'Tis the Season

Living in a country where Mayan traditions and beliefs still abound, it is relevant to understand the supposed apocalyptic prophecy that awaits its fulfillment this upcoming 21st of December. Although utterly misunderstood, the end of this era marked by the Mayan calendar is causing people in Guatemala to think about what the end could possibly look like. Even with our kids here at the orphanage, questions arise about what the end of the world would like and where we would fit into that story. Unfortunately, scenes of Left Behind mixed with local folklore dance through their young minds causing some of our kids to feel scared while others feel hopeless.

At the same time, it is interesting to think about the theme of hope that is often associated with this Christmas season. This concept becomes even more congruent with our kids as we take them to their court hearings, where their fate is placed in the hands of a judge. In those moments we cannot offer any certainty of what their living situation will look like; whether they will return with a family member, be sent to another orphanage or come home with us. So, as I think about what we do have to offer them, I am so thankful that God has allowed us to have hope. We may be unsure what this December or even 2013 will hold for this nation and the children that call it home, but there is one thing we can be sure of: God made a way for us to have peace in spite of any circumstance. God decided to reach out and offer us all something much more than we could imagine. The fulfillment of God's prophecy is that He chooses us and responds to us in love, instead of uncertainty and pain. So, as we enter the Christmas season and simultaneously draw closer to the end of this Mayan era, it is my intent to discover hope on a deeper level believing that by its very nature, hope proliferates and radiates, instilling itself in those close by. After all, in response to any doubt, sadness, questions, concerns or struggles brought about by this season, I want to be able to offer hope as my response.

dsm

Reason to Give Thanks

       "The Lord is righteous in all His ways and Kind in all His deeds." - Psalm 145:17

              As I reflect today on God's goodness I see one thread that has been present throughout my life: His KINDNESS. In every season of my life God's kindness has been so evident in my life. Yet, this season I can say that I have experienced my Father's kindness in a deeper way. 

We officially have been in Guatemala for 2 weeks!! And Married for one month!! It has been only a short amount of time but it feels as though so much has happened. I have so much to be grateful for this year. So many beautiful blessings have come my way. God's kindness has been apparent in so many details.

First, I am so grateful for my husband. Since the day we got married I have not stopped being amazed at what a great man he is. He reflects the Light and Joy of Jesus. His love for God and for others challenges me; I have so much to learn from him. It has been such a joy getting live life with him and I am so excited for all that our Heavenly Father has for us.

Secondly, I have experienced God's kindness in my move to Guatemala. In this big transition of my life, God's grace has abounded. A phrase that keeps resounding in my heart is "Jesus is carrying my heart." Everyday I have felt God's strength and grace carrying me. I have joy in my heart in being here and working alongside my husband.

Thirdly, I am so grateful for the love I have received from the staff and kids here at Casa Bernabe. Not a day goes by that I don't receive 5 hugs or 10 "Hellos" from the kids. They have received me with open arms. I count it a joy when I get to spend time sharing with them.  There are so many precious people here and I am excited to get to know them more. 

I want to thank you for all your prayers and support. I can really feel God's strength and love these days. I continue to set my eyes on the Author of my story. Although I have lived 26 beautiful years, I feel like my story (or another part of my story) is just beginning. He writes beautiful stories. This week may our eyes be opened to our Father's kindness throughout our lives!

                                                                                                                          - ACM

P.S. Attached are photos from David's 28th birthday party that we celebrated this week!

Back to Reality!

I was asked dozens of times leading up to the wedding how I felt and if I was nervous. The thing about weddings is that they are full of a lot of different emotions and everyone knows it. At times you are nervous and anxious, then excited and so in love that it makes everything feel like Christmas. Then, there are moments of sadness: the realization that you are actually LEAVING and CLEAVING. Ouch. Then there are moments of numbness, where all of the noise and attention can no longer be processed and the only response to it all is a blank stare. Consequently, after the wedding, it has taken time to trek through the emotions jungle and return to some state of stability and truly appreciate the beautiful gift God has given us.

Before the big day arrived, I was thinking about the Jewish custom at weddings to have specific people hold up a "chuppah": a sheet or banner that represents the home that the couple will build together. Thinking about what Andrea and I will build together, I was confronted with the reality that I really don't know what that will look like. I imagine for many couples, the road is somewhat clear with lucrative jobs, comfortable homes and logical plans already in place, however our "chuppah" looks so much different. Andrea and I have come to a place where we know not what the future holds, only that we are to simply take this immediate step we have in front of us, not needing knowing anything else. The past year has been full of changes in plans and as the man in this equation, I felt the need to have a stable and obvious foundation for our chuppah; an insurance of what the next steps of our life would look like. At the least, a place that we could together call home. We had explored opportunities of renting or purchasing a house close to the orphanage, but as the we prayed and pondered about the practical decisions that laid ahead of us, we felt that God was calling us to live in an apartment on campus at the orphanage. I resisted God in this as the physical structure of our chuppah was changing and I was simultaneously bombarded by feelings of inferiority and anxiety. The plan of having the perfect home ready and waiting for my beautiful bride was not going to happen.

However, in that place of contingency, God has continually given us peace. The other night, Andrea read me the meaning of "shalom", which, translated into English is peace. However, there is so much more to this little word that has come to explain the grace of God evidenced in our lives recently. In spite of the dramatic changes, especially for Andrea as she has left her home, family and comforts having moved to Guatemala without having a home of our own, God is freely offering us His shalom: this completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety, soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, an absence of agitation or discord. So, although we may not have a place to call home, I am reminded that I can't even remember God ever promising me that much (Luke 9:58). What He has promised is that He will be with us and never leave us (Deutoronomy 31:8). That He will draw close to us as we draw close to Him (James 4:8) and that in our weakness, he will perfect his power (2 Corinthians 12:9). So, we are trying not to focus as much on how we feel, but rather on realizing and being thankful for what God has already given us. He has given us so much more than a "feeling of peace" about being here, He has given us SHALOM, and with that, we couldn't really ask for anything else.

dsm

The Wedding