The end of summer has come quickly, but what a good summer it has been.
It was great to hop back into things after my time in the states by joining Cora and Tammy's group in El Cercado and as they poured love into the shoeshine boys.
Weaving my work for Student Sponsorship and the Child Nutrition Program around getting to know the groups can be a challenge at times, but I sure do appreciate the folks I get to meet and the stories I get to hear about the work they are doing, even if I don't get to spend as much time with them as the other SRI staff.
I am truly excited about Doctor Jazmin joining the CNP as the doctor of the El Cercado clinic. She brings passion and care to our families and a desire to increase the health education that the families receive. Like me, she loves to get out into the communities and spend time with folks in their homes. Most recently, I was able to introduce her to the families that I visit in mountain town of Hondo Valle on the Haitian border. God's timing is perfect, as that day a public health doctor, who had learned of the CNP from one of the families, was there to meet us; a connection was made, vision shared, and an ongoing supportive partnership might just be born. I am hopeful for the directions that the CNP is taking, and also gearing up for this year's Rice and Beans Challenge. (Check it out here!)
Life here can be challenging sometimes too. It's difficult to see people you care about struggling with the realities of poverty, to recognize the untapped potential for individuals who haven't had the opportunities for education and development that I have had. At least for me, it sometimes takes more effort than I'd like to admit to watch for God moving in the midst of these realities and focus on blessings, to not let the difficulties paralyze me into non-action but rather to spur me on to action, to choose joy. This is part of the reason that I am thankful that SRI is recognizing the need to expand support and encouragement for us, the workers here. One way they've done that is by providing the opportunity to enjoy a couple meetings with pastor Brad Burkholder from Kansas the beginning of the month, and SRI is committed to looking at on-going ways of support. I'm thankful for that. I'm also looking forward to having my pastor and a couple folks from my home church here in October on their first-ever SRI trip.
God continues to show Himself and his love. I will admit that last week I was having a pity party for myself, and then I stepped out on our back porch and was met with an amazing rainbow. "Good grief, God," I thought, "even when I'm being a brat, you find ways to overwhelm me your love and faithfulness... and I'm so glad that you do."
I also got to visit Joselin and Yelisa in Derrumbadero. Seeing them enjoy their new home with their children made my heart smile. If only I hadn't forgotten my camera! -because besides oohing and aaaahing over the homey touches Yelisa has added to the house, the neighborhood boys were playing robots- using their imaginations and creativity to the max with a "robot suit" they had crafted out of cardboard boxes. It doesn't get much better than that.
So yes, we are group-less here in San Juan for a bit, which allows for a slower pace of life, and has lent itself to some amazing trips to the river, tubing adventures in an irrigation canal, playing in a waterfall, and celebrating our fabulous translator staff at the beach.
I am now gearing up for my busy time of year as school is now in session and sponsored student lists are being organized and updated. It's a crazy-making process, and I LOVE it! But first, I will be celebrating my birthday on Saturday- Hurray! Yes, I LOVE birthdays too. Almost as much as this thrift store outfit that I picked up back in the states ;)
May you always find reason to smile...
