Sunday, May 31, 2009

A Walk to Remember....

Last night I asked Ysmaille if we could take a walk around Wilson College. He agreed and then decided to park at the Coyle Free Library. I commented that was a strange place to park, but we got out of the car and began walking. As we got to the "Y" where Main Street becomes Philadelphia Avenue we noticed a girl stumbling across the street. As she passed us I turned around and noticed her pants were ripped and much of her butt was hanging out. I also noticed she wasn't wearing shoes. As we got closer we saw blood on her shirt and it was very obvious that she had been drinkinag. We asked how we could help and she just asked me to hold her purse so she could find her cell phone. She couldn't find her cell phone in her purse and we didn't have our cell phones on us, so there wasn't anything we could do. (Right at this point a bird pooped on me, but that's neither here nor there).

As we watched here stagger away we stood there deciding what we should do. I told Ysmaille we had to do something, because I was concerned she would try crossing the street and get hit. We began following her. Ysmaille put his hand in his pocket and discovered he did have his cell phone after all. By this time the girl had dissappeared from sight. We found her sitting on the steps of a house. She was very upset and crying. Apparantly she and her husband had an argument that got out of hand. We let her use our cell phone to call her sister. She insisted she was okay and that her mom would pick her up. We found out she was planning to walk to Sunnyway to meet her mom (who lived in Mercersburg). We told her we would drive her to Sunnyway. She was so grateful and said in very slurred speech that we were the kindest people she had ever met. She held my hand all the way to the car. As we walked I had a chance to pray with her and just express how much God cared for her.

We drove Ami (we found out her name on the walk to the car) to Sunnyway and she got out of the car. We didn't feel right just leaving her there so we waited in the car. After 10 minutes or so she went inside. We didn't see her coming out so we got suspicious. We figured that she may have begun walking again, so we pulled out of Sunnyway parking lot. I thought I caught a glimpse of her walking and then she dissappeared. As we got closer we sawing her lying in a field next to the road. We stopped the car, told her to get in, and asked her where she was going. She was heading to her aunt's house not far away. It was if the God in us was pursuing her. Just as we couldn't let her wander aimlessly, God felt much the same way, and used us in a practical way to show his love for her. We couldn't let her go until we knew she was safe. We took her to her aunt's house and explained everything to her aunt. They began calling her mom and I'm not sure what happened after that, because we felt like we should probably just let the family deal with the situation.

Previous to our walk Ysmaille and I were feeling let down and a little frustrated. Things have been very tight since Ysmaille lost his job. We have been praying and fasting and just believing God for a breakthrough and there are moments where our faith is so strong, and other moments were we falter because we put our eyes on things that are happening in the natural. As we drove home we began thinking of how God was leading us. Why would a couple living in Scotland drive to Main Street to take a walk? We believe God had set up a divine appointment for us. And if God was leading in that circumstance he is certainly leading us in other areas of our life. It was such an encouragement to us. I also felt so blessed. Although I might not have the extra money for new summer clothes, or the stove I've been waiting for, I do have so much more! I have a husband who would never lay a hand on me. I have family who supports me and cares for me. Material things are so temporary. It's the relationships around us that are eternal!

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Mexico- a lesson learned

Yesterday I started a unit on Mexico. I wanted to know what my students already knew about Mexico: the culture and the people, so I had them get into groups and make a list. I was horrified to find out what my students thought about our neighboring country. One student said, "juvie". I had no idea what he was talking about until he cleared it up by saying "jail". His perceptions of Mexicans are people who end up in jail. Another student asked, "Do they use spoons in Mexico?" When asked to give their list of things they new about Mexico one boy said that in Mexico they used camels for transportation. I knew I had to stop there and clear up some misconceptions. I told them that although different countries around the world have different customs and beliefs, we are more alike than we are different. I explained to my students that many people in Mexico live pretty much like you and I. There are good and bad people. It has NOTHING to do with skin color, educational background, where you are from, and EVERYTHING to do with what is inside of you. If my students don't remember the capital of Mexico is Mexico City, and they don't remember the main language spoken there is Spanish, and they don't remember where the Yucatan Peninsula is, I hope they do remember that you can't judge someone because of where they came from, people all over the world have the same basic needs, and yes, they do use spoons in Mexico!

Thursday, May 7, 2009

An old DC Talk song...

As I was thinking about how to title this blog an old DC Talk song came into my mind. . .

God is doing it. Yo, who's doing it? God is doing a new thing. (Except for I think they might have used the words "nu thang" instead of "new thing", and I just can't bring myself to do that.)

God has really been refining Ysmaille and I over the past month. God is burning away things in our life-- our reliance on "the world" for our provision amony many. He has had to remind us that He is our source. Much of what we've gone through has been private and probably most people have no idea of the work God is doing. As hard as God's refining work is, I am so glad for his redeeming work as well.

I feel excitement bubbling up inside of me! As much as walking through the fire hurts, I know that God has an awesome plan for our life together. I am so excited to see how God will provide for our every need-- emotionally, physically, financially, etc. I feel like I just need to prophecy that God is not done with Ysmaille and I. God is taking us to a deeper place in Him, a place where only those who have been refined in the fire can go. God is truly doing a "nu thang" : )