Loving On Your Enemies

Today started pretty great. I started by reading my Jesus Calling and reading some of God's word.

Then from there it seemed as everything went downhill.

Let me backtrack by explaining my past week. Clearly by now (2 years at Jovenes this month) everyone knows how in love with this place I am. Incase I haven't vocally claimed this before, I am incredibly blessed by this job and, in some ways, would be perfectly content staying forever. These boys have changed my life. They have changed the way I see the world, and they have especially changed the way I see myself.

While all of this is positive, the devil finds other ways to bring me down. For starters I have found it extremely difficult to trust people in Honduras. Because of the "looking out for number 1" attitude a lot of people have here, the art of lying comes naturally or is taught at a very young age. Sometimes its coworkers or friends I've met outside of JEC, but today it's mechanics.

I cannot find a trustworthy mechanic. 

For the past year and a half I've had a vehicle here. This is one of those things that, for me, is necessary. I need a car to be able to grocery shop, run errands for JEC, and to be able to get home/to work each day. So since arriving last Monday, my car has been in trouble. Who knows how long it was working poorly, because I left my car in great condition when I returned home for a wedding. I had just purchased brand new tires (because of a really amazing donor) and had some needed work done. Therefore you can imagine the disappointment when you've been gone for 3 weeks, and your car is returned to you worse than when you left.

This is one of those things we are taught (maybe just in the South?) - when you borrow something, you return it in the condition it was given to you or BETTER.

I won't go into detail, but my car has been in the shop for over a week. Twice its come back from the shop, I've tried to use it, and I've ended up breaking down on the side of the road (including Friday night having to be rescued at 8:30 by my boss and his family all in their p.j.'s).

This is frustrating. 

It's even more frustrating because I am a single, naive gringa who doesn't know too much about cars. In the past year I've learned way more than I ever thought, but people keep cheating me over and over ... and over again.

I apologize if this seems like a way to whine. That's not my intention. My intention was simply to ask for prayer. While this may not seem like a big deal to you, this is one thing my mind cannot wrap around.

How is it that people, knowing I am here to voluntarily help the children of Honduras, continue to cheat me? How is that okay in their head?

I think this, more than anything, is what really disappoints me. It makes me feel defeated - like I want to just throw my hands up and be done with it.

I think about how we are taught only to surround ourselves with good people. People who make us better. As christians, we are taught to only surround ourselves with people who encourage us to be better followers of Jesus.

In Nashville I constantly felt like I was surrounded but such an incredible group of people. But here I am being tested. Every single minute of every single day.

As much as I hate to admit it, I am frequently saying to myself "SO WHAT'S THE POINT" if everyone keeps taking advantage of me? Why do I continue living here in a culture that I find so difficult to live in in many ways, yet so easily in others.

Then my heart lurches.
Then I think of the boys. 

I can't imagine leaving them. I can't imagine not seeing their faces each day. I just can't.

But I know God is doing His work here. I am sure He is here.

And sometimes I just need reminding this is HIS work and HIS plan... not mine. I have to trust that with or without me, God won't forget about these boys.

So please pray for me today. I am selfishly asking for your prayers and encouragement. I feel broken and am needing God more than ever today. It is one of those days when you just need the comfort of home in many ways.

I am however reminded of a verse I read this morning in Galations 5:6

"...the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love"

This is what is driving me today. Continuing to love on these boys and love others, even when they do wrong by me over and over again. Because in the long run, I know I do the same thing to Jesus, right?

Back At It Again

jumping into the pool with the boys on July 4th

So after an insanely busy (yet blessed) summer at Jovenes en Camino, things are finally starting to slow down. We had over 25 summer groups who passed through during the months of June and July, we opened our first ever gift shop for business, and had four pretty amazing interns who served as well.

groups brought LOTS of little caesar's 

One of my main jobs is being in charge of planning group projects and visits for all the incoming summer guests. I start planning on the JEC calendar as early as January for groups in spring break then again the summer months. Our first summer groups started coming in late May and we currently have our last one of the summer here on campus today. They will be here until Sunday.

rocking our OLIMPIA jerseys

I can never put into words what an enormous blessing it is to have visitors come back time and time again to see these boys grow. It means the world to them, therefore it means the world to me.

My friend Lindy (another bridesmaid) at the wedding

After one of our largest (and most sponsor-filled) groups left, I rushed home for my best friend's wedding. Sarah Catherine and I met in Honduras, she got engaged in Honduras with all the JEC boys, and I could honestly say our friendship is so strong because our hearts swell at the thought of the people here. As her maid of honor, it was hard not being able to be by her side through all the planning, showers, and other wedding festivities - which made it all the more special to spend the week before her wedding with her. It was so beautiful, and I'm so grateful for her and Richy (her new hubby).

Sarah Catherine Thetford Teixiera

I also was so blessed to spend some much needed time with my family on my mom's side this past weekend. We gathered at my grandparents' farm to have a fish fry (which if you knew my grandparents you would know this was oh-so-fitting) and visit with each other. It was so sweet to reminisce of our loved ones and precious memories.

my mom with our new baby cousin, Gradi Kate

As of yesterday I am back at JEC just in time for classes for the bilingual boys. Five will start there tomorrow, and Nelson had registration yesterday at his new high school in Tegucigalpa. Please pray for them as they start the new school year. Pray for their teachers (who will need patience) and for us here at JEC as we encourage them to start (and finish) strong.

Nelson and me (he's starting high school tomorrow!)

I will return in October to Nashville for our first ever Fiesta 5k to benefit and raise awareness about Jovenes. Please consider joining us in Franklin, TN on October 12th at 8AM to support the boys! All information can be found on the JEC website. If you are not able to make the trek to Nashville - please share our information and tell all your friends! It's going to be a great day.