High/Lowlights

So sorry I haven't posted much lately. The "luz" (electricity) goes out frequently these days and not worth a walk down the beach for internet if your not sure it will be there. Time better spent with people:) I've also been by myself in the clinic for a month. Thank you Jesus for all the grace you gave me and all the prayers that helped me through! Thank you Laura (the ARNP that serves with me) for coming back and for all you do:) Anyways just thought I'd share a few high and lowlights of recent life.
Yesterday:
Highs: One of the neighbor boys, Christian, probably around 12yrs/old told me he would miss me today when I go for vacation.

Lows: When doing med inventory I reached for a bottle and almost grabbed a rat. High: It was dead. Other high: There was a guy helping me so he "disposed it" for me.haha

Today:
High: The ladies in women's group told them I should come live outside with them and they would find me a Honduran man. hahaha.

Low: I couldn't stay and chat with them because I had a meeting :(

High: I went to sit on the front porch to spend time with Yadi (our youngest child). She brought her stool, put it next to me, sat down, put her little, chunky arm around my neck, and her head on my shoulder, and said, "lee (read) Nati"

Low: Doesn't matter once you have a moment like that:)

Thank you Jesus for all these precious, intimate opportunities that I've been given in these children's lives

Divine Mercy Sunday

                         Why is today so special? Today is Divine Mercy Sunday! Read more!

http://www.integratedcatholiclife.org/2014/04/deacon-bickerstaff-jesus-and-the-message-of-divine-mercy/

Newest Saints!

I am so blessed to say I am part of the church as we welcome our 2 newest saints! Thank you for you holy leadership in our church!

Where are the best tamarindo?...

I have come to realize that will I enjoy being in a group of people, I truly cherish one on one time. Today I was given the opportunity to spend time with one of our 12 year boys. At first he had the “I am super bored don’t want to hang out with you face” just sitting on the front porch of our house, so I asked him, “¿Quieres andar conmigo? (Do you want to walk with me?). His eyes said it all but I just started walking a he followed. I knew that he is very knowledgeable about all the plant-life in the Finca so I started asking him what kind of tree is this and this bush. His response was, “I don’t know all the trees here.” In that tone that I’m sure every parent is familiar withJ.  It only took about 5 more minutes for him to start pointing all the different fruits and pulling them off the trees for me to try. I learned to the mangos won’t be ready until July, where the coco trees are, mora season is in September and the  sweeter tamarindos are at house 1 and they are better that the sour ones near the gate (though this was up for some discussionJ).

                It was so beautiful to see him come alive with the knowledge that he had and was so eager and willing to share. I’m sad to say in life before this I don’t know that I would have taken the time to be patient and realize the beautiful opportunity awaiting if I could just give them time, but I am so grateful for the grace of patient that our Lady gave me with this little boy today. I would encourage you all to take the time even if it means that you sit in silence with another person, your presence is always the most precious gift!

Call to all MDs!

A call to all MD's! If anyone would like to come and serve in a clinic or hospital this June, specifically June 7-15th, there are 2 openings to serve with a the Christ the King brigade. They have been coming for several years, are very well organized. You do not have to speak any Spanish as we will have translators. You will be staying in a hotel in Trujillo. I have more details in anyone is interested. Pray on it!

April Fools

So...it had to be done... the April fool's day prank...I am sad to say that I could not take part in the planning since I was in meetings all day, but I was able to enjoy when I returned to the house and was told that the prank had been played on the boys...there was a chicken in their room. Apparently though the boys passed through their room several times they pretended as if nothing had happened. Nice try...did you know that chicken stayed in their room all day! There was a lot more than just the chicken that night when they finally acknowledged him and kicked him out...haha.

Garlic in the toothbrush...quite original, and hot sauce in the toothpaste. The great part was I found out this had happened about 5 minutes before one of the boys came into the kitchen brushing his teeth asking me some question. haha. I couldnt hold it in...

Sleeping with one eye open now...

All the glory!

I'm so thankful for having the opportunity to share my life here with my parents! It truly is something as well as I can try I can never do justice to share the full experiences here. I would just like to turn back and give proper glory to our Lord. I know my Dad spoke of things Laura and I were accomplishing but really we accomplish nothing, it is only by the grace of God that we are able to truly be His hands and feet in a very tangible way here.
     There is a beautiful quote by St. Teresa de Avila that has really come alive for me here,

"CRISTO no tiene otro cuerpo
que el TUYO;
no tiene MANOS ni pies en la tierra,
excepto los TUYOS.
Tuyos son los OJOS a través de los cuales
El mira a este mundo con COMPASION.
TUYAS son las manos
con las que El bendice
a todo el mundo."
- Santa Teresa de Avila

"Christ has no body now on earth but yours,
no hands but yours,
no feet but yours,
yours are the eyes through which Christ’s compassion
is to look out to the earth,
yours are the feet by which He is to go about doing good
and yours are the hands by which He is to bless us now."
- St Teresa of Avila

What humility of our Lord!

I truly want to thank everyone for all our your prayers and encouraging words but also want to say that we are all missionaries! Really, I'm not doing anything more extraordinary than anyone else. I am, by the grace of God, living out the vocation He has given me at this time. Remember that the vocation of Our Lady. She was not give her life as religious or live as a foreign missionary but rather lived out her vocation perfectly in the day to day as wife and mother and how extraordinary it was! I encourage you all to pray for your vocations and I will be praying as well for open hearts and courage to live out your call!