The Magic of Ziploc

Who knew Ziploc could be magical. Apparently to people who live in the jungle it is. This morning I gave my students a bag to keep their flashcards in. They looked at them and exclaimed "how cute." Then they began their struggle to get them open. After showing the details, they were in awe. After several minutes of playing with their bags, they looked up at me, and one of them said "these are wonderful!"

I am again reminded of the many differences in the worlds we know and am amazed at how familiar this one has become to me. Who knew that something as small as a ziploc bag would mean so much.

Last night as I was falling asleep, I heard the rains beginning. Today has broken as a cool, cloudy and rainy day. It is not too different than Oregon weather. I feel as if God is preparing my thermostat for a return home. I will visit the doctor again today. Pastor Richard and I are in agreement that it is best to go home and seek more modern medical care and plan to push the doctor for that today. I'm anxious to see what he has to say. Thank you for your prayers and words of encouragent through this.

The Unexpected

I've had 2 experiences this week that have been a reminder of God's care and compassion for us especially at times when we are feeling alone. I'm still having health issues that are making it difficult to leave my house. It is probable I will be returning to the US for surgery.

On Monday night I was sitting in my house reading when I heard a bus outside of my house. This is not necessarily an uncommon thing to hear, but I hear people getting off. I went out on the front porch to see what was happening. It was the students from the seminary and a few people from the church. As they filed into my yard I wasn't sure what they were doing there, but as they circled around me one of them spoke, "We have come to pray for you." So there we stood on the porch in a circle and prayers were lifted to the Father. I didn't understand every word that was spoken, but this group had come to intercede. I'm so thankful that God hears us whether we are in a church or on a front porch fighting the mosquitoes and that we are to come as we are.

The second thing that happened also caught me off guard. This morning we had a guest speaker in chapel who thought he did not need to fit the time constraints. I only had 40 minutes left of my class by the time everyone got there. Class began as normally as any other with singing. After we finished I asked them to get out their Bibles and open to Philippians. They got their Bibles out, but were whispering among themselves. Finally one of them looked up at me with tears in his eyes and in English, said "This is for your life now." And he proceeded to read Romans 8 to me, still in English. Again I was surprised with the unexpected. And again I'm thankful that God uses the unexpected to minister to us at the moment we need it.

On a sidenote: I will be returning to the doctor on Monday and will probably know by the end of next week about a projected return date.

September 12 -- BY SPIRITUAL CONFUSION

"Ye know not what ye ask" (Matt. 20:22).

There are times in spiritual life when there is confusion, and it is no way out to say that there ought not to be confusion. It is not a question of right and wrong but a question of God taking you by a way which in the meantime you do not understand, and it is only by going through the confusion that you will get at what God wants.

The Shrouding of His Friendship. Luke 11:5-8. Jesus gave the illustration of the man who looked as if he did not care for his friend, and He said that that is how the Heavenly Father will appear to you at times. You will think He is an unkind friend, but remember He is not; the time will come when everything will be explained. There is a cloud on the friendship of the heart, and often even love itself has to wait in pain and tears for the blessing of fuller communion. When God looks completely shrouded, will you hang on in confidence in Him?

The Shadow on His Fatherhood. Luke 11:11-13. Jesus says there are times when your Father will appear as if He were an unnatural father, as if He were callous and indifferent, but remember He is not; I have told you - "Everyone that asketh receiveth." If there is a shadow on the face of the Father just now, hang onto it that He will ultimately give His clear revealing and justify Himself in all that He permitted.

The Strangeness of His Faithfulness. Luke 18:1-8. "When the Son of Man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?" Will He find the faith which banks on Him in spite of the confusion? Stand off in faith believing that what Jesus said is true, though in the meantime you do not understand what God is doing. He has bigger issues at stake than the particular things you ask.

—My Utmost For His Highest

These words of Oswald Chambers spoke very clearly to me last week. I honestly have no idea of what is going on in my life right now. My plans looked to me continuing working here for another year. It looks like this could all be changing very rapidly.

My health issues from earlier in the year have continued and worsened. The doctor, whom I do have confidence in, wanted to try hormone therapy first to try and shrink the cysts I have, but I have had reverse effects. Right now I am waiting for another ultrasound, but the doctor who does that is only in the city one day a week and last week he decided not to come at all. Most likely I will need surgery and plan to return to the US for that.

God has given His perfect peace to me. It is not just a feeling but also thoughts and actions and yet I am confused.

Pray for the doctors this week as they make decisions and that the insurance company will be on the same page as the doctors. And pray that in my confusion I will remain faithful to God's purposes in all of this.

This week has been an emotional roller coaster. It ended yesterday with Marcela moving out 3 weeks early which surprised me a little. Also my refrigerator began making an unusual noise and by last night it was obvious it was not cooling, but the compressor was very hot and of course it is 2 weeks past the end of the warranty. Not knowing my future here, I can't commit to buying another one and I don't know about the practices of repairing things here. Finally at 2 a.m. I unplugged it and prayed. I told God I knew He was in control of every detail, even refrigerators and He was aware of my health and financial situation. This morning I woke up and plugged it back in and waited. It immediately began making the same noise, but then began to work. At this moment it is cooling. Thank you God. I know a household appliance may sound like a silly thing to pray for, but in every situation I've experienced here God is reminding me and showing me that He does give attention to every detail about us, not just what we deem as important. What a freeing realization to come to!

Mangoes!!

I had my first mango of the season today. I had forgotten how sweet they are right off the tree. It is amazing to see these ripen. Some are ready to pick and other trees the fruit is barely the size of a pea. There will be fresh mangoes to pick probably until the end of December. Now I must again perfect my skills of getting them out of the tree.

Living Situation

Most of you know I've had a roommate since March. I was originally told she would be leaving around the end of June, but she decided to stay. It has been a good experience having her here, but I am ready to be able to live in my house the way I want to and not have to answer questions about why I cook the way I cook or why I wash clothes the way I wash clothes. After several weeks of contemplating and praying I asked her to leave. She will have another place to stay at the seminary and with her not living here I think we will be better friends.