The Help

I've seen the movie but not read the book. Here in Bogota 99% of the people posted here have maids. It's amazingly affordable and very convenient. They do everything for you – clean, pay bills, cook, walk pets, grocery shop and do errands.
I've resisted getting a maid up to this point. I did it all at home, why not here? But I've found that I just can't keep-up. Everything takes twice as long as it did at home. Need to run to the kids school? 35 min. one way. Grocery shop? 3 hrs. Pay a bill? 1 hr./bill It starts to become ridiculous. I spend all my time running around in circles. I need help. I've also really struggled with the relationship of a maid. She is an employee in my home, yet how can I not be friends with someone who is around the house when I am?

Problem is, I've seen the movie and I've watched people around me for 9 months to see how they handle maids. I've heard everything from distrust, hiding in a bedroom while the maid is cleaning, child attachment difficulties (because the child is with the maid more than the mom), and frustration to love, appreciation, and thankfulness. I know what I don't want to be but how exactly do I be the employer/human being I do want to be?

After a bit of waiting and listening to people talk about maids that were available I made a decision. I met my maid yesterday and today is her first day. So far so good. She knows as much English as I do Spanish. We spent an hour hashing through the different things I wanted done. I think we were both pleased with the communication at the end of it all. Now she is cleaning and I want to keep jumping up and changing the laundry, shake-out a rug and wash some dishes. I know I need to relax, sit-back and let her do her job. I like her – a lot. She radiates joy. When she came in the dog ran to greet her which brought a sparkle to her eyes. I will be leaving shortly which will be good for each of us. Time will bring rhythm and hopefully a friendship as well!

A Beautiful Day - For a Bomb

It’s been an unusually beautiful day here weather-wise.  Puffy white clouds float along in the brilliantly blue sky.  

I had a morning appointment at the embassy.  My normal traffic frustrations went to the back of my mind as I drove along the wall of the embassy.  A wall with probably 100 Colombian swat team members walking with crowd shields.  Unusual.  

I passed through the check-points.  My car was inspected.  I noticed the flag at half-staff.  I found out this was because today is a new policeman memorial day.  But the flag at half-staff just added to the weird vibes I was getting about the day.

Appointment done, groceries bought and check cashed, I was just going to say “good-bye” to THE DOC when I noticed confusion on the tv in the waiting room.  The nurses were solemnly standing behind the desk staring at the screen.  A bomb had gone off about one mile from my apartment.  Three dead, seventeen injured.  

When that sort of thing happens you feel a heaviness inside.  Your head screams “Why would anyone do that?”.  

Today is the first day of the free-trade agreement with America.  A motorcyclist targeted a former government Minister, tossed a bomb and missed hitting a bus full of people.  The Minister was taken to the hospital.  His body-guard and driver are dead.  Innocent people on the bus are dead.

The Doc. and I sat down for lunch outside.  We tried to chat about normal things.  We heard popping noises, shots or something.  I don’t know what was going on out there, but there are riots at the college campus down the street were going on.  

You think about your kids.  I have a plan in my mind of who to call if another bomb goes off.  The kids can stay north, they are safer there.  

It’s a great city, and today the sun is still shining out my window, but this is the reason it is considered a danger post.

Certain of What We Do Not See

My Bible study group recently began a new book, Faithful, Abundant and True. I've been excited thinking how wonderful it would be to spend a few months being filled with God's promises to be faithful to me, fill me with an abundant life and, um, well I guess I didn't really get to the true part!

Of course I was wrong. Over the past few weeks I've discovered that Kay Arthur really wanted to look at my faithfulness to God. Specifically how much Faith did I have in God?

Faith in daily life has really got me thinking this morning. We usually talk about having faith in God when we are presented with a situation that requires a movement into the unknown, or maybe the known, which is outside our comfort zone. God asks us to do something - change jobs, give a possession away, lead a group, show love to a person... - and now we have a choice to obey, which will require faith, or to continue on in life as normal.

If we choose not to obey God, we are choosing not to depend on God. Simply put, that is choosing to depend on ourselves. Yikes! Is that where I want to be in my walk with Christ? No way! Yet, that is often where we find ourselves. It's really subtle and I've seen times when I've convinced myself that a closed door is God's will not realizing it is really only my dependence on self rather than throwing myself at God's feet in faith and obedience.

If I am a Christian why is faith in God's provision so hard? What is blocking me from that un-abandoned faith? A few ideas that pop into my mind are:

Fear – of the unknown, the worst possible scenario, difficulty. Fear is a very real issue. It can affect our state of mind, health and relationships. A life directed by fear is no life at all. Paul has a response to fear in Romans 8:15. “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Sprit of sonship. And by him we cry, Abba, Father.” It seems he is saying that a life directed by fear is the normal for those without Christ. But now that I have Christ living in my life I am given the Holy Spirit who is not a spirit of fear but one of faith. And in my fear I can come before God and cry “Father”. He will not abandon me.

Security in earthly possessions – When I think about this, it is a form of fear as well. But it needs to be addressed head-on. I have seen so many people not move in any direction because they don't want to loose what they have accumulated. I know husbands who don't move where God is directing because of wives who are too comfortable. I like my things, especially when they are shiny and red! God gave us these things to enjoy, but he doesn't want us to become so attached to things or a lifestyle or a city or country that we are not willing to abandon these things when he says “change who you are”. Matthew 6:19-21 says “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” It really comes down to where my eyes are focused. Are they focused on God or are they looking at everything around?

Misunderstanding that God is working to refine us to who He wants us to be. – We think we can take care of ourselves better than God. We can plan our future better than God. So when we come to a fork in the road it's easier to travel down the path we have planned where we can see the outcome rather than go down the path God is directing into the unknown. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares he LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future'.” Even when the path looks painful and scary, God is working us into the person He desires us to be.

So may you choose to walk in faith, even when it is difficult and scary. Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”

Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother

Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother

by Amy Chua

Bursting out in laughter I ended-up reading chapter after chapter of this book to my husband. I couldn't help it. The insight was so deep, the cultural difference so evident and the unbelief so real.

Did you ever wonder how those Asian kids excelled at everything that was handed to them? Do you have a friend who parents in a completely different style of expectations than you do? Amy Chua does an excellent job of looking at how her Chinese culture influenced how she raised her two girls and how opposite to American culture it was. By understanding the culture and reasons behind different ways of raising kids I realize that I agree with some of the Asian ideas and wish I had employed a bit more Tiger Mother into my own kids!

Love Pouring Out

Today was one of those glorious mornings that feeds life into my soul. The life that is necessary to sustain all the mundane activities that occupy my time.

A photo journalist is staying with a friend of mine here in Bogota for a few weeks. His purpose is to accompany the missionaries through their daily lives and record in photograph what their lives are like. From the every-day shopping at the grocery store or market to the ministries they are focusing their lives on.

I want to become a better photographer. I want to move from taking pictures for fun to becoming good and then really good. It's creative. Photography combines color, pattern and texture the same as designing a room or creating a quilt does. But photography goes beyond these other loves of mine to telling a story. A story of a person or a culture. I want to combine pictures with words to tell stories that people back home don't have the opportunity to experience. So I asked if I could tag along on a photo trip this morning. The photographer was wonderful, talking to me about cultural boundaries in different areas of the world and taking pictures. He talked about light and angles and respect of holy time. He talked about capturing a moment between two people that tells a personal story within the larger story of the missionary. Emotions, postures and interactions. I absorbed it all. I'm at the beginning of this journey and learning what I can when given the opportunity.

But I found myself loosing sight of the photography as I watched the people. What I saw was love pouring out. There was love from the missionaries to the people. Love in the greetings. Love in the teaching. Love in the serving. Love was evident through their voice, a gentle touch, a smile or an embrace.

We were at a Sr. Citizen outreach to provide teaching and food for the poor in the area. 50% of the people had a home. They had bathed. Their hair was done. They had taken care in their appearance. But the other half were people from the streets. A man passed by and the aroma about knocked me off my feet. A woman approached and as we kissed in greeting I felt the sticky grease of her cheek brush against mine. T-shirts with holes. Their hair is grey, their faces are weathered.

These people had come for many reasons. To hear the Bible taught - to receive a bag of food - to get a hug, a smile, love. People who are poor have nothing in this world to claim. But sadly their spirits are often as poor as their non-existent bank accounts.

They crave love from humans. The woman who began this ministry slowly walked around the room during the teaching. She stopped at different people and squeezed their shoulders. Placed a hand on their hands. She was touching, comforting, respecting.

I witnessed love in action today and it touched me deeply.  

Crazy Love

Crazy Love

By Francis Chan

Chad and I began reading this book together while he was in Pakistan. We would read the same chapter during the week then discuss it on Skype. I loved those chats. We didn't always see eye to eye or completely understand what the other was working through, but it kept us connected in our lives even though separated by continents.

We never quiet finished the book, so I picked it up and completed it this week, because for me, having an unfinished book on my shelf is outrageous!

Following are quotes from one chapter. They capture the essence of the book's message.

“People who are obsessed with Jesus give freely and openly, without censure. Obsessed people love those who hate them and who can never love them back.” Luke 6:32-36

“People who are obsessed with Jesus aren't consumed with their personal safety and comfort above all else. Obsessed people care more about God's kingdom coming to this earth than their own lives being shielded from pain or distress.”

“People who are obsessed with Jesus live lives that connect them with the poor in some way or another. Obsessed people believe that Jesus talked about money and the poor so often because it was really important to Him.” 1 John 2:4-6; Matt. 16:24-26

“Obsessed people are more concerned with obeying God than doing what is expected or fulfilling the status quo. A person who is obsessed with Jesus will do things that don't always make sense in terms of success or wealth on this earth. As Martin Luther put it, 'there are two days on my calendar: this day and that day.'” Luke 14:25-35; Matt. 7:13-23

“A person who is obsessed with Jesus knows that the sin of pride is always a battle. Obsessed people know that you can never be 'humble enough,' and so they seek to make themselves less known and Christ more known.” Matt. 5:16

“People who are obsessed with Jesus do not consider service a burden. Obsessed people take joy in loving God by loving His People.” Matt. 13:44; John 15:8

“People who are obsessed with God are known as givers, not takers. Obsessed people genuinely think that others matter as much as they do, and they are particularly aware of those who are poor around the world.” James 2:14-26

“A person who is obsessed thinks about heaven frequently. Obsessed people orient their lives around eternity; they are not fixed only on what is here in front of them.” Matt. 24:42

“A person who is obsessed is characterized by committed, settled, passionate love for God, above and before every other thing and every other being.” Deut. 6:4-9

“People who are obsessed are raw with God; they do not attempt to mask the ugliness of their sins or their failures. Obsessed people don't put it on for God; He is their safe place, where they can be at peace.”

“People who are obsessed with God have an intimate relationship with Him. They are nourished by God's Word throughout the day because they know that forty minutes on Sunday is not enough to sustain them for a whole week, especially when they will encounter so many distractions and alternative messages.” Ps. 1:3

“A person who is obsessed with Jesus is more concerned with his or her character than comfort. Obsessed people know that true joy doesn't depend on circumstances or environment; it is a gift that must be chosen and cultivated, a gift that ultimately come from God.” James 1:2-4

“A person who is obsessed with Jesus knows that the best thing he can do is be faithful to his Savior in every aspect of his life, continually saying 'Thank You!' to God. An obsessed person knows there can never be intimacy if he is always trying to pay God back or work hard enough to be worthy. He revels in his role as child and friend of God.” Rm. 11:35-36

Thank you Francis Chan.

Taco Seasoning

Here in South America you would think tacos would abound, but not so! Yet, I'm not willing to give up this favorite of mine. I ran across this recipe for taco seasoning that tastes just like my favorite from home, Old El Paso! There are 2 benefits to making your own seasoning: 1. You can make it anywhere even if there aren't pre-made packets for sale and 2. You can read and identify all the ingredients.

Number 2 is enough for me to make this seasoning mix even when I am living in the states! Who wants to be eating Maltodextrin or Silicon?? And do I really need to add any more “hydrogenated” anything to my diet? So enjoy this simple recipe for taco seasoning!

Ingredients

¼ cup flour

¼ cup chili powder

3 Tbs. Dried minced onion

1 Tbs. Garlic powder

2 ½ tsp. Salt

2 tsp. Dried oregano

2 tsp. Ground cumin

1 ½ tsp. Cayenne pepper

1 tsp. Ground coriander

Directions

Combine and store in air-tight container for up to 1 year.

Cook 1 # ground beef; drain

Add ¼ cup taco seasoning mix and ¾ cup water

Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 min.