Today was, as we say in Spanish, "ESPECTACULAR!"
I started serving in my new position in the new neighborhood.
This morning everyone convened, as we do every Monday, for the weekly devotional. The devotional used to be in the biggest room of our office. Now that we have 150 people we can no longer cram everyone into one room. We had to move to a nearby church.
After the devotional we go back to the office and divide into our different programs. Then we start our week. My program has a masters level psychology class this week. Normally we spend a few hours talking about what we did the week before and planning for the week to come. But there is not much to plan for this week since we will be sitting in a classroom for the next four days.
My boss said she doesn't expect to pass the exam. I guess I shouldn't expect to pass either. This is the fourth and final part of the class. I understood everything so far. It was a review of what I studied many years ago in psychology classes in college. The only twist is that it's all in Spanish. A lady comes from Argentina to teach the class. Until now we only had to turn in group projects so I was passing. I might not do so well on a written exam in Spanish.
I am going through a time of reflection. As I reflect I am astounded by the ways God blesses me.
One year ago in August I started this class. My boss invited me to attend. It was my first contact with the organization where I serve. When I think back to that week now it seems funny to me.
I sat alone the first day. I was in regular office attire, but the women around me seemed really dressed up. Little did I know they were actually dressed down for the class. They dress up even more if they are in the office.
The first day I kept to myself. The second day I started meeting people. Some of them have come to be good friends now. Some of my closest friends were there, but I don't remember them at all.
I remember feeling like such an outsider. I was the only non-Honduran except for the Argentinian teacher. What a contrast - this year I am surrounded by friends. I was asked to get there early to set up and host new guests that my boss invited from outside the organization - role reversal!
You know the feeling when you start a new job and you are really excited about it? That is how I felt today. I feel like I am starting all over again.
I have this crazy sense of excitement. At the same time I feel complete peace as I change my role within the organization. I know this peace can only come from God.
The more I talked to the leader of my new community, the more I know this is an answer to my prayer. It is exactly what I asked for when I wrote the post last week. God has outdone Himself. I am going to be completely focused on one community. Not only that, my main responsibility will be to serve out and about, within the community. It is everything I prayed for, and more!
I'll miss the kids I worked with all year. I'm sad about leaving the library behind. But God gave me the perfect person to take care of the books, so the kids will still have their library and it will be well managed.
In the past I might have felt anxious and overwhelmed by all of these changes, but today I only feel excited and eager to see what God will do in the days to come.
