Let Them Come

I have been muy occupado this month at Mision Caribe. We have started School Outeach, prepared for a team, prepared for the summer, hosted a team, painted and revamped the house to name a few things (not exaggerating). Life here doesn't ever stop. There is constant spiritual warfare happening in the lives of the people and even the staff. Somedays are harder than other but there are some days when I literally feel like a rockstar. Those are the days that keep me going.
I have started teaching English is two schools for about 20 minutes a class. I'm not sure if it is the break from the normal rutine or if they really want to learn English, but there is one class that I teach where my students litterally charge the door when I begin my accent into the classroom. It might be one of the best feelings to see 25 kids (give or take a few shy ones) tackle you. I have to get a firm stance and open my arms wide to make sure we all don't topple over. gaining their trust and their respect has opened a lot of doors. I am able to speak openly, or as open as my Spanish will allow, about being a Christian and the love to ask questions. They soak up everything you say and they just want to love and be loved. We have been learning "This is the Day" in ingles in each class room and they love it. It is a simple song and very repetative, but they love, love, love it. "Dis is da day" couldn't be any cuter than coming out of little Honduran bocas. I could gush ove these kids for at least five scrolls, but I'll spare you. For me, it's the message behind the song and the kids that sing it that is a great reminder.
This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.
I'm going to remember this song and my kids as I continue to work here in Honduras. Let the children come to me so I can teach them everything I know about rejoicing in the day and being glad in the Lord that made everything. he is my rock and no matter what spiritual warfare I face I will try to remind my self that esta ES el dia that the Lord made, and I WILL rejoice and be glad in it. I challenge you to do the same in everything you do.

Fútbol

I’ve never been a fan of soccer. Sure, there were the Purple People Eaters of ’93 who wreaked havoc on the field and ended up with an undefeated season, but I’m not 100% sure how much of that I had to do with my excellent athleticism. I sat on the bench of the all boys and plus me team most of the time and when I did go in by some fluke, I came right back out after flaunting my ability flawlessly I’m sure. I was so amassing the coach never let me play because she didn’t want me to show up the other players, obviously.
I got to experience my first fútbol game Domingo. At first, it was totally the same as soccer and then it was totally different than soccer. Olympia vs Marathon marked the game before finals. Winner moves on. Let me set this up for you the best way I know how.
Horns, cervesas, Olympia shirts lining the stadium, drums, chants that never stopped, signs
The entire first half and the 3/4s of the last were calm and then:
GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!
Let me set this up for you the best way I know how.
Pandemonium.
Deafening horns blew. Fireworks (in the seats where hundreds of people stood, not above the stadium) went off. Cervesas were thrown over the heads of everyone in the crowd drenching men women and children. Almost every man immediately lost his shirt and began to swing it over his head. Chants (mostly profanities). Police protecting players and refs from each other. Jumping, dancing, swearing, standing, sitting, yelling, running, climbing fences, and walls... and all because a plastic ball went into a net. Don’t get me wrong. The energy was awesome! It was like nothing i’ve felt before, how quickly it went from off to on. But they love a ball... going into a net...
So it got me thinking... What can I do to make sure that people get that excited about Jesus. I think when he comes we should celebrate in the same way (minus the words that caused my Spanish vocabulary to be extended). But why not celebrate?! What can I do to be an example. The Bible tells us to rejoice and be glad in Him. Shout to the Lord! let the earth and everything in in break forth! Sing songs of praise and thanksgiving.
The stark reality is though, if there were a stadium full of people singing and shouting because the Lord was coming we would be made fun of and ridiculed... But it’s ok to go crazy when a ball goes in a net.,, What twisted mind we have. So I’m going to do it anyways. WHOOOOOO HOOOOOOOO! JESUS IS COMING!!!!!!!! better than GOOALLL any day!


Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth; Break forth and sing for joy and sing praises. -Psalm 98:4