And so, I keep wondering this: what are the things that we have to offer, but we refuse to share because we feel like we are lacking? What do we hold on to that we need to share [...] -Julie Engelsman “The Masterpiece Never Painted”
February 23, 2012
unfinished
May 15, 2011
walk. (slowly).
– written to be the answer to Runkeeper‘s question “How’d it go” after a 5 mile walk on the treadmill this evening–
Eagerly awaiting the end of a drama about Darwin ironically entitled ‘Creation’, a power surge brings the movie, and me, to an abrupt halt. Seconds before I had been running, but even though I had planned to let the 98 1/2 climb to 100 before slowing, I found myself at a mere 1 point — 2 or 3 mph maybe?– when startled by a slight jolt, nothing more.
This feeling is eerily similar to when a large wooden easel in my Portrait class 2 years ago collapsed and slid straight into where I had been standing but moments earlier. I had claimed the exact spot where it fell as my own- setting up my paints nearby and placing my canvas upon the easel in front of it. Yet at the last minute I took my sketchbook and chose another spot for the warm up, just far enough away to be startled but to be able to walk away unhurt.
I cannot claim to be sensitive enough to God’s voice to have moved of my own accord, sensing the impending danger, but I believe, as weird as it sounds, that God moves through us (my fingers almost frantically double, triple clicking the down button), and almost in spite of us (was it laziness/boredom that caused me to slow down?) to protect us.
Plus I was getting pretty annoyed/bored with the movie and it was pretty much over anyways. Romans 8:28 lived out.
April 6, 2011
universal, unending, healthy, attainable, hijacked desires
April 1, 2011
yo me voy
That phrase just doesn´t get any easier, to hear or say. I´ve stayed in Granada for most of my two something weeks here in Nicaragua, with the exception of the first night in Managua and of course my weekend getaway al mar and although I´ll be in country for another two weeks or so, yo me voy y no. No puedo regresarme porque voy a reunir con una brigada en lunes y despuès ir con ellos.
The teams coming on Monday so once I`m in Managua I`m planning on staying there and leaving with them. It´s easier that way- no concerns over getting myself to the airport etc. When praying about whether I could tell people for sure, sì, ya me voy hoy even though I hadn`t yet heard from my Managua contact, I just again got that peace that today`s the day and to stay any longer is just loitering. I needed to come and I`m glad I did, but my work is not here and I cannot stay.
Sure enough, a bunch of the long termers were going to be heading up to Managua today anyways in order to renew their Visas- which happens to be done in a mall so if I end up having to wait its in a safer place than a crowded bus stop.
I love ya God!
So yep, ya me voy but I know I`ll be back. I`m sure I`ll always be back- I just can`t promise when. Cuando Dios manda.
March 16, 2011
Val arrived and thriving
Hi, this is Val’s Mom. Sorry about the late post. Val took off 6:45 Monday morning, and I heard from her Tues. afternoon. She’d already been from Granada to Managua where she had spent Monday night and was back again at El Puente by the time she called. She said the internet cafe that her team had always used was not an internet cafe anymore, so she was unable to post Tuesday as planned.
She will have so many stories to tell, but there’s one that can’t get away. We had met the parents of an AG missionary in Managua at the airport at 4:15 Monday morning, in order to receive a crate that was being checked in Val’s care. Val would accompany it from the Granada airport to the Managua location where Daniel the missionary was working. A friend of his ‘just happened’ to be going that direction, so could give her a ride. She got to see the school in action, one session of which was Daniel (English) teaching Biblical Greek to Spanish students in English. She”d already studied a little Greek, so was on track with it all. Wow! She took a bus back to Granada on Tuesday to stay at El Puente that night, and would connect with Brittany for the next segment.
One day in and she’s already seeing those little God-happenings. It is going to be an awesome story.
I expect her to call in occasionally, IF I can get the kinks out of my Skyping. She’s my techie, and she’s not here to tell me how to do it.
We will keep you as up-to-date as possible. I’m sure that there’s going to be more than can ever be said in these posts. I’d love her to be able to do it herself, but she did not take the computer with her. And since the cafe no longer has internet, the availability is going to be unpredictable. Bear with us for this short time of playing relay with her stories, and then be sure to ask ALOT of questions when she’s back.
Bye for now, Cherry
March 12, 2011
welcome to my humble abode
Among other last minute preparations, some housecleaning is (was?) definitely in order. That said, I apologize in advance for the mess since the aforementioned cleaning will not be completed before I leave (6:45 am March 14th). Please forgive any wacky formatting (which comes out different on each screen >:l ), any incoherent thoughts (quite common), and so on. This, among some prewritten ones, will be the last crazy strange fonted odd one out, but no te preocupes- dont worry, I’ll be back soon (4-14).
Welcome to my virtual home.
Unedited, unscripted and quite … normal (ish).
You might see me as brave, crazy, lucky.
I see myself as brave, crazy, lucky, blessed, generous and gracious because you have shown grace to me.
All I can say, to you, to Nica, & to my God is “here I am”.
Take it as you will.
