Thursday, July 21, 2011
God's timing is always perfect.
Thanking God! I just got news from the doctor that the 3 year old girl that came to the clinic near death - that we prayed for in San Jose, and paid for her transport to the city hospital, is home and doing well. I was just typing up a summary of our mission for the church website when the doctor got online and responded to my inquiry. Thank God we were there the day she came to the clinic, Thank God we had the funds with us to use, Thank God she made it to and from San Jose safely, Thank God there is a competent Doctor at the clinic, Thank God for all those people that supported us so that we could be there to help, Thank God we live in the USA where we don't have to cook over wood burning stoves with no ventilation and have to endure ashma in order to eat, Thank God for a room air conditioner so that we don't have to endure the deadly heat wave we're getting, Thank God for clean tap water to stay hydrated. So many reasons to be thankful today and every day.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Back in the comfort zone
From Mike:
It's been almost a week since I got home. Nothing's changed. The bills need paid; the grass needs cut; all the things need doing that make life normal. But I'm changed. It is true that we do take a lot of needed things to the people of San Jose. And we do a lot of things to try to help them and to improve there lives. But it's equally true that they give us many things that we need and they help us to improve our spiritual life. I return with such pleasant memories of the interaction that we had with them. Particularly with the children. And I have great admiration for their simple piety and religious convictions. It make me realize how lacking I am in these same areas. But going there always renews me.
I wonder, and hope, that the hygiene and clean water demonstations we did have an impact on the cleanliness and the health of the village. I know they appreciate and use the Bibles we gave them. That they have made clear to us. I remember what work and fun it was building the labyrinth and how much the children helped us then ran through it time and time again. And I will always remember the concert we did.
Most of all though, I think of the children. They are so different from our children. They have so little, but take so much enjoyment out of what they have. As one boy said, "We don't have food and we don't have water, but we have paper airplanes."
Anyway, I'm back in my comfort zone, but not all the way back. The San Jose memories take a long time to fade.
It's been almost a week since I got home. Nothing's changed. The bills need paid; the grass needs cut; all the things need doing that make life normal. But I'm changed. It is true that we do take a lot of needed things to the people of San Jose. And we do a lot of things to try to help them and to improve there lives. But it's equally true that they give us many things that we need and they help us to improve our spiritual life. I return with such pleasant memories of the interaction that we had with them. Particularly with the children. And I have great admiration for their simple piety and religious convictions. It make me realize how lacking I am in these same areas. But going there always renews me.
I wonder, and hope, that the hygiene and clean water demonstations we did have an impact on the cleanliness and the health of the village. I know they appreciate and use the Bibles we gave them. That they have made clear to us. I remember what work and fun it was building the labyrinth and how much the children helped us then ran through it time and time again. And I will always remember the concert we did.
Most of all though, I think of the children. They are so different from our children. They have so little, but take so much enjoyment out of what they have. As one boy said, "We don't have food and we don't have water, but we have paper airplanes."
Anyway, I'm back in my comfort zone, but not all the way back. The San Jose memories take a long time to fade.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Day 2 - Home
I can't believe how easily I jumped back into my routine. Waking up with the girls, and starting breakfast, and dress-up routines, it felt like I never left... I took the girls swimming, and we were back at it, the 3 Musketeers. Then I realized, on my way to VBS at the church, that I should be WALKING... not driving to church, and sweating ridiculously, not lapping it up in the luxury of air conditioning!
I started thinking about Ilsa, the little girl with asthma, and how I have a breathing treatment machine in my closet for Willa, her mom had to walk from miles away to get her treatment, and it wasn't even helping. I started thinking about Ludwin, and if he was still drawing his beautiful dragons, and reading the English books we gave him. I also told Jason about how much I wanted to adopt him. Bring him to the states, where he could study art and photography.
And, as my kids start whining about what they want for breakfast or that they won't brush their teeth, I'm smacked back to reality. We have so much, the San Jose kids have so little, and they complain about nothing. I even fell into it. I have so much, am blessed with so much, and find things to whine about. My house is too small, but I have a refrigerator, air conditioning and more than I could need!
Alisa and I got to visit two homes on our last day in the village, and both families welcomed us in with open arms. They offered us chairs, and coffee. Luis was telling us how he built his home from the bottom up, and he was proud, as he should be. We thanked them for inviting us in, and he thanked us for visiting him in his home. Even as we sat there with chickens walking in after us, and seeing the pig walk through their kitchen, you can feel the love and the warmth (no pun intended) in their home, with their children's (6 or 7 kids) diploma's hanging on the wall.
We also got to visit Ludwin's home, he lives with his parents and his 6 siblings, and his niece and nephew. Yes, 11 people in a 1 room home made of mud, on the side of a mountain. Literally, there is a cliff out their back door. And again, no complaints! Ludwin's mother was telling us how he was named after Ludwig von Beethoven, which explains Ludwin's love of music and knowledge. Smart kids!
Such small things as a headlamp and t-shirts, used soccer shoes and books made a huge difference in the lives of the people of San Jose. They treasure these things as we never do. So, thank you to all of you reading this who donated anything... every little bit helps.
This experience will stay with me forever. And if you see me and I'm complaining about something silly, just give me a little reminder of my time in San Jose. It's so easy to fall back into that kind of a routine, and I hope it makes me more appreciative of what I have.
I said "I" in this post a lot, and I'm sorry for that... I need to remember the "Me third" portion of our team pact, especially now that I'm home. Team Members, I love you and will treasure our time in the little village of San Jose, del Negrito, Honduras.
And, if we ever get that chihuahua, I'm still naming it Don Fidel!!!
Love,
Kelly
I started thinking about Ilsa, the little girl with asthma, and how I have a breathing treatment machine in my closet for Willa, her mom had to walk from miles away to get her treatment, and it wasn't even helping. I started thinking about Ludwin, and if he was still drawing his beautiful dragons, and reading the English books we gave him. I also told Jason about how much I wanted to adopt him. Bring him to the states, where he could study art and photography.
And, as my kids start whining about what they want for breakfast or that they won't brush their teeth, I'm smacked back to reality. We have so much, the San Jose kids have so little, and they complain about nothing. I even fell into it. I have so much, am blessed with so much, and find things to whine about. My house is too small, but I have a refrigerator, air conditioning and more than I could need!
Alisa and I got to visit two homes on our last day in the village, and both families welcomed us in with open arms. They offered us chairs, and coffee. Luis was telling us how he built his home from the bottom up, and he was proud, as he should be. We thanked them for inviting us in, and he thanked us for visiting him in his home. Even as we sat there with chickens walking in after us, and seeing the pig walk through their kitchen, you can feel the love and the warmth (no pun intended) in their home, with their children's (6 or 7 kids) diploma's hanging on the wall.
We also got to visit Ludwin's home, he lives with his parents and his 6 siblings, and his niece and nephew. Yes, 11 people in a 1 room home made of mud, on the side of a mountain. Literally, there is a cliff out their back door. And again, no complaints! Ludwin's mother was telling us how he was named after Ludwig von Beethoven, which explains Ludwin's love of music and knowledge. Smart kids!
Such small things as a headlamp and t-shirts, used soccer shoes and books made a huge difference in the lives of the people of San Jose. They treasure these things as we never do. So, thank you to all of you reading this who donated anything... every little bit helps.
This experience will stay with me forever. And if you see me and I'm complaining about something silly, just give me a little reminder of my time in San Jose. It's so easy to fall back into that kind of a routine, and I hope it makes me more appreciative of what I have.
I said "I" in this post a lot, and I'm sorry for that... I need to remember the "Me third" portion of our team pact, especially now that I'm home. Team Members, I love you and will treasure our time in the little village of San Jose, del Negrito, Honduras.
And, if we ever get that chihuahua, I'm still naming it Don Fidel!!!
Love,
Kelly
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Home again...
Ahhh the comforts of home. The biggest thing that hit me this time was getting into the car (instead of the back of a pick up truck) and realizing how cushy the seats felt - not to mention them not being covered with a fine layer of dust from the road. Then after a brief welcome home chat with the girls - they tell me to turn up the volume on the movie they were watching in the car...back to reality. Now to the task of getting everyone's pictures together so I can put a presentation together for the church...my job isn't done yet. We have some incredible pictures to share and awesome memories. Our work in San Jose was really great and went pretty much as planned with no major disasters - God must have approved of our plan this time.
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