Happening so fast!

Well--when we got up this morning the plan was to clean house for holiday company. By 10:30 we were realizing that all the things we'd been listing on the "do pretty soon" list had become the "NOW!" list. In just 3 days we'll need to have everything that's going on this container to Nicaragua loaded up and ready to go. So today between mopping, laundry, and cleaning up one knocked over Christmas tree-- I packed the first 2 boxes. All I could think over and over was, "Already?!?" There's no doubt to me that only God could arrange this so quickly.
It was strange sitting in the kitchen floor with a half full plastic tote trying to figure out what else should go in. I confess--I am a kitchen gadget sucker. Some people like to buy shoes--I love perfectly round bowls, and different weights of wooden spoons. It's pretty ridiculous: we seriously have 6 ice cream scoops! But as I sat there thinking, "So what do I need?" The list was so small. It was such a revelation. Not intellectually. I obviously know in my brain that we have lots and lots of "stuff" that we can certainly do just fine without. But the experience of it--of not being able to find enough "stuff" to fill a small box among the mountain of objects I own--that I needed---that sensation was remarkable.
The last thing I want to do is make some pithy,self-righteous "holidays aren't supposed to be about shopping" plea. I like opening presents and watching people open presents. Shoot--in my family Mom used to wrap up the toilet paper, just so there were more things to open. (and after waiting for that package all morning--it was a big favorite of all!) No part of me is putting down the fun of gift giving. It's just that I'm really struck right now with the dissonance between the voices around me longing to be done with their shopping tasks--and my own wish to be done with the dispersal of all these objects around me. I feel really separate from that world right now.  I hope I can carry with me a lesson from this that is deeper than merely tempering my shopping list.

Off Hand Remarks

When we traveled to Nicaragua in October we assumed it was a one time trip. Our goal was simply to finish what Jonathan attempted the previous April. It's always those chance "comments in passing" that lead down unexpected paths.

A chance comment is what led to Sight For Sore Eyes Foundation in the first place. A chance comment began what would become the Riverside Resource Center and Church. A passing comment resulted in Jonathan joining Ft.Worth Christian's spring break trip to Jinotega, and thus our return 6 months later. And a seemingly off-hand remark resulted in our upcoming move to live and work in Nicaragua full time.

But I suppose God has always delighted in communicating in seemingly random ways: fire-y shrubbery, and mouthy donkeys, and what not.

Our October trip's mission was to deliver an autorefractor (optical equipment) and train workers from Mision Para Cristo to administer the types of recycled eye-glass distribution campaigns that we have conducted here and in Mexico. It was a lovely work week--smooth and rewarding. Jonathan commented as we stood looking out the window at the city below--"Well, there's nothing else for us to do here--I guess we won't be back." A few hours later Benny is casually commenting that we "aughta just move here." By that night we are actually thinking about it. Before October ends, we've committed that IF we raise the funds and IF we can arrange it and IF volunteers rise up to take care of the work here in Texas we'll actually make the move.

So here it is, merely a month and a half later and God has left us with no more IFs.

Like so many times before--God obviously had a path prepared for us--a plan we could never have orchestrated so smoothly and quickly. How many times must I re-learn this lesson? When my plans are failing,  perhaps it is  because they are mine and not His. When I stop discounting those comments I wasn't planning on hearing I finally receive that "burning-bush-neon-sign-clarity I have longed for.

"Speak, Lord, Your servant is listening." 1Samuel 3:10

Reflections

Back in Managua at the beautiful hotel where we began this adventure. We dropped off the crew from Grapevine for their flight and are resting up for our EARLY morning flight back to Texas. We got to spend a few hours touring a volcano near Managua with the help of one of our brothers who lives near here and drove one of the airport bound vehicles down. We had an enjoyable time with him--it was great to just talk and reflect.

Jonathan had the funniest experience as we were waiting to leave Jinotega. The first day of the eyeglass mission in Jinotega, we had been giving away some stuffed animals that had been donated to the mission. Understandably, they went fast. A boy came in during the afternoon and asked for a ¨"pluchara" (stuffed toy). Jonathan told him there were no more, but he was unconvinced. Finally Jonathan showed him the empty box they had been in saying "See, no more stuffed toys." The boy said, " Can I have the box?" Jonathan handed it to him and he left just tickled to death with the big empty cardboard box. This morning, a tiny little boy saw us standing near the mission and asked for a gift. Jonathan said, "I´m sorry, but all the toys are gone." The boy asked, "Can I have a box?"

We giggled and giggled about it--but isn´t it striking? We often think that we have no more gifts to give, when maybe all someone wants is "the box". We were struck with how often we may overlook how much we have to offer. How often we may not value, may not realize, that we have something that is worth sharing. For all of you who have shared your strength and encouragement with us--who may have thought you were only giving an empty box--we hope you know how grateful we are for your role in this week. We hope you know how humbled we have been to see God´s people in action. We hope you know how encouraged your brothers and sisters in Nicaragua are--knowing that you are mindful of them, and praying for them, and sharing in the grace of our one saviour.  We hope God gives you eyes to see how coveted a box can be. That God will reveal to you how many gifts you have to use in his service that you might not esteem--but He can use.

Thank you for your prayers, we look forward to seeing many of you again soon!

Love from Nicaragua,

Jonathan and Sheila

Pace Yourself

Well as it was our last work day we really tried to make it count. We ran a clinic at a near-by army base in the morning, and another of the mission schools this afternoon. Perhaps most importantly we trained two brand new workers. We saw at least double the people we have seen any other day so far. The Nicaraguan part of our crew was so gracious and flexible when the army base more than tripled the number of soldiers we were expecting to see. It really changed the pace of our day. Here, lunch is the primary meal--for many the only meal of the day--so asking our crew to work through lunch so that we didn't have to turn away any soldiers was a big sacrifice. (also, it's hard to turn guys away who are holding AK47's--I'm teasing) We felt the discomfort in our crew of rushing but everyone  truly wanted to get the job done. That put us behind "schedule" when reaching the school. We arrived about 15 minutes before students were dismissed to go home for lunch. While our crew was racing every child sat patiently and quietly waiting for their turn at the eye machine. We kept suggesting kids go home and eat and return later---but not one would leave. We couldn't help but be surprised at the slow pace these kids were willing to accept for the chance at the eye screening. How many kids and teachers want to stay 3 hours after school?
It's funny--we worried about how we were rushing the workers, but they didn't seem to mind. We worried about how we were delaying the students, but they didn't seem to mind. How often does God shake his head at me when I am  worrying about how my time and His are out of step? We accomplished alot today--and there is a lot that needs to be done. Clearly God has workers in this field who will need to pace themselves and do what he puts before them each day. We are very grateful to have been a part of the plan this day. 
--Jonathan and Sheila

New Eyes

We're back early from a school near Santa Inez where we were able to screen and provide glasses for all the students, teachers, and many in their families. This location was chosen as our first test run at the mobile clinic because of its proximity to good roads. Travel is difficult here--the steep terrain is a major challenge. But it sure makes for some amazing views!
 The previous two days we ran the eye clinic from the mission center here in Jinotega. We've screened lots of eyes, tested lots and lots of glasses, and provided lots of people with new glasses and clearer sight. 
One of our major objectives this week has been to train local workers to use the equipment, interpret the results, and run this kind of glasses distribution without us. We have tried to focus on explaining the hows and the whys instead of just what needs to be done. As we step back and "coach" new workers through the process we get the surprise benefit of watching their excitement at helping someone in such an immediate way. We get to see them struggle to find just the right lenses, the frustration when we can't help and that brilliant flash of joy that connects worker and visitor when  the right lenses are found at last. 
Yes, this week has been special because not only have we been a part of helping Nicaraguans with poor vision leave with new eyes--we have been blessed with new eyes of our own. We have been able to see the potential in this work with new eyes. This new perspective, of seeing the served and the servants being blessed has been a beautiful view. And like the view from these rugged roads, the challenge is part of  what makes the beauty
Thank you so much for your support of this vision. From here, we can't see how far God's hand will reach--but the view is lovely so far. 
--Jonathan and Sheila

Connections

Is it really only Tuesday? Those of you who've been on mission/camp trips before can identify with the time warp that occurs in these group situations. The routines of working, sleeping, and meal times with this group of strangers in a strange land seems to trick your mind in to thinking you've known each other, and been together in this place forever.

Of course, as we're finding, in the body of Christ you just may HAVE known each other forever. On the drive to Jinotega Jonathan discovered one of the other Texan workers is a friend he's known since high- school. On arriving in the mission center, I discovered one of the "full-timers" was the baby brother that tortured me and the other "big girls" at church in Washington when I was a Kindergartener. And at Sunday night worship, another of the Texan workers discovered they knew one of the Christians here from her time abroad in Italy. It's always remarkable how connected our big ol' family is!

Stragers and connections--I am seeing them everywhere. Nicaragua is both famiiar and strange--and the people we are meeting are strangers, yet we are connected.  Connected to the Christains here by the work we are doing together to serve the Lord. Connected to the banana sellers in the market by a picture brought back as a gift. Connected to a daughter by the excitement of watching her mother see more clearly with these new glasses.

I look forward to the new connections God has prepared for us today. Thank you for your connection to these people and this work. Without every one of you the chain of these connections would be missing a vital link. Thank you so much for your prayerful support of not only us, but the Nicaraguan family you have not yet met.

--Jonathan and Sheila

Arrived!

The first thing I said to Jonathan when I woke up here in Managua, Nicaragua was, "So THIS is where houseplants come from." It´s odd that every leaf is intimitely familiar, but out of place growing right there in the ground instead of in a glazed pot on my mom´s kitchen window. The rainy season in Central America feels much farther away from drought-striken Texas than a mere 3 hour plane ride. 

Not only are we grateful to be here after such long anticipation, but we are particularly grateful that ¨"el machina"--the optical machine--is in Nicaragua and in our custody! Sure, there were some tense moments, (expensive in the US and confusing in Nicaragua) but with the fine help of Mr. Benny (of Mision Para Cristo), our new pals at customs, and some credit cards, the machinery that we have been so excited to deliver to their new eye doctor, is here and ready for action! Jonathan vows he is not bringing them any more autorefractors--which should work out just fine, since this machine will stay here to work full time. 

We are waiting this morning on the arrival of another group of workers from the states, and then we will head up the mountians to Jinotega so the work can begin. We are so grateful for the prayerful support of each of you, which is making this work possible. May God be glorified and His purposes advanced through our meager services in His name. 

--Jonathan & Sheila