Sorry We Missed You

So a funny story from spring break...

It was either Monday or Tuesday afternoon and Liz and I were sitting in our living room with our macbooks and all of a sudden, someone was banging on our front door. Since we weren't expecting anyone, my immediate reaction was, "I'm not answering it!" And then we heard a radio.

Not like a music radio, like a walkie talkie radio. Liz and I exchanged confused looks and wondered, "Is it the police?!" We do not have a peep hole in our door so I quietly crept over to the windows and was trying to spy out of tiny hole in the blinds to see who was there. I told Liz, "There's a police shaped car out there. You know, it looks like a police car, but it's not painted like one. And it has really dark windows." So Liz went to another window to see if she could get a better look. We heard something at the door, and then I saw the back of someone's head get into the car.

But the car stayed, and stayed... and stayed. When it finally left, we opened the door and found a paper door hanger that said Sorry We Missed You at the top. Followed by:

You have active warrants.

To avoid being arrested,

please call...

Then on the back there is a clipart picture of someone getting handcuffed and again it says Sorry We Missed You!

Sure. Sorry you weren't home so we could arrest you! Maybe next time... give us a call!

Turns out the notice was intended for a previous tenant at our address. I thought the whole thing was really funny, but Liz had her doubts.

The next day I went to the Garland Police Department to get a background check done. Strangely enough, these incidents were not related in the least. Due to regulations in Romania, I need a background check in order to be allowed to work with young children. I can certainly appreciate their protection of the children! And now I'm one step closer.

Thanks Bri!

Yesterday when I walked in to Sunday school, someone shouted, "SARAH!" It pretty much stopped me in my tracks! I realized it was Bri when she followed it up with, "I have something for you." She then handed me a Romanian Dictionary and Phrasebook. She also said Jesus loves you in Romanian. Thanks, Bri!!

She Works Hard For The Money

I am currently in my 2nd year of teaching and receiving a "big girl paycheck." Before I had a job, though, I was like any typical college student without much of anything. My parents were frugal when I was growing up and I have followed in that pattern. So pretty much as soon as I started having a regular income, I set up a monthly budget with savings included.

Let me also say that I don't actually like money very much. It can be very dangerous. Money has the ability to shift priorities so fast that we don't even realize a change has occurred. I think that one of satan's main tactics for sneakily keeping us from Christ is materialism. Think about the things we think we need. The way that money can cause an argument between husbands and wives. Or why we pursue jobs that pay more but keep us away from our families and the people we should be loving. And debt is bondage. But I'm sure that you, like me, are not caught in satan's snare. (Yeah, right!)

A little over a year ago I was the victim of check fraud. This did not help with my distrust of money and I have to be really careful to not make hanging on to what I have too important. See, I don't so much spend too much money, I tend to think I need the security of having money in the bank. And even though the fraud was a huge mess, I received some good financial advice from my bank and ended up with a separate savings account devoted solely to travel.

So, as mentioned in an earlier post, when faced with the prospect of going to work in an orphanage this summer, I realized the Lord had already been providing a way for me to get there! When I had finally settled on Romania with Projects Abroad, I immediately filled out the application. But in order for the application to be complete, I had to make a deposit. This was a big step of faith for me because the website looked great, but what did I really know about this organization? Could I trust them?

I sent my information for the deposit anyway. So you can imagine the thoughts that started racing through my mind when I received a call a couple of days later from a Projects Abroad employee telling me that the card number I had given them wasn't working and I needed to call them back as soon as possible. Doubt. Is this just a scam? You see, satan knew that money was the easiest way to make me start questioning what I was doing. I was going to have to send a check to Projects Abroad. A check! I hesitated for a little bit, but did some more praying, and some more research on the organization and once again stepped out in faith and sent the deposit.

While I was waiting for them to process everything and get back to me about being accepted into the program, I was talking with one of my coworkers about the trip and she asked who I was going with. When I told her it was called Projects Abroad she said, "Oh, that's who my daughter went through!" What a comfort to hear! Just when I needed it, Christ spoke through my coworker who had no idea the doubt I was experiencing.

And, of course, everything has turned out fine. I am growing more and more excited as the days go by. God is doing a great work in me and I cannot wait to see what He has in store for the summer. Today, in particular, I have been reeling with thoughts of all the possibilities of what might happen. When doubts creep in, I am reminded that we have the power to destroy arguments and every lofty opinion... and take every thought captive to obey Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5) I can joyfully say that all I have belongs to Him.

To Lisa

Dear Lisa,

I love you! Thank you for being excited with me about Romania. It was so fun getting to spend some time with you today! Why did we not do that sooner? Do you realized how multicultural we were today? Chinese and German all in one afternoon. :)

I would just like you to know how thankful I am for your friendship. I love the way we can be apart for so long and then spend the afternoon together like it's a normal thing. You have always been so encouraging to me, and are always able to keep up with the details of things I tell you and check on them again later. You are so thoughtful! And I cannot begin to count the times that you have spoken truth into my life, or seen good in me when I did not see much in myself. What a blessing to have such a caring friend!

I am excited for you right now. I look forward to seeing and hearing what the Lord is going to do in your life as you surrender all to Him. When we become less, He is able to become more. And I am praying that He will lavish His love on you. That since you are rooted and established in that love, you will comprehend its breadth, length, height, and depth, and will be filled with the fullness of God. (Eph. 3:17-19) And as you go before Him in all honesty and He begins to work in you, let your response be I love you, too!

Love,

S

Just Like Prison

It amazes me what some of my students don't know. Things like the difference between city, state, and country. Or what Jell-O is! So, when I get the opportunity to throw in teachable facts, I do. Recently I have been using the new search engine, Bing, to help in this endeavor. When you go to the Bing website, there is a full page picture as the background. The pictures are always fantastic and there is a caption with some quick details. A couple of days ago, there was an incredible picture from Tuscany, Italy. So I put it up on the projector screen for the kids to see, and I showed them where Italy is on the map, and we talked about the fact that it is shaped like a boot, and even discussed what that "stuff was that looked like clouds" (fog).

Well, today one of my 4th graders asked when I was going to go to the place in the picture, and I told the class that I was not actually going to that place, but just wanted them to see it. And then, without much thought I told them that I was going to go to Romania this summer. I showed them where it was on the map, and then the questions began. When are you going? What are you going to do? Why? Who will you stay with? Are you coming back? What is an orphanage? Why did their parents leave them there? And so on... One boy in particular seemed to be really bothered by the fact that someone's parents would just leave them. "That's so sad," he kept saying. We talked a little more and I explained that sometimes parents know they cannot care for their children so they take them to a place where the kids will have food and clothes and a safe place to stay.

And then, in the midst of all this new knowledge and these sweet enquiring kids, the boy says, "Three meals a day- just like prison!" The whole class dissolved into giggles. I just put my face in my hands, shook my head, and had to laugh, too! It really was funny. He was not being mean-spirited, he has simply made a connection. Once we regained some composure I asked him if he eats three meals a day, to which he responded, "Yes." Then I asked if he was in prison, to which he responded, "No." The kids giggled again, and then we started music class.

Validation

Just a quick update today... I received my official receipt and validation for my trip! This means that payment for the trip has gone through and I will be insured starting on the date of my departure. So thankful today for the provision of funds for this excursion! Now all that's left is the plane ticket!

Babe's

Oh, spring break, where did you go?! I am halfway finished with a new work week and still feel somewhat like I have not come back from spring break. I was reminiscing today about getting to eat for the first time at Babe's Chicken Dinner House. You pick the way you want your chicken cooked and then everything else is served family style- corn, green beans, okra, mashed potatoes, salad, homemade biscuits. Talk about some Southern comfort food, it doesn't get much better than that!

I met a couple of my teacher friends there for lunch one day during the break. It is amazing how something as simple as getting to go out to eat a leisurely lunch really is a treat for us as teachers! While we were enjoying our amazing lunch, we got to talking about my summer plans to travel to Romania and I confessed to them that I had secretly been wanting to start a blog about the whole process. My first hesitation was my lack of technology know-how. But, Ali came to my rescue and volunteered to set up a blog for me and get me started. My second hesitation was that several things had already happened, and I would be writing in past tense for a while. Both girls quickly assured me that this would be ok, and that I should go for it. So, here I am, sharing my story.

My main motivation for this blog is to have as many people involved in my journey as possible. Let me try to fill in some details without being overwhelming. When I began seeking a way to get to an orphanage and rock babies, I immediately checked out Buckner International. They have orphanages all over the world and do incredible ministry in so many ways. I applied to be a summer intern for them, as well as for another christian organization very similar to them. Over the Christmas break I was invited to tour their facilities in Dallas and got a chance to meet several of their wonderful staff. I later had a phone interview for the position and found out that I would be assisting teams from the U.S. and helping to lead camp type activities for kids. This, of course, is incredible work, but just not what I had envisioned for my summer. I really struggled with what to do. The thought of going with a team of interns just did not appeal to me. I had this desire to just go on my own and simply work with babies. Not to offer special summer programs or have every minute already planned out. And as I was praying over what to do, I found these verses:

if you pour yourself out for the hungry
and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
then shall your light rise in the darkness
and your gloom be as the noonday.
And the Lord will guide you continually
and satisfy your desire in scorched places
and make your bones strong;
and you shall be like a watered garden,
like a spring of water,
whose waters do not fail.
Isaiah 58:10-11

It was clear to me. I did not have to go with a Christian organization in order to be effective. As long as I go in the name of the Lord, He will make Himself known. His light will rise in the darkness, for we are the light of the world. (Matthew 5:14-16)

So I turned down Buckner. I had been researching Projects Abroad and really liked what I found out. They have orphanages in 16 different countries around the world, but as I looked at the details of the sites, I learned Romania has a project in a pediatric ward of a hospital where volunteers help with the daily care of babies. I couldn't get my application and deposit in fast enough!

And that's how it all began. I do not have a departure date yet, but will leave in the middle of June. I will be living with a Romanian family while I am there, which I am SO excited about, and will get to meet other volunteers from all over the world. Projects Abroad has staff in every country where they send volunteers. Alex is my contact person in Romania. I have a website that allows me to keep up with required paperwork and which is my main form of communication with Projects Abroad. I will not have specific accomodation or project details until one month before I go. Look out world, here I come!!

Wisdom...Tooth

Last week was spring break, and as any good teacher would do, I scheduled all those necessary appointments that just don't fit in on a school day. One of the things I needed to do was see a dentist. It had literally been years since I had been to any dentist. Nothing was wrong when I scheduled the appointment, I was just long overdue for a check up and cleaning. But, of course, as soon as I found a dentist who could fit me in and made an appointment, I started experiencing lots of pain in my mouth.

You see, I come from a family that has a history of missing teeth. For my mom and brother, this means they are missing some important teeth and have had to endure lots of dental work. For me, it means that I only have 1 wisdom tooth. Yes, that's right, I still have it. And right after I set up my visit to the dentist, it decided to start making it's way to the surface of my gums. Good grief! It's no wonder babies cry when they are teething! For almost a full week I had constant pain on the right side of my mouth. But by the time I actually made it to the dentist, most of the pain had subsided and a lot of the swelling had gone down.

Another thing I have inherited is a major aversion to anything that might even come remotely close to being gory, bloody, or just plain gross. I know just as well as everyone else that people do not keep their wisdom teeth. They have them removed. But as you can guess, based on my previously mentioned squeamish-ness, this has not been a high priority for me. So when my dentist casually said, "We'll set up an appointment for you to get that tooth removed," all I wanted to say was, "I think I'll just hold on to that little bit of wisdom, thank you!!"

A few months ago I had coffee on a Saturday morning with my sweet friend, Ali. She is such a joy to be around. And, she is full of wisdom. The kind of wisdom I long to have. Wisdom that comes from knowing the word of God. Wisdom that comes from experience and living life. Wisdom that encourages. I was telling her about my long-time desire to spend some time at an orphanage rocking babies. She said, "Why don't you?" And that's when it hit me. All my reasons for not being able to go in the past were gone. I have summer vacation. I have some money saved. Why not? I asked her if she thought I was silly for wanting to do this, if it would be of any value. Then came her wisdom. Ali read this verse to me-
"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world." James 1:27

I made a quick stop by Georgia's Farmer's Market and then headed home to start researching ways to get connected with an orphanage. Several weeks later, after much prayer and deliberation, I decided to go to Romania with an organization called Projects Abroad. I will leave in the middle of June and am so excited! So, thanks Ali, for your encouragement, friendship, and wisdom.

To Liz

Dear Liz,

Yesterday it snowed. Oh, and you got married! You were a beautiful bride and the ceremony was so sweet. Thank you for letting me be part of your wedding. You did such a great job preparing everything and we had so much fun. I loved getting to catch up with old friends and meeting people who know you from different parts of your life. You are loved by so many! This, of course, does not surprise me in the least. You are one of the most joyful people I know and your joy is contagious! I'm sure this is just one of the many reasons J.R. loves you.
Your love for people and heart for God are some of your most beautiful qualities. My favorite thing the pastor said during the ceremony was when he charged J.R. to beautify you with his love. I cannot wait to see how the Lord works in your lives and accomplishes this. You are already so wonderful, it is hard to imagine!
I am so excited for you to be settled and have a home! It will be such a happy place and one of hospitality and comfort. I have loved living with you the last several months and am so thankful for your friendship. I am simply trying not to think about the empty room next to me. Who knew all those years ago when we were just Slingy and Sunmaid that I would have the privilege of sharing in your marriage. I am praying that the Lord blesses you and J.R. in everything. Enjoy Mexico!

Love,
S

Love Letter

"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." -Mother Teresa

I do not know the context of this quote, the when or why Mother Teresa said it, but I am stirred by it. First is the idea of a love letter. Who wouldn't want to receive a love letter? All people have a deep desire to be loved, just as they are- with faults, and imperfections, and quirks, and for all their little details. A love letter means that someone has taken notice of you. That you have had an affect on them. That they must declare their admiration.

Next is the author of this letter- God. He is writing to us! Not has written, but IS writing. God has given us His word in the form of the Bible and made the ultimate sacrifice for us in giving His son to die for our sins, but He did not stop there. He is still writing to us. A love letter. That means He is actively pursuing us. He is continually expressing His love, His admiration, His favor, His delight, His pleasure, His enjoyment, His affection for us.

Finally, I am in awe of the fact that I get to be that little pencil in His hand. That he chooses to use me. I am a child of the King and have nothing to offer apart from Him, but He sees all the good in me and uses me in spite of myself. How grateful I am! And unworthy. I am not even good enough to be a shaving left over from sharpening the pencil, but because Jesus has saved me, God looks at me as blameless and worthy. He allows me to be part of sending His love.

So what is this love? It is an unfailing love, a steadfast love. A love that we are unable to fully comprehend, and unable to give as well. God is love. (1 John 4:16) That is His nature, His character. His steadfast love endures forever. (Psalm 136) And nothing can separate us from His love. (Romans 8:38-39) Nothing. Not life or death, not the past, present, or future, not height or depth, not any part of creation, not circumstances, not choices, not even our rejection will change His love for us. "Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the LORD, who has compassion on you." Isaiah 54:10 This love is hard for us to completely take in because we are incapable of loving in this way. I have the best intentions but still fall short in my ability to love. We are selfish. We can reach a point where we have nothing left to give. But God's love encompasses all the shortcomings of our love. Simply put, His love is perfect. (1 John 4:18)

In just three short months I will be going to Romania for a while to spend time volunteering in an orphanage. This has been a dream of mine for several years and I am so excited to finally see it happening. i heard a long time ago that there are places in the world where orphanages have so many babies in them that the children just lay in their cribs all the time and are never held. That you could literally go rock babies all day long. So, that is my objective. Why? "We love because he first loved us." (1 John 4:19) There it is again. That love. Steadfast love. Unfailing love. And I... I am a little pencil.