"...suddenly I turned around and she was standing there with silver bracelets on her wrists and flowers in her hair. She walked up to me so gracefully and took my crown of thorns - "Come in", she said "And I'll give you shelter from the storm"
My kids at the Scheel Center - I have such a mixture of words to describe them. - There is this thick, thick layer of self preservation they each surround themselves with. - For some, this is defiance. For others, the art of manipulation. - Still others, the victim mentality and game. As I come to know them ... I have discovered the arrogance of generalization and the pricelessness of seeing individuals. The latter is overwhelming and often seemingly impossible to take in - 3 different classes of unique individuals, each of whom has a story ... a history all to his/her own - soul full of strengths and weaknesses - a life crying out to be known. Crazy ... the first time I walked into a class ... all I could see was a sea of beautiful faces - an overwhelming task of somehow persuading them to grasp the gift of a new language that I offered. - Hoping upon hope that they would fall in love with me as I was with them. ...and knowing that I was going to have to first earn their respect - before their love. I came wanting to captivate their interest and cultivate their minds - and it's taken a good, hard road to feel like I'm
finally getting to that place. - There is discipline - but also participation ...oh that delights me to be able to truthfully say that =) ... they aren't "the" kids anymore ... they're "my" kids - My kids ... Abraham, whom I would LOVE to throttle ...but who delights me as he comes repeatedly asking for "more English" - with his twinkling eyes and taunting attitude. David ... who openly defied me ... then promptly got sent out - and returned the next class where he sat up straight, asked questions, even volunteered to help. ... Or Giovani - the boy that parks cars on the other end of Santa Lucia (my street) - who insisted on stirring up the other sixth grade boys, sending them to Senor Director's office where they were rebuked and given extra assignments - and now he's my biggest asset in the class. - Calin ... oh that girl - reminds me of my little Asian princess, Abby - sarcastic ... brilliant... graceful and playful - who must be sought after and won before she is willing to learn. ... Hugo ... the handsome boy who melts me above all others - his heart is beautiful - without the hardness that I see in most of the rest - He carries himself with respect and calls others to do the same. He reaches out to the outcast of the school- Sonia ... a girl who the others turn their noses up at for many reasons unnecessary to disclose here - "Who is your good friend here at Centro Scheel?", I asked her at lunch - curious about her social life - "El", she said softly pointing across the table to Hugo .... the boy 5 years younger - who sits without fail next to her at the lunch table - pursuing that which is undesirable to many others .... No wonder God's heart is for the children.
So little by little I make progress into the hearts and lives of these children. More and more I hope for them. More and more I truly see them. - This is a rich life that I live. I would ask for no other.
Over the past 25 years of my life God has taken me on an adventure like no other - one of healing, discovery, and fullness of joy. About 7 years ago when I gave up hope of ever reaching the place I so yearned to be, He responded to my despair by giving me the promise of Hosea 2:14 - 20. The past seven years has been full
of His fulfillment of that promise ... layer after layer of the walls that the enemy worked so hard to build have been stripped away - He has filled the void that once ruled my life and bridged the gap with His peace, presence, and strength. His faithfulness in my life goes beyond my wildest hopes and greatest faith. He is Healing and Hope. I love Him.
Therefore, behold, I will allure her, I will bring her into the wilderness, And speak comfort to her. I will give her her vineyards from there,
And the Valley of Achor as a door of hope; She shall sing there,
As in the days of her youth, As in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt.
For I will take from her mouth the names of the Baals, And they shall be remembered by their name no more.
I will betroth you to Me forever;
Yes, I will betroth you to Me
In righteousness and justice,
In lovingkindness and mercy;
Iwill betroth you to Me in faithfulness,
And you shall know the LORD
No~Longer....
