Still, My Soul, Be Still

Some things have gone on in the community recently.  Hard things.  Things that haven't affected me personally except to remind me that we are indeed in the midst of spiritual war and to draw me to my knees.  I have at the same time sensed very real spiritual attack and known closeness with our Savior.  

Two nights ago, I had dinner with a family who lives up the hill from me.  They're really great, and I love spending time with them.  Afterwards, as I walked down the hill in the dark, I felt afraid.  Normally, all I think about is the beautiful stars and the sounds of the waves lapping the shore and the cool mountain breezes.  And this night, I wasn't scared of snakes and dogs.  And I guess I wouldn't call it "scared."  But the whole way down the hill, I felt it necessary to say verses to myself.  Verses like, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and staff, they comfort me.  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies" and "He will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways" and "The Lord your God, the Lord is One."  

I just wanted to write another post about Thanksgiving to again thank the Lord, specifically.  I want to thank him for giving peace that guards our hearts and our minds, joy that strengthens and encourages, for loving us with an everlasting love, for gathering his people from all over the world to himself.  And I want to praise him, because He is worthy.

"For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called." ~Isaiah 54:5

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays.  I think it's such a great idea.  You get to eat delicious food -- turkey with gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, sweet potato casserole, pumpkin pie, apple pie, and pecan pie.  And you spend the day with people you love, family or friends.  And you relax and remember all that God has given you and give him thanks for it.  I realize that even all of that is another blessing from God...family and friends and a feast.

I can't let Thanksgiving pass without posting my own little list.

Number One.
I am so thankful that God gave me the chance to come to Honduras.  I love being here, I love the people I've met, I love the landscape, I love the weather, I love the language, I love my jobs.  I know I've learned much, and gained so many friends, and have been able to experience so many special things.

Number Two.
I'm thankful that I live in the middle of a hospital community.  It makes being sick so much easier.  Nothing quite compares to having your own personal nurse come check on you in your room.  Miss Penny, who should probably get her own number on here, is a nurse at the hospital and the grandmother of the two kids I teach.  When she found out I was sick, she came to my room and made sure I had everything I needed.  She even took me to the hospital the next day to get checked out.  That was cool, because I can now say that I've actually been to Hospital Loma de Luz.  I even got my blood drawn and didn't feel faint (or at least not more than I already did).  Success, I'd say!

Number Three.
I think technology must be my third.  Being able to Skype with my family and Facebook my friends in the States and take pictures of my home here is so amazing.  I keep thinking about how hard it must have been to travel years ago, when communication meant letters and maybe a rare and expensive phone call.  So thank you, God, for giving some people the brains to come up with all of this crazy stuff!

Number Four.
This past week, all the kids finished up at W-RAGAR (the bilingual school).  They took their exams... Ok. Interrupt: I'm thankful for geckos.  They might leave droppings everywhere (I do mean everywhere), but they're handy insect killers.  One little fella just caught a giant fly, which is now buzzing madly.  Betcha can't guess who I'm cheering for!  Anyways, exams are over, and some teachers are filling out paperwork, and I'm glad that they let me be a part of their school this year and still want me to come back next year.

Number Five.
Getting to spend time with Delmy, a teacher from W-RAGAR and a leader in her church, is such a treat.  Delmy always warmly welcomes, and makes me laugh, and helps me learn Spanish, and cares about deep things.  Thursday afternoon, after we finished up some exams and worked on a little paperwork, Delmy stopped a truck and we rode in the back of it into town to her house.  Her aunt made us lunch.  It was chop suey (who would guess that the first time I would try this would be in Honduras?), coleslaw (a typical food), and white bread.  Delicious.  We talked about school and our families and things we like and don't like in our lives, and we taught each other Spanish and English, and laughed at ourselves.

I'm sure this list could go on forever, but I don't have time to write everything down and I'm sure no one has time to read everything, either.  So I'll leave it with this: "What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits to me?  I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord...I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord." ~Psalm 116:12-13, 17

Seasons

This is final exam week for the bilingual school.  I'm a little sad, because that means that school's ending and I probably won't see some of the kids until February when school starts again.  

Next school year, I'm teaching English to 7th graders, specifically "language" and "writing."  I'm not sure what that means, and I don't know if I have a curriculum or if I'm writing it myself, but hopefully I'll find out soon.  The kids who are 6th graders now are awesome, though, so I'm looking forward to next year.  

The highlight of November so far has been going and spending the day with one of the teachers from the bilingual school, Deslinn, who's 21.  I took the bus on Saturday to Rio Esteban, where she lives with her family.  I didn't know where her house was, but I knew Francesca, a little girl who lives in Rio Esteban.  When I saw Frances sitting in front of her house, I stopped to talk to her.  She's probably four or five, and the cutest kid, but she wasn't super helpful.  When I asked her if she knew where Deslinn lived, her friend who was with her pointed one direction.  And then Frances grinned and said, "Mentira!" ("Lie"), but she wouldn't say where Deslinn's house really was.  It all worked out, though, because I had Deslinn's number and I eventually found her.  

I love Deslinn's family.  She lives with her Dad and Mom and her two younger sisters, her younger brother, and her two-year-old nephew, Deybinson.  They're all so funny.  Particularly Deybinson.  We were watching TV and eating lunch, and every time music came on the TV, he'd stop eating and stand up and start dancing.  He was so cool.  Once he learned my name, he followed Deslinn and I around and if we weren't paying attention to him, he let us know. "Hannah, Haaannah.  Haaaaaannah."  Yes?  Then he'd grin.

I went to their Saturday night church service with them.  Apparently, they go to the same church as Bictelia, the director of the school, and her daughter, Delmy, who is a teacher.  Doris, Deyni, Marta, and Angel, some students at school, also were there.  I love seeing the kids outside of school.  Then I feel like I don't just teach them, but I'm getting to know them.  

Deslinn's dad isn't the pastor there, but he preached that night.  He talked about Revelation chapter 17, about the vision John had of the Great Beast and the Prostitute.  He talked about being wary, and paying attention, and the hope we have in the promises made.  "They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful" (Revelation 17:14).  I didn't understand everything, but I got most of it.

When people speak slowly and not super slurred, I can generally understand what they say.  Deslinn kept telling people we'd meet, "She knows Spanish."  But they'd still ask her, "Who is she?  Who is la gringa?" as if I couldn't understand.  Deslinn's younger siblings didn't know I knew what they were saying at first, but they figured it out.  And then they started talking to me, quickly.  Woah, woah.   Repeat that?  I did learn new words, though.  It's so exciting to me!

When I left Sunday morning, Deslinn's mom said that she hoped my first visit wouldn't also be my last.  I hope so, too. 

One thing I've been missing recently is the aromas and sights and tastes of fall in Virginia.  My desktop background is a rainy street lined with trees that are losing their bright orange leaves, and I made applesauce last night to add a little bit of the taste and scent of autumn.  Hot cinnamon and apples...yes, that is what November should smell like.

Also, as I'm reading through Isaiah, I'm enjoying celebrating Christmas.  I'm sorry if you hate all the Christmas music that gets played over and over and if you dislike seeing Santa Claus and holly stems in Walmart before Thanksgiving.  I can understand that.  A little bit.  I actually really enjoy all of the "holiday cheer" stuff.  But anyways, whatever your celebratory preferences, I don't think these "Christmas" verses will be annoying.  They're too beautiful.  

The people who walked in darkness 

have seen a great light; 

those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, 

on them has light shined...

For to us a child is born, 

to us a son is given; 

and the government shall be upon his shoulder, 

and his name shall be called 

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  

Of the increase of his government and of peace 

there will be no end, 

on the throne of David and over his kingdom, 

to establish it and to uphold it 

with justice and righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.  

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. 

~Isaiah 9:2, 6-7

Eryn, Jenni (a nurse who came here for three weeks), and I at the beach

 This is Amy.  She's in kindergarten at W. Ragar bilingual school, and sometimes I get to teach her.  She is so cute and bossy and smart.   She just makes me laugh.