Overcoming inconviences

Sometimes I can get a wild hair idea in my head that Satan loves to shoot down. At times I sadly listen to him as he tells me "it can't be done" or "You don't have what it takes to pull it off." This weekend the Lord helped me fight those lies and our weekend was full of joy and excitement. We had the privilege to invite some boys to our house that didn't have a place to go for vacation. We were blessed to start Thursday night with 6 boys that ranged in ages from 4 to 15. Friday morning three of the boys were picked up to spend time with their family. We were excited for them as it was unexpected. Then four more boys spent some time with us and at one time we had 13 boys in our house. By the second night we had just three more than our three. We so enjoyed getting to know them. We swam, played video games, table games, movies, etc. I never would have guessed that WWE could bind boys of two cultures. Our boys spoke a lot of Spanish as did Greg and I. I loved hearing laughter come from all over the house. Sometimes what God calls us to do (like bring 6 boys home for the weekend) doesn't make sense. But what He calls us to do He equips us to complete. This Easter weekend was far from convenient but it was great and we are blessed because of spending time with these boys.

Prepared to learn.......

Last week I prepared a lesson on Palm Sunday for about 11 kids at Villa Juarez. The day I was suppose to go I developed a weird ear ache and dizziness and couldn't drive. aSo it appeared to me the palm branches that I had drawn on construction paper and the Spanish story that I practiced was to be for not... until today. Now I know Palm Sunday is over but I happened to be walking outside with about 30 minutes before my boys were due home for lunch. Two cute staff daughters were playing outside. In Spanish they told me that they were making a concrete cake for me for my birthday. (By the way its not until Oct.) As I waited for my cake, God placed the idea in my mind to share my Palm Sunday class with them. When I told them about it they were so happy. So I ran and got my supplies. We screamed, Hosanna, Hosanna, Bendito el rey de Israel. Which means Hosanna, Hosanna, Blessed be the King of Israel. They were so eager to learn at the drop of a hat. It got me thinking. So many times God has lessons like this for me during my day. But how open am I to learn. Am I open and eager to learn as these two girls? I pray I am.

Being available........

Sometimes God does things that makes no sense. This happened to me recently. I have for the past four years been spending time weekly in a poor community. The past three years in Meme's Rio. They have been my second family. The end of last year and beginning of this year, I felt the Lord pulling me out of that ministry to help my husband in his ministry with a children's home called Manantial de Amor and to be available for our three boys. Our boys are 14, soon to be 12 and 10 years old. When I first felt God pulling me away from these families I know and love so well, it was hard. With heels dug in deeply I resisted. Then different home situations came up and felt grateful to God in preparing me to be at home to hear, love on and support my boys. You see I was caught up in serving but I was neglecting my calling as a Mom and a wife. Not that I can't be all but at this time I heard God pulling me back. Simplifying my life. I'm an extrovert and love the action. My personality is that of independence and challenge. God is showing me that I can have that in my life no matter where he puts me. I love how the Lord has placed me to be in the ministry only He has called me to do. No one else can be my kid's Mom, not like he intends me to be. Praise God for adopted Moms and foster Moms. But for my kids God has called me to be their Mom. I'm grateful for the wake up call not to orphan my own children at the sake of caring for the orphan child. As a result, the boys and I are finding ways to minister together and in someways supporting them to minister apart from Greg and I.
I really wanted to write this to encourage Moms who might think life is better for everyone else or who is feeling like what they do isn't important. I also want to write to Mom's who God may also be nudging to make a change. You will find joy in obedience. No matter what the cost, the pay off is so much greater. Its been a difficult transition, but so well worth it too.