After my first night of trying to sleep, but thinking a lot, I woke up to a sunny room. The sun shone through and lit up the yellow room- making it more alive and cheerful than before.
When I finally decided to get out of the warm covers and get started unpacking, things got underway with getting settled.
I unpacked and organized what I could of my belongings into a desk and under the bed Then I organized two suitcases as a make shift dresser (more like two trunks) for the time being. I may get a dresser, or I may end up using some closets in the bathroom...whatever works. =)
After everything had a place, it was nearing noon, and I headed up to look after my soon to be students for the day.
Teaching begins this coming Thursday. I am told that this weekend I’m being thrust into the culture. A quincinata tomorrow- the 15th birthday is a very big deal. Then there’s church, in Spanish, on Sunday. Then of course the teachers meeting, in Spanish, on Wednesday....now that should be interesting. =)
So, I’m being submersed in the culture and language- which I hear is the best was to learn it but is also quite difficult.
Well, it’s almost time to play in the park. It is a warm day here- a t-shirt is a great choice in the intense sun. Here I go...
Friday, December 28, 2007
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Launch...
Flying into Miami was beautiful. We flew along the coast. As we went inland, there were small lakes, river, tributaries, and so on surrounded by houses. There were narrow golf courses surrounded by houses. It all looked like a luxury place.
Now I have a fairly short layover before the next flight- on to Guatemala!
*****
Well....a bit longer layover- delayed an hour right now.
*****
We finally took off- in a sparsely filled, large plane.
Flying into Guatemala City, two hours late, I could see the city lights. They were in clusters that seemed to go around mountains or something- I couldn’t tell from the air.
After landing and going through customs, I collected my luggage and connected them into a “ducks in a row” configuration. It worked pretty well. On my own, there’s no other way I could manage six bags on wheels and one on my arm- yes I know, LOTS of luggage! (I’m still working on is the traveling light concept.) =D
The whole Dvorak family, living in Guatemala, was there to pick me up. After getting all my bags loaded, we headed off up the mountain. When we turned onto the dirt road leading to the property I felt more like I was in familiar territory. It was a more comfortable and peaceful feeling. The road itself was smoother than when I was here in the rainy season- I was told they recently smoothed it out.
After moving my belongings into what is now my room, I fished out what I needed and got to bed. However, I didn’t really sleep as much as I could have. My brain was running with hundreds of thoughts. It seemed like I was awake and asleep much of the night- which was actually morning because I got to bed at midnight. But it wasn’t stressful- just possessing everything I think.
So, I’ve been launched onto the mission field! =)
Now I have a fairly short layover before the next flight- on to Guatemala!
*****
Well....a bit longer layover- delayed an hour right now.
*****
We finally took off- in a sparsely filled, large plane.
Flying into Guatemala City, two hours late, I could see the city lights. They were in clusters that seemed to go around mountains or something- I couldn’t tell from the air.
After landing and going through customs, I collected my luggage and connected them into a “ducks in a row” configuration. It worked pretty well. On my own, there’s no other way I could manage six bags on wheels and one on my arm- yes I know, LOTS of luggage! (I’m still working on is the traveling light concept.) =D
The whole Dvorak family, living in Guatemala, was there to pick me up. After getting all my bags loaded, we headed off up the mountain. When we turned onto the dirt road leading to the property I felt more like I was in familiar territory. It was a more comfortable and peaceful feeling. The road itself was smoother than when I was here in the rainy season- I was told they recently smoothed it out.
After moving my belongings into what is now my room, I fished out what I needed and got to bed. However, I didn’t really sleep as much as I could have. My brain was running with hundreds of thoughts. It seemed like I was awake and asleep much of the night- which was actually morning because I got to bed at midnight. But it wasn’t stressful- just possessing everything I think.
So, I’ve been launched onto the mission field! =)
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Letting Go...
As I am in transition to the mission field, my blog is also in transition. I guess it is becoming a lot more personal, as far as what I share. I think this post shows that...
God started talking to me this summer about letting go. He asked me to let go of specific thing in my life. He also asked me to release the grip I had on some relationships and dreams for the future. More recently, He has been asking me to let go of myself.
A dream God asked me to let go of was ever getting married and having children of my own. After crying out to God for help and battling myself, I let go. I betrothed myself to Jesus Christ and contented myself in Him. He is all I need. [Over a month after that event *(I went back and looked and it was 2 months and 11 days afterward), God told me I would get married some day. Having let go of the whole thing already, I am content to wait for His timing.]
There are many "things" God asked me to let go of. One of the first requests to "let go" was that I simplify my stuff- preparing to be able to pick up and leave for the mission field at some unknown time. I began, but didn't finish. I am still in process of simplifying and letting go, though I now know I am moving to the mission field in less than a month. This has been a hard process because of the materialistic atmosphere which surrounds us in the western world. It also has to do with thinking in lack. I'll explain this. It's not that I have any lack. I have everything I need- I've never missed a meal because we had no food; I never had to sleep on the street because we had no house; I never had to go around naked because I had no clothes. I have been, and am, well provided for. This thinking in lack, for me, has looked like saving so many things that I'm not using "in case" I need them later in life. As if God is unable to provide for me when the need arises. Really, God is more than able to provide, and He will take care of me. So, I can freely give away what I don't currently need and ask my Father for the things I need. My Father is good.
Now, as for letting go of myself, well that is more current. I'm just coming to the realization that God wants me to not only let go of my "stuff", but also myself. The tendency when God asks me to do something is to try to do it in my own strength. The attitude is like, "Okay, that is what God wants me to do, so I'm going to do it. Now how can I get this done?" What I'm realizing is what Jesus said, "without Me, you can do nothing." I really cannot accomplish what He has called me to do on my own. Of course I "knew that." However, the way I actually live shows that I still try to do everything in my own strength. This of course leads to stress, fatigue, frustration, worry, fear, thinking in lack, and so on. Yet, to really let go of myself and trying to "get it all done" would be much more effective, provided of course I allow God to work through me. It's not striving and struggling. It's letting go. It's not giving into the pressure to use my mind to figure out how it all fits in my schedule and pushing until it's "done". There is some satisfaction in a job accomplished, yes, but does that bear any fruit? Certainly not the quality or quantity that would have been reached by relying on God. It seems a foreign concept to let go and abandon self in this self-focused culture, so I'm not sure what it all looks like in practicality. This I know, I cannot do what I am supposed to do on this planet in my own ability. I need God working through me every day of my life- every moment. Those times when I have surrendered to God and let Him work through me have been sweet and fruitful. Sadly, I have many memories of relying on my own strength and being stressed out and then not even reaching my goal. I don't want that anymore. I want to walk with my Father, in the power of the Holy Spirit, and fulfill what He has called me to do in this time on earth.
So, here's my conclusion: I give up! God, whatever You want to do through me, You may do. It's not my own strength or ability. It's You in me. I am Yours, so have Your way in me.
*SIGH* =)
There's a freedom in saying "I give up" and completely surrendering to God. =)
Let's see what comes of it. All the glory to God! =)
God started talking to me this summer about letting go. He asked me to let go of specific thing in my life. He also asked me to release the grip I had on some relationships and dreams for the future. More recently, He has been asking me to let go of myself.
A dream God asked me to let go of was ever getting married and having children of my own. After crying out to God for help and battling myself, I let go. I betrothed myself to Jesus Christ and contented myself in Him. He is all I need. [Over a month after that event *(I went back and looked and it was 2 months and 11 days afterward), God told me I would get married some day. Having let go of the whole thing already, I am content to wait for His timing.]
There are many "things" God asked me to let go of. One of the first requests to "let go" was that I simplify my stuff- preparing to be able to pick up and leave for the mission field at some unknown time. I began, but didn't finish. I am still in process of simplifying and letting go, though I now know I am moving to the mission field in less than a month. This has been a hard process because of the materialistic atmosphere which surrounds us in the western world. It also has to do with thinking in lack. I'll explain this. It's not that I have any lack. I have everything I need- I've never missed a meal because we had no food; I never had to sleep on the street because we had no house; I never had to go around naked because I had no clothes. I have been, and am, well provided for. This thinking in lack, for me, has looked like saving so many things that I'm not using "in case" I need them later in life. As if God is unable to provide for me when the need arises. Really, God is more than able to provide, and He will take care of me. So, I can freely give away what I don't currently need and ask my Father for the things I need. My Father is good.
Now, as for letting go of myself, well that is more current. I'm just coming to the realization that God wants me to not only let go of my "stuff", but also myself. The tendency when God asks me to do something is to try to do it in my own strength. The attitude is like, "Okay, that is what God wants me to do, so I'm going to do it. Now how can I get this done?" What I'm realizing is what Jesus said, "without Me, you can do nothing." I really cannot accomplish what He has called me to do on my own. Of course I "knew that." However, the way I actually live shows that I still try to do everything in my own strength. This of course leads to stress, fatigue, frustration, worry, fear, thinking in lack, and so on. Yet, to really let go of myself and trying to "get it all done" would be much more effective, provided of course I allow God to work through me. It's not striving and struggling. It's letting go. It's not giving into the pressure to use my mind to figure out how it all fits in my schedule and pushing until it's "done". There is some satisfaction in a job accomplished, yes, but does that bear any fruit? Certainly not the quality or quantity that would have been reached by relying on God. It seems a foreign concept to let go and abandon self in this self-focused culture, so I'm not sure what it all looks like in practicality. This I know, I cannot do what I am supposed to do on this planet in my own ability. I need God working through me every day of my life- every moment. Those times when I have surrendered to God and let Him work through me have been sweet and fruitful. Sadly, I have many memories of relying on my own strength and being stressed out and then not even reaching my goal. I don't want that anymore. I want to walk with my Father, in the power of the Holy Spirit, and fulfill what He has called me to do in this time on earth.
So, here's my conclusion: I give up! God, whatever You want to do through me, You may do. It's not my own strength or ability. It's You in me. I am Yours, so have Your way in me.
*SIGH* =)
There's a freedom in saying "I give up" and completely surrendering to God. =)
Let's see what comes of it. All the glory to God! =)
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