1. I feel both really close to my middle schoolers/relate with their stage of life/feel as though I may not have left and incredibly distanced/what in the world are they thinking?/I’m so old and never have been “with it” . . .
They also take me for a ride with their
ever-changing emotions, making me laugh and encouraging me or infuriating me and
wearing me out.
Both last Friday and this past Friday were
great reminders that I really am thankful for La Palabra de Vida and do really
like the students here.
In fact, I love my students—I kept saying “I
love seventh grade,” and “You guys crack me up!” during our paseo the other
week. It’s strange how God puts these things in your heart.
I got to spend the day with the seventh
graders for their last day of “school” after exams finished at a recreational
area a ways a way from here where there was a fishing pond, picnic pavilions,
playgrounds, pools, soccer fields, etc.
They impressed me by including everyone
throughout the day, joking, laughing, taking pictures, jumping into the pool
together, playing on the playground, sharing food, and opening up some. It was
precious. And they gave me our sign for silence which we adapted from the
“thanks, admiration, and goodbye” salute. Even got a goodie bag and engraved
pen from the parents/kids jaja.
This Friday we (high school faculty) took
the high school—whoever wanted to, which ended up being nearly 50 kids to the
“hogar de ancianos” –“old people’s home” for the whole afternoon. They did
great! It was interesting to see which students are the kind of people who make
things happen/take initiative, which ask for directions, which wait for
instruction, and which hesitate/hang on the outskirts the whole time.
Some of
them jumped right in and talked with some of the residents, and by the end of
the day most had funny stories and were glad they came. The students helped
serve and feed the residents tamales and coffee; they spent time walking them
around, getting them settled for a performance, talking and listening, taking
pictures and just being together. It was hard to see how some of those who live
there are starved for quality care and attention, but at the same time many of
the staff are really great. It gave me joy to facilitate the students helping
and passing out gifts and goodies (thanks for the toothbrushesJ) and helping people to open and light up at their gift. Some
students were reluctant to leave!
Hope for more like this in the future.
2. Having been thinking about the need to be intentional, give thanks, and live the moments we’re given while we get into planning mode, I was challenged, obviously, and the week flew and took me with it, without a real sense of purpose/accomplishment or joy. Found tension, though in the back and forth and the smaller moments and letting go.
3. Espera. Hope.Wait.Wishfor. God can decide to heal today, tomorrow, or for eternity, and the real hope lies deeper. Thinking of my own health and sin issues and the call to intercede for so many that I personally know going through physical/emotional struggles as well as the larger/systematic injustices that weigh heavily no matter where you go in the world. Today in the charla, the speaker mentioned the ya pero todavía no, and I love that part of theology and the truth of the kingdom. Even this morning when I got done swimming I was recalling the song and passage about our everlasting God.
…Here and trying to finish things for the year, be ready for Em’s visit and a visit home and fam’s visit here—all of which I am incredibly excited about and a little bit nervous for. …Figuring out rest and go. Holding out until the next time I see people now that it is increasingly becoming a huge question mark.
Rom. 8, Psalm 8, 46, 95
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