Stretching

Most can’t express how it good it feel to stretch, whether it’s before and/or after exercise, following a refreshing nap, or whenever the sleepy feeling comes along. It helps wakes us up after a couple hours of layi. It relieves tension and stiffness. It helps with circulation. It prepares us for the exercise that’s to come, and helps unwind and loosen up afterwards, and may even improve the workout. Overall, it just feels good. Can anyone agree?

I’ve come to learn that it also applies to our skills, talents, abilities, and responsibilities. Stretching myself gives me more work on my plate, but allows me to improve on my relationships, Spanish vocabulary, sense of direction, my impact on the kids of Shalom, and helps me find new activities and hobbies to take part in. Once it’s done, the results feel good.

I’ve stretched myself to assisting in the internship program. Since the intern director isn’t great with her Spanish yet, I am the communicator between her and the intern(s) with the Guatemalan house parents and staff. I am helping in asking questions, while also providing the answers to the questions. The intern director lives off of campus, so I’ve been her assistant while she isn’t around, being the communicator between the two, while the intern is phone-less. I am still not comfortable with all the similar-looking corners and winding roads of Antigua, and have been stretching myself with taking the interns out on the town, to markets, restaurants, coffee shops, central park, and calling up for a cab ride when the day is done. Watching the little blue dot on the map from my phone screen has been very helpful for me in determining time, number of blocks left, or whenever I get lost!

I’ve suffered from stage fright for most of my life. And, to be performing in front of a bunch of different ages, people, and backgrounds, in a different language just sounds like one of the scariest things to me. Only because I’ve stretched myself, the highlight of my week is usually leading worship with my ukulele (and a fellow guitar player/singer) in Spanish Tuesday with the younger girls and Wednesday with the younger boys. I also look forward to co-leading worship twice a month in front of fellow missionaries in English and Spanish. I’ve also taken up the job of leading worship in our chapel services. Last time, it was leading hand motions. Next time, I may include my own singing voice with either my ukulele and/or the piano.

In stretching myself with worship and stage fright, I’ve been continuing to improve on my music abilities and have started writing my own worship songs in my free time. It’s become a way for me to unwind at the end of a long day! I may share some in the future, but they are still far from being finished. Just words on paper now, I will begin putting tunes to them as I continue to proof-read! Right now, they are solely English, but maybe far down the road I will start to include Spanish….. That’s a big MAYBE!

The kids have been starting wood shop classes. The pre-teen boys got a one-hour a week class for the month and made a boat to compete in a race against one another. The final class was learning about Jesus calming the storm, along with some questions to go along with the story. I was there to translate the story to the kids, ask them questions, and translate the answers to the carpentry teachers, stretching myself in my carpentry/boat Spanish vocabulary.

Being a missionary isn’t as easy as it may sound. Although I am posting pictures of happy, giggly kids, it’s not always what it seems. It requires faith, trust, hope, and accountability. It sometimes brings doubt, fear, loneliness, and a bit of confusion. I’ve been guilty of bottling my thoughts and feelings up inside all alone, as people in the states are continuing to lift me in prayer and/or financially support me. I’ve been stretching myself and slowly learning to trust those around me, Spanish and English, Guatemalans and Americans, with those things I’m struggling with, want to put into action, or times I just need to share a prayer request. No, it’s not easy, but it’s been worth it to create those friendships that mean more than just working alongside one another. They’re irreplaceable friendships built upon trust, honesty, love, support, laughter, and being present with one another.

Along with the therapies I’ve mentioned before, I’ve been asked by another ministry to get more involved with therapies across the orphanage campus and maybe even extending into other children’s homes or schools in the area. I will share more about that when the doors open and I know more of what I’ll be involved in. Keep an eye out for it next month!