Does Your Homework Speak?

Does Your Homework Speak?  I am being for real...does it?

My homework speaks!  

This trimester of language learning is different than the first trimester, especially in our language class. In there, we spend the whole time focusing on talking. NO, not talking in English; rather, talking in Spanish. There are six of us in class and we each have approximately 15 minutes of talk time (well, that includes our corrections, which at times can take up half or more of the time...it just depends ;) each class period.

Our sweet and very talented teacher, Lissette (pictured above), guides those conversations by giving us different themes or topics to prepare for each day.  Lately, some of our topics have been:

• Una persona biblico- mujer de A.T. (a female from the Old Testament)
• Una persona bilbico- mujer de N.T. (a female from the New Testament)
• Una biografia de una persona imporante or famoso (a biography of an important or famous person)

So, in my preparations, I decided to choose:  Hannah; The Sinful Woman; and Sojourner Truth. However, I had no clue what God wanted to remind me through studying and preparing to speak about these beautiful women.

I am once again brought to my knees by how The Father sees value, identity, treasure, love and purpose in those who are broken and often written off by man.  

Una persona biblico- mujer de A.T. ~ Hannah

Hannah, a barren woman, begging God for a son; so much so that her uncontrollable weeping at the altar caused the priest to think that she was drunk. She was the "other wife". Although treasured by Elkanah, she was tormented by his second wife. Her heart desired a son so bad that she was willing to surrender him to the Lord and in doing this would separate herself from his development and trust the priest to raise him.  

I don't know about you, but I have not allowed myself to be that raw at the altar in a long time. And yet, Hannah provides this example of vulnerability, raw emotions, organic in her conversation and the Lord sees her as beautiful, blessed and as Samuel's momma.  Not only does He reward her faithfulness through Samuel's life, He also allows her to have other children.

Una persona bilbico- mujer de N.T ~ The Sinful Woman

I have always been intrigued and moved by the story of the sinful woman. However, something about calling her "La Mujer Pecadora" caught my attention in a new way.  

Part of our assignment was to think about the person and describe them. So often I find myself wanting to say, "Well the Bible is not clear on that..." and leave it at that. But my heart sunk into the face of this girl. Her sunken eyes, full of pain and hurt from a life of prostitution and sin (possibly with no escape, possibly not by her choice or maybe by her choice but because she did not see anyway out). Her slender, weak body which so often would catch the eyes of the men who would help provide her dinner that evening.  Her long wavy hair, which so easily covered her face filled with shame, hurt and torment from her life choices and/or situations.  

All of this and God chose to use her to anoint the feet of Jesus. He didn't choose Jesus' mother Mary or the other Mary, or Martha, or Jesus' disciplines or me or you...He chose La Mujer Pecadora. He chose to use the tears from her brokenness, guilt, and shame to wash the feet of Jesus.  He saw her in her sin and called her to a huge ministry of preparing Jesus' body for what was to come and which ultimately led to her sins being forgiven.  

Una biografia de una persona imporante or famoso ~ Sojourner Truth

Sojourner Truth (as we know her today) was really Isabella Baumfree. Her date of birth is unknown because she was born a slave and slave birth dates were not important. She was "written off" by man immediately, yet God saw a fighter, a leader and someone He treasured. She faced many trials in her life as a slave. However, once she found freedom, she began fighting for others' freedom, including her own children. She didn't hide because she was afraid she would be caught and put back into slavery; no, she fought. She fought for freedom from slavery and for women's rights.  

If you haven't read her biography I would challenge you to take time to read it and allow her to inspire you to be who God has called you to be. I would also challenge you to find out more about the fight going on today to end slavery.  There are more slaves today than in all of history combined.  

IJM

END IT MOVEMENT

A21

LOVE 146

And then I am reminded of me, Christy. The one who struggles to learn a new language, who has been wrestling with some physical issues for two months, who struggles at time to be in the Word, who wrestles with comparisons, who fails at being a good friend, who is not patient with her kids, who doesn't serve her husband with pure love...and the list can go on and on. However, Jesus met me in a tender and sweet way. He spoke to my heart through my homework, that just like these ladies, He sees something special in me. He has a plan for me and has created me for a purpose. He desires to use my struggles and my heart for His Kingdom sake.

And he desires to do the same with YOU! Dig in to Jesus and allow him to speak to you...maybe prepare a 15 minute presentation on my assignments (you can do it in English or whatever your heart language may be...or try it in Spanish) and see if God wants to speak to your heart, like he did mine.

Reflections from the Christmas Season

The past two Christmas Seasons have been completely different than any Christmas we have experienced in our married lives.  As we have walked through life's transitions, we find ourselves viewing the Christmas Season through new lenses.

Previously our Christmas Seasons were so full; often beginning on "Black Friday" with the fun of shopping for deals while listening to Christmas music being played in every store, restaurant, waiting room, elevator, etc.  The Season quickly shifted towards the boys' school Christmas programs, Christmas parades, Christmas parties, Christmas crafts, etc. Weekends were often full of baking cookies, having friends over for parties, Christmas concerts and many more activities.  Once school let out for break, the days were full of traveling to stores to complete shopping, preparing for Christmas programs and special events at church, sending out our family newsletter and a little caroling.  Christmas Eve was filled with family traditions. The night began with homemade pizzas (the boys would make and eat them with their shirts off and drink their soda from special wine glasses). Then there was a special Christmas Eve Service at our church (where 7 years ago Seth asked Jesus to rule in his heart). That was followed by delivering a plate of cookies to all our neighbors. Lastly, we would end the evening with the boys opening one gift (their Christmas PJ's) and them all sleeping in the same room together.  Christmas day was also full of family tradition: waking up to a birthday party for Jesus, one of the boys reading the Christmas story, the boys receiving some gifts, dinner (often with friends) including many food items that were traditional to both Barry's family and mine, playing with our new toys in front of the beautiful Christmas tree, and many other fun activities.

As we have celebrated the past two Christmases, I have found myself reflecting a lot on the traditions that we had and on the "Christmas feeling."  For two years now, it has not FELT like Christmas.  As I have reflected and prayed about this, I believe that my heart has been opened a little (and I still need the Lord to continue opening my heart and eyes).

In the United States it is much easier to find the Christmas spirit in all the activities that lead up to Christmas.  

• Churches are full of decorations, Christmas music, advent celebrations, Christmas programming and more. Our church in Costa Rica didn't decorate until two Sundays before Christmas and even then it was a couple of boxes wrapped in plain paper with three words on them.  We did not sing any Christmas songs (we were unable to attend the Christmas Eve Service where they sang Christmas songs) in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
• Shopping is always full of Christmas sights, songs, etc. Shopping here is completely different.  The malls are all decorated, however their halls are filled with regular music.
• I mentioned above some of the traditions we have had. Many of those we were unable to do either because we had to take a visa renewal trip (which allows us to stay in Costa Rica for 90 more days) or because we were unable to find those things here.

With the change of culture I was unable to "find" the Christmas Spirit.  The more I thought about that, the more I questioned myself and felt the Lord prompting my heart:

• Christy, what is "the Christmas Spirit?"
• Christy, where does "the Christmas Spirit" really come from?
• Christy, whose responsibility is it to create "the Christmas Spirit?"...Is it the church's responsibility to create this "Spirit" or ultimately is it between the Lord and myself?

I began to realize that I have completely allowed the culture I lived in to determine whether or not I felt "the Christmas Spirit."  When culture was screaming: Christmas this, Christmas that, Christmas here, Christmas there, Christmas do, Christmas create, etc. I "felt" a part of the "Christmas Spirit."  However, when culture was not screaming "Christmas"...well I just did not "feel" like it was Christmas.

Ultimately, Christmas is about the birth of a perfect savior. Someone who was in the presence of God and who knew that I needed a Savior to rescue me from myself and from the grasp of sin, hatred, and evil.  So He came down in the most humble form, a baby.  He grew in wisdom and stature, as well as, in relationship with God and with other people (Luke 2:52).  Through His life on earth he left behind a legacy of love, relationships, addressing evil, mentoring, discipling and giving of Himself completely and wholly, ultimately with His life and resurrection.  So, it shouldn't matter what culture you are in or what season of life you are in.  The "Christmas Spirit" comes from relationship with Jesus and pushing into Jesus, Himself.  

Maybe, just maybe, the "Christmas Spirit" can even press into January, or March, possible even May, or even July and maybe this year we will find the "Christmas Spirit" in October. I am pressing in...will you join me?

Life Away

This blog was inspired by Tiffany Ferguson. While eating dinner with her and her family one night before Christmas, she encouraged me to write another blog and so I did (and my dad has finally helped me to publish it).

Some of you may know what it is like living here as a missionary, but others may not. This is a blog for everyone, but especially for the people that don’t know what it is like living here. 

First, the leche (milk in Spanish) comes in a large juice-box-like container. The apple juice and other drinks do also, but not all the drinks. 

This is sort of funny to me; there is a bus stop right outside my house. Ho, ho, ho; whoops, I meant ha, ha, ha. Do ya get it; do ya, do ya, do ya? It is good to have a chuckle every once in awhile; okay, back to business. 

We don’t have a car and almost every thing is pricey. Houses have big gates and people can pay for a day and night guard. 

All these thing are different ,but God has been God. He is still God; He has provided; He has kept me safe; He is still God.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

https://youtu.be/iujkHmmx5Hw

Undeserved and Unmerited

Learning a new language...engaging a new culture...raising a family in a new place...discovering new ways to accomplish even the simplest of tasks (which often take way longer than in the States). I wish this was the list of reasons I could offer as to why I've not written a blog since letting folks know we had arrived in Costa Rica way back near the end of August. However, if I'm being true to you and myself, the reason for my departure from words stems from something a little deeper within.

In a spirit of transparency, I honestly felt as if I didn't have any words worth sharing with you. The last year and a half, before arriving in Costa Rica, was by far the most difficult season of life I've ever been through. And the irony of it is that it was not the result of running away from God, but rather as we were running straight into the middle of what He's called us to. Exasperated; desperate; tired; overwhelmed. While there are definitely some positive adjectives to describe our incredible and miraculous journey to this point, those few words describe the core of who I was upon arriving here. I was wore out; my emotions were spent; I felt I had nothing left to give - nothing to give to my family and nothing left to give to you or those around me.

And yet in the midst of that struggle, God in His grace and love spoke life and hope and purpose right into the core of my existence and being. A month or so ago, I had been asked to allow my name to stand for the position of Chaplain here at language school. At first I was a little hesitant given our "primary purpose" is to learn language and culture. I didn't want to allow anything to get in the way of that, yet after much prayer, I conceded and trusted the Lord to open or close this door as He saw fit. It's my honor and privilege to share with you that, along with one other student, I have been entrusted (through the election process) to serve in this capacity for the January-April trimester.

It wasn't until this past Tuesday, the first opportunity I've had to share in chapel (note picture above), that I realized the magnitude of what the Lord has allowed to unfold in my life. In the midst of our obedience to follow Jesus to another part of the world, God has chosen to restore unto me the joy of proclaiming His Word. The beauty of the situation is the following realization: 17 months ago I gave the pastorate over to God (at least physically speaking with my resignation); about 10 months ago I gave the pastorate over to God (spiritually and emotionally), and now God has seen fit to allow me to serve in a similar context in this new and beautiful place.

So, do I deserve it; have I somehow earned it? Does God owe it to me for being obedient? Absolutely not! And therein lies the beauty of it - I am the recipient of the undeserved and unmerited grace of God! But here's what I love about God; I'm not the only one on the receiving end. Take a look around your life. Where and how are you presently receiving the unmerited and undeserved grace of God? Once you discover that answer, like me today, and every day, be sure to thank Him for it!