Steph in Peru: July 2014

Friday 25 July 2014

Finding the Best in Others

"We sing "Amazing Grace," but do we truly realize how amazing grace actually is?..." ~Francis Frangipane

In January I read this blog post, "What is My One Word?": a twist to the New-Year’s-resolution-blog-theme for the beginning of a new year. The idea was that, rather than choosing a list of things to change (that most people will have given up by February anyways), the authors choose one word and make that their focus for the entire year: as they say, “Losing the List and Picking a Word”.

"...a simple but effective plan to effect personal change (spiritual formation) by allowing a single word to become the lens through which you examine your heart and life for an entire year...

Your single word will force clarity and concentrate your efforts. And as you focus on your word over an extended period of time, you position yourself for God to form your character at a deep, sustainable level." (~Mike Ashcraft & Rachel Olsen)

So, long story short,

my one word for this year has been

Since then, it's been showing up everywhere: books, and chapters in books, and blog-posts on grace, songs about grace, movies about grace. A lady I went to visit in February told me about a book she was reading: “Grace” by Max Lucado (she passed away from cancer a few short weeks after).

The more I explore this one little word, the more its meaning has become alive.

It is moving past the hearing of a word, and into the living meaning of it and all that it encompasses.

Some of my biggest "mission-field challenges" in the orphanage the past year have been cultural-oriented and different approaches to childcare. This year, I wanted to change my focus, finding and giving Grace in the everyday, in the workplace, in childcare, and especially in working with the ladies around me.

So, what does Grace look like in childcare? In a glance:

It is being patient, being kind, being tender and affectionate; taking time to teach, correct, guide; being consistent and firm with rules, boundaries and consequences; it is forgiveness and patience over and over as you deal with behavior issues, tantrums and acting out; it is giving unconditional love in every circumstance; nurturing and not controlling; loving and mercy-filled.

What does it mean to show Grace in the workplace, with co-workers?

And, this is where I am challenged.

This is the question I now ask myself, so that rather than judge and set myself apart, and get frustrated, I would learn to relate, to be sympathetic, compassionate, and to show love to those around me despite differences of opinion and ways of doing things. To look past cultural differences and find a way to relate. To relationship. It is natural for me to find grace with children, but somehow has not been natural for me to find grace with adults. And this is where God’s grace covers my lack. He forgives my wrongs, corrects my faults, let’s me fail and loves me still. He is all-patient as he leads me, in my timing, to grow.

I think that grace in the workplace is much of the same: forgiving people’s offences, being patient with people’s idiosyncrasies, showing favor, a tendency first to kindness, tenderness, love. Grace is looking for the good, the best, in others despite conflicts or differing points of view, and despite challenging relationships.

Exploring the word, the meaning, the life of grace helps me to see God’s goodness. And, that’s something I especially need reminding of these days, because though I have faith, I don’t always understand or trust what The Maker is doing in this life, in this world. This year has especially been hard, with Mom’s diagnoses with lymphoma. Life is hard. The struggles come and go, but there always seems something to be up against.

This study on grace is not over, and here is only a smidgen of what I have been learning. But, we could all use a little more grace in our every day. The exciting thing is that it is there, in great abundance, we just need to see.

I am so glad that God’s graces can be found everywhere. His continual forgiveness of sins, patience with rebellious, head-strong people, the free gifts he offers us daily, and the many blessings to be thankful for- even when we don't deserve them (especially when). That is a good God right there.

Today I find grace in each of the women I have worked with (I blog about that over at the Josephine House site). Each one is beautiful, made by God, with His plans for good in their lives; and they also, each one, offer something good to the lives of others. I am thankful to know each one of them!

But, where is there grace to give, if it isn't for the accepting of the Creator's great grace in the first place...

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people," - Titus 2:11

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast" - Ephesians 2:8-9

"if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." -Romans 10:9

Afterall, “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” - Romans 3:10-12

Will you accept His Grace today?

Your Grace Finds Me music video, Matt Redman

Some inspirational resources on Grace:

Website on grace approached parenting: http://gracebasedparenting.com/

Books: Grace: Greater Than We Deserve, Greater Than We Imagine, by Max Lucado

DVD's: Grace: The One and Only, Louise Giglio
Movies: Grace Unplugged - a teen finds God's grace and her parents' grace after her rebellious choices lead her back to the right path.

Ann Voskamp finds a way of finding grace in the everyday things, all of the time, I love her blogs: http://www.aholyexperience.com/ Another blog post on grace from Heart to Heart...

“This is Amazing Grace” song by Phil Whickham, “Your Grace Finds Me” song by Matt Redman (see above for the video!)

20 Bible verses on Grace on this link

Wednesday 2 July 2014

To the Jungle!

A short 35 minute plane ride from Cusco city to Puerto Maldonado in June (probably the shortest plane ride I've ever taken) means the difference of frosty nights, brown-dry Andes mountain-tops to the hot and humid, flat land of lush, green jungle.

Walter and I signed up months ago to be translators for a Medical Mission Campaign serving low-income locals for four days at the end of June. Working alongside some 64 doctors and med students from the U.S., we alternately worked in triage and with a doctor team translating from Spanish to English (and sometimes Quechua). Walter and I both were struck by how many father's came in with their children, and were very involved in their child's health and life (not as common to see in the Andes). The most common complaints appear to be gastritis and back pain (these also chief complaints in the Andes). The second is marked by lives of hard physical work, and I find the first especially interesting as to the why and why so many are affected, since I have also developed gastritis living in Peru.

One morning, still getting organized before the campaign start

The last patient that my team attended was a local lady in her early 60's who was diagnosed by the doctor as having Bell's Palsey. She was so relieved to know that this unknown paralysis of half of her face that had mysteriously appeared one morning upon waking has an explanation and is treatable! The focus on this medical missionary campaign was not only on assessing physical health needs, but spiritual also. This Bell's Palsey patient also eagerly accepted Christ in her heart following the invitation by Devi, one of the medical students, to pray to know Jesus as Savior.

I realized in this campaign (and have seen the same on the previous ones we have also assisted with) that a lot of Peruvians worry about their health. They worry about things that are just general 'wear and tear', the result of working and living a hard life.

I realized that I, too, have worried too much about my health at times, disillusioned by a lesser energy and overall health than I thought my late 20's and early 30's would provide. But, as one doctor at the campaign iterated, sometimes you need to stop worrying and just go with it... just live life. (This is not to say that you shouldn't investigate when you know something isn't right, or to be persistent at times, but to just not worry about every thing). I am so grateful to know that this body with all its quirks and troubles will one day be replaced with a new one, a pain-free, illness-incapable, glorious one.

Our bodies are like tents that we live in here on earth. But when these tents are destroyed, we know that God will give each of us a place to live. These homes will not be buildings that someone has made, but they are in heaven and will last forever. While we are here on earth, we sigh because we want to live in that heavenly home. We want to put it on like clothes and not be naked. These tents we now live in are like a heavy burden, and we groan. But we don’t do this just because we want to leave these bodies that will die. It is because we want to change them for bodies that will never die. God is the one who makes all of this possible. He has given us his Spirit to make us certain that he will do it. (2 Corinthians. 5:1-5 Contemporary English Version)

The Bell's Palsey patient now has not only the assurance of her paralyzed face returning to normal, but also the assurance of spending eternity in heaven, of one day receiving a new body that will not suffer or waste away or die!

Other related verses: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Psalm 73:26 Revelation 21:4

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Walter and I stayed in the jungle for a couple of extra days to do a little exploring. We took a 2 day, 1 night tour down the Madre de Dios river to the Tambopata Reserve where we saw monkeys, parrots, and other wild bird and insect life on Monkey Island and near the very simple lodge that we stayed in. We also took a short trek to Lake Sandoval very early on Sunday morning, with a group boat tour around and across the lake that included sightings of various birds, caiman (mostly his eye above water), a family of red howler monkeys way up in the trees, not to be finished without chasing a family of happy otters around the lake as they fished and swam from one end to the other!

I really loved this tour, being in the oh-so-warm climate of the jungle, and getting to see some more of God's awesome creation!