Just Life

My parents came to visit Guatemala for the first time two weeks ago! Despite many "adventures" that occurred before and during their visit, I was grateful to finally have the opportunity to show them around the country that has become so special to me. But...I'll share all about their visit in another post...for now, just another thought that I had tonight...

This evening I had the opportunity to go out to the Children's Home and hang out with the senoritas (older girls) for a couple hours. I, along with 2 other missionaries who live on the campus of NLCH, plan to begin a Beth Moore Bible study on Esther with the girls in January. Until then, we wanted to take the opportunity to break the ice a bit, and create an open, fun atmosphere that will encourage the girls to participate in the study. Tonight, we watched a movie in Spanish (with Spanish subtitles) and then had a little fun with Zumba. While the movie was on, I was looking around at all the girls squished on the couches, and it hit me...tonight was one of the very first times (if not the absolute first) that I had the opportunity to spend time with kids at NLCH without the over-shadowing sadness of counting the days left before I'd have to leave them again. I was watching a movie in Spanish, and I understood it just fine. I was not only chatting in Spanish, but I was using "vos", which demonstrates a good friendship. I was getting into pillow fights, laughing, having water tossed on me...I've always treasured my time with the kids at NLCH, but I'm blown away at the thought of how blessed I am that fun times with those kids is now just life. It's regular, ordinary life. I'm living in a third world country, thinking in and speaking a 2nd language fluently, hanging out with and soon-to-be discipling kids who were once abused and abandoned but now so well adjusted...this is just "normal" life for me...and I couldn't be more amazed by that blessing nor more thankful for it.