Biblical vs. Cultural vs. Lack of Education

Biblical vs. Cultural vs. Lack of Education

Pregnant at 13 years old.

Marrying at 16 years old.

Living with your parents until they die or you get married.

Feeding your infant soda.

Leaving your 3 children under 5 years old home alone.

Taking blood pressure meds only when you "feel bad".

Telling your child you will give them away if they misbehave.

Being a Christian means going to church.

These are aspects of our ministry that we are presented with regularly. How do we respond?

When one of the girls (18 yrs) I mentor shares with me that she is pregnant and is pushing to have a rush wedding with her boyfriend before she starts to show... Rejoice or weep?

When the 35 year old man is still living at home with his mother, isn't working, and doesn't help her financially... Ignore him? Chastise him? Tell him to get a life? Tell her to cut the cord?

When the mother tells her child she will send them with me (Ashley) back to the United States if they don't do what they are supposed to... Be offended? Reject her friendship? Assume she's a bad mother? 

When "good" appearances and reputation are enforced rather than a relationship with the Lord. Argue? Start adjusting my appearance to fit their expectations? Do the opposite of following their "rules" and ignore their disapproval?

“My own eyes are not enough for me;

I will see through those of others.”

― C.S. Lewis

Please pray for me. That I will love - not with my own limited love, but the unconditional, unfathomable love of Jesus.

Rain, blankets, and dengue

To begin this blog, you should know that we are doing very well. It is rainy season and the rivers are running swift and strong - I am wearing a sweatshirt, comfy socks, and am under a fleece blanket (although it's only 68 degrees). Our marriage is strong and growing - Mike truly is my best friend. We have had confirmation after confirmation that this (La Ceiba) is where we belong and have seen God work in miraculous ways every week of our time here. As a team, we are learning how to communicate clearly and speak each other's love languages without resentment. Friendships are blossoming with nationals - Heysol, 18, and I are especially good friends. Our best friends, the Cains, are less than a year away from joining us in La Ceiba. Our home is comfortable and safe. Our car is working well and hopefully can last a little longer with the current tires. We are supported and prayed for by our churches, families and friends in the States. We have a dog, Ritmo, who loves to curl up and spend time  snuggling with me. Several weeks ago, we became residents of Honduras so we are not required to leave the country every 90 days to renew our VISA. My garden is green and growing. We are so thankful for all of these things!

Continuing this blog, there are some difficult things going on as well. As our relationships with nationals are growing, we are impacted deeply by the broken families that compose the majority of La Fe. The abandoned women, children, and families... Cases of dengue are popping up everywhere. Our fridge beeps nonstop - annoying. The owner of our house is raising the rent price. We will be spending Thanksgiving and Christmas away from our families. My allergies are ridiculous right now. We are still not parents. For some reason, ants have begun to show their little selves more often in our home. We are so thankful for all of these things!

[4] For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, [5] for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.

(1 Timothy 4:4-5 ESV)

See that, "everything created by God". "Nothing is to be rejected." Ants, dengue, allergies, barrenness, beeping fridges - everything is to be received with THANKSGIVING.

[17] I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving

and call on the name of the LORD.

(Psalm 116:17 ESV)

So, thanksgiving is a sacrifice. Thanksgiving isn't always easy or happy. It's something I must practice and it's not always fun.

[6] do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

(Philippians 4:6 ESV)

That doesn't mean that I have to say thank you for ants, allergies, not having children, dengue and the deaths it can cause... but it does mean that I look to see God at work in and through them. I may not be able to see Him at work and that is where faith comes in.

[2] Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

(Colossians 4:2 ESV)

I must be watchful (look to see) with thanksgiving. Who am I to say God's purpose in closing my womb? What right do I have to question His choices and actions? If I am truly His, I am able to look at all things with thanksgiving - including the beeping fridge and ants.

Don't get me wrong, I do not walk around saying, "Thank you for that beep of the fridge, and that one too," but I must tell my heart to be thankful and practice it each moment.

English vs. Spanish

How do you have a relationship with someone who you can't talk to or understand? Do you try to talk louder? Clearer? What if you don't speak the same language...? Can you communicate? Can you have a relationship??

Not one person in these photos can speak Spanish... well, the kids obviously... but none of the gringos. So you tell me...


Can you have a relationship with someone who speaks a different language?

       

Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
(Philippians 2:2-4 ESV)

There's Nothing I Can Do

La Fe is a difficult place to work. The teams this summer have really reminded me how challenging it can be to go from "real life" in the States or even another city in Honduras to this small, river-side community. The extreme poverty, lack of education, and hunger in La Fe are just a few of the many difficulties I see and carry with me every day.

One of the things that I share with every team that is exposed to La Fe is that there is nothing that any of us can to do to "fix" the situation. Yes, we could provide free food for the community. We could rebuild the houses so they are cement block. We could even start a school and provide Biblically-based and applicable education. These are ALL good things! In fact, we may do these things eventually... but does that "fix" the situation?

What can I do to meet the physical needs of these precious people? What about the emotional needs? and the spiritual? How about changing their future, not just the now. When I'm not in La Fe every day, will they step up and serve one another as I am serving them now? Will they love one another? Will they speak the Gospel to one another?

Truthfully, there is NOTHING I can do to "fix" the situation. All I can do is have la fe (the faith) that God loves these people intimately and longs to redeem them. He can have my hands, my feet, my heart, my husband, my body, my life... Surrender. Love. Serve. Rest.

A Bit of Home

This coming week, a team of 8 people is traveling from our home church of Covenant Community (AKA CovCom) in Scottsdale, AZ.  The leader of the team has been one of my/our friends/supporters for the past 13 or so years and he's bringing 3 of his "kids" (some of them are now adults) with him! I am SO looking forward to spending time with our friends, sharing our growing relationships in La Fe with them, and being able to have some "homey" feelings for the week. Hooray!


PS - It was my birthday on June 24th and Mike took me out to dinner tonight at Ceasar's. I had grilled salmon, baked potato and homemade tiramisu for dessert. Delicious! Here's a picture of my birthday buddies and I celebrating the day of by eating a Skittle. :)

If You Can't Swim...

Yesterday we got to go to the beach to celebrate the birthday of our lovely teammate, Kate. While splashing around in the ocean, one of the girls that lives in Shannon's home for single mothers told me that she can't swim and was afraid for herself as well as her daughter. I encouraged her that she could stand easily in the water and that as long has her daughter was with someone, she would be just fine (blah, blah, blah...).

Before I knew it, the young mother was jumping and playing in the ocean - face in the water and everything! Her daughter was standing in the waves up to her waist and laughing joyfully as the water sprayed her face and eyes.

The fear that this mother had was unfounded. She and her precious daughter ended up have a most wonderful time in the ocean... but what if she had allowed her fear to stop her from getting in?

What am I afraid of? What is it that I'm not willing to give a try because I'm frightened - or just not fully trusting in the One who holds my life? Taking a step forward may not be as fun as playing in the ocean, but it just might be...

Puss-oozing Feet

Since we began working in La Fe 6 months ago, I have met many sick people. Our free clinic brings in quite a few people who suffer from head colds to parasites to diabetes. Nothing I'd seen before prepared me for my recently blossoming relationship with Alejandrina (Drina).

I first met Drina and her family when Mike and I were walking through La Fe to see if it was where God was calling us (back in January). We were later warned that her husband, Jiero, was a "dangerous man" but thankfully did not experience that during our first encounter with this family.


Drina has two children, Maria (8ish) and Mauro (5ish). 4 months ago, Drina began to have some pain in her feet and decided to rest a while. What began as a brief recovery time turned into a week, which turned into a month, and that month then carried on to 4 months. After 4 months of "bed rest", Drina is no longer able to clean her house and care for her children and husband. Her feet now have exposed sores that ooze as she moves. Her breathing is labored and her mobility extremely limited. She has always been gordita (a little chubby), but she is now obese.

As a result of Drina's bed rest, Jiero quit his job as a carpenter, the children stopped attending school, the laundry began to pile high, the food was not cooked, soon there wasn't money for food, the television was sold, the couch was sold, Maria took on the responsibility of running the home (more or less), and Jiero had to start trying to find work that he could do while caring for his sick wife. The family came to a grinding halt. Money for tortillas or rice came irregularly. There were days where the only thing they "ate" was a small bag of milk. Despite the meager meals, Drina continued to suffer as her skin began to become sore from lack of movement and sweatiness of skin on skin contact 24/7.


About one month ago, my nurse friend, Erin, and I visited Drina in her home. Erin's orders: Get out of bed, start moving, and I'll see you at the clinic in two weeks! Drina didn't take those orders to heart.

This past Thursday, I decided it was time to pay Drina a visit. After a brief greeting (as she was covered by a sheet still on "bed rest"), I asked how she was. She showed me the gaping holes in the skin on her feet. She spoke to me about how expensive the medicine would be. She lamented how they had no food because they had to save everything for her medicine. The house smelled of excrement and sour garbage. The children were out begging for food and money. Jiero sat next to his wife's bed in thoughtful silence.


It was then that I cried out my Father. How could I help them - not just today or tomorrow - but help them get back to where they were before? Before she put herself in bed and her feet began to decompose...


It was then that God brought an answer to my (blonde) head. I asked if Drina would like me to come do exercises with her (standing/sitting, arm movements...). Yes. Yes, Jiero and Drina both agreed. After talking, Drina showed me that she can stand and walk a few steps on her own (HOORAY!). Her husband was shocked - he didn't think she could.


Today (Friday), I returned to La Fe to visit Drina and her family (with my broom in hand). Drina was sitting in a chair in front of the television, the kids were playing outside and Jiero was outside with them. When I saw Drina, she turned off the TV and showed me that she was dressed and excited to do exercises. I had not told her I would be returning, but she knew what I was there for.


God has given me a healthy, strong body and I put it to good use sweeping the floor in Drina's home - bedroom, living room, kitchen. Drina did some exercises while I was there. Her children helped me clean. Jiero repaired some shoes (his at-home business these days). It was beautiful.

After a bit, I took my leave - promising to return the next week to spend more time with her, do more exercises and telling her thank you for allowing me to spend time in her home. As I left, Jiero (a self-proclaimed NON-christian) thanked me repeatedly - tears in the corners of his eyes. This is no "dangerous man".


I do not hide that I am a missionary, nor do I pretend that cleaning her house was how I wanted to spend my Friday morning (mine is pretty grimy these days as well). I am just a messed-up sinner who God decided to place in La Fe and Drina is a precious child of God who I have the absolute honor to have a growing friendship with - puss-oozing feet and all.

Please pray for Alejandrina as she continues to struggled with her health, her family responsibilities, her emotional well-being, and her lack of understand of God's grace...

First blog is on the way and trust me, it's a good one! :) Go ahead and put your e-mail address in that spot on the right so you can get all my blog posts sent directly to your e-mail! It's so handy!