Humility

“Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.” Philippians 2:3,4  This month I have been learning a lot about humility.  Humility is letting Christ shine through us.  It is not self centered.  It is putting others ahead of yourself.  This reminds of a children song J-O-Y.

J-O-Y J-O-Y

J-O-Y

J-O-Y

J-O-Y must be

Jesus first

Yourself last

And others in between

 Also, it is letting others take charge of things.

So, March started off with my students and I getting back into the routine of school. After they had been gone to the Latin America ministers meetings. We also continued with our routine we started out in February. We have school four days. Two of the days we have class in the afternoon. My grade one student is almost finished their Learning to Reading. They will continue doing reading but in a different reader. They will also been studying Social Science and Science.  My grade five student is studying about amphibians and reptiles in Science. Also, they have been studying when the Mennonites went to North America in Social Science. Being the history bluff that I am. I have enjoyed reading about it as well. Also, for devotion we have been studying different countries of the world that need Jesus. We have traveled to Peru, India, Romania, and some other countries; we will be learning about in the future. I have been teaching the song

Everybody Needs Jesus

 Chorus 1:
Everybody needs Jesus
Everybody in the whole wide world
Everybody needs Jesus
Everybody has a right to know

Red China has a right to know
They’re needing Jesus down in Mexico
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Zimbabwe and the Ivory Coast

Chorus 2:
Everybody needs Jesus (everybody needs Jesus)
Everybody in the whole wide world (everybody in the whole wide world)
Everybody needs Jesus (Jesus)
Everybody has a right to know

Prince Charles has a right to know
Moammar and Fidel Castro
Starving people in Nigeria
The rich and famous out in Hollywood

Chorus 3:
Everybody needs Jesus
Every single person in the whole wide world
Everybody needs Jesus
Everybody has a right to know

Bridge:
Just a little more faith in the Father (little more love)
Just a little more love of the Lord (little more hope)
Just a little more hope in the Spirit (little more time)
Just a little more time

Repeat Chorus 2 (with “everybody echo”)

Little children have a right to know
Their hearts need Jesus as their bodies grow
Moms and dads have a need to show
The love of Jesus everywhere they go

Repeat Chorus 1 (with “everybody” echo)

Repeat Bridge
Just a little more time
Just a little more time

Everybody has a right to know
Everybody needs Him
Everybody has a right to know

I remember learning this song in grade five or six.

Children class continues to be busy.  We have about thirty children every Tuesday night.  We are busy trying to make them behaving during our songs and class.  At times it feels like we have nothing during the time we have with them.  But I need to remind myself that some sow the seed.  While others do the reaping.

The second time we had youth Friday night; we had separate youth night between Leon and Malpaisillo.  We as youth group sang for some elderly people here in Leon.  I had to think about my job that I had left in Ontario.  I realized how much I missed working with the elderly.  I do not know where God will lead in the future.  He may lead back to work with the elderly or to continue working with children.

We also had some board members that came for a visit.  I was excited for them to come because I know both of them that were coming.  One was from Canada and the other was from the States.  I met the one from the States; we met at training in New York City.

Every third Sunday afternoon/evening we have a fellowship dinner.  A sister in the church, Nate and Angie, Darling, and I were in charge of the meal.  We had Mexican tacos and fresh fruits.  After we finished eating, we played some games.  One of the most common games down here is four square.  There was a rip roaring game that night.

On March 5, it was a year ago I found out that I would be coming down to Nicaragua. I clearly can remember that day.  After sleeping the morning away, I found a voicemail on my phone. It was asking me to call Stewart back. I went outside at home where we hang the laundry out back. The sun was shining and the air was chilly. I remember shaking away with cold because I did not put a coat on. Do not ask me why I didn’t put a coat on. I remember thinking this phone call will change my life. When Stewart told I was going to Nicaragua; I was surprised. I think up until this point; I was really fighting about going missions without my nursing degree. After few days  I got the call, I told my family I was going to Nicaragua. I remember I told my family at the dinner table. I had asked my mom where are the Spanish cds she got for my brother. After I asked, I quickly popped a bite of food into my mouth. One of my parents asked so your going to Nicaragua. I nodded my head yes. That weekend I went to visit my sister in the states. I told her then. Over the rest of the month, I told my extended family. Many of them were surprised. I got the best reaction from my dad’s sister. She kept on saying Wow. Wow.

After few weeks later, I was asked to teach school. I had no intention of teaching school ever. But I really was the only option for teaching school.  I have learned manythings while teaching school down here. The main one is I cannot rely on my own strength. Teachers put in many extra hours outside of school. (Yolanda, I think I understand why you came home late every day. Also, why you went to school on Saturdays.). Teachers need a break. I enjoy when the light bulb goes on for my students when they learn a new concept. I also enjoy seeing their grins at something we laugh and we only know the secret too.

One Friday night Darling and I babysat Nate and Angie children while they went out to celebrate their anniversary. We played games, read stories, and chatted.

One Sunday afternoon, I chauffeured Darling while she practiced driving. The road had some beautiful scenery. Sorry no pictures.

This coming Thursday we are getting my first group down here. They will be painting our Sunday school area, the outside doors, repairing the roof, and setting up a volleyball court in one of the parks. We are going to take the girls to the hospital and hand out baby bundles. Also, we plan to take them site seeing. We plan to climb Cerro Negro and visit the beach. Cerro Negro is a volcano that blow out of the side of the mountain.

Also, the beginning of this month marked six months since I moved from Glen Allen, Ontario to León, Nicaragua. It is hard to believe that I have lived here for that long. I think to the weather have back in Ontario and shiver. But I think things are starting to warm up around there. Now, here things are starting to get hot. Also, as I reflect on the past six months; God has brought me through some very hard times as well as good. He has been there every step of the way. Though I have not thought He was there. He has.

Footprints-Margret Powers

One night I dreamed a dream.
As I was walking along the beach with my Lord.
Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life.
For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand,
One belonging to me and one to my Lord.

After the last scene of my life flashed before me,
I looked back at the footprints in the sand.
I noticed that at many times along the path of my life,
especially at the very lowest and saddest times,
there was only one set of footprints.

This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it.
“Lord, you said once I decided to follow you,
You’d walk with me all the way.
But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life,
there was only one set of footprints.
I don’t understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me.”

He whispered, “My precious child, I love you and will never leave you
Never, ever, during your trials and testings.
When you saw only one set of footprints,
It was then that I carried you.”

This poem continues to inspire me. It is a good reminder that God will carry us throughout life.

 

I would like to thank everyone for praying. Also, for the cards that you send. It is always good to get mail from ‘home’. Also, thank you for your financial support.

 

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