A Thriving Community

9.23.13 – Day 2 “A Thriving Community”

“And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.” 1 Thessalonians 5:14

The kingdom of God isn’t built by strong and perfect people, but it’s built by a community of people who knit themselves together in order to overcome their weaknesses.

Today’s alone time was about how we would define a freeloader, and to think about how it would be dangerous to the work of a church?

-       I think a freeloader is a lot like a hitchhiker, in some sense. Always having their hands out for something (for themselves) and never giving something of them self to help (their gifts from God). It’s dangerous for a church to give and give and give and never receive anything in return. If they give everything they have to a “freeloader” their storehouse will never be replenished, so when someone needs something and is willing to give of them self that will assist the church in a way they need… they can’t.

Confession/ release: I feel like I have been this type of person. With everything that I’ve been through in my life and even endured, I’ve become a freeloader at times. By this I mean sucking happiness from my church family and friends, when everything in my life was in shambles at home.

During our 30-minute small group time this morning I told the women about this time. And their response was: love. They pointed out the difference between forgiveness and surrender. Forgiveness releases the person who’s wronged you, but still holds the forgiver captive.  Where surrender sets the forgiver free. They spoke into me that they can see all of my gifts that I have, but they could also see those areas where I’m still holding back. They advised me to seek out a Christian counselor so I can truly know what surrender is in my life and so I’m able to walk in all that God has for me.

Our 1^st full LONG day!! WOWZERS!!! For the 1^st ½ of our day at E.D.S. the women and I pulled vines off the chain-linked fence. I drank LOTS of water, but never had to us the restroom!! It was GREAT!! As well, I don’t think I’ve ever sweated so much in my life!!! It was pretty gross… sweat was dripping down my face, into my eyes, my mouth, my ears (this felt like bugs flying into my ears – NASTY). Not the best feeling in the world.

After lunch I helped Adam, Matt, and Rachel mix up the cement. 2 ½ wheel barrels of rock sediment, 4 wheel barrels of sand. Mixed together in a huge pile, shoveled into a mountain, then “made mash potatoes” by pulling apart the mountain starting at the center and “mashing” it down so that there was like this mini canyon in the center (we did this like 2 or three times) while circling the pile. Next Adam added the cement dust and we did the same thing again with the mountain and “mash potatoes.” I kept up pretty good and was having fun… next Adam added the water… Not so much fun my arms literally gave out on me. 

The kids wanted to help us SOOOO badly!! They did, but when Adam added the water they weren't allowed to any longer.

So Rachel asked me to grab her camera to get some pictures for her of what we were doing. At about the same time Logan and Warren came over to join in on the fun. Warren was done push mowing, and Logan’s weed eater over heated for the last time that day, as well as a few kids that were finished with their lunch. But because Adam had already added the water to the mix, now was the time when the kids weren’t able to help as much. 

So I got the face paints that I had brought with me out, in hopes to distract them so they could get that part of the day completed. IT WORKED!! I got a few great pictures of painting their faces and hands. A few moments’ later (when the cement mix was laid out where it was going) Warren and Jeanne got the airplanes they brought for the kids out. It too was a hit with the kids!! They were getting them stuck in trees on the roof of the buildings there on campus, but laughing and having a good ‘ol time with them.

By 4 PM we had to leave so we could get back to the team home, get cleaned up (aka Showered) and eat to leave by 5-5:15 to go to the convention cent to hear Nick Vujicic speak about a “Life without limits.” This man was born with no arms, no legs, only a partial foot with two toes. He is a very inspirational man!! Just not very punctual. We get there with the kids both from E.D.S. and Rancho de los Niños and had to sit for at the least 2 hours – then 2 hours more for his talk…. LONG NIGHT!!!

To bide out time I asked Alberto (sitting next to me to play thumb war. He looked at me and had no idea of what I was talking about.  So I showed him. After that, it's all he wanted to play!!! Ha Ha Ha!!! It was fun!!!!

Then we all got silly

After the event we had to say our “good-byes” to the E.D.S. kids. It would be our last time seeing them for the rest of the week. Nazmine, Ruby, Alberto (a kid pretty good at thumb war once he learned how to play it), Roberto (Nazmine’s little brother) and many, many, many more friends!!! It was sad to say good-bye, so we said Hasta Luego!!!

“Introducing Community”

9.22.13 – Day 1 “Introducing Community”

1 Thessalonians 5:14-18

            “… for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

It is not by chance that I am… we all are… here on this trip. I know God has something in store for me here – I just haven’t quite figured it out.

In talking with Gabo (Gabriel) this morning about the new journey, with the children who have special needs, he’s expressed that this is all still new to him. He isn’t the “know it all” for what the children need or may need. He said that they are still trying to learn and understand each child’s specific need.

This morning’s small group was on Community and defining what it is. In the journal they gave to us and in the scripture was focused on how we work as a community – together.

“We have been called to something greater. We have been called to be encouragers, to be helpers, to be patient, kind, and when necessary stern in love and filled with grace all at the same time.”

This group of seven adults has specifically been designed by God to be here at this given moment in time:

            Chris: a B2B employee in Ohio is the team leader for this trip. He had originally planned to take 20-25 people on this trip, but all backed out or didn’t raise the funds to go in time. But he was still pressing forward to go with 25 people or with 7 (including himself). As well, he’s voiced that he doesn’t really have experience with working with children who have special needs.

            Warren and Jeanne: both husband and wife. Jeanne a retired Special Needs teacher with over 30 years of experience and her husband willing to help whenever and wherever needed with his hands held open.

            Logan: His is a friend of Chris’s who is really good hand helping with hard labor jobs and super great with children!! He also has worked a great deal with people who have a special need. His brother has autism and with home health care with an older man who as well has a form of autism.

            Rachel: Her brother has Ausburgers syndrome and has worked a lot in the past years with Special Olympics. As well, she has her degree in Nutrition, which could possibly help some of the children we are going to work with this week, by the sounds of it.

            Amanda: She has volunteered over 25 years working with people who have special needs, by working and assisting with the Special Olympics in her home area. As well her mom was a special needs teacher who later in her life was special needs because she went blind. And her stepson has Ausbergers Syndrome.

Isn’t is awesome how we are oblivious to how God’s designs come into play and work as one until we are actually together physically working and moving in His name? Each one on this team brought their own knowledge and life experiences, and our own “holes” or lack of knowledge is filled by another person in this team. Everything is balanced out and working as one. Even more awesome, each person is from different parts of Ohio (the Dayton and Cincy area), and one is from Maryland; Amanda. SWEET!!!

*************

This is Rachel - she's checking her camera to get some pictures during church.

The front of the church where the worship team leads worship (the first song I recognized but they lost me after it, however it was AWESOME) & the pastor preaches 

Church: La Misión Sagrada

Proverbs 3:9-10

Biggest prayer request for the kids of the church was for their parents.

Santida: Mantener la Libertad 2

“Steps to keep our freedom”

#3: To understand that God isn’t just our King – He’s our father

            1 John 4: 7-19

Dirige tu Corazón Haci dios: God directs your heart

Mateo/Matthew 9: 9-13

Salmo/Psalms 51

Aceptla e Armor y el perdón de dios: (something about accepting) and armor and the forgiveness of God

Romanos/Romans 3:23

Romanos/Romans 6:23

Romanos/Romans 8:31-34

2 Pedro/2 Peter 3:9

We need to accept God’s love, not think we’re not worthy – God values us… we have value and worth to Him!!

Change the way you thing about yourself.

2 Corintion/2 Corinthians 5:17

Hechos/Acts 11:9

Salmo/Psalms 139:13

Juan/John 3:16

Mateo/Matthew 22:39

Change your perception of God

Efesions/Ephesians 6:1-4

Colosenses/Colossians 3:20-21

Proverbios/Proverbs 27:17

Marcos/Mark 10:15

The 1^st person a child trusts is their mom and dad

Romanos/Romans 1:18

#4 Obediencia/Obedience

Deuteronomy 28:1-9

¿Lamado o escogido? : Named or chosen

Mateo/Matthew 12:46-50

Juan/John 1:11-13

Es mucho mas que creer: It is much more than believing

Hebreos/Hebrews 11:8-11

Genesis/Genesis 39:7-9

Señal de Armor y Confiaza Absoluta: Signal Armor and absolute confidence

James 2:18-20

John 14:21

Obedience is a sign of respect, love, and trust

Faith without works is dead

Worship is universal!! There’s NO language barrier!!!

After church we went to E.D.S. (Ejército de Salvación/Salvation Army) to begin our work projects at the campus there. 1^st we ate lunch, then got to work, Warren push moved and 4 of us; Amanda, Jeanne, Grant, and I cleared a 4 ft x 6 ft area behind the Captain’s home (The house parent for the most part) to put in a water filtration system (or rather start it). Tomorrow we’ll pour the cement for it.

When that was done we put our equipment away and I changed clothes, and went to the mall, The Grand Plaza Mall, to watch these kids perform some ethnic dances that covered three different cities in Mazatlán. The older girls wore a white dress for the 1^st dance, then a blue trimmed white dress, and for their last dance they had on this amazing ethnic dress!! It was a mostly pink skirt with a white top and it had a lot of colors that rimmed the top and the skirt. The kids who performed too so much pride in this performance!!! You could see it on all of their faces!!!

After dinner I asked Matt if he played the guitar, and he does. I asked if he’d be willing to one night at the debriefing. He said that it’s a possibility!!! I’m so excited!!!

Remaining flight time: 58 minutes

9.21.13

Remaining flight time: 58 minutes               At 7:34 AM-current time/ 10:35 AM OH time

In the plane from Ohio to L.A. (connecting flight), sitting at the window I’m able to marvel at the amazing scenery!!! And I sit totally in awe of God. One moment the sun is rising in the horizon, and the ground is lit up with blues, and gray hues with a few light white clouds. In the horizon you can see a collection of purples, pinks, oranges, yellows, and reds. It almost looks like the ocean – but since I know we’re not going over any – I sit in wonder at the canvas I’m able to witness before me.

As the plane flies over Kansas, Colorado, Utah, and Arizona you can see how the earth is shaped; some spots are flat with looks like an inverted crayon, or like the only table without chairs in the room of sand. Next I can see the “make-up” of the Grand Canyon!! I see many valleys with meandering roads in the deepest parts. This is an eye opener here. As I look down and see all this beauty, and think, “This is what God sees when he sees us, His canvases that tells their own story.” Though we may be in the valley at different points in our life – God sees it all, at each given moment, like a person in a plane flying over the canyons. Just a very surreal moment for me.  Psalms 121:3-8

From LA to MX we took an Alaska Airlines plane. Right now the West Coast of Mexico is right outside of my window. With the white clouds against the blue ocean with the shores out lining the massive body of water it is truly breath taking as well. The clouds are a brilliant white, some are over the water and it looks like popcorn that’s fallen out of it’s bowl, but the clouds in the distance, that covers the lands looks like hand made mash potatoes. (No – I’m not hungry)

This flight is much like my last – being that there are 3 seats, but only two are occupied. The gentleman next to me has the name of Miguel, and he’s returning home. It’s funny he’s carrying on a conversation with the guy in front of him. I’m not ease dropping… I’m just trying to see if I can pick up on any of the Spanish. I can pick up numbers, time of day, “tambien” the 4 W’s and the “H,” but not much else. I think if they were speaking slower (by A LOT) I may have better luck?

Mexico bound

So I've officially been up longer than 24 hours now. In fact 28 hours in three minutes. I've been at Port Columbus Intl. Airport since about 12:45 am. My dad drove me right after he was off of work, because he's working tomorrow and Sunday. So I'm hanging out here for a little while longer than normal.

I've been wanting to blog about all the rush of emotions that have been running through my body all week. But I'm so tired I am having trouble finding the right words to use to describe them. Yesterday Ll my kids at work just didn't want to let go of me when they gave me a hug bye. It was almost as if they were saying good bye to me for the rest of their lives. It was very endearing to know that I mean that much to them, and that I've impacted their young lives so much already that they just didn't want to say good bye. Even if its only for 7 days. During pick up last night I told them to show their mommy, daddy, or relative where I was going on out carpet (it's a maps of the continents). They were soooooo beyond excited to show them!!! They showed them where we lived (or about) and where I was going and expressed that its far away and that I had to fly in an air plane to get there because I couldn't drive my yellow car. So simply explained but so much detail they gave, made me almost bust with joy!!! They really listened to me when I shared the pesos that I got for the trip, and explained where I was going and for how long. I truly love my job!!!

Brain fell asleep....

On my way here (last night) I received an email from Leah Wasburn-Moses, notifying me of the decision made on my recent application to the cohort, Special Education, at Miami University. The email states, "Please see attached. Sincerely, Dr. Leah." Well, I got this overwhelming feeling of rejection in almost an instant. Because that's all the email said. I opened the attachment, and read; "It is with pleasure that we welcome you to the Miami University Department of Educational Psychology Special Education major! You have met the criteria to join the ranks of those pursuing a career that makes a difference in the lives of children and as such, you will be helping to shape the next generation of citizens in our society.  This is no easy task and should be held in the highest regard." From my current exhausted state of mind I thought I had red it wrong.... But no I didn't. I was just way to tired to get to elated with excitement.... Still am, but I am truly really happy.

As I sit at my boarding gate, I'm still not sure who is apart of my team? There's a bunch of couples.... But I don't know? I'm keeping an eye out for the team leader, Chris, but even then I've only seen his picture in his Facebook. I hope connections will being soon....

Sleepless in Country Side Hamilton

I have 12 days left before I leave for Mazatlán, Mexico. Things are coming down to the wire!!!! However, I've yet to make a packing list, coordinate anything into any kind/type of sense as far as packing, and getting everything in order as far as if I'll have a way to the airport, in Columbus, that morning (9.21), or a ride home (9.27). I believe my dad is taking me to the airport, and my little sister is picking up that Friday I come back. I just need to confirm everything. I've purchased a new piece of luggage, and it's freaking HUGE!!! I seriously could fit in this thing!!! Got an AWESOME deal on it too!!! $39s for a $320 suit case!!! With a linking strap!!!  I've purchased Face Paints to paint faces there, and put a face painting binder together so my, soon to be, new friends have something to pick from. 

Excitement has slowly creeped into my belly... but it hasn't actually "hit" me yet. I have gotten my currency exchanged, $201.08 got me 2460 pesos and I'm taking some cash with me as well. Even when I picked up my pesos.... nothing hit me? Sitting here typing this, I do have little jitters going in my belly.... but nothing too big to call it anything?

I'm just praying that my ears are clear to hear what needs to be heard, and my heart is open and receptive to serve!!!! 

But yes, I am really excited - though I'm not feeling the jitters yet.

Time flies when you're not paying attention

As I sit here now, I'm just waiting for my laundry to finish drying. What took place earlier though was an emotional three hours of sorting through, reading, reminiscing the stages of what not only myself, but my two sisters, and a family friend endured, coming up on now 15 years ago.

Not even a year after the accident, for the first time ever, I sorted through pictures, cards, letters, newspaper clippings, and made a scrapbook from what my mom, dad, various family members, friends, and the community saved during my time in the hospital. During this time that I put this book together, I don't recall ever being as impacted by what my sisters, our friend and myself have lived through until tonight.

I have been on this cleaning and organizing fit for the past week or two. Cleaning out the clutter from my room, and trying to make it more workable through these next two years of school. My room before all you could do is walk in and sit on my bed. If you tried to do anything else, you may trip over a shoe, book, binder, art things (i.e. paints, brushes, canvases, etc), or my big 6' easel. Tonight I took on my closet... Not the clothes, or the things on the floor (2 drawer file cabinet, or the two "connect-a-drawer" things on wheels, even the luggage and bed-in-a-bag in the opposite corner of it all), I'm talking about the two shelves on the top of it all.

Here I found all of my past portfolio submissions for "Teacher's pick," past art projects for various classes (some amazing and stopping me for a second to question if I really did that - and yes I did do them, and then some not so good pieces...), two and a half scrapbook boxes of NUMEROUS things from the accident in '98, a scrapbook that my mom had started for me back in 1992 (yes friends I at one point in time sported the much laughed about today.... mullet & there's proof in this book), to my numerous towels I have (this closet acts as my linen closet too), and my big box of purses (and old HP paper box that held like 10 reams of paper at one point in time).

Getting down the scrapbook boxes and going through them took me about three hours, and countless tears at the support of not only family and friends, but the out pour of love from the community, surrounding schools (and their administrators), to businesses, church groups, and organizations.

In going through a box I found numerous.... but on a much larger scale.... letters of "Get well" wishes, and "I'm praying for you" from my peers at school. Though I'd love to list them all, there is just way too many to do so. But there were a few that totally grabbed my heart and made me swell up with so much gratitude that I had to list them here:

 Fontaine, you a really sweet girl, who I know will make it through this! You're a very strong person, who always has a positive out look on life! Everyone here is pulling for you, your sisters, and your friend! You have a beautiful voice, we miss you in Choraliers! Stay Strong! And remember, God is with you! Never forget that!! God works in mysterious ways! But you'll pull through.
Love, Bobbie Malarkey
*Come back and keep me company in Choraliers*

and

Dear Fontaine, Sabrina, Markita, and Savannah;
The thing that happen in life happen for a reason, a reason which we may never know. There is good that comes from this situation. It proves that you can survive. While the battle is still being fought, a small victory is won.

To Mr. and Mrs. Selby,
Keep faith in your girls' strength. All any of us can do is hope and pray. I have known Fontaine since I was a freshman. In that time I have rarely seen her without a smile on her face and a sparkle in her eyes. The question of "if your daughter will pull through" has already been answered. She will. She will and she will go on to dreams bigger than anything I ever could achieve.
Chris Lanham

To some really sweet cards, especially this one from my youngest brother:

A picture of a good friend, Stephanie, at the Ronald McDonald house. In the picture with her are my dad and Tim laying on the bed:

To a news paper article that quotes me saying;

Sometimes I feel like I am living a nightmare, and I am hoping that some will come and wake me up, but nobody ever does. So then I keep hoping my alarm clock will go off, but it never does. - Christmas Eve '98

And:

"One night, when I was really scared, scared I would never walk again, I felt the presence of the Lord. And he told me that I would walk again" 

It continues:

And she is. Fontaine has begun to take steps, albeit with a limp and needing help from others. Doctors believe she will again walk normally. She should be back in school by January, '99. 

In this article it talks about how my mom was trying to figure out how she was going to purchase a new pair of glasses for one of us girls (I have a hunch it was for Savannah) because they were smashed in the accident and mom had received a card in the mail simply signed "A friend in Christ" and contained a $100 bill.  The article goes on to quote my mom:

"When I feel like I can't take another step, someone does something like that. It really keeps you in the Christmas spirit. We have had to lean on faith. When everything was pointing against us, we had to have faith."

I miss my mom, but I'm so very grateful that I was able to have her as my mom for the 20 years of my life that she was on this Earth. I'm as well, grateful for all of my family and friends. Without any of you I would not be the person I am today! Thank you all for the encouragement and reminders that God is in control of it all, and the battle that we fought was already won yet we were still in the midst of fighting it!! You all were soldiers fighting along side with us girls and our family's!!!! Thank you!!!