Month: February 2016

Sometimes connections with the kids happen in unplanned and unexpected ways. Today at recess, Cassie and I were sitting on the steps talking with another staff member when I saw a group of our rather rambunctious first and second graders playing a modified version of baseball. Their equipment consisted of a green plastic Wiffle bat, one glove, and a small beat-up nerf ball.

If case you didn’t know, baseball is my favorite sport. “I’m going over there,” I told Cassie. Of course I was.

As is true with most activities in which young boys are in charge, a slightly ordered chaos reigned. They immediately turned to me to sort out the batting order. “Profe! Profe!” they yelled. (That’s short for our title of “profesora”.)

I managed to get them into something of a line up – Yaniel, Jesser, Max, Mateo, Nimrod, Jeffry, Joshua, Steven. Then I asked if I could have a turn. They looked a little unsure at first, but then the grins appeared. I don’t think the teachers come out to play baseball much.

The first pitch was well outside and high, but I swung wildly anyway, much to to the amusement of the boys. “Strike!” they shouted gleefully. I made solid contact on the second pitch and ran to the first base tree , then raced around in an ovally diamond shape back to the area that seemed to be “home”. The boys all cheered and gave me high fives.

The game continued, and  I enjoyed watching them try to count balls and strikes and call Yaniel back because he hit the ball foul. (Who knew where the foul line was? Not me!) They cheered loudly each time contact was made, and other than disputes about who was up next, there was a general good-natured feel to the thing. Pretty much everyone scored. It was the whole point. Hit the ball. Run home. No one gets out.

Recess continued, and I went back and sat on the steps. Jesser followed me over and Cassie asked him about the baseball game. He looked over with a little smile and said, “She hit a home run.”

We all did. And we sure had fun.

When we believers are in the center of God’s will, and we are doing what He wants us to do, things don’t always go smoothly. Sometimes (often?) we are faced with circumstances in which we are clueless. We don’t know what’s going on and we don’t know what to do.

Here in Nicaragua, I find myself in this situation frequently. The culture here has been developed over hundreds of years. I dropped in three weeks ago. Situations which were clear and easily dealt with at home suddenly…aren’t. Combine that with my inability to understand what anyone is saying, including my at times unruly students, and it leads to a general feeling of inadequacy.

I love David’s words in Psalm 40 and 70 (both of which “happened” to be in my scheduled Bible reading yesterday).

Psalm 40:17 “But I am poor and needy; Yet the LORD thinks upon me. You are my help and my deliverer; Do not delay, O my God.”

Psalm 70:5 “But I am poor and needy; Make haste to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay.”

I love the fact that the great King of the Universe thinks upon me. It is intensely humbling and intensely comforting. He sees, He knows, He intervenes. And even though it isn’t enjoyable, it’s a good thing to recognize just how poor and needy we are, because we know that the LORD is our faithful Deliverer.

In the States, I took my luxuries for granted. When my favorite dark chocolate and really good coffee were always accessible, I lost my gratitude for them. The same goes for peanut butter, cheese, and hot showers.

Now, we take cold showers. I’m grateful for the refreshment they bring on hot afternoons. I’m grateful to have a shower at all!

Now, we savor each sip of the coffee we brought from the States during our afternoon coffee break.

Now, when a grocery trip Managua yields a jar of crunchy peanut butter, you would think it’s Christmas.

Now, an 8 oz. block of cheddar cheese is a score at the local supermarket. It’s not always in stock.

Now, I slowly enjoy my little ration of dark chocolate. With 30 squares in each bar, it’ll last a month.

We don’t feel deprived because we aren’t deprived. Each of these little things, and so many others, remind us that we are blessed above and beyond our necessities. Sometimes it takes a little scarcity for the Lord to remind us how much we really have. He certainly has loaded us up with benefits!

Psalm 68:19 “Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, The God of our salvation! Selah”