Celebrating 26 years!

I don't want this to come out the wrong way, but it seems a stretch to have titled this celebrating 26 years. 25 was a big deal and we did some pretty memorable stuff last year that is hard to top. I can hardly believe it has been a year with how fast life has flown by. It's been a beautiful year filled with challenges, growth, friendships and fun times. Just last night we had a “slumber party” until midnight with the girls to watch movies and celebrate Valentine's Day. Now I am relaxing after a hot shower as I sit in the Cabana I've rented at the nearby resort. Heck, it's pretty incredible to not be spending my birthday in the deathly cold. Life could definitely be a lot more difficult. That said though life isn't always a walk on the beach either.

The reason I say celebrating may be a stretch is simply that life has become too hectic and too restricted mainly from factors outside our control for anyone in the community to feel they can leave the fence to come spend part of the day here at T-Bay. I feel very blessed that I have one “vacation” day to be able to get away from some of the stress of living at work. It's more than a little unhealthy though that to get a day “off” we have to plan a vacation day.

We hear it from people all the time when they first hear about our mission or come to visit. They ask, “So when is your day off?” or “So when do you leave?” As in what time do you go home each day. We stifle back our jaded laughter and simply explain, “Actually that is our house right over there. We live and work here.” No one ever said our mission is easy or without sacrifice, and so each day we lift ourselves out of bed praying that today will be the day when calm returns and that the next storm isn't directly on it's heels.

If that sounds a bit dramatic it might be. However, sometimes it takes a child's wisdom to help us see that life isn't so tough. My special friend 8 year old Caterin and I were talking about a family that had come to visit The Finca with donations. I don't recall exactly how it came up, but if I remember correctly she asked something about why that family didn't speak Spanish. I said something about how they don't live in Honduras, but were just visiting. Then came her response wrapped in wisdom that comes from saying far too many goodbyes. “Pero, ustedes no viven aca.” Translated word for word she said, “But you guys (the missionaries) don't live here.” Translated into reality, “So you think that because you speak Spanish you've got life here figured out.” Talk about a reality check!

I was slightly offended and said to her, “But Cati we do live here. We live at The Finca with you guys.” But I knew she was right. It is so humbling in a way that leaves you empty and searching for more to give only sto realize that even when we've given of ourselves to what feels like the last drop it is not going to change reality.

The reality is that each of our children have lived through and continue to deal with things that my worst dreams cannot conjure.

The reality is that 27 months (or sometimes longer) is a drop in the ocean of what our children need.

Even though as much as I egotistically would like to think that I will always be a part of each of their lives the reality is they know better.

The reality is that although we may try to give them back childhoods once stolen it is not us who can do that.

The reality is that only Christ working through each of us can heal their lives.

Despite the reality as Cati pointed out I am not Honduran or truly living here the one thing I can give is God's love and the reality is that he will never leave.

All I ask for my birthday is please keep our children, staff, neighbors and our mission in your prayers.