The unpromised update

Nathanael and I watched a movie together last Friday night.

The African Doctor has been on my Netflix list for a while. I personally felt like it was the perfect timing for watching it. The doctor is from Tanzania, and gets a job in rural France.

Many points in the movie felt familiar. I laughed harder and cried more than normal. There is one point where the family steps off the bus into the unknown that I truly identified with. If you are interested in a movie about moving cross culturally, this is one I highly recommend.

https://youtu.be/S32V5TNhFDE

We had a couple and their daughter visit church this past Sunday. Janice and Pedro live south of us in Spanish Lookout. It was a blessing to have them fellowship with us.

In other news, Nathanael will be speaking with the head of Education on Friday. He really wants to be able to get a visa through them. Please pray for favor for this process.

Thanks so much
Spring

We are still learning

If I am honest with you, I would tell you I often write blog posts in my head.  At times it's an ongoing conversation.  Often, God speaks to me and teaches me more about the things I am thinking about posting.

This past week I spent a lot of time writing in my head.  I struggle with the balance between honesty: This week was pretty hard on us, and the fact that it feels like there is a need to only report the good.

The other day I shared an article on facebook.  It was specifically about the concept of, "When Helping Hurts."  If  you are unfamiliar, let me introduce you to the concept.  The idea is that  if I am only filling "needs" and not enabling others to become independant, I am in essence "hurting" them. It may be couched in good intentions, but the effect is still the same.  It creates a dependance: someone has to continue to fill the need (financial or otherwise).  It also lends itself to an enviroment of "less than"/"greater than".

It wasn't until recently that we realized we had created a situation.  For us it felt like it went against everything we had worked not to do.  Even when you are striving to find (and do) God's will you will have times you feel like you failed.

Two years ago, we flew out of Cancun.  It is often cheaper to fly from there.  Taking that flight meant we had a little time in Mexico.  I can tell you after a few hours in Cancun, I was sick of my own skin.  I couldn't change the fact that I stood out, and the preceptions it made on the vendors.  When I was talking to my mentor about experiencing the similar thing in Belize she had some insight.  I told her I don't want to be precieved as the rich American, "but you are" she stated.

I can't be something I'm not.  No matter how much we try to not be "that" to those around us; it happens.  The conbination of the preception of being a "rich American" and hurting instead of helping became volitile.

I can tell you that it lead to me driving a neighbor's truck down the pothole filled roads of Orange walk.  (he was on the back holding our wardrobe on the truck).  He shouted directions to me.  I wished for a pillow so I could pull just a little closer to the stearing wheel.

We will step into our proverbial shoes.  The "lot" we have, bumpy ride, can't reach the steering wheel and all.  Sometimes it's okay not to get it right. The process of learning and growing is lifelong.  I am thankful to be along for the ride

Spring

Support
Prayer

Week 3 highlights

In some ways our family feels like they are getting into a " groove". We are following our old traditions:
                   walk to the park Saturday night to play and hang out with others

                   eat out Sunday after church, hopefully in a place that has air conditioning as a reprieve

We officially started school this past week. I can tell you that we've been unschooling of sorts through the summer. I was planning on not counting school days this  year, but it was too difficult for Selah to not know. ( Please don't tell her I haven't started counting yet)

There were some firsts this week:

Nathanael preached his third consecutive sermon. From now on it'll be a first every time for length of times he's preached in a row. Nathanael likes to keep track of these types of things



Zion caught her first gecko this term. She was delighted. She kept him in a pencil sharpener overnight and fed him ants.

We have animals!! We have been holding off for years, till we had a place of more permanence. Before you wonder why.. we have chickens (for the eggs), 2 dogs (to protect from robbers) and 2 rabbits (to "mow" the grass) it has been a learning curve but overall we are delighted to share our lives with some pets.

We continue to unpack and make the house ours. It has been difficult planning around getting everything out of the living room on Fridays (and on Sunday) to have people here for Bible Study.

Rainy season has started, a welcome break from the intense heat. I actually turned on the warm water in the shower.

Plan for this week: Update our prayer corner :)

Thanks so much for joining us on this journey.