Have you ever worked in a setting and all you could think was, what would I do without my co-workers because I could never get this done on my own? Well, this week was a true test of that. Illness has been spreading like wildfire through my building, and somehow, I have been lucky enough to stay healthy through it all. However, that meant when one of my co-workers was in the hospital, and there were only 2 of us working with the high school kids instead of 3, I had to pick up my game.
This was also a big week for others that I work with to travel. My boss was conferencing until Wednesday, the other head honcho left for a wedding on Thursday morning, and two other co-workers are on a retreat and a vacation. The one co-worker is just getting discharged from the hospital and will not return to work until next week. So, when it comes to elementary school, we have a short-handed staff to oversee the energy-filled children when they come this afternoon. This is where I ask, what am I going to do without this staff?
It reminds me of a quote from Mother Teresa that my mom has framed in her office. It reads "I know God won't give me anymore than I can handle; I just wish he didn't trust me so much!" Do we sometimes or often times think we cannot handle what God provides for us to do? This week I was definitely worried, but even Mother Teresa was worried in her day. God knows how he made us and knows what are particular bodies can handle. He also states in Matthew 6:34 "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." With this kind of reassurance, it should be known to us that whatever we accomplish throughout the day is what God gave us the energy for and knew we would be capable of handling . This week, there were plenty of times where I didn't know what I was capable of doing, knowing I had less of a co-worker resource on my hands, but I challenged myself to go to bed every night, satisfied with what had been done throughout the day. I encourage you all to do the same, in knowing that you were not intended to accomplish any more than that.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
American Sign Language and Cramping Hands
Yesterday, I got to experience open house at one of the high schools in our area. This building was unlike any I had been in before, because its hallways were outdoors, and its buildings were labeled by number, which made finding classrooms pretty difficult. My main purpose however, was not to enjoy the scenery the school provided, but start a relationship with the two teachers my Deaf student (well call him Jay) has throughout the school day.
When I first came to Miami, I knew one of my main missions while being here would be to invest a great deal of time in a youth named Jay, who moved from El Salvador in his early teens. He is now 16 and is in his 3rd year of schooling. He is also Deaf. Needless to say, my job was not going to be easy; then again, when is our task for God every easy? This was going to be a true test of my patience and spiritual gifts.
I met Jay in my first week of training and he completed disregarded me as a human being. I started to see how much ASL he knew, and that made him frustrated, to the point where he stopped looking at me and walked out of the room. This is when it got serious in my mind. My challenge was not simply to teach him or tutor him, I had to get him to trust me and my knowledge first! When gearing up for this mission well before I even arrived in Miami, this was a major aspect I overlooked.
Since this first encounter, I have eased my way into his life. He now looks at me when I sign to him and acknowledges the sign he knows, but has illustrated a signing level of a kindergartner or first grader, so my mission is much deeper than I thought.
Meeting his teachers was the final preparatory step that I needed to complete before administering work or tutoring sessions to Jay. Both of Jay's teachers are Deaf and have an interpreter in the classroom just in case. When I entered the classroom last night, and was the only representative for any student in the Deaf Education program present, I almost cried. How could parents not care? How could these kids not get attention at home? That's when it hit me. I am Jay's attention provider and can make even more of an influence on him if my relationship with his teachers and with him grows even stronger outside of the workplace. I spent the next hour signing and not verbalizing anything, except when I forgot a word and had to ask the interpreter what it was. My gift of ASL knowledge was used more than I have used it in quite some time, and led to the teachers asking me to come into Jay's classroom in the mornings, so I can be encouraging to him throughout the whole day. How many times have we needed that attention in our lives? How many times have you said, I just need a constant, or someone who I can turn to for help anytime? We have it. It's Christ. As servants of Christ, we are made to be like Christ, and strive to do as He would in any situation we encounter. As I go about my time here and continue to be in Jay's classroom and his after-school time, I am going to be a constant. He needs it, just like we need Christ. I will make it my mission to be that earthly reminder to him, and hope that he learns to identify with that aspect of me.
After this hour long signing conversation, my hands started to cramp up, and it threw me off because that had not happened in quite some time. But, those cramped hands were a reminder that the work I do as a missionary may not be easy, and it may cause some discomfort or pain, but the end result will be within God's will for me, so it is all worth it in the end.
When I first came to Miami, I knew one of my main missions while being here would be to invest a great deal of time in a youth named Jay, who moved from El Salvador in his early teens. He is now 16 and is in his 3rd year of schooling. He is also Deaf. Needless to say, my job was not going to be easy; then again, when is our task for God every easy? This was going to be a true test of my patience and spiritual gifts.
I met Jay in my first week of training and he completed disregarded me as a human being. I started to see how much ASL he knew, and that made him frustrated, to the point where he stopped looking at me and walked out of the room. This is when it got serious in my mind. My challenge was not simply to teach him or tutor him, I had to get him to trust me and my knowledge first! When gearing up for this mission well before I even arrived in Miami, this was a major aspect I overlooked.
Since this first encounter, I have eased my way into his life. He now looks at me when I sign to him and acknowledges the sign he knows, but has illustrated a signing level of a kindergartner or first grader, so my mission is much deeper than I thought.
Meeting his teachers was the final preparatory step that I needed to complete before administering work or tutoring sessions to Jay. Both of Jay's teachers are Deaf and have an interpreter in the classroom just in case. When I entered the classroom last night, and was the only representative for any student in the Deaf Education program present, I almost cried. How could parents not care? How could these kids not get attention at home? That's when it hit me. I am Jay's attention provider and can make even more of an influence on him if my relationship with his teachers and with him grows even stronger outside of the workplace. I spent the next hour signing and not verbalizing anything, except when I forgot a word and had to ask the interpreter what it was. My gift of ASL knowledge was used more than I have used it in quite some time, and led to the teachers asking me to come into Jay's classroom in the mornings, so I can be encouraging to him throughout the whole day. How many times have we needed that attention in our lives? How many times have you said, I just need a constant, or someone who I can turn to for help anytime? We have it. It's Christ. As servants of Christ, we are made to be like Christ, and strive to do as He would in any situation we encounter. As I go about my time here and continue to be in Jay's classroom and his after-school time, I am going to be a constant. He needs it, just like we need Christ. I will make it my mission to be that earthly reminder to him, and hope that he learns to identify with that aspect of me.
After this hour long signing conversation, my hands started to cramp up, and it threw me off because that had not happened in quite some time. But, those cramped hands were a reminder that the work I do as a missionary may not be easy, and it may cause some discomfort or pain, but the end result will be within God's will for me, so it is all worth it in the end.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Where and How You Serve
Serving others has been restructured in my head since being in Miami. Before coming down, many individuals were "impressed" by my intentional desire to serve, but why did it take a move 2,000 miles away for that mindset to be established? Why did they not see me as someone who was intentionally serving where I was?
To serve others is to be intentional no matter where you are, by illustrating God's love in other's lives through the work, words and actions you provide so those individuals want to live, illustrating God's love, the same way.
Two pieces of scripture come to mind when I think about this concept. First is
1 Peter 4:10-11 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen
How does this speak to you in the way that you serve those around you? For me, I have seen God work in ways I could never relate to earthly matters, but his illustration of gifts has been phenomenal. This week, I get the ability to start working with a student who is Deaf and associate with his teachers so I can start to teach him American Sign Language with the skills I have. Not only will this help him in school, but it will provide a way for him to thoroughly communicate for the first time. Through the gift of ASL knowledge and my strong desire to glorify God, I am able to serve. This summer I also ran a bible study where I found that my style of study was one that touched the lives of several individuals who reside in New York. I have and will be consistently writing them letters, using the words God gave me, so I can serve them. What talents/gifts can you use to serve? Acknowledging that you have those gifts and are confident in using the abilities you possess, God can take you anywhere He needs you to be. By limited our minds and limiting the chances we take in serving Christ, the more we limit the possibilities Christ has in place for us, and ultimately we can be blinded from the plan He has intended for us to follow.
Second is Philippians 2:1-11 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
To serve others is to be intentional no matter where you are, by illustrating God's love in other's lives through the work, words and actions you provide so those individuals want to live, illustrating God's love, the same way.
Two pieces of scripture come to mind when I think about this concept. First is
1 Peter 4:10-11 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen
How does this speak to you in the way that you serve those around you? For me, I have seen God work in ways I could never relate to earthly matters, but his illustration of gifts has been phenomenal. This week, I get the ability to start working with a student who is Deaf and associate with his teachers so I can start to teach him American Sign Language with the skills I have. Not only will this help him in school, but it will provide a way for him to thoroughly communicate for the first time. Through the gift of ASL knowledge and my strong desire to glorify God, I am able to serve. This summer I also ran a bible study where I found that my style of study was one that touched the lives of several individuals who reside in New York. I have and will be consistently writing them letters, using the words God gave me, so I can serve them. What talents/gifts can you use to serve? Acknowledging that you have those gifts and are confident in using the abilities you possess, God can take you anywhere He needs you to be. By limited our minds and limiting the chances we take in serving Christ, the more we limit the possibilities Christ has in place for us, and ultimately we can be blinded from the plan He has intended for us to follow.
Second is Philippians 2:1-11 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
As Christians, we are called to serve. God has given us direction on how he sees our lives to be and wants us to follow those ways. By humbling oneself and responding to God's callings, we will do nothing but serve and glorify Him. So the question is, how do you make it known that you are serving God? The answer is directly related to the use of your words, actions and prayerful mindset to do everything in your power to illustrate that servant within you, because any of those aspects of your life could plant the seed of Christ in someone else. Make every step you take be a walk with Christ and don't just enjoy the scenery.