And now it’s time to say goodbye….

I have obviously not been much of a blogger, not quite enough time to do everything.  I have tried to update on facebook with pictures and comments of the past year, but today deserves a bit more than a picture on facebook.

After much prayer, Gary and I have decided to return to the US.  Sad, yes, but waiting to see what God has for us. We are hoping to find a new pastorate for Gary, and well, me, I have no idea.  I fortunately have my nephew to fall back on for a little work while I am trying to find something a bit more income friendly.

With the decision to leave the bilingual school, I also have resigned as medical director for Cristo Salva.  This decision did not come easy, but once made, a great feeling of peace came over me.  It is right.  God will provide the proper person to handle the medical aspect of the ministry.  Please keep Cristo Salva in your prayers as they go through this transition.  Please continue to come and support the work here in Honduras. Pray for Pastor Ray and Ledy as they lead teams to minister to those that need it most.

I do plan to continue to fly for the Children’s Heart Project (Samaritan’s Purse) which will hopefully bring me back occasionally to the wonderful people of this country.

So as of June 13^th, we will step back into the US, waiting to see what new adventures are out there for us.  We are excited to be able to spend some time with family this summer, we have missed them all.  Please pray for us as we transition back stateside.  I’ll keep you updated on any new adventures (and I am sure there will be some doozies!)

But God, I am not a teacher...

I have spent the last 12 years of my life working as a "doctor" among the poor.  God has allowed me to see  things and meet such wonderful people.  I love being a nurse, taking care of people and telling them about Jesus.. but God, I am not a teacher...

The days are long.  I am not used to working with families that "have".  The children do not understand me... but God, I am not a teacher...

I am willing to guess that 2/3rds of my class is ADD, or a close variant. Their attention span is about five minutes... oh dear God, I am not a teacher...

A child comes to my desk.  She has made me a heart... this is for you Mrs. Pat. (Meez Pat).  I smile.
I spent last Saturday working at the hospital and one of my little girls came in.  She had been very ill, she jumped in my arms and hugged me when she saw me... but God...

A dear friend emailed me... "with time it will become more common place and you will roll with things.  You are just learning even more about letting go and hanging on to God like you've never done."  but....

I will always be a nurse, and work beyond that when He allows, letting God use me where he wants me... but here Lord?
Three weeks down.  Lesson plans to make this weekend and start planning for two weeks of clinics and classes... wait, did I say classes?  I HAVE been teaching... midwives, nurses, and yes, children.  Yes, God I asked you to use me where ever, and now you are holding me to it.

Today one of my overly active ones was making me ready to pull my hair out... and then it happened.  He came up behind me and hugged me as tight as he could.  Most days I don't understand a word they say and I am sure they don't understand me.  But if I can share love and Jesus with them, we can learn together.

Yes, God I am a teacher....

New Living Translation (©2007)
Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him.

Just another day in paradise...

I am sitting here typing with a nice warm breeze, watching the chickens find shade.  They had a nice cozy spot outside my window until the tractor came by mowing the grass, so they have relocated.  I enjoy the activities here on the compound.  It is far from isolated.  The men working on the fence are usually here by a little after 6 AM.  The ox cart and crew usually go by on the road about that time, usually followed by some horses.  This morning the caretaker moved a cow past the door to a better feeding area. Most of the day the men are working hard out in the sun, taking breaks from the heat and continuing on.  The men working on the new fence amaze me, very early days to late in the afternoon.
I usually get up right after the sun does... somewhere between 5:30 and 6, depending if I try to pull the blankets over my eyes for just a few more minutes of imagined sleep.  I head for the coffee pot and open all the windows so I can see outside.  The windows are frosted so if not opened wide, it's kinda like a cave.  I like to let the light inside. Up until today, I had to unplug the freezer and stay off the computer (that is if there is internet) for Gary to take a shower... the widow maker has a mind of it's own and pops the circuit breaker if too many things are on (esp the freezer).  We got our fridge back today, so I unplugged the freezer until I have food to put inside of it.  I don't think I want to pay the electric bill just for ice cubes!  Anyway, after Gary gets up I usually fix breakfast, whatever I have left here or obtained elsewhere.. not too shabby, it could be anything from eggs and bacon to toast and jelly, depende de dia...(depends on the day).
Now at this point I try to get my laundry out early, esp if I have multiple loads.  I have the Cristo Salva laundry, so I am trying to do a load a week of that plus keep up on mine... a couple of days a week right now seems to be enough.  Once Jen gets here (next week, oh yippee!) we'll probably be picking days.
Now on to cleaning... I think my floors are cleaner here than in the states... at least my feet are clean barefoot.  No matter what I hate wearing shoes in the house.  Gary on the other hand, hates being barefoot.  I'm forever getting after him for not wiping his feet on the rug by the door, poor guy can't win...
Some days we take a good morning walk either up toward the school, or to the dump with the trash (that's not that far).  I need an umbrella to walk, I am a bit too pale for the sun here.
Weekends bring us the youth retreats.  I really enjoy the music, but I'm not a big fan of fireworks but you get used to them.
Computer time is whenever it is up and running, we keep checking and if it is up we try to do what we need to online before we lose it again.  Of course, we could lose the power too.  We have been fortunate and have not lost the power for long periods of time, but I have everything on surge protectors in the house.  I fear the brown outs far more than losing the power completely.  Gary's computer got jumbled in the move and I am trying to fix it (Bob Tongue is a patient man with me)

Right now the little drum and marimba band is practicing over at the elementary school across the road.  They practice for several hours a couple of times a week.  These are little kids, but man can they play!

  It seems what takes most of my time is finding things I brought down.. or thought I brought down.  A knife really does work as a can opener, although I would not recommend it.  You can borrow a power cord from one thing to put on the other if you can't find the right one.  Flyswatters are only useful if you sneak up on the flies.  I have to leave it in plain site to keep the flies away.  I swear they know what it is for.  I have an extra broom for the shower.  The water doesn't drain properly so we sweep the shower to get the water down the drain. Bright side is the shower is always clean!
Flashlights (and batteries) walk... they never seem to be where you think you left them.
 The stove... or shall we say the oven.  Now this is an adventure.  You have to light it, and then hold the dial in for close to five minutes for it to catch.  But the bright side is that it is a very even oven, and holds its temperature well.  I have a little conversion chart next to the stove so I can figure out 350 degrees, plus my candy thermometer is in the oven to double check.  I will have to remember to bake early in the morning to avoid the heat, but I love cooking so the stove is a big plus for me (and Jen, she had a widow maker of her own called a two burner hot plate)
Paradise?  Well it may not be, but it is home for now.  God has given us a beautiful place to prepare for the up coming school year, a place we can retreat and enjoy the surroundings...
Psalm 118:24
This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Eliot, ME

Three and a half years ago, we came to this little village on the Piscataqua River.  South Eliot, Maine, a part of Eliot, Maine has a population of a little more than 3000 people.  I always make the statement that I LIVE somewhere, but I am FROM Georgia.  I am still FROM Georgia, but I think Eliot is my home now.  Fine time to figure that one out, with less than a week left here.   

I have told many people, this place has been a gift to us, a time of respite, a time to learn and grow.  Our little church, the South Eliot Advent Christian Church sits about 20 on an average Sunday morning.  I remember the first time I saw it, we drove down Pleasant Street looking for the church, rounded the corner, and there it was!  A small country church on the river. The scenery would take your breath away.  The parsonage, next door was more like a cottage than a house and has been perfect for Gary and me, along with our family and friends  that comes to visit often or uses us for a potty break along the way.

Not long after we arrived, I truly felt God telling me not to make roots here.  I have waited patiently for His calling and it came this spring.  This is our last week here.



I am thankful and grateful to the people we have met while living here.  Some are extremely special to Gary and me.  I won't mention names, for fear of leaving someone out.   We were accepted with open arms, me with my quirkiness for never being home and view of the world with a missionary's heart.  Jobs never opened up that would enable me to continue the mission work, but God provided.  We have never gone without. 


So now, with just the remainder of packing and cleaning, we are soon off for the next leg of the journey.  Thank you Eliot, ME for giving us the rest we needed while preparing for our new adventures.   

Getting ready...

Well, 17 days and counting.  Quite a bit still on the docket.  No, you can't get out of your AT&T contract just by moving out of the country, ouch!  No, the State of Maine does not refund if you have overpaid them.  Yes, putting things on the curb with a  "FREE" sign does attract folks and helps me tremendously.

All in all the move is coming along, speed bumps and all.  I am a relatively easy going person, adapt mostly to situations, but this has been a doozy of a transition so far.  Mostly because while you move, life goes on and you have to continue with everything else that you do.

This morning I read a beautiful piece of scripture  and thoughts from Heartlight:
VERSE:

   Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

    -- Psalm 34:11

     

THOUGHT:

   What better goal for a father or mother could there be? Even if you have no children of your own, or if your "own" children are grown, God gives you his children at your congregation so you can teach them to love, honor, and reverence their one and only heavenly Father.

PRAYER:

   Loving Father, help me to be involved in teaching your children and as I teach, please bless my efforts to teach them to love, honor, and reverence you, the one true and holy God. In Jesus' name I ask for this help and grace. Amen.

It sort of puts everything into perspective....