I often find myself jumping from one thing to another, putting out fires (some that I probably started myself 😁) or just trying to get everything done that needs doing. I get to the end of the day and barely remember everything I did!
This summer God has been speaking very clearly to me about the need for some structure in my life that allows for more space for simply being present. It's not an easy transition and I have a long way to go BUT the impact on my life and those around me when I actually slow down is pretty darn amazing. Today is a great example.
It started with the usual cuppa joe at the kitchen sink watching the sun come up before heading out to care for the critters. Then off to get the boys for soccer practice, the hardware store for material for a project in the carpentry workshop, and then over to the orphanage to start packing backpacks. Some of the girls wanted to help and I decided to give instructions and then step back and just be a helper. It was awesome to see them step up to the responsibility and achieve the task in their own way.
Renata came to talk to me about the heart palpitations and headaches she has been getting when she exerts herself. I grabbed my blood pressure cuff and did some testing. We talked about blood pressure, the machine, what the numbers mean. Thankfully her numbers were great. I shared with her that our Labor Day team is bringing doctors and nurses and they will be able to dive in deeper and help determine what might be going on,, but to continue letting me know if it happens again. She felt relief and spent the rest of the day hanging out with me.
Then she told me she wants to know how babies are made. 😬 We talked in general about the womans cycle and I told her we would make time tomorrow to talk in more detail when we didn't have little ears with us. I have a bunch of words to look up in Spanish tonight!
Jenifer, 4th grader who is relatively new at the orphanage, came by to talk about her shyness and how her feelings are getting hurt. I let her lay it all out for me and was able to speak into her about the amazing girl that God had created and thanked her for sharing her feelings. We decided she would start a journal that I would keep private in my locked area. She came in four times over the afternoon to add to it 🥲.
I brought Gabriela (7) and Angel (4) into the learning center for some one on one time. They came to the orphanage 2 days ago. They have 8 brothers and sisters and another on the way :😢. Gabriela has never been to school so we will probably get to work with her this year to prepare her for entry into school next year. It's a pretty overwhelming change for them so a little down time playing with magnetic blocks gave them room to settle.
The boys brought me the colored pebbles they found which might be jewels and worth some money. We investigated them thoroughly and tomorrow we are going to put them under the magnifying glass and microscope, along with their pet lady bug and worm.
I have been mentoring a couple of the young teen boys - excellent soccer players but not good team mates and no control over emotions. I have been talking to them about humility for a while now and it hit me - they may not even know what humility is!! I asked them and lo and behold they have no idea. Then I got to teach them how the MUST ask for clarification if someone uses a word they don't know or they can look it up themselves. Tomorrow we deep dive into humility.
I pray that you see the value of our being here on the ground, every day, year after year. Developing trusting relationships that create a safe space for hard conversations. We thank God for your faithful giving and prayer. You bless us every single day.
We play blessings over you and your family,