Love That Will Not Let Me Go

Valentine's Day. Scrolling past myriads of romantic social media posts. Flowers. Chocolate. Dates. These things happen every year around the 14th of February. I too scan Pinterest and rack my brain to think of something or someway to make the day special. I also look forward to not having to cook supper.

This year was very different. I knew from the beginning it would be. With us living in Belize I knew my husband would not bring me flowers. (Unless he picked them out of the yard) I knew there probably would not be chocolate, and I definitely knew there would be no babysitter or night out.

I planned a simple, special breakfast with a bit of bacon I had been hoarding. It was special since I hate getting up early and never eat breakfast with my husband. I was feeling a bit disheartened because I had no way of decorating the table and no fancy dinnerware to even attempt a romantic meal. So out came the plastic plates, and I comforted myself in the knowledge that we had after school plans to go to town for groceries and out to eat for supper. 

After school we loaded up on the cycle and headed down the road to pick up a vehicle we had been told we could borrow (our recently purchased truck has been waiting on parts for weeks). We pull in to discover there is none available. Since it already was late we decided to wait and go another day. 

I have to confess I was rather dissapointed. I was so excited to finally have a date. (Not to mention we really needed groceries. Which meant I couldn't make anything special at home.) After a few minutes entertaining thoughts like these, and annoyance at people who had romantic plans, I was convicted of my foolishness. Our love is not measured by fancy dinners or expensive gifts or 12 red roses. Everyday actions confirm it. I have been very happily married for over 4 years so ONE day cannot define my husband's love for me. 

Our warmed over leftovers were delicious and our marriage has survived an unromantic Valentine's Day. I was jolted even further into reality by hearing that the vehicle we wanted to take was holding a husband and wife who were on their way home from a doctor's appointment. The wife found a mass that they were checking for cancer. News later confirmed worst fears that it looked that way and the necessity to go for another opinion and maybe treatment. Only a few weeks ago she was given a clear report from her cancer doctor. 

Suddenly I have the most romantic Valentine's Day. My leftovers are fit for a banquet, and I hug my husband and son just a bit tighter.

 O God, your ways are hard to understand, but thank you that Your love will never let us go! 

For Bounties Rich and Free

        We make our way along a narrow footpath. My friend Kay and I are going to visit a neighbor. My Aunt has sent a package of candy for the children from this home. They would often show up for bakery handouts and to play with Adrian or Carmen. I also am curious to see if the mother has had her baby yet.
        A small wooden structure comes into view. We walk further back to the house and make our delivery. On our way back we hear a baby's cry! We ask to see the new baby, and are invited into the house.
        Light filters into the house through cracks between the boards that form walls. A tin roof covers our heads from the misting rain. A cooking fire burns in the elevated hearth in the corner. Smoke wafts around the room and disappears overhead. A typical dwelling of Belize's poor. A few prices of furniture are scattered about. The floor is a rough mixture of dirt and random, pitted concrete. A door stands open to the the next room. A peak inside shows its use as the only bedroom. There is no running water and no signs of electricity. This is home to a family with 7 children. The father cannot work. He has physical and mental health issues and cannot function in the workplace or bush. The baby is 6 days old.
         Using limited Spanish from my dear translator, Kim, we sit and visit. I cannot help but mull over the contrasts. Our lives are so different. I am so blessed. I have a home in the states with much more than I need. A home here in Belize with much less, but still more than enough. I also have a relationship with my Saviour.
        My heart went out to this tired mother. Even if I would share out of my abundance. If I would find a better dwelling place for her family. If I would pay to send her children to school. If I would buy her groceries every month. She still would be missing a huge blessing. The blessing of not needing things for happiness. Of God being everything to us. How he gives us strength to lean on Him when we cannot provide for all our needs. How to say with confidence, "in whatsoever state I'm in therewith to be content".
         I have been taught much this thanksgiving season. God is so good to me. How can I but serve Him wholeheartedly? Even when it is hard. Even when I do not own a big house or nice vehicle or can afford sour cream.

 I have shelter, plenty to eat, and a husband who loves me and provides for me and our son.

 Best of all I have a God, whom in serving, I can be rich.

People Like Me And You

           What is your usual thought when you hear of someone going to another country? What comes to your mind as you think of the changes they will face? What questions do you ask your friends living in another culture?
            Differences. We focus on differences. I realize nothing is wrong with this thinking. This is what makes life challenging and interesting when moving away and is natural. As I have been in Belize just over a week I know all those feelings! Different languages, different food, different church, different house, different neighbors. Etc. Etc. Your mind whirls a bit and your stomach churns a bit trying to assimulate a new enviroment. My husband was a cabinent maker and now is thrown into the teaching world. My baby was used to a decently ordered schedule and now is learning to eat and sleep in all sorts of circumstances. I was used to my normal household chores and baby care and now am living in someone elses house and eating what they cook, while waiting for the sewer to get finished at our place. The veiw from our window was mostly flat with a few trees, a train track, storage sheds, and the neighbors junk pile. Now our view is palm, orange, and lime trees. Also more that I have no idea yet what their name is! Beautiful mountainous jungle rolls away from my front porch. Flowers of all sorts bloom everywhere. This is my favorite change.
           We went to church the last two Sundays and heard God's word preached in two languages. Fans are the only AC and the majority of the people have sandals on their feet. Little neighbor children run in and out of the service when they are tired  of holding still. The men have Sunday School in the church bus and the women gather in the church. I sing the Spanish songs but have no idea what I am singing.
           Ahh yes, the language... Spanish, Mayan, Kreol, English are the ones we deal with mostly. Austin has a couple students that know all 4!! I had coffee and cookies with the church ladies yesterday and that's what started me thinking. In all these differences we are so alike. We cry, and laugh, and serve God, and raise our families. We deal with people who seem unlovable and take advantage of us. We understand a smile, a hug, a hand outstretched, a gift.
           God is the same God in every culture. He helps us forgive the ones who 'borrow' our things and never return them. He gives us wisdom to know how to witness to our unsaved family members. We can call on him in any language and He hears our prayers and cares about our requests. This is what is so wonderful to me! It doesn't matter if you live in a mansion or a small thatched roof home. In Belize or America or Australia or any other place. God is still God. He reaches out His hand in love to the rich and poor, the lovely and the unlovely. His love is enough for all of us. He will take each of us into His arms as long as we are willing to give Him every part of us. He bridges the gap between cultures and allows us to realize our 'sameness'.

Where He Leads Me

           The biggest reason I created this blog was to let all of you know about our time in Belize. Austin was asked to teach school a few weeks ago and we had to make a rather quick decision to go. We have tickets to fly out on the 15th  of this month. God has been very good to us in helping us make the decision and giving us grace to know what to pack and what to do etc. My Uncle Lee so  kindly let us keep our apartment that we are renting. This has lightened our load considerably as I don't  have to pack all our earthly belongings and find a place to store things! We are so blessed to have supportive family to hold up our hands! We also are blessed to have a bus load going down soon after we leave that we can put a few things on. I don't have lots of news at the moment since we are not completely sure where we will be living. There is a small guest house they are considering right now for us. It is a few miles away so they would like to get us closer.  We will be serving under AMA. The mission is on the outskirts of the Santa Marta village. I think that falls into the Cayo District of Belize. It is absolutely a feast for the eyes! I am looking forward to sharing pictures with you! The best way to describe the area is mountainous jungle... So beautiful. You will have to use your imagination for the humidity and heat! 

I am so grateful to God for being with us and leading us to this point in our lives. We will continue leaning on him for grace to serve in this way and be a blessing to those we will live around. Our desire is to follow Him no matter how rough the pathway. I believe it is better to live in what we consider hardship if we are in God's will than to live an easy life with a guilty conscience and a selfish attitude. God gives us grace to handle what we are given. "I'll go with Him all the way!"