Invisible

Each morning I wake up around 3:30am here in Honduras (which would be 4:30am Wisconsin time).  Just like back in the States, I reserve that time for me & God.  I sit down and go through my devotion for the day before writing this blog to update all of you on the previous day's events.  I will share the notes from yesterday's message that I entered into my daily journal with you here:

God's Word:

And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. ~ Isaiah 30:21

The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes His steps. ~ Proverbs 16:9

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worth of praise, think about these things. ~ Philippians 4:8

Notes I took from the devotion:

According to recent statistics, we make 5000 decisions each day...decisions like what time to get out of bed, whether to exercise, what kind of cereal to eat, which bills to pay, whether to water the plants today or wait until tomorrow, which vehicle to put gas into, whether to react in anger or respond with understanding, whether or not to create drama, whether to set time aside for God, how to speak to our child, etc.  In the 5000 decisions you make today, take a moment to pause before deciding.  Ask the Holy Spirit for His guidance & counsel.  And choose to FOLLOW as He leads the way.

Like David said on Sunday...everything we do is a choice!...We can choose to follow our own voice or the voice of our Lord.  Which path will you choose today?

So as we were getting ready to head out for the morning, Kimberly found a millipede in her room.  She freaked out quite a bit, which made me smile since she is a veterinary technician, and should love animals, right?  I had already taken 2 millipedes out of our house since our stay here, so I took this one outside as well.  Perhaps it's the same millipede, just wants to live in our house???

Anyway, Alina & I went to the little girls' house.  It was still very wet/damp outside (it had been raining practically all weekend), so the girls' circle was held in the sala (living room).  The girls behaved fairly well this morning.  After circle came breakfast and then heading to school.  It was nice to see the new doorknob on the elementary school library.  Since the first 1/2 hour of school I wasn't scheduled to have a class, I borrowed a broom from the main office to sweep out the library.  The dirt buildup on the ceramic tile floors had gotten to be a bit much since I hadn't swept last week (I had went looking for a broom multiple times, but never found one).  This morning I had 4 classes - all 5th graders.

I took the little girls back to their house for lunch.  Finally the sun had come out!  When the sun is out down here, it is HOT, so after taking the girls back to school, I headed to the apartment to quickly change out of my jeans to capris.  Alina & I headed to the store.  She had wanted ice cream but since the power was out all day yesterday, there wasn't any.  I'm guessing that all of the ice cream had melted and they will not get more until just before the next team comes this Thursday (to not risk losing it due to another power outage).  We bought some M&Ms instead and some juice.  When we finished, Alina bought 10 little jello cups (about the size of a sewing thimble) for 5 cents each to give to the girls in the yards playing as we passed by on our way to school.  We picked up the little girls from school and brought them back to the house.  I stayed with the little girls to do afternoon devotions while Alina went with the medium girls.

When Alina met me back at the little girls' house, she had a drawing for me from an older girl named Pamela.  Pamela is a rather special girl to me.  Here's the story:  I am TERRIBLE with names!  So the year I had first met her, I also met numerous other children.  The very next year that I came down, she asked me if I remembered her.  I do have a gift for remembering faces, however not names.  So I was honest with her & let her know that I remembered her face but not her name, so I asked her for her name.  She replied with "I guess I'm invisible then," to which I kindly laughed and replied, "Well it's nice to meet you Invisible!"...and that's how I've called her ever since.  We share a pretty special relationship now.  I've known her for most of the years I've been coming down here and she is a rare girl here at Emmanuel who has the same large size feet that I have, so I tend to leave her with some shoes every time I leave.  It's very common for children here to draw you pictures, color you pictures or write you notes before you leave to show their appreciation for you having come to serve them.  I am showered with them each time I come.  Alina is still waiting for her first drawing but I've reassured her that she will get them as the kids come to know her better.

After devotions was supper-time and then bath-time.  When I began combing the girls' hair, all of a sudden my stomach didn't feel so well.  I needed to have Alina finish up combing the girls' hair so that I could go home, just in case I needed to be sick.  The feeling subsided after an hour or two and I was able to head to bed without much problem.