Lots of News

This is our precious little Danna Carolina, our new baby at the base. She is almost two weeks old now and she is more ridiculously precious than should be allowed.

In other news, it was announced on Friday that I will be leading a team to the coast for outreach. This was a huge surprise for me since I haven't been working with the school. But the other leader is starting another school that will run through outreach and they needed another leader. I will be leading with two other girls (which will be a HUGE blessing, since one of them is Rachel and we work amazingly well together). We will be working at a medical brigade for Colombian refugees in Tierra Adentro, and various places on the coast (Cordoba).

God is so cool. I love how He uses us to bless one another. The other day one of our students was crying. Rachel went to talked to her. She was discouraged about her team she was put on for outreach (with none of her friends), and confessed that she didn't have any of the necessary items for a part of training we do called NIKO. (It is kind of like a survival camp in the mountains). So Rachel and I gladly snuck out and went shopping for her to get her everything she needed. And when we got there, I just had it on my heart to go even beyond that to bless her with a couple of shirts (like most people who come, she has put on a little weight and her clothes are now too small). So we threw a couple of shirts in there, too. We snuck back into the house and I began writing her a letter to leave it all on her bed. God began to speak to me, and I wrote what I believe the Lord wanted to show her. We left it on her bed and went back to my room.

Shortly thereafter, she came home. Even from our room, we could hear shrieks and screaming. So we were thinking, "Cool, I am glad she liked it." A few minutes later she came in with tears running down her face. She choked out that she was going through so much at the moment. Her mom is in the States and hasn't been able to talk to her. In the letter I wrote her, I wrote, "Princess, don't worry." And bawling she explained how her mom is the only one who calls her Princess. God was so intimately taking care of her in the moment. Soooo cool.

God just works like that. It was so fun for Rachel and I. We were more than happy to help. God put the desire in our hearts and used it to bless her. So simple yet so rewarding.

In The Trenches

I love this picture. It is the picture of how I feel right now.

Sometimes I wish I could just control people and force them to make good decisions. I look at the students sometimes and just want to shake them and tell them, "Don't you realize that that is going to hurt you! That is a bad idea." But they continue on with it.

How God must suffer with us. What was He THINKING when He gave us a free will? I can't even grasp how much He loves us, yet watches us do things that He told us not to all the time. Why can't I grasp that His "rules" (as they are often viewed) are not to bind us, it is because doing it any other way will HURT us.

Some of the students made some decision last night that could really have lifelong effects. Leadership has the responsibility to decide how to handle it.

I feel sad. Disappointed. Frustrated...

Am I still on the same planet???

Ok, many of you ask me if it is hard to live in another country. Many days, I am a fish in water. I couldn't fathom living anywhere else in the world. Then there are other days...

For the humorous side, please refer to Rachel's blog, because she explained it artfully. It is the entry from March 15.

http://rachelanman.blogspot.com/

Just imagine where you have to look people in the eye when they are telling you these things and fully expecting you to comply! Some days you just want to scream!!!

I have more to say on the subject, but instead of mixing funny with serious (I don't want to overwhelm you) I will just stop for now.

What is going on here??!!

Friday morning. Rachel and I get up at 4am to intercede for the school and to exercise. When around 4:30 we here a whole mariachi band down the road playing. What the?! IT IS 4:30 IN THE MORNING. So we didn't really think anything of it, and walked back to the house. I get in the shower. Then I hear all of the MALE STUDENTS in the hall and they start serenading the girls' rooms. What is going on??! There is POETRY that the guys had written hung up over the walls. They all dressed up and escorted us down to the devotional. There we were all given flowers and told how much we were appreciated (this happened three different times through out the day). Parents were calling off the hook. Rachel and I were introduced to the very import holiday in Colombia- the day of the woman.

All of the girls anxiously asked Rachel and I how we celebrate it in the States. We looked at each other and agreed that if this holiday exists, it is between national pencil day and peanut butter appreciation day. They couldn't believe that we celebrate Columbus day and we don't celebrate women.

It was nice to be celebrated, but I have lived 26 full years without it. So no worries USA, I'm not mad at you.

Picture to come...

Ena

Last weekend I was finally able to take Ena out for her birthday. I am not sure who was more blessed, her or I. There were times when she was nearly in tears, overwhelmed at what was going on. Then I was nearly in tears blessing our meal and saying a blessing over her life. I just love this girl.

So what did we do? First I picked up her and friend and took them to the mall. Shopping. I am not sure anyone has ever taken her shopping before. She picked out shoes, jeans, two shirts and some hair products. Then we went to see The Pursuit of Happiness. Great choice! Then we went to Crepes and Waffles, a nice restaurant, where I bought them lunch and desert. So fun!

I also brought a curling iron back from the States for her. Now, every time I see her, her hair is down and beautifully curled.

On a sad note though, when we were walking back, she opened up to me and told me that her grandpa was in the hospital. For her to mention it, I knew that it was really upsetting her. He was the one who raised her. So I asked her today how he was and she told me she borrowed some money so she could call home and they told her that he died two weeks ago. I could tell she was affected, but she just shrugged it off. It broke my heart to see that she has never been taught or allowed to grieve. So much pain in her life (this is now the fifth close relative that has died in her life, including her dad and two siblings). And she talks about it as though she is not allowed to feel.

Please pray with me for her, that she would find the freedom to mourn and that she would be comforted.

WOW! Revelation. Jesus says, "Blessed are those that mourn, for they will be comforted." The key to that promise is MOURNING. Until we can mourn, we cannot be comforted.

*Point of reflection- Are there areas of my life where I have not allowed myself to mourn? Where have I now allowed the comfort of the Lord in not allowing myself to mourn?