Conversation of the Day

The infamous Pablo: squeaking, squealing noises - similar to a pig

Me: Pablo, stop.

Him: Aww, Miss... You are just like my mom. (Don't forget to read it with a STRONG accent!)

Me: I'm like your mom?

Him: Yes... (Which sounds like "jes")

Me: Well maybe the common problem is you.

Him: No. The problem are womans...

Me: The problem is women? (Trying not to laugh at this point...)

Him: Yes. (Jes.) They are so anti-noise.

Monday

If all goes as planned, Monday will bring a return to school. Our buses have gotten special permits to be out even before curfews have ended so that they can pick up our students on time. Unfortunately, tomorrow is the 3-month anniversary of the "coup" so large demonstrations are expected throughout the country. Please pray for our buses as they come so far with such precious cargo.

I would also appreciate prayer as I try to figure out the best way to handle our return. Things here are day-to-day, so we never know if we will see our students two days in a row or not. They've even suggested that we send textbooks home with the kids along with work that they can be doing if we have another break. It is possible that attendance will be low, so it could be hard to find a balance of getting back to work without leaving others behind. Pray that the Lord will give me wisdom in my planning, patience with tardies and absences and all the uncertainty, and most of all - a stronger connection with the kids so they feel like they can talk to me and know that I care about them.

Thanks friends! I hope things in your world are a bit calmer than in mine! :)

Black Sunday

Apparently today is being called "Black Sunday", and I have no idea why. Just when we felt as though things were settling down and starting to feel normal again around the end of the week, we hear that the military is gassing the Brazilian embassy where Zelaya is hiding out, at least two people were killed yesterday in relation to the demonstrations, and it is rumored that two planes full of troops landed at the US army base last night.

Praise the Lord for His protection of us, but what is going on?

As a result, I've decided to avoid going into the city for church today. I guess it's possible that everything would be okay during that time - but I feel like it's best to be overly cautious.

We went down the mountain yesterday for our weekly grocery trip, and it was actually the best shopping trip I've taken so far. If you've been following the blog, then you know that shopping was one of the hardest transitions I faced when I first got here. However, yesterday, I felt so calm and prepared. I had a list and plenty of time to go up and down the aisles by myself. I'm just thankful for those small details in which I am beginning to feel adjusted. :)

Then when I got home, I flipped to CBS just in time to see the kickoff of the Alabama vs. Arkansas game. I'm loving SEC on CBS. :)

And here are some pictures from yesterday... These were the only things we saw that looked out of the ordinary. These are the military and police guarding the Brazilian embassy.

Same song, fourth verse...

I don't want to continue to go on and on about what's going on here at the risk of boring or desensitizing anyone who happens to read. Yes, school's cancelled for tomorrow - but that's all I'll say about it for tonight. If you are interested in someone else's similar and better expressed perspective, read this post written by our high school guidance counselor.

God has really used these unexpected breaks to teach me and draw me into Him. One of the major things that I believe He showed me just last night is about obedience. I am re-reading Passion and Purity by Elisabeth Elliot, and I came to a passage about seeking the Lord's plan for our futures and our prayers about the matter. Elisabeth set forth the challenge, "Why not start by simply telling God you'll do anything He says?" Instead of spending hours praying that He will do things the way I would prefer, perhaps the best way is just pure submission from beginning to end. The part of me that longs for control is tempted to fear such surrender, but the Spirit within me reminds me that it is not a risk and is not scary to submit in obedience to a loving, good, and faithful God.

And finally, God has reminded me of the blessings of relationships - particularly when you are loved by someone and you don't feel you deserve their love. In those relationships, I see grace.

Today's been a good day, but what I wouldn't give for a night in the warmth of love at the Fleagle household - sitting on the porch or around the island in the kitchen sipping on mint hot chocolate, talking about the Lord, and feeling known and loved. That's comfort to the soul...

God of This City

The phone rang again around 5 o'clock today, just as it has done for the past two... No school tomorrow. Again. Some have said this new curfew is just indefinite, unlike the others that have had specific time frames. I guess maybe they're tired of reissuing them.

They lifted the curfew from 10-5 today so people could get out and attempt to get food and clean water. A few of our teachers braved the grocery stores downtown and came back with lots and lots of staple foods like milk and flour. Another group went up the mountain to a farm and literally walked through the fields picking fresh vegetables. I love the way that those of us who live at the school have such community - sharing what we have to make sure no one is in need... And even when our basic needs are met, we turn to each other for entertainment, like this afternoon's game of Phase 10. :)

My spirit is in a different place today. I'm burdened for the people who have little to no access for food. The news videos are overwhelming. I am not afraid, but I wonder when or how this will end. What will the city be like? People are not only concerned about food for now, but also long term. I read in an article that eighteen-wheelers are parked at roadblocks, and no one knows when the large food deliveries will resume, even if we are allowed out of our houses and into the stores.

I feel removed from it all - like a fly on the wall watching from the distance and comfort of my school. However, I can't believe this is really happening. And I'm a little nervous about what it is going to take to make either side back down.

I know that God is in control, but that doesn't always mean that everything will be perfectly fine.

"You're the God of this city... You're the King of these people... You're the Lord of this nation... You are... You're the light in this darkness... You're the hope to the hopeless... You're the peace to the restless... You are... There is No one like our God..."

Update...

Things here are much the same. I spent the day in my apartment and in my classroom, sometimes flipping to the local news channels to see what is going on in the city. It's crazy to me to think about all of the violence going on just 30 minutes from here. Mel is at the Brazilian embassy, and there are lots of demonstrations going on around that area. The police and military are out in full-force using tear gas to try to get rid of the crowds... There are cars that have been basically destroyed, and even business windows have been shattered. The curfew has been extended until 6:00am tomorrow, which once again means no school for us. This afternoon, an announcement was made that we would all be losing power and water, but it hasn't actually happened. Maybe it was a rumor. Maybe it was a threat. Maybe the plan changed after the media heard about it and started sharing it with the people... You never know, I guess. But just in case it actually does happen and I'm out of touch for a little while, please don't worry and just pray.

I'm really sad for this country, and I'm wondering what it is going to take to bring a resolution...

There are also rumors that the US may be considering pulling their embassy, and I've heard that could mean that they strongly recommend that we leave or possibly even make us leave. I really hope it doesn't come to that.

Many say that the ultimate solution will be the elections, but can things really go on like this until the end of November?

No school...

Well, after an incredible two-week break thanks to swine flu, we returned to classes today - only to find out at the end of the day that school is closed tomorrow. The old president returned to the capital city today in an attempt to recapture his power, and there are violent demonstrations all over the city.

Don't worry... We're very safe up here on the mountain. (In fact, my dad and I looked at the city and my school on Google Earth the other day, and he was pretty shocked to find out just how far we are from the city.)

Unfortunately, our students are scattered throughout Tegus, so some of them are probably right in the middle of it. The government issued a curfew from 4:00pm this afternoon until 7:00am tomorrow. Our buses leave MUCH earlier than 7:00, so starting on time isn't a possibility. I guess we could start late tomorrow, but it's just too much of a risk to have our buses running all over the city.

Of course, in a country where truth is seemingly impossible to find - rumors have already begun to fly... Some have even said it was the US that got Zelaya back into the country. That provokes frustration in me, but I'm really hoping it's false.

Anyway - my major point in this post is just to praise the Lord because of His overwhelming goodness in His sovereignty. I am so thankful for the unbelievable timing of all of this. I just reentered the country yesterday around lunch time. I am thankful that I did not return to a city in such unrest as it stands today... Even if I had, I know He would still be a good God. I'm just thankful because I feel spared and protected.

So now we'll see where we go from here... Please pray for Honduras and that God will not allow evil and lies to have any power.

Edit: One more amazing praise... Apparently Atlanta flooded today and that obviously affected the flights to and from the airport. I missed it all by one day. Incredible.

Change

I think it's possible that when we grow up in large, comfortable churches in the United States and God opens our eyes to His command to go to the nations - we think that life "on mission" in a foreign country will cause us die to ourselves in a new way... It seems obvious that moving to a third-world country will break us from our materialism and selfishness - as if, all of a sudden, we will only be burdened for the Kingdom and not the things of self.

But for some of us, this step in faith leads us to a large city full of commercialism. It leads to a life that is fenced-in, keeping North Americans bundled together in their old ways and habits. It leads to life that looks a lot like the life left behind.

Many people have said (and continue to say), "Jamey, you are going to be such a different woman when you return."

But then I realize - if I just continue to live and teach and love (or not love) in the same way that I did at home, I will return just as I came.

It makes me think of two of my friends, Tiffany and Meredith, who spent about six months in Africa last fall... I remember reading updates from them that described how they would sit on the rooftop looking out over the city, hearing the Muslim calls to prayer, feeling burdened for their mission field and praying fervently for the salvation of the Lord for the people around them who were physically hurting and spiritually deceived.

I didn't come here to live my North American life.

Hillsong sings a song called "Hosanna" that says,

"Heal my heart and make it clean

Open up my eyes to the things unseen

Show me how to love like you have loved me

Break my heart for what breaks Yours.

Everything I am for your Kingdom's cause

As I go from earth into eternity..."

I want my heart to be so sensitive to the Holy Spirit that my heart breaks for Honduras just like His does... I want to see the desperation and urgency of their spiritual need as He does. I want my prayer life to change. I'm tired of the focus on myself and my concerns...

My students are working a little bit at a time to memorize the passage in Ephesians 6 that talks about the armor of God. Before telling us about the pieces of armor and their purposes, Paul first establishes the explanation of why they are essential. He tells us that "our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

I want to be radically equipped to fight this battle for my students, their families, and the people of Honduras - and I am desperate for this to be a permanent change in me so that my life will be lived in such devotion to the Kingdom regardless of where I am...

DDR and Swine Flu

I know it's cruel and completely lacking in the taste and manners department, but I think one of my students said it best today when he said, "Yay swine flu!"

That's right folks... School's out.

For

TWO

weeks.

:)

So what's a girl to do with all this unexpected free time on her hands??? Go home of course! That's right... Around lunch time on Thursday, I will be boarding a plan bound for Atlanta, Georgia. Then I will have 10-ish days (depending how you count it) of family fun, fast food eating, Walmart shopping, and general playing.

Can you tell I'm excited?

Of course, I would have loved if I could just go tomorrow - but alas, it saved hundreds of dollars to be patient until Thursday.

And in the meantime, I'm finding ways to stay busy...

For instance, I just played Dance Dance Revolution for the first time ever. And for the record - I'm terrible. :)

TGIF

Can I just say, I am so thrilled to have the place to myself tonight? All in all I would say this week was good, and so was the day. However, it was also a long day. I've been extremely tired this week and have been hating the first 10-20 minutes of my days with passion. This afternoon, I rode a school bus into the city with two other teachers, and we braved the bank... Banks here are really weird compared to the Regions banks that I'm used to. You can usually hear crickets at the ones back home, but these are very crowded. We only had to stand in line for about 30 minutes, which I'm pretty sure was a good record. It's also interesting to go to the bank here because of safety concerns. They have guards all over, and getting into the bank is similar to getting through an airport. You have to be extremely aware of everyone around you, and you're not supposed to withdraw too much at one time because you could then become a target for theft. We didn't have any problems, though - praise the Lord.

Then we went grocery shopping, which takes a really long time with a full bus of people. So now we're finally home. I was going to go play games with some people in another apartment - but I need to rest and refuel a bit instead.

Tomorrow we are going to a place that translates to Valley of Angels. Apparently it's a pretty big tourist attraction full of shops and Honduran market-type stuff. I'm pretty excited about it. Of course, we don't have a long weekend like everyone else - but we do next week! The Honduran Independence Day is on the 15th, so we're out on that Monday and Tuesday. Yay for a 4-day weekend! A group of us are planning to travel to Amapala. Apparently we'll be sharing a house, playing on the beach (my first trip to the Pacific!), and possibly hiking a volcano! I am so excited and can't wait to share stories and pictures! :)

One of my prayers for this experience has been that I will love every single one of my students whole-heartedly... I can really see that love developing - for those both easy and difficult to love. In fact, my biggest challenge could end up with the largest piece of my heart. :)

They're so funny, and when they are under control - I really enjoy them. I wish I could post some audio of their adorable accents and the ways they butcher the English language. :)

My heart has been in a very different place for the last few mornings. I burned two cds of my favorite worship songs, and I play them every morning as we start our day. I love the tone it sets... And recently, in the very few minutes when I'm in my classroom after teacher devotions and before the kids arrive, I have felt such an overwhelming awe of God... It's nice to feel a refreshed adoration of my Father. It radically changes the state of my mind and my demeanor.

Today on the bus ride into the city, I had a wonderful conversation with my small group leader. She is 30 and like me, has never had a serious relationship - but yet it is something she wants... I asked her if it's ever a big struggle for her, and she said it's usually not a huge deal. She said, "My prayer is 'Lord - You don't have to make me happy. Just make me Yours.'" She said that she still lives a life of love and she has joy - so even if she dies without ever having had a husband or children, she will have what matters most. She has such a beautiful peace... Of course, we were actually discussing it because of an article in Christianity Today that says we should all get married early. I haven't read the entire thing yet, but it really baffles me a little bit because it's not like I can really control the age when I get married. It's not like in a few months I can say, "Okay - now I'm 25. I think I'll get married this year." It takes two to tango.

I'm really struggling to understand the way that the US is handling Honduras's political problems. Apparently Clinton met with Mel yesterday and they are still backing him 100% - now withholding the rest of their money and claiming that they will not recognize the upcoming election as valid as long as this interim government is still in control when the election is held. It just doesn't make sense to me that our country would be siding with Chavez and Ortega. I don't understand how they can be so forceful with a country who is following their own democratic constitution, just because it doesn't exactly match that of the U.S... And what I really don't understand is how the people working at the United States Embassy are not clearing things up back home by relaying truth. They say that Honduran government is corrupt, and a huge part of me is starting to think something shady is going down with some of the US liasons. I absolutely just don't understand...

A wise person once told me that you will realize who you are closest to and who you love based on who you miss the most when you leave. As of tomorrow, I will have been here for four weeks. It's interesting to think about the people who still come to mind every single day. It's funny because four weeks doesn't seem like a long time, but it's almost been a month. Possibly one down and ten to go. That's just crazy when I think back to all the time spent anticipating this.

In other news, I highly recommend that anybody and everybody do the Esther Bible study by Beth Moore. I still haven't been incredibly consistent - but this study has matched my needs, my burdens, and my weaknesses more than any other that I've done in the past... I love how the timing of each lesson is so perfectly planned, even when it seems kind of random because of my inconsistency. I'm pretty sure I may do it over again as soon as I finish. :)

As for the food update: I now have all the ingredients for my grandmother's chicken spaghetti except chili powder - and it's possible that one of the spices in the kitchen is the same as that - but I just can't quite figure out the Spanish label.

So as of now, I think the only thing I'm really struggling to find is Rotel. Looks like I'll be making room for that in my next 50 lb. suitcase. :)

Tomorrow is a very big day here because Honduras is playing Trinidad and Tobago for a world cup qualifying game in San Pedro Sula... However, I'm still sporting the orange and blue and saying "War eagle!"

Bear fruits.

Tonight I was reading in Luke 3 about John the Baptist, and I realized something that I think is very interesting... I am very familiar with the verses about "a voice cries in the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord..." because of a song from the Glory Revealed album. However, if you read a little further on and actually find out what he was saying, the first words recorded (in Luke, at least) are "You brood of vipers!" Then he says, "Bear fruits in keeping with your repentance." I mean, talk about a strong message.
Sometimes, I tend to be a little too honest and blunt. Well, some people see it that way (like my mom) and others have said it's their favorite thing about me because you never have to wonder where you stand. I'm not really like John the Baptist - but it's nice to see his boldness in the truth.
And, "Bear fruits in keeping with your repentance."
Whoa.
That's the real deal... There's no question about the interpretation or "what it means to you." Just straightforward direction for the Christian life.

Then, after describing the ministry of John the Baptist, Luke gets into the genealogy of Christ. It interests me to think about how his ministry didn't begin until He was 30. I find myself wondering what He was doing when He was my age. I wonder if He ever longed for the beginning of His true purpose. Or at least, I know I feel that way sometimes...
It puts patience in this season in a whole new perspective. Maybe 24 is pretty young. :)

Oh, and I'll try to write a real update on life this weekend... Just as I expected - school started, and my blogging definitely slowed down. :)