I send greetings to all the other hopelessly getting- behind-in everything bloggers..
My husband said my creativity today was too good not to share. Hmmm.
I am unique. My children and at times my husband may have other words for it but love me or leave me, I am God's creation. I realize that does not give me license to do and say whatever I want and then say "It's God's fault"!
No, what I am saying is that though I am not creative in the same ways as my dear sisters -in-law who all seem to be able to sew, paint, craft etc.. I believe God has given me a good head for common sense, a cool head in certain crises, a certain amount of head knowledge and a love for people in general. Apart from that He had all sorts of things/good works prepared for me to do since the dawn of creation. Thus says Ephesians 2 vs 10!
Last evening when the little hands of my grand daughter once again pressed against the hot glass of the oven door I was able to respond quickly and with certainty so that the end result was positive.Of course now the kitchen is off limits when we are cooking and preparing food. So there was common sense, a bit of knowledge, limits and love.
But I digress.
Most of you know I am very involved with a (Christian) home for seniors who have previously been living at risk. The Home,Bet Shalom, built by the grace of God and maintained in the same way, is a testimony to His love for all people but especially to seniors in trouble.
This last week a sweet lady in her seventies arrived to live at Bet Shalom. We had done our homework with each of the studies, medical, psychological and social work. For whatever reason we did not get the full story. It seems that this dear woman has not had the habit of using the toilet to perform the necessary bodily functions but rather "drops her drawers", or not, wherever and whenever the urge hits. She refuses to cooperate when taken to the bathroom and seems very disoriented. There be many reasons for this but the long and short of it is that our dear care giver Monica is at a loss, having tried everything, to even get her to try to use the toilet. To encourage my sister in the Lord I went out there today. Together we both tried to take sweet Dona through the steps of entering the bathroom , lifting the dress, pulling down the pullup diaper and sitting. She would have none of it. Without thinking, I said, "Dona", this is how it's done.. I undid my pants and explained each step as I did the real life drama of using the toilet...even getting her to listen to the tinkle, having her flush for me and the final step, washing my hands . I had not prepared Monica for what I did because it did not occur to me till that very moment. (Good thing she loves me!!) Will it work?? Well that remains to be seen. If not the story will likely make the rounds.
I happen to think it was pretty creative and likely is what most of us did at some point when we were teaching our children to use the toilet. At the same time it's common sense, based on a certain amount of knowledge and so on. Crazy?? Perhaps, but I am willing to be a fool for Jesus , showing His love to a confused and vulnerable group of people even if my kids and others think I am a bit loopy.
www.bet-shalom-hmam.com
FaceBook Hablando Menos Amando Mas A.C.
Monday, July 22, 2013
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
getting to know you
Most times people are more than aware of their own areas of weakness and vulnerability. If you are a born-gain believer in Jesus you may just (like me) agonize at times over your failings and the seeming impossibility of changing what appears to now be (in these later years!) a permanent part of our character.
Still, if we were to describe ourselves we would likely see the positive traits as more outstanding than those flaws that we just cannot seem to change. In fact we may not always agree with those less than positive traits spoken to or about us even if they smile when they say it. (If you are the only common denominator in comments like these then it's time to 'man or woman-up' and believe it!)
I have heard over the years the words abrupt, overly direct, too honest, stubborn and each time I hear it I am a bit amazed that that is what stands out and yet also very concerned. I do not want to grow old(er) being an "in your face" stubborn, undiplomatic old lady. Oh God please help me (again!).
On the other hand many more have told me that "someone has to be direct , honest and a tell -it- like- it- is kind of person in all that I am doing. Hmmm. Which is it Lord??
I really do love people and care about them... my time is another issue. A good friendship will endure long absences and even a brief phone-call suffices to let them know they are valuable to you.
In our type of work (pastor/missionary) we get to meet sooo many people and there is no way we can ever possibly know or even meet everyone. Yet everyone seems to remember us and thinks for sure we will know who they are.
I cannot possibly have (nor do I want) a lot of close friends . I am content with a very few. But that's only what I want.
In meeting people at church or in any other setting where it may never be repeated (but who really knows??) I like to hear their story. People are usually quite happy to tell you a little or even a lot about themselves when they are far away from their home. I think there must be a certain safety in distance. As I have listened to the joys and sorrows of a virtual stranger I often feel a connection. Aren't we all in some way going through some of those same struggles? Is there some word of encouragement that might be given as a result of your own life experiences that would make a difference in their lives. More than once someone has said to me "remember 6 years ago (or 5 or even 1!) when you said to me...."And I think to myself "I said that??"It's then that I know God is also using my words and my experience , the good the bad and the ugly for the furtherance of His kingdom. And just so I don't get too proud or full of myself I have this thorn in my flesh that it seems will NOT go away till I see Him face to face. The one who said that your weakness may/can also be your strength did know what he was talking about.
When I was doing the psychology unit of my nursing training I was evaluated. "Rosalind gravitates to the patients who are less difficult and little investment of time and energy is required." I think there may well have been some fear too but her point was made.
Though I think I have made up for that evaluation over the years , I still would have (but for the prodding of God) the tendency to do (with people) what is easy for me and where I don't have to expend myself. Not good.
Somebody out there needs me to care about their story and when I remember to, I pray "Lord lead me to the person YOU want me to speak to today and guide my heart, lips and words and may you be honoured this very day.
www.bet-shalom-hmam.com
Still, if we were to describe ourselves we would likely see the positive traits as more outstanding than those flaws that we just cannot seem to change. In fact we may not always agree with those less than positive traits spoken to or about us even if they smile when they say it. (If you are the only common denominator in comments like these then it's time to 'man or woman-up' and believe it!)
I have heard over the years the words abrupt, overly direct, too honest, stubborn and each time I hear it I am a bit amazed that that is what stands out and yet also very concerned. I do not want to grow old(er) being an "in your face" stubborn, undiplomatic old lady. Oh God please help me (again!).
On the other hand many more have told me that "someone has to be direct , honest and a tell -it- like- it- is kind of person in all that I am doing. Hmmm. Which is it Lord??
I really do love people and care about them... my time is another issue. A good friendship will endure long absences and even a brief phone-call suffices to let them know they are valuable to you.
In our type of work (pastor/missionary) we get to meet sooo many people and there is no way we can ever possibly know or even meet everyone. Yet everyone seems to remember us and thinks for sure we will know who they are.
I cannot possibly have (nor do I want) a lot of close friends . I am content with a very few. But that's only what I want.
In meeting people at church or in any other setting where it may never be repeated (but who really knows??) I like to hear their story. People are usually quite happy to tell you a little or even a lot about themselves when they are far away from their home. I think there must be a certain safety in distance. As I have listened to the joys and sorrows of a virtual stranger I often feel a connection. Aren't we all in some way going through some of those same struggles? Is there some word of encouragement that might be given as a result of your own life experiences that would make a difference in their lives. More than once someone has said to me "remember 6 years ago (or 5 or even 1!) when you said to me...."And I think to myself "I said that??"It's then that I know God is also using my words and my experience , the good the bad and the ugly for the furtherance of His kingdom. And just so I don't get too proud or full of myself I have this thorn in my flesh that it seems will NOT go away till I see Him face to face. The one who said that your weakness may/can also be your strength did know what he was talking about.
When I was doing the psychology unit of my nursing training I was evaluated. "Rosalind gravitates to the patients who are less difficult and little investment of time and energy is required." I think there may well have been some fear too but her point was made.
Though I think I have made up for that evaluation over the years , I still would have (but for the prodding of God) the tendency to do (with people) what is easy for me and where I don't have to expend myself. Not good.
Somebody out there needs me to care about their story and when I remember to, I pray "Lord lead me to the person YOU want me to speak to today and guide my heart, lips and words and may you be honoured this very day.
"The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak,
and to those who have no might He increases strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:28-31
Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:28-31
Friday, October 21, 2011
I just read a few posts I had written on Word Press which I wrote in 2006 0r 7 . Writing out what you are thinking is likely a good exercise now and then.. but the best thing is reading it years later .
We have now been in Mexico 9 years. Our daughter left years ago to finish high school and eventually to study nursing. She is in her third year of a BSCN . I tried to talk her out of it but she had "finally" made up her mind. Joel and Carrie now have two beautiful children which means we have two grandkids. They are the best hands down. Jeremy is the biggest surprise. Every year he left here with a heavy heart as he really did not want to go back to Canada . Last Easter he brought a girl home to us and told us he was getting married. She is a lovely Mexican gal who is now our daughter-in-law. I think Jeremy is still walking around in a daze. Someone outside his family really loves him. And she's smart and pretty too!!! He told me today he still does not understand why she loves him and what made her see through to the person he really is.. what I already knew, that he is kind, handsome and smart . He has become more loving to us since this event and more of a man his dad notices . If all the tears I have shed over this "man" were bottled I think there would be more than one.
So once again I see that my heart is what matters to God. Not the times I have messed up or failed to grasp some basic concept He is trying to teach me . He knows my heart and that I try am trying to serve Him in the only way I know how. I stand amazed that each of my kids is still following God... the one who I thought least likely to practice his faith is praying with his wife when she is troubled or worried and trying to be a good husband when he never ever thought he would be one. What an affirmation of the faithfulness of God. That nothing depends on my goodness or righteousness or getting it right.. it depends on His grace.
So let this be an encouragement to all you younger Christian moms and dads out there who are wondering whatever will become of your child who is such a challenge or your teen who is stretching the limits. If you have been faithful in your teaching and raising your sons or daughters then trust God for them (which by the way does not mean there won't be a number of mess-ups on both sides in the process) . Believe that God loves your child even more than you do and wants good for His children not evil . If He takes you through deep waters with your kids then still choose to trust in His promises . He is always good and nothing happens that He has not understood and known it in advance.
This I believe with my whole heart.
We have now been in Mexico 9 years. Our daughter left years ago to finish high school and eventually to study nursing. She is in her third year of a BSCN . I tried to talk her out of it but she had "finally" made up her mind. Joel and Carrie now have two beautiful children which means we have two grandkids. They are the best hands down. Jeremy is the biggest surprise. Every year he left here with a heavy heart as he really did not want to go back to Canada . Last Easter he brought a girl home to us and told us he was getting married. She is a lovely Mexican gal who is now our daughter-in-law. I think Jeremy is still walking around in a daze. Someone outside his family really loves him. And she's smart and pretty too!!! He told me today he still does not understand why she loves him and what made her see through to the person he really is.. what I already knew, that he is kind, handsome and smart . He has become more loving to us since this event and more of a man his dad notices . If all the tears I have shed over this "man" were bottled I think there would be more than one.
So once again I see that my heart is what matters to God. Not the times I have messed up or failed to grasp some basic concept He is trying to teach me . He knows my heart and that I try am trying to serve Him in the only way I know how. I stand amazed that each of my kids is still following God... the one who I thought least likely to practice his faith is praying with his wife when she is troubled or worried and trying to be a good husband when he never ever thought he would be one. What an affirmation of the faithfulness of God. That nothing depends on my goodness or righteousness or getting it right.. it depends on His grace.
So let this be an encouragement to all you younger Christian moms and dads out there who are wondering whatever will become of your child who is such a challenge or your teen who is stretching the limits. If you have been faithful in your teaching and raising your sons or daughters then trust God for them (which by the way does not mean there won't be a number of mess-ups on both sides in the process) . Believe that God loves your child even more than you do and wants good for His children not evil . If He takes you through deep waters with your kids then still choose to trust in His promises . He is always good and nothing happens that He has not understood and known it in advance.
This I believe with my whole heart.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Dad
Why are we all surprised by death? It never fails to catch us unawares and yet as my Mexican friend Beli said today it is the one thing that every human being can be absolutely sure of.
My dad just died last Wednesday evening November 24th .I had seen him between the 24th of October and the 6th of November when I took some time to be with my folks. Since I live several thousand miles and two countries away the trip became a very special gift of memories.
Like so many people there was more than one side to my dad. The world was pretty much his friend and his funeral proved that. As my Uncle Paul said "your dad was some kind of rock star in this town... look at this crowd!!" Indeed he was "cousin" , the "uncle ", the father even , of many all over the county .
He loved to talk and you had to have a lot of time if you were going to do business with him. His day could have been much more prosperous financially if he was focused on money but he wasn't and he took more time with people than doing the actual job he came for. I confess that at times I just cringed thinking people were going to be impatient with him but since then I have heard a lot of stories of how people just enjoyed his stories.
I can remember many incidents where dad was not paid for his work and he would simply not go after the person to pay up.. though mom sometimes did to put bread on the table. The little he had in his pocket he would happily give away.
He was very smart in most areas of his life though he was physically less and less able to do the heavy work he had done all his life. At the same time, however, he was known to have placed trust where it was not merited.
There is no one who knew dad better than his kids. Its funny how some people think they know more about the person you lived with continually for years because of how they knew him. He was all the things that people knew him as but he was also more.
His moods , temperament , emotions and passions were often scary to us when we were children. As we grew older most of us just wanted dad to have peace with himself and with God. We could see it beginning to happen in the last three years of his life as he became so much softer and demonstrative towards mom and his own children . It was a very long time coming.
Was dad a wonderful man ? Yes he was in many respects to many people. Was he a person with weakness and sin and unresolved problems ? Yes he was that too .
Did I and do I love him ? Absolutely and unequivocally.. I couldn't do otherwise even when he was at his most unloving. Why ?? Because love covers a multitude of sin. He's the only earthly dad I will ever have.
As we said at his eulogy.. everything was crystal clear to dad after his death. He immediately understood what he had not about himself and others. We are absolutely certain that his message in that instant to all of us would be "give glory to God alone " love your family and care for others. Do not hold grudges or bitternesses against others rather be the first to say I'm sorry no matter who is at fault. Keep daily accounts with God and love Him with all your heart, soul and mind for tomorrow you too could meet the creator face to face.
Some may think it is too soon to be writing this while I am still dealing with my own grief but I feel there is no time like the present.
I love you Dad.
My dad just died last Wednesday evening November 24th .I had seen him between the 24th of October and the 6th of November when I took some time to be with my folks. Since I live several thousand miles and two countries away the trip became a very special gift of memories.
Like so many people there was more than one side to my dad. The world was pretty much his friend and his funeral proved that. As my Uncle Paul said "your dad was some kind of rock star in this town... look at this crowd!!" Indeed he was "cousin" , the "uncle ", the father even , of many all over the county .
He loved to talk and you had to have a lot of time if you were going to do business with him. His day could have been much more prosperous financially if he was focused on money but he wasn't and he took more time with people than doing the actual job he came for. I confess that at times I just cringed thinking people were going to be impatient with him but since then I have heard a lot of stories of how people just enjoyed his stories.
I can remember many incidents where dad was not paid for his work and he would simply not go after the person to pay up.. though mom sometimes did to put bread on the table. The little he had in his pocket he would happily give away.
He was very smart in most areas of his life though he was physically less and less able to do the heavy work he had done all his life. At the same time, however, he was known to have placed trust where it was not merited.
There is no one who knew dad better than his kids. Its funny how some people think they know more about the person you lived with continually for years because of how they knew him. He was all the things that people knew him as but he was also more.
His moods , temperament , emotions and passions were often scary to us when we were children. As we grew older most of us just wanted dad to have peace with himself and with God. We could see it beginning to happen in the last three years of his life as he became so much softer and demonstrative towards mom and his own children . It was a very long time coming.
Was dad a wonderful man ? Yes he was in many respects to many people. Was he a person with weakness and sin and unresolved problems ? Yes he was that too .
Did I and do I love him ? Absolutely and unequivocally.. I couldn't do otherwise even when he was at his most unloving. Why ?? Because love covers a multitude of sin. He's the only earthly dad I will ever have.
As we said at his eulogy.. everything was crystal clear to dad after his death. He immediately understood what he had not about himself and others. We are absolutely certain that his message in that instant to all of us would be "give glory to God alone " love your family and care for others. Do not hold grudges or bitternesses against others rather be the first to say I'm sorry no matter who is at fault. Keep daily accounts with God and love Him with all your heart, soul and mind for tomorrow you too could meet the creator face to face.
Some may think it is too soon to be writing this while I am still dealing with my own grief but I feel there is no time like the present.
I love you Dad.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
July 4th , 2010 is about to come to a close. Its my 60th birthday. Ron said to me tonight.."who ever would have thought we'd make it to 60?!" That's just the point. We did not even give it a thought because it was so far away that it was unreal. But reality has arrived and I truly see that in all that has happened in my life..the good, the bad, and the ugly... I am today truly blessed.
I got to bed somewhat later than my usual early to bed routine as we were at Victor Mejia Reyes wedding. That's a whole story by itself. We have shared a lot of time just chatting and sharing with him over the last 8 years.. since he was a teenager. Now he is a married man with a degree in theology plus Hebrew and Greek, a wife, and a new job as pastor of our sister church Koninea en Cristo. It was quite the Mexican evening but I will save it for another time.
We woke suddenly at 3 a.m. to the tune of our small dog Miss Piggy's sharp barking. She simply would not be quieted. After speaking to her several times Ron finally turned on some outdoor lights and we could hear a hiss and knew something was under the truck. Finally we let our big dog "bear" out of her location in the backyard to scare whatever was under the truck out of hiding. It was a rather large iguana. No sooner was the iguana spooked out of hiding than our dear gentle Piggy grabbed it and ran with it. I am sorry to say there was no rescue for that iguana. Even the very large lab "bear" could not get the prize from piglets jaws. Thus entered July 4th 2010. As a result I awoke late and moving slowly.
There were a few other events before church which were good reminders of the grace of God and how precious our children are but for the sake of privacy I will stop there. Lets just say there was some rejoicing in our yard this morning at 9 at what had NOT happened to one little 7 year old girl!
Off to church and I am so refreshed to have young people in our midst. A church almost entirely made up of seniors is always ready to have young people come and belong to the family!!
The hotel that we meet in made a surprise cake for me which we all went down to the restaurant and shared with juice and then even some red wine for the toast to the birthday girl. Did I mention that its me!! Home again home again and then the surprise come and go coffee and cake reception.
Unfortunately I was also the recipient of a group email invitation by my unknowing dear husband and so the surprise element was shot! So from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. we had quite a few folk from my life here coming to give their greetings and best wishes. Ron said he would have to invite the town if he was going to get to all the people who might come!! Not quite true but the sentiment is well taken!! At 7 :20 p.m. we finally had to say we were going out to the last few young lingerers and we headed out for one last hurrah for dinner.
At Escolleras ( unbelievable view!) we started with escargot and then had lobster bisque after which I had Dorado empapelado and stuffed with cheeses and shrimp. They sang to me and brought me cake but half way through my meal I was done eating. I told Ron that one thing about growing up is knowing when you have reached your limit and realizing you do not have to clean your plate!!
So we came home with a doggy bag. Lots of phone calls from dear friends all over the map and two out of three children (not bad!!). I really felt cherished.
How do I feel?? Well the number 60 really turns me off quite frankly but when I think about it its simply another epoch in my life. I can do well or not. I choose to do well. Continuing in service to the Lord Jesus Christ for as long as He gives me breath.
I start an exercise program tomorrow. Really!!
I got to bed somewhat later than my usual early to bed routine as we were at Victor Mejia Reyes wedding. That's a whole story by itself. We have shared a lot of time just chatting and sharing with him over the last 8 years.. since he was a teenager. Now he is a married man with a degree in theology plus Hebrew and Greek, a wife, and a new job as pastor of our sister church Koninea en Cristo. It was quite the Mexican evening but I will save it for another time.
We woke suddenly at 3 a.m. to the tune of our small dog Miss Piggy's sharp barking. She simply would not be quieted. After speaking to her several times Ron finally turned on some outdoor lights and we could hear a hiss and knew something was under the truck. Finally we let our big dog "bear" out of her location in the backyard to scare whatever was under the truck out of hiding. It was a rather large iguana. No sooner was the iguana spooked out of hiding than our dear gentle Piggy grabbed it and ran with it. I am sorry to say there was no rescue for that iguana. Even the very large lab "bear" could not get the prize from piglets jaws. Thus entered July 4th 2010. As a result I awoke late and moving slowly.
There were a few other events before church which were good reminders of the grace of God and how precious our children are but for the sake of privacy I will stop there. Lets just say there was some rejoicing in our yard this morning at 9 at what had NOT happened to one little 7 year old girl!
Off to church and I am so refreshed to have young people in our midst. A church almost entirely made up of seniors is always ready to have young people come and belong to the family!!
The hotel that we meet in made a surprise cake for me which we all went down to the restaurant and shared with juice and then even some red wine for the toast to the birthday girl. Did I mention that its me!! Home again home again and then the surprise come and go coffee and cake reception.
Unfortunately I was also the recipient of a group email invitation by my unknowing dear husband and so the surprise element was shot! So from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. we had quite a few folk from my life here coming to give their greetings and best wishes. Ron said he would have to invite the town if he was going to get to all the people who might come!! Not quite true but the sentiment is well taken!! At 7 :20 p.m. we finally had to say we were going out to the last few young lingerers and we headed out for one last hurrah for dinner.
At Escolleras ( unbelievable view!) we started with escargot and then had lobster bisque after which I had Dorado empapelado and stuffed with cheeses and shrimp. They sang to me and brought me cake but half way through my meal I was done eating. I told Ron that one thing about growing up is knowing when you have reached your limit and realizing you do not have to clean your plate!!
So we came home with a doggy bag. Lots of phone calls from dear friends all over the map and two out of three children (not bad!!). I really felt cherished.
How do I feel?? Well the number 60 really turns me off quite frankly but when I think about it its simply another epoch in my life. I can do well or not. I choose to do well. Continuing in service to the Lord Jesus Christ for as long as He gives me breath.
I start an exercise program tomorrow. Really!!
Saturday, May 15, 2010
What good news??
Ok it's Saturday May 15th and it is bloomin' hot here in Zihuatanejo!! And apart from that it seems it is also the time of year when the people start burning off the grass etc in the surrounding hills and the air is thick with smoke!!
It's been a weird week in some ways. I do not function well in the extreme heat so at 5 o"clock at night today I went to the hospital to see a couple of people that I had not been able to talk to on Friday.. The major part of the heat of the day is finished but the smoke is really getting started once again having settled a bit since last night.
One patient is 16 and had just had a caesarian.She now has a baby girl. She is alone except that she has a very supportive 19 year old sister.Not sure how she will manage since she has no job and will depend on her sister to support her . The father of the baby is not in the picture at all and does not know he just had a baby girl.. I brought her one of the famous Youngstown Ladies baby quilts and some shampoo and soap for mama but it may well be the last time I see her. I have one chance to share with the girls what is important and that God has a plan even in this.
The second patient is a young 20 year old man who had to have surgery and is a diabetic and also on dialysis.One of his recent admissions was an attempted suicide. For the second time in two days ... he was sound asleep... he didn't even flinch when the nurse injected him. His mom is there day and night as is the custom here and looks tired and discouraged. So I chatted with her and tried to encourage her even though things look dismal. Perhaps she is the one who I will get to know and share God's love with.
Then, since I had the car out, I went to visit my friend in the centro who has had huge problems in the last year since the sudden death of her husband. She is a Christian. Having already walked with her through many of the issues and her fears and worries..today was very weird. It was like something was very off in her personality. So I told her that I thought something was amiss. She tried to say it wasn't the case but I know her. Then I told her about how some people think I am too direct (no comments please!!) and I really have worked on being more gentle but now that I am in the third age (a term used for all of us over 55 here in Mexico) I have recognized that there is no 4th age!! So I know time is at a premium. We get the days allotted to us and God already know how many that is.. so I am afraid I will become even more direct with those I care about and even with those who I may meet only once if God so directs. I hope I will be gentle but truthful for the time is short and our days are but a breath. Ask anyone over 60 and they will assure you that time has flown, and that it was like yesterday that they were a teenager.
What's my point?I refuse to beat around the bush if I love you but even if God puts you in my path as a virtual stranger I already know what my responsibility is because God loves you way more than I ever could and thats the good news you need to hear!!.
It's been a weird week in some ways. I do not function well in the extreme heat so at 5 o"clock at night today I went to the hospital to see a couple of people that I had not been able to talk to on Friday.. The major part of the heat of the day is finished but the smoke is really getting started once again having settled a bit since last night.
One patient is 16 and had just had a caesarian.She now has a baby girl. She is alone except that she has a very supportive 19 year old sister.Not sure how she will manage since she has no job and will depend on her sister to support her . The father of the baby is not in the picture at all and does not know he just had a baby girl.. I brought her one of the famous Youngstown Ladies baby quilts and some shampoo and soap for mama but it may well be the last time I see her. I have one chance to share with the girls what is important and that God has a plan even in this.
The second patient is a young 20 year old man who had to have surgery and is a diabetic and also on dialysis.One of his recent admissions was an attempted suicide. For the second time in two days ... he was sound asleep... he didn't even flinch when the nurse injected him. His mom is there day and night as is the custom here and looks tired and discouraged. So I chatted with her and tried to encourage her even though things look dismal. Perhaps she is the one who I will get to know and share God's love with.
Then, since I had the car out, I went to visit my friend in the centro who has had huge problems in the last year since the sudden death of her husband. She is a Christian. Having already walked with her through many of the issues and her fears and worries..today was very weird. It was like something was very off in her personality. So I told her that I thought something was amiss. She tried to say it wasn't the case but I know her. Then I told her about how some people think I am too direct (no comments please!!) and I really have worked on being more gentle but now that I am in the third age (a term used for all of us over 55 here in Mexico) I have recognized that there is no 4th age!! So I know time is at a premium. We get the days allotted to us and God already know how many that is.. so I am afraid I will become even more direct with those I care about and even with those who I may meet only once if God so directs. I hope I will be gentle but truthful for the time is short and our days are but a breath. Ask anyone over 60 and they will assure you that time has flown, and that it was like yesterday that they were a teenager.
What's my point?I refuse to beat around the bush if I love you but even if God puts you in my path as a virtual stranger I already know what my responsibility is because God loves you way more than I ever could and thats the good news you need to hear!!.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Outsmarting the Enemy!!
It started with just a very few. Within two weeks it blocked their ears and then within a very short time affected their whole organism. The approved approach to the problem did not seem to make a dent in the issue and the next thing we knew the dastardly stuff had entered our domicile and was affecting our lives.We keep switching tactics trying to outsmart our enemy but so far it is more like a standoff than a battle won. We have not yet found the answer!
Sheesh. It sounds like any sort of temptation or vice we might be trying to avoid but I am talking about TICKS!!! The tiny critters stay underground till you have animals...(we have 2 dogs now) and then they come out with a vengeance in the heat. They latch on to the poor beasts with tenacity and although you might think you are winning the battle they keep reproducing. I need some nematodes that love ticks!! We will keep up the battle till we have won and in the meantime any tick that dares enter the premises and is seen will meet their end at the fateful bbq lighter torching of enemy ticks!!
In the last month I have been trying to teach English to some doctors working at the hospital. I do my best for them and since they all have a certain amount of the basics it makes it somewhat easier on me. I do not have the approved courses but for some reason they want me to do this. Since I really have no one to answer to or hand my lesson plan in to I can really have fun with it. Much to my surprise in this "Roman Catholic" country very few of the docs really had a very good grasp on the true meaning of the Easter celebration. So we did some study and teaching on it. I included music. We learned words like debt and grave and praise. Then my lovely suited up doctors all sang with me "Lord I lift your Name on High" with the actions!!! As I watched them and sang with them it was very hard to keep a big grin off my face as I gave thanks for this opportunity to go beyond the ESL programs and be an ambassador while teaching. What a privilege. Having said that I would still be thrilled to find some kind of text that would give me and my students a bit more order to the learning!!
My nephews and nieces and my kids will not be surprised at my teaching tactics .. they think I am "special" What's with that??
Easter has come and gone and we will mark 8 years in Mexico soon. In that time so much has transpired in our lives and in the lives of friends back in Youngstown. This past week the Lord took home a man who was very precious to us who had just celebrated his 90th birthday. It is the way it is ... each of us has his alotted days.
May we all be ready and looking forward to that day when we will see Him face to face just as Jim Proudfoot is seeing Him now!.
Sheesh. It sounds like any sort of temptation or vice we might be trying to avoid but I am talking about TICKS!!! The tiny critters stay underground till you have animals...(we have 2 dogs now) and then they come out with a vengeance in the heat. They latch on to the poor beasts with tenacity and although you might think you are winning the battle they keep reproducing. I need some nematodes that love ticks!! We will keep up the battle till we have won and in the meantime any tick that dares enter the premises and is seen will meet their end at the fateful bbq lighter torching of enemy ticks!!
In the last month I have been trying to teach English to some doctors working at the hospital. I do my best for them and since they all have a certain amount of the basics it makes it somewhat easier on me. I do not have the approved courses but for some reason they want me to do this. Since I really have no one to answer to or hand my lesson plan in to I can really have fun with it. Much to my surprise in this "Roman Catholic" country very few of the docs really had a very good grasp on the true meaning of the Easter celebration. So we did some study and teaching on it. I included music. We learned words like debt and grave and praise. Then my lovely suited up doctors all sang with me "Lord I lift your Name on High" with the actions!!! As I watched them and sang with them it was very hard to keep a big grin off my face as I gave thanks for this opportunity to go beyond the ESL programs and be an ambassador while teaching. What a privilege. Having said that I would still be thrilled to find some kind of text that would give me and my students a bit more order to the learning!!
My nephews and nieces and my kids will not be surprised at my teaching tactics .. they think I am "special" What's with that??
Easter has come and gone and we will mark 8 years in Mexico soon. In that time so much has transpired in our lives and in the lives of friends back in Youngstown. This past week the Lord took home a man who was very precious to us who had just celebrated his 90th birthday. It is the way it is ... each of us has his alotted days.
May we all be ready and looking forward to that day when we will see Him face to face just as Jim Proudfoot is seeing Him now!.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Keeping step with the Spirit
It is 6:44 a.m. I should be asleep as I am still very tired and need the rest. But the brain will simply not shut off and my body is aching.
Some days and weeks are just harder than others and even getting older does not provide a cure for this.
I had an extremely busy two weeks just passed. It didn't really need to be that way as I look back but it did not totally depend on me. Somehow I thought if I just worked harder and filled in the gaps where others had dropped the ball, all would be well. It does not really work that way. Someday I will learn that I cannot do the work of 4 or five people.
I recently gave a ministry workshop. One of the things that was this..... if I am doing this for Him..really..then I need to make sure He is always at the centre of it. It is sooo easy to lose sight of this critical principle. When our joy is gone in serving, it is likely not He who left the premises.
When we are disappointed or discouraged by events or the attitude and lack of effort on the part of others, how DO we deal with it in a Christ like manner. He did after all know how things would unfold. He knew our hopes and dreams and expectations. But for His reasons He still allows "stuff" to happen and people to let us down .
First of all I need to examine my heart
What is the real reason I am feeling let down. Pride? The esteem of others? A desire to not let people down?
None of these sound like I am determined not to let the Lord down or bring His Name into disrepute. None of it sounds like I want people to know Him and the power of His resurrection. In fact I think it sounds a lot like its all about me. Ouch!!
I am not saying that we can't learn from every thing we do. We need to or we don't grow.
Nor am I saying we can't put forth an extra effort even though it is "not our job"..the idea of saying that I have done my part and now it's over is not Jesus attitude. We give it our all..for Him. God is perfectly capable of dealing with wrong attitudes in others as they are willing to learn... we are not the Holy Spirit in someone else's life. (I am speaking loudly to myself here!!)
I truly believe that if our heart is right in all that we do.(Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,) we won't fall as often into the trap of discouragement or a critical attitude.
I keep telling people where the answers to to our dilemmas are found and then I forget to access those same resources myself..here it is
Galatians:
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Oh yeah I am very sore because in my focusing on the urgent (as opposed to the important!!) I missed a single step on our first floor inside my house and went down hard on my right hip . At my age you always pay for any misstep and the double meaning is fully intended!!!
I would love to hear about your own learning curves.. they are lessons for us all!!
Some days and weeks are just harder than others and even getting older does not provide a cure for this.
I had an extremely busy two weeks just passed. It didn't really need to be that way as I look back but it did not totally depend on me. Somehow I thought if I just worked harder and filled in the gaps where others had dropped the ball, all would be well. It does not really work that way. Someday I will learn that I cannot do the work of 4 or five people.
I recently gave a ministry workshop. One of the things that was this..... if I am doing this for Him..really..then I need to make sure He is always at the centre of it. It is sooo easy to lose sight of this critical principle. When our joy is gone in serving, it is likely not He who left the premises.
When we are disappointed or discouraged by events or the attitude and lack of effort on the part of others, how DO we deal with it in a Christ like manner. He did after all know how things would unfold. He knew our hopes and dreams and expectations. But for His reasons He still allows "stuff" to happen and people to let us down .
First of all I need to examine my heart
What is the real reason I am feeling let down. Pride? The esteem of others? A desire to not let people down?
None of these sound like I am determined not to let the Lord down or bring His Name into disrepute. None of it sounds like I want people to know Him and the power of His resurrection. In fact I think it sounds a lot like its all about me. Ouch!!
I am not saying that we can't learn from every thing we do. We need to or we don't grow.
Nor am I saying we can't put forth an extra effort even though it is "not our job"..the idea of saying that I have done my part and now it's over is not Jesus attitude. We give it our all..for Him. God is perfectly capable of dealing with wrong attitudes in others as they are willing to learn... we are not the Holy Spirit in someone else's life. (I am speaking loudly to myself here!!)
I truly believe that if our heart is right in all that we do.(Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,) we won't fall as often into the trap of discouragement or a critical attitude.
I keep telling people where the answers to to our dilemmas are found and then I forget to access those same resources myself..here it is
Galatians:
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Oh yeah I am very sore because in my focusing on the urgent (as opposed to the important!!) I missed a single step on our first floor inside my house and went down hard on my right hip . At my age you always pay for any misstep and the double meaning is fully intended!!!
I would love to hear about your own learning curves.. they are lessons for us all!!
Monday, October 19, 2009
OK well as I said I knew I would not be able to keep it up!! But still and all it gives a chance to tell stories and really they are all true !!
So today I want to tell a funny story. Well it might not have turned out that way but I am sorry to say that I roared with laughter all through it somehow knowing that God would be protecting all of us.
A few years ago my mother in law and Ron's sister and brother in law were here visiting in Zihuatanejo. In honour of the event we planned a trip to Patzcuaro and Morelia and a trip to see the butterflies. Our co-workers Jacob and Raquel travelled with us, in fact supplying one of Jacob's many (over the years) cars.The trip to Tzintzunsan (where Jacob's sister was loaning a villa for a night) was virtually uneventful but now the fun began.
We arrived at the gate which was opened by the maintenance man. Just inside the gate was a vicious rottweiler named Tyson who was in his heavy chain fenced kennel giving us a serious eye. Even Jacob who had known Tyson since he was very little did not get out of his car until he knew that Tyson was well in hand.Tyson spent alot of his day in his kennel but was released at night to prowl the 2 acre grounds for intruders
We proceeded to the main house where all the Cavenaghs were going to sleep while Jacob and Raquel stayed at the gate house. We divided up into the rooms upstairs. ..Chrissie sleeping in one of two twin beds in a room with Grandma C. who was around 80 at the time of this event. Sheila and Brian in one large room and Ron and I in the other. Ron went downstairs to deal with the front door which was not closing as it should. He decided to place a number of heavy shoes against it to hold it closed. We were all settling in when we heard grandma say calmly.."Ron..the dog is on the bed with me...he's nuzzling me"!! Then Chrissie joined in the chorus calling for her dad to rescue them. Tyson who was mostly blind had forced the front door open and come up to where he knew the boys slept when they came for weekends. Grandma obviously was sufficient for him!!
The whole thing was so ludicrous that I started to laugh..I really could not stop..from behind a mostly closed door of course! Sheila had heard the tapping on the floor as the dog climbed up the stairs and had thought to herself that Ron really should cut his toenails!! ~Meanwhile Brian was in the bathroom doing his nightly ablutions when all this was unfolding. By the time he got out Tyson had switched his allegiance to Sheila who was in the bed calling for help. In comes valiant Brian who now has Tyson between himself and his wife. As Brian quietly called "Here doggie" Tyson growled his warning..don't get close! Sorry but I was close to peeing my pants in uncontrollable laughter over this series of events.
We tried calling J and R by cell at the gate house but they did not respond ..we tried shouting to the gate keeper but he was too far away..Ron finally crept down stairs praying the dog would not follow and walked to the gate house to get help. When the fellow came he brought an industrial sized chain to take the dog away and the dog ,though not pleased about it, did leave without having hurt anyone but the giggles could be heard for some time afterwards ...mostly from me..the person who was in the safest position of any of us..I must be some kind of sadist.
The rest of the trip proceeded without incident and apart from the break down of Jacob's vehicle, which God provided for in a miraculous, way the trip was well worth while!!
So today I want to tell a funny story. Well it might not have turned out that way but I am sorry to say that I roared with laughter all through it somehow knowing that God would be protecting all of us.
A few years ago my mother in law and Ron's sister and brother in law were here visiting in Zihuatanejo. In honour of the event we planned a trip to Patzcuaro and Morelia and a trip to see the butterflies. Our co-workers Jacob and Raquel travelled with us, in fact supplying one of Jacob's many (over the years) cars.The trip to Tzintzunsan (where Jacob's sister was loaning a villa for a night) was virtually uneventful but now the fun began.
We arrived at the gate which was opened by the maintenance man. Just inside the gate was a vicious rottweiler named Tyson who was in his heavy chain fenced kennel giving us a serious eye. Even Jacob who had known Tyson since he was very little did not get out of his car until he knew that Tyson was well in hand.Tyson spent alot of his day in his kennel but was released at night to prowl the 2 acre grounds for intruders
We proceeded to the main house where all the Cavenaghs were going to sleep while Jacob and Raquel stayed at the gate house. We divided up into the rooms upstairs. ..Chrissie sleeping in one of two twin beds in a room with Grandma C. who was around 80 at the time of this event. Sheila and Brian in one large room and Ron and I in the other. Ron went downstairs to deal with the front door which was not closing as it should. He decided to place a number of heavy shoes against it to hold it closed. We were all settling in when we heard grandma say calmly.."Ron..the dog is on the bed with me...he's nuzzling me"!! Then Chrissie joined in the chorus calling for her dad to rescue them. Tyson who was mostly blind had forced the front door open and come up to where he knew the boys slept when they came for weekends. Grandma obviously was sufficient for him!!
The whole thing was so ludicrous that I started to laugh..I really could not stop..from behind a mostly closed door of course! Sheila had heard the tapping on the floor as the dog climbed up the stairs and had thought to herself that Ron really should cut his toenails!! ~Meanwhile Brian was in the bathroom doing his nightly ablutions when all this was unfolding. By the time he got out Tyson had switched his allegiance to Sheila who was in the bed calling for help. In comes valiant Brian who now has Tyson between himself and his wife. As Brian quietly called "Here doggie" Tyson growled his warning..don't get close! Sorry but I was close to peeing my pants in uncontrollable laughter over this series of events.
We tried calling J and R by cell at the gate house but they did not respond ..we tried shouting to the gate keeper but he was too far away..Ron finally crept down stairs praying the dog would not follow and walked to the gate house to get help. When the fellow came he brought an industrial sized chain to take the dog away and the dog ,though not pleased about it, did leave without having hurt anyone but the giggles could be heard for some time afterwards ...mostly from me..the person who was in the safest position of any of us..I must be some kind of sadist.
The rest of the trip proceeded without incident and apart from the break down of Jacob's vehicle, which God provided for in a miraculous, way the trip was well worth while!!
Monday, September 7, 2009
Mon. Sept 7,2009
We got up early today for an 8 a.m. funeral. Chema , 40 years old, mother of two, died of breast cancer slightly more than 24 hours ago. It was as expected as the death of a young ,gravely ill mom can be but the loss is keen and deep for her sister Diana, our close friend and another sister not to mention Chema's husband and children. Diana's mom died only weeks ago and her dad has been gone almost ten years. One major loss after another.
We sat through the mass and then went with multi others to the grave site. Wreaths and floral arrangements in abundance and even the classmates of her children came to pay their last respects.. The sun beat down mercilessly even at 9:30 a.m. and the sweat poured off the observers and the workers alike as the cement was poured into the frame that now held the last earthly remains of Chema.
We have seen and known of so much sadness in the last 7 years that we have lived here. Only months ago Yarit's father was murdered by an unknown assailant in their small store where they sold cases of beer. Her grief was so palpable for she did not hold back her anger , sorrow , loss and defeat. It was "in our face".
The incident I mentioned in my previous blog was an official and his son in two vehicles both murdered in cold blood moments before we came on the scene. We may never know why.
The reality is that death comes to the young and the old the wicked and the righteous. All of us need to be ready to face that day.
Tues.
I went to the General Hospital again to give support to whomever needed it as the Lord directed. Today a 31 day old infant who had been born prematurely was fighting for his life in the emergency room which is the only place with life saving equipment in the hospital. He had fought so hard to live and managed so well and then suddenly... His mother and grandparents were in the waiting area as mom could not bear to watch the staff struggle to get a few drops of blood from her infant. I encouraged her to go in and let her baby hear her voice and to tell him to fight the battle as hard as he could and to trust that God's plan for her baby is always the best.
Sometimes I hear myself talking to patients and staff and I know what I say is true and maybe at times even wise but I also am very aware that it is not that easy and that I too, in their place, would be struggling to believe that God is good and knows all before it happens. So here is where it stands in Psalms 139
We got up early today for an 8 a.m. funeral. Chema , 40 years old, mother of two, died of breast cancer slightly more than 24 hours ago. It was as expected as the death of a young ,gravely ill mom can be but the loss is keen and deep for her sister Diana, our close friend and another sister not to mention Chema's husband and children. Diana's mom died only weeks ago and her dad has been gone almost ten years. One major loss after another.
We sat through the mass and then went with multi others to the grave site. Wreaths and floral arrangements in abundance and even the classmates of her children came to pay their last respects.. The sun beat down mercilessly even at 9:30 a.m. and the sweat poured off the observers and the workers alike as the cement was poured into the frame that now held the last earthly remains of Chema.
We have seen and known of so much sadness in the last 7 years that we have lived here. Only months ago Yarit's father was murdered by an unknown assailant in their small store where they sold cases of beer. Her grief was so palpable for she did not hold back her anger , sorrow , loss and defeat. It was "in our face".
The incident I mentioned in my previous blog was an official and his son in two vehicles both murdered in cold blood moments before we came on the scene. We may never know why.
The reality is that death comes to the young and the old the wicked and the righteous. All of us need to be ready to face that day.
Tues.
I went to the General Hospital again to give support to whomever needed it as the Lord directed. Today a 31 day old infant who had been born prematurely was fighting for his life in the emergency room which is the only place with life saving equipment in the hospital. He had fought so hard to live and managed so well and then suddenly... His mother and grandparents were in the waiting area as mom could not bear to watch the staff struggle to get a few drops of blood from her infant. I encouraged her to go in and let her baby hear her voice and to tell him to fight the battle as hard as he could and to trust that God's plan for her baby is always the best.
Sometimes I hear myself talking to patients and staff and I know what I say is true and maybe at times even wise but I also am very aware that it is not that easy and that I too, in their place, would be struggling to believe that God is good and knows all before it happens. So here is where it stands in Psalms 139
13For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
16your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
He knows our beginning and He knows our end. We can trust Him.
Why then is it so hard for us to live for Him??
Friday, September 4, 2009
I know I won't be able to keep this up...all this blogging but maybe it will be more frequent than the old web page..I hope so.
Today bright and early we headed out by car to a town about an hour away. On the way we passed an accident. they were still looking for someone in the ditch..my old EMS training started to accelerate! Someone taking the curve too fast I guess.
The purpose of our journey today was to visit a woman we knew who had recently escaped from domestic violence in an isolated community. She was now living with her mom. The town that she escaped from had one woman who showed concern , visited her and shared the love of God. This as it turned out was our land lady!! She has been a blessing to us but I see that she is a blessing right where she lives in the heart of narco traficking ganaderos...ranchers. Many have moved out of that town for fear of their lives but Dona Brenda has her eternity already sorted out and she is going about being God's servant. She is in her early seventies.
We took about 2o min. finding the place which turned out to be a thatch roofed mud house. Quite well made actually.
The woman who we will call Senora O has HIV and so does her 7 year old daughter. She has 5 kids in total. Her sister who lives with them has 11!!!
Her little girl cannot hear due to chronic untreated ear infections. So another part of the trip was to bring them both back to the city to have an appt. with the doctor in DIF (social services). It had been all arranged. Remember we live in Mexico. So after eating "pollo sin huesos" (chicken without bones) otherwise known as beans and tortillas, we headed back to town. On the way back to town we passed another incident that looked very much like someone had just gunblasted all the windows out of a vehicle and another truck lay on its side. No emergency vehicles had yet arrived as we were waved past.
The doctor at DIF had left on an "emergency" to Guadalajara! This sort of thing is not all that uncommon and works the other direction as well where patients do not show up for appts. but since we were the ones who had made the trip .. it did not sit all that well. We did get an audience with the director of DIF who then made plans for a Monday appt.
During our discussion afterwards I discovered that the little girl is actually a half sister to another little girl we know living with her grandmother here in town. That little girl ,6, also has HIV. The biological mother is somewhere in the U.S. and Sra. O's husband fathered the little girl now in question. If you have followed me at all you have just seen a messed up situation that is too familiar here.
We prayed and they hopped the bus for the 1 and 1/2 hr busride home.
A portion of the day in my life!!
There is something else troubling me today. My missionary friend Alisa has taken a month out of her busy life to ride her bicycle on behalf of abandoned seniors here. To make people aware of the plight of a group of vulnerable and powerless individuals all over Mexico but especially where we live. To raise awareness and to raise funds for a Home for them here.
Her heart is to do this for God and pray that people will respond to the need by giving.
You see a small group of Christians living here, both Mexican and foreigners , who had no intention whatever of building anything had been prompted by God to do that very thing. It has been around 3 years in the planning and all is in place...except the money.
You need to know that all along the way we were sufficiently inexperienced, unskilled and without financial resources that we could not believe God would ask this of us. Let someone else do it!! He would not let us off the hook. Lord..why not help abandoned and abused children ??!! There is so much more interest in helping children and certainly their plight here is just as important! The answer came. Build this home for ME and for the old ones left on their own without help. So we carried on.
I believe the truth of the matter is that if we do not step up to the plate and trust God than we will be disobedient. And there will be no change.
Will Alisa's desire to please God be rewarded with the donated funds needed to start the home?? It really has everything to do with God and His plans and not a great deal to do with us and ours.
But this we know..if we are being obedient whether it is in the planning, the bicycling, giving financially or just making people aware...God will do it and He alone will receive the glory!!
Did I hear an Amen?!!
http://www.ztookc.blogspot.com/
http://www.bethechangeok.org/
Today bright and early we headed out by car to a town about an hour away. On the way we passed an accident. they were still looking for someone in the ditch..my old EMS training started to accelerate! Someone taking the curve too fast I guess.
The purpose of our journey today was to visit a woman we knew who had recently escaped from domestic violence in an isolated community. She was now living with her mom. The town that she escaped from had one woman who showed concern , visited her and shared the love of God. This as it turned out was our land lady!! She has been a blessing to us but I see that she is a blessing right where she lives in the heart of narco traficking ganaderos...ranchers. Many have moved out of that town for fear of their lives but Dona Brenda has her eternity already sorted out and she is going about being God's servant. She is in her early seventies.
We took about 2o min. finding the place which turned out to be a thatch roofed mud house. Quite well made actually.
The woman who we will call Senora O has HIV and so does her 7 year old daughter. She has 5 kids in total. Her sister who lives with them has 11!!!
Her little girl cannot hear due to chronic untreated ear infections. So another part of the trip was to bring them both back to the city to have an appt. with the doctor in DIF (social services). It had been all arranged. Remember we live in Mexico. So after eating "pollo sin huesos" (chicken without bones) otherwise known as beans and tortillas, we headed back to town. On the way back to town we passed another incident that looked very much like someone had just gunblasted all the windows out of a vehicle and another truck lay on its side. No emergency vehicles had yet arrived as we were waved past.
The doctor at DIF had left on an "emergency" to Guadalajara! This sort of thing is not all that uncommon and works the other direction as well where patients do not show up for appts. but since we were the ones who had made the trip .. it did not sit all that well. We did get an audience with the director of DIF who then made plans for a Monday appt.
During our discussion afterwards I discovered that the little girl is actually a half sister to another little girl we know living with her grandmother here in town. That little girl ,6, also has HIV. The biological mother is somewhere in the U.S. and Sra. O's husband fathered the little girl now in question. If you have followed me at all you have just seen a messed up situation that is too familiar here.
We prayed and they hopped the bus for the 1 and 1/2 hr busride home.
A portion of the day in my life!!
There is something else troubling me today. My missionary friend Alisa has taken a month out of her busy life to ride her bicycle on behalf of abandoned seniors here. To make people aware of the plight of a group of vulnerable and powerless individuals all over Mexico but especially where we live. To raise awareness and to raise funds for a Home for them here.
Her heart is to do this for God and pray that people will respond to the need by giving.
You see a small group of Christians living here, both Mexican and foreigners , who had no intention whatever of building anything had been prompted by God to do that very thing. It has been around 3 years in the planning and all is in place...except the money.
You need to know that all along the way we were sufficiently inexperienced, unskilled and without financial resources that we could not believe God would ask this of us. Let someone else do it!! He would not let us off the hook. Lord..why not help abandoned and abused children ??!! There is so much more interest in helping children and certainly their plight here is just as important! The answer came. Build this home for ME and for the old ones left on their own without help. So we carried on.
I believe the truth of the matter is that if we do not step up to the plate and trust God than we will be disobedient. And there will be no change.
Will Alisa's desire to please God be rewarded with the donated funds needed to start the home?? It really has everything to do with God and His plans and not a great deal to do with us and ours.
But this we know..if we are being obedient whether it is in the planning, the bicycling, giving financially or just making people aware...God will do it and He alone will receive the glory!!
Did I hear an Amen?!!
http://www.ztookc.blogspot.com/
http://www.bethechangeok.org/
Thursday, September 3, 2009
well we just got back from having pozole with our friend Ben. Ben is a 72 year old man who loves Zihuatanejo and just wants to serve God in whatever way He leads. He is humble and recognizes he is still learning.
You know I think that is the key...humility and open to being transformed from the inside out. He is an encouragement to us and I hope we were to him.
I want to tell you the story of Sulema.
I met Sulema in the hospital in April (I think). She had just had her 2nd baby. The birth was fine. The problem was the huge tumor, angiosarcoma, on her leg. It encompassed half of the upper and lower portions of her leg . She had been in Tijuana where she lived with her husband when she got pregnant which was also when the tumor showed up. They decided to wait till the baby was born before treating the mass. At that point she decided to come to our area where her parents lived and seek the support of her family and medical help. She was discharged from hospital to wait at her parents home for appointments with doctors in larger centers, I visited ..several times. We prayed and talked about how God was in control of the situation and that we could trust Him. They kept calling it a virus but I knew when they showed me the report of the ultrasound that it was cancer. I did not speak to them about what it is Jesus wants to do in each of our lives. To cleanse , forgive and make us new people who love and serve Him right into eternity...saved by His grace.
One day I went to visit them again and the house was completely closed and the neighbours had no information. I went 3 weeks in a row until the neighbour finally had a phone number. In time there was a form of communication by text messaging. I realized that the family had gone to another city in order to be closer to the area where she would get treatment.
I was so anxious for them knowing that this was serious and feeling very irresponsible for not having fully shared the gospel with Sulema whose life was now in danger. Somehow I had to fix this!! I went to my friend Alisa who had contacts in Lazaro and she directed me to a pastor who worked there on weekends. She did not hold out much hope since the city was large and the chances slim that they would be anywhere near this family . I had no real idea of where they were and only had the first name of Sulema.
Not too long after, we were in the seminary where this pastor worked on weekdays. By this time I was more than anxious about Sulema who now was an amputee and the "virus" had spread to her lungs. They needed spiritual and practical support and I was not there!! (by this time you can see that I have a problem in thinking that I must resolve all the issues!) As I began to tell the story of Sulema it was not long before he stopped me. "But sister, he said, we are already visiting her and taking care of her in a number of ways". I was confused for sure and asked if Alisa had already informed him of this situation. "No", he said, "they moved into a place beside some church members ..he is a nurse and has helped with her medications and his wife is helping with meals etc." "We have prayed with them and over time all came to know Christ as Saviour".
I cried..I was so moved by the grace of God. So rebuked by my arrogance in thinking I had to solve this...God had a plan..and I was only a small part of it. His team of believers working together for a common end...that the world might know!!
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
The Hernandez in me !!
ok. I am going to give this a try. Our own personal website doesn't seem to get updated and I really have no clue about working on websites so maybe this will work.
Today is September the first and I guess it is approaching fall back in the North where I used to live!!
It is a very warm day in Zihuatanejo and in many ways we are still playing catchup with work that has been waiting for us since our trip to the North.
Yesterday I spent several hours waiting at the IFE where I will get a credencial electoral which is used all the time here as identification since it has one's photo on it. Actually the only reason I can have one is that I am now a Mexican as well as a Canadian thanks to the birth registration of my father, Ths should simplify my life considerably and I can now participate in things that as a foreigner I could not before. I can buy land or a house (if I had the money!) without all the legal requirements and trusts required of foreigners. I can vote!! Next step is the passport and then I will truly be a Canadian/Mexican
Waiting in line is a part of Mexican life here. No matter what it is there is a wait involved. In fact on entering IFE they told me to come back and make an appointment tomorrow!! However in Mexico it helps to know people who can make the process simpler and thus it was that instead of lining up at 6:30 a.m. for an office that opens at 9 a.m. I was able to wait at 1:30 p.m. in a very cold airconditioned room along with a number of others till my name was called. Still about a 3 hour wait.
I went to the hospital this a.m. which I generally do on Tuesdays and Fridays. Today there was a 55 year old woman dying of kidney failure and another woman of 66 dying of diabetic complications. It is an opportunity mostly to be a comfort to families and to encourage them to speak to their loved one and to seek peace with God now in order to have peace for eternity. Without exception the families have been grateful for someone to come along side of them and help them to make some sense out of a very heart breaking situation.
There was a young teen in emergency today who had been to the talks we give and she was so happy to see me even though her baby is a bit yellow right now!
Our prayer letter went out today and so my list of things to get done is almost finished.
Ron is preparing for this month's classes in geography/archeology at the seminary and today I have to complete yet a short talk for our pregnant teens at the hospital. At this point in time it is a weekly task for me but generally its a shared ministry that at least two other women participate in. This particular year is interesting because the staff makes a point of sitting and listening as well. Not to judge us but to learn!! They love it! God is good.
well I want this to be a bit of my day and it is an experiment so we'll see if it works!
P.S> the photo is my Grandma Hernandez and myself a number of years ago!
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