Live Each Moment Intentionally

How did it get to be December so quickly? Just the other day, it was October and we were into the swing of a new school year.  It has been nonstop business as usual at school, with so many new experiences, new people and new discoveries. It’s been a time of settling into a completely new place and, once the excitement of all things new has worn off, struggling with the feelings of homesickness and missing those we care about. (Some random pictures at the end of moments captured here).

As Christmas break approached this year, we struggled with new emotions. Excited that we had a 6 week break – long coming for this family. During the last 2 years, we have approached every break with these thoughts :

Is this the last one here?

Where will be be next Christmas?

Are we staying or going?

Should I be packing up slowly just in case we have to leave suddenly?

We have also spent the last 2 years packing up in a hurry, leaving the country because our visas expired, coming back, living with uncertainty and packing up again in a bigger hurry.

This year, however, we are able to sit back, relax, and enjoy just being still. No anxious thoughts about our whereabouts tomorrow, next week, or in the next couple of months (or years).

However, along with those emotions, were the feelings that came with watching everyone around us packing up and going home for Christmas. A time for them to be with their families as well as the excitement of knowing that they were able to leave and come back.  I must admit…..I had a very hard time the last few weeks. I cried out to God and asked, “Why?”  Why do we have to be away from Shelaine for the first time in 22 years? Why do we have no choice about where we are, and no possibly way of getting back within the near future? Why did we have to leave all we loved and come away to a new place. Why does it have to be so HOT here (everyone who knows me, knows I cannot bear the heat). Why, why, why???

Then God gently reminded me that I was being a brat and complaining about something that He had ordained and planned, long before this situation even came to be.  He reminded me that His plans are always better than mind, even though they may not seem to be at the time. He reminded me of all the times I have cried out “Why?” in the last 10 years, and how these times have ended up being a blessing to our lives.  He reminded me in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 to give thanks in all situations, for this is God’s will for us.

In Ecclesiastes 11:5 it says “As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the maker of all things.”

God doesn’t desire to break our spirits, but wants to break the flesh that prevents Him from being all He wants to be in and through us. He wants to break off things like pride, rebellion, selfishness and independence. God wants us to be totally dependent on Him, and suffering seems to bring us to that point. Trials come to test and purify our faith. They lead us to true brokenness. God wants us to live by the spirit, not the flesh. We need to allow Him to break off any sinful or selfish habit or trait that keeps us from Him.

So, I sat back and focused on our situation, and the blessings He has already poured out on us :

-       we have a place to live, surrounded by amazing people who have become great friends – something that we can hold onto for years to come

-       we have the opportunity for a slower pace of life, where we are not running back and forth, stopping at takeout places every night for dinner because we are late coming home, and not catching our breaths until we have a long break

-       we have the opportunity to be intentional about each moment, if we so wish, and appreciate the little things (hey, we can go outside and pick juicy mangoes from the trees!)

-       living on campus gives us the ability to leave our classrooms straight after school, come home for a quick nap, and come back a few hours later to work if we need to

-       yes, Christmas is going to be different this year (both without family and the cool weather), but we will spend the day with friends, and we will appreciate more this year the realization that Christmas is not about how many gifts are under the tree, but about relationships, time spent together and precious moments.

And as Christmas break came upon us, and people started to leave, I no longer had that ache of sorrow, but felt the excitement for them as they packed up to leave for home. I was happy for them and their families who were expectantly waiting for them. I thank God for these feelings, because He is the one who changed my heart.  There is no way I could have done that on my own. God is using this time to purify my faith. If He needs to completely break my spirit in order to teach me to live by spirit and not flesh, then I’m all for it. I want Him to break off the selfish traits or habits that have kept me from totally relying on Him.

So, as we get ready for Christmas next week, I want to wish everyone a wonderful and blessed time. If you are with family, appreciate them and love them. If your family is nearby, but you are estranged for any reason, fix it. You never know whether or not this will be their last Christmas. You never know what plans God may have for you in the future. Don’t live with regrets, let go of pride, and live each moment intentionally. God gave us His son so that we could live with a hope of the future. Don’t waste that sacrifice.

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Some pictures taken over the last few months

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving meal with friends. The cantina was decorated beautifully and the air was on full blast, so we had that November coolness we were all craving. Everyone brought something to eat.

Zane took his hot chocolate and sat

in front of the "fire".

Christmas cookie exchange. Yum!

 This was a yard sale that parents and teachers held for the locals. Many tables set up with many different items - from food to clothing. This was a lot of fun!

 One of my students is very affectionate and sat next to Zane one day at lunch. He put his arm around Zane because he thought he looked sad.

 This is so very common here. We have seen people with shopping, families with babies/small children sitting between them, even two people with a tall ladder between them. Anything goes!

 Moths are not small around here. Apparently you do not want this one around you when you're sleeping. They lay eggs and the worms can burrow inside your skin and live there..... :O

 Beautiful sunsets!

 Some of my students working in class.

Beautiful blossoms on a tree.

 Our crazy kids after the Christmas concert.  I think they were ready for a break!

 View of the city center of Asuncion from the top of a building.

Contentment is the Greatest Form of Wealth

I cannot believe it's been more than a month since I've posted!  Obviously things have been hectic....!

When I read the above bible verse (Phil. 4:11-12), I realize that it really speaks about my life.  It's so easy to get caught up in everything that goes on around you, and when you are pulled away from that, and asked to live a different way, you look back and wonder how you are going to live the way you have been used to.  Those were our thoughts when we got here...and for the first month thereafter.

Now, I realize that even though we don't have access to all we were used to, we are still able to live in contentment.  Here is my list :

• I feel content to be living in a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment where we have space for the first time in over 2 years
• I feel  content that I can be within walking distance from school, which can be very handy if I want to close my door at the end of a day and come home for a nap, and go back later
• I am content to be teaching in a school filled with amazing people and students - I have never received so much love from little children as I have here
• I am content when I don't need to make lunch to take to school because I can get a hearty, homecooked meal from the cantina (ok, maybe I shouldn't get the pasta too often...!!)
• I am content to be able to catch a bus for a very small fee and travel anywhere around the city to get groceries (although it's a little more challenging when you don't have a seat and you do have a lot of groceries, or it's pouring with rain and there are rivers running on either side of the road waiting for you to jump into - bring on the inner child!!)
• I am content that although we bring home less than $500 between the 2 of us, we are able to pay for what we need and have not yet been without anything (this has taught us to get what we need and not to give in to the greed of wants!)
• I am content to have found a church that is small, yet I can feel the presence of the Holy Spirit every week
• I am content to be living in Paraguay, with it's beautiful people (and I MEAN beautiful!), who are kind-hearted and extremely generous in everything

We have experienced so many new things here. Who knew God has this in mind for us when we found ourselves at a crossroads not knowing where we were going to go.  We don't know where He wants us after the next 2 years. We're praying that He will give us our heart's desires and let us go home, back to Shelaine and Jordan, but if that is not His will, He needs to prepare and change our desires, and ready the hearts of those who want us back.  It's better to be in His will, than pushing against it and failing every time.  We've learned this many, many times.

I'm going to add some pictures of our time, especially for those of my friends who may not have seen them on facebook.

Love you all and miss you more than words can say.  I will try to post more often!

After school escaping the 102 degree heat.

Strawberry festival

After school selfies

A type of waffle batter with ham and cheese inside - had this at a student's birthday party.

Folklore day - students performed in traditional dress. This is my class.

Strawberry festival again. Would love to have bought some of this stuff!

Under cover BBQ at the apartments with friends

Zane's class in dress for Folklore Day

One of my most challenging, but most lovable students :)

Back at the birthday party. Silk tablecloths!!!

Two of my sweet friends dressed up.

This is how they paint walls in Paraguay!

Boys playing flag football

Zane got creamed at the Family Picnic

Staff development - fun times :)

Dona Patrona - she organizes the cooking every day at school, as well as for special events. She's wonderful!

A little friend decided to make friends with Marlowe.

Brendon's 20th birthday - celebrated by all our friends.

I'm Learning.... He's teaching. It's All About our Attitude.

We have been here for 3 weeks. Can't believe it!  There have been ups and downs:times where I've desperately wanted my old life back...with it's conveniences, and ease of living, with the ability to see my daughter on a regular basis, and spend time with my friends, but times where I've delighted in the new people God has put in my life, the convenience on living on school property and the confidence in knowing that this is where God has placed us.

We are settling in and I am learning new things. I'm being pushed out of my comfort zone - especially in the classroom. Back into working with 7/8 year olds who have an energy that makes me appreciate more fully all early elementary teachers. I can guarantee you - these people do this job for the love of the children and the calling God has put in their lives, not for the money! 

Some of the things I'm learning is to be more organized! I have to ensure my lessons are planned more than a week in advance so that I can organize anything I need copied at least 2 days before I need them. The school does not have a copy machine on campus, but sends copies out. No last minute copies for this lady!!

I'm remembering that 7/8 year olds are not able to control themselves in as far as their peers are concerned. I constantly hear .... he touched me, he's playing with paper, she's not eating her snack, he pushed in line, she's eating candy in class......  So I'm learning patience; I'm learning that they need to be taught these skills of handing different situations; I'm learning that they are just children who thrive when they know what is expected from them.
  
I was reading this morning about how Jesus asked Peter if he loves Him. After Peter said he did, 3 times, Jesus simply said "Feed my Sheep".  We need to know that Jesus' sheep aren't perfect. They can be  loud, disrespectful, pushy, naughty, etc. but it is impossible to exhaust His love for them, or my love for them if it flows through the Spirit of God within me. I have no business being guided by natural emotions - I have to feed His sheep. He will not release us from His commission to us. Jesus says - pour yourself out. Don't testify about how much you love me and don't talk about the wonderful revelation you have had - just feed my sheep.

We asked God to put us where He wanted us. He put us in Asuncion, Paraguay.

He put us in a small school with children from all over the world - Korea, Taiwan, the US and local children. He found us a community to live in with caring people who have helped us acclimate to the area. 

He has taught us that He is faithful. He will be with us...wherever we may go. We need to suck up the whiny selves that we sometimes become, and look for the blessings in each day - and believe me, there are many!  We are here for 2 years. After that, who knows. We just want to be where He wants us to be. 

I want to encourage you to take each situation, even the sucky ones, and see how you can approach it. If you see it as an opportunity to encourage someone else, or grow in ways you didn't expect, then you will find that it is not as bad as you expected. No, not everything is going to be fun, or great, or wonderful. But we can make the decision to get through it with God's help - because He will never fail us.

First full Week

                                          

Our first week at school is over and we are enjoying our weekend :)  It's been busy, crazy, hectic, different, strange, and yet really good.  We've had so many experiences this week that have put us totally out of our comfort zones, which, I guess, is a good thing. We never tend to stretch ourselves unless we're forced to. And then, we find that we are capable of things we never thought we could do.

This week brought new tastes.  Our cantina (cafeteria) serves hot lunch every day and I've tasted food such as empanadas, a type of savory tart with tomato, ham, egg, cheese and a crispy pastry, and a few other treats. Many, many starchy foods (which is not good for me), but great to try out new tastes.

My empanada :)

Students lining up for lunch in the Cantina.

It's been a challenge finding my feet in 2nd grade again, and trying to figure out the curriculum, but I know it won't take long before I'll be comfortable. I have 18 incredibly sweet, but VERY energetic, 2nd graders. The language is a challenge sometimes, because some of them don't speak English very well. However, others help to translate, especially when they are trying to tell me something. I do teach in English, for those who asked ;)

The staff at this school are wonderful!  From the office staff, cafeteria staff to administration. We have been made very welcome here, and know that we will be happy here for the time we are here.

Marlowe and I decided to go to the store this week. Just the 2 of us. No translators. We had been told which buses to take, but I wasn't 100% sure of the stops. We waited about 20 minutes for the bus, stuck out our hands and climbed aboard. We paid, walked through the turnstile and looked for a rail to hold onto because it was pretty full.  When we were near (or when I THOUGHT we were near) the store, we pushed the button and climbed off. Right outside an Ace Hardware. Beautiful - looked like a mix of a mini Target and Walmart. Big and open and very, very clean. Marlowe found his hummingbird feeders. Then we left and realized we had about another mile and a half to walk to our store.  Long story short.....it was an experience, and now we REALLY know where to get off!!

We're loving the fact that, even though school starts at the crack of dawn, it takes us less than 5 minutes to walk to our classrooms. Zane can come home after school on his own, and the school field is his playground.

Today, 2 of the girls from our apartments bravely took part in a 42km marathon in the town. Temperatures are expected to his 97F today, but the race started at 6, so I think that helped them. A few of us went to cheer them on. We stood in the middle of the road, on a pavement, and enjoyed the breeze and shade. It really is a pretty town - it's just a pity seeing trash everywhere. It seems like the many trashcans on the sides of the roads are more for decoration...?? Here are some pics of our view today, including our girls. Well done, Courtney and Annie - we are so proud of you!!

Yes, the random dude had a fake beard!! Funny!

On our way home, we took an older bus that was very interesting. When sitting inside, I saw wooden boards wired together, a nail or two lying on the ground and, every now and then, the road showing between the boards. The bus moaned and groaned, but got us home.

The week ahead is going to be wonderful - Brendon arrives on Tuesday!!! Cannot WAIT to see him. We will feel more complete with him here.

Please continue to pray for Shelaine, as she continues her life without her family. Praising God for her amazing husband and adorable dog. This is her season to be living the life God has planned for both her and Jordan as a married couple. Both Jordan and her have decided to try to keep Layla with them, or with Jordan's parents. That is a blessing, knowing she doesn't have to be put down. However, pray she behaves because if she doesn't..........(remember, she does not get on well with other dogs, although it seems to be working for now!).

I know this is going to be good. If God is in it, how can it not be?