of belonging in a group. For the first bit I felt like I had a big outer circle of friends, but that I didn't really have a core group of people that I could really confide in and be 100% myself around. God overwhelmingly answered those prayers. Thank you for praying for me. Just the other night two of my best friends showed up at my house mostly unannounced. We sat on the porch playing cards, drinking coffee, and as the night went on, one of them helped himself to dinner and stayed just chatting into the night. I feel so incredibly grateful for a group of friends that I can be open with, share life with, and serve along side with.
Home
Home is such an interesting concept. It is something we all understand, but no one can really explain. Well at least I can't, but I know it when I feel it. In October I took a step and decided to move out of the home of the family that had so graciously hosted me for a year and moved into an apartment on my own. Many people, and I admit even me at times, were skeptical and nervous about this. Not to mention that in Latino culture most people live with their parents until they get married and sometimes even then they still live with their parents. After convincing a few people it was a good idea, and really seeking the Lord, I can tell you that it has been one of the best decisions I have made in the past year. I feel so at home, I love having my own space, and I especially love using what God has given me to serve others. Just sense October when I moved, my little home has served as a place to be in fellowship with my co-workers, a retreat for friends with tough family situations, a retreat for myself, a bakery, a safe place for young people to hangout, and many other things. It is a ministry in itself and I take it very seriously when God calls us to be hospitable to those around us.
Growth
As in every life, time goes by and hard things happen. I have experienced loss, pain, heartbreak, temptation, and a ton of other things in the past two years. Just the other night I was talking with my 19 year old niece, who is going through a hard time right now, about how anything worth it requires a great deal of risk. In the last two years I have suffered. I have seen some of my kids completely turn their backs on God and on us. I have seen my kids families broken apart by crime and desperation. I have seen houses burn down, and friends lose family members. I myself have suffered consequences of my sin, almost abandoned God, and walked through dark valleys wondering if God would ever show up. But you know what? He always does. He has never once left me in that valley. He has never once looked down at me and said, "well that sucks." He is so compassionate. When I cry, he cries. When my heart breaks for those around me, his has broken a thousand times more because he sees every single person in the world and the battle they are fighting each and every day.
I wouldn't change any of what has happened in the past two years. I firmly believe that God has a plan. He promises to use even the most hideous situations for our good, and I choose to believe that. Faith is a choice. Just in the past week I have had some dark moments wondering where God is and why he doesn't just snap his fingers and fix everything. However I often remember 2 Peter 3:9 which says, "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." God is not just sitting around, he is eagerly waiting for each person to choose to believe in him and his life giving salvation. He will send Jesus back for us to fix everything, but first he wants everyone to have a chance to go to heaven. Would you be that patient? I can't image how horrible it is for him to watch us ruin all the beautiful creation he has made with all of our sin, and yet he loves us so much he waits.
So, as I have reached the horizon of year three, I will not look back, but I will look forward into the sunrise and it's promise of newness. I choose to go forward in faith waiting for whatever may lie ahead.
Standing in awe of the amazing adventure I am on,
Sigourney
Two CDIs
What does that mean? That means twice the number of kids to love, twice the number of hugs I get each day, twice the number of times I have to correct the kids, but most importantly two times the opportunity to spread God's kingdom. I can not begin to express the blessing it has been to have two centers. In the kindergarten we have the younger kids, many of whome are still just learning to read and write. I think my favorite thing about them is that they are still in such a formative stage of life. It is really easy to see tangible changes and the influence we have on them. It gives me unexplainable joy when I overhear one of them in a disagreement quoting the Bible to another kid, or telling one of their friends that they need to "bear good fruit," as we have taught them time and time again.
The other CDI, which is in the church basement, is a completely different set of challenges and blessings. The older kids have a lot of their character already formed, but over the past two years I have definitely seen changes in some of our most needy kids. A lot of them are at a critical age where, at least in this country, they are starting to make decisions that are going to affect them for the rest of their lives. For me, if even just a few of the biblical principals that we teach each day sink in and they can hold onto that, it is a win. I also feel really grateful to have a place where they feel safe and comfortable. Just before Christmas I had the kids sit down and write about things they are grateful for and what they are hoping for in the Christmas season. It made me sad, but also so grateful to read one of my girls journal that said, "I hope that vacation goes by quick. I love the CDI and it is the only place I really feel happy." Sad, but also, thank God that at least she knows that there is a place where she will always be welcomed and always be loved.
Friends
You may or may not have read in my previous prayer letters that I had been praying for a solid group of friends. I think it is something that seems so simple, but when living away from your native home it is so important to feel some sort of sense of belonging in a group. For the first bit I felt like I had a big outer circle of friends, but that I didn't really have a core group of people that I could really confide in and be 100% myself around. God overwhelmingly answered those prayers. Thank you for praying for me. Just the other night two of my best friends showed up at my house mostly unannounced. We sat on the porch playing cards, drinking coffee, and as the night went on, one of them helped himself to dinner and stayed just chatting into the night. I feel so incredibly grateful for a group of friends that I can be open with, share life with, and serve along side with.
Home
Home is such an interesting concept. It is something we all understand, but no one can really explain. Well at least I can't, but I know it when I feel it. In October I took a step and decided to move out of the home of the family that had so graciously hosted me for a year and moved into an apartment on my own. Many people, and I admit even me at times, were skeptical and nervous about this. Not to mention that in Latino culture most people live with their parents until they get married and sometimes even then they still live with their parents. After convincing a few people it was a good idea, and really seeking the Lord, I can tell you that it has been one of the best decisions I have made in the past year. I feel so at home, I love having my own space, and I especially love using what God has given me to serve others. Just sense October when I moved, my little home has served as a place to be in fellowship with my co-workers, a retreat for friends with tough family situations, a retreat for myself, a bakery, a safe place for young people to hangout, and many other things. It is a ministry in itself and I take it very seriously when God calls us to be hospitable to those around us.
Growth
As in every life, time goes by and hard things happen. I have experienced loss, pain, heartbreak, temptation, and a ton of other things in the past two years. Just the other night I was talking with my 19 year old niece, who is going through a hard time right now, about how anything worth it requires a great deal of risk. In the last two years I have suffered. I have seen some of my kids completely turn their backs on God and on us. I have seen my kids families broken apart by crime and desperation. I have seen houses burn down, and friends lose family members. I myself have suffered consequences of my sin, almost abandoned God, and walked through dark valleys wondering if God would ever show up. But you know what? He always does. He has never once left me in that valley. He has never once looked down at me and said, "well that sucks." He is so compassionate. When I cry, he cries. When my heart breaks for those around me, his has broken a thousand times more because he sees every single person in the world and the battle they are fighting each and every day.
I wouldn't change any of what has happened in the past two years. I firmly believe that God has a plan. He promises to use even the most hideous situations for our good, and I choose to believe that. Faith is a choice. Just in the past week I have had some dark moments wondering where God is and why he doesn't just snap his fingers and fix everything. However I often remember 2 Peter 3:9 which says, "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." God is not just sitting around, he is eagerly waiting for each person to choose to believe in him and his life giving salvation. He will send Jesus back for us to fix everything, but first he wants everyone to have a chance to go to heaven. Would you be that patient? I can't image how horrible it is for him to watch us ruin all the beautiful creation he has made with all of our sin, and yet he loves us so much he waits.
So, as I have reached the horizon of year three, I will not look back, but I will look forward into the sunrise and it's promise of newness. I choose to go forward in faith waiting for whatever may lie ahead.
Standing in awe of the amazing adventure I am on,
Sigourney
S- i am especially blessed by your expository of a Christ-driven and Christ-filled life. It is so true that through our trials and victories that God reveals Himself and His will for our lives. I pray for your continual safety, determination and will to stay the course He has set before you. Heb 11:1- Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen." And v3-
ReplyDelete"Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." May God bless you- te veo pronto-Febrero. Dr Gene