Catch up

This week I've been playing catch up. But the only problem is, it's already Friday, and I haven't caught up enough to feel like I'm caught up. Do you ever feel like that? We were out of school this week for our spring break, and also to remember the victims in the genocide 17 years ago. Local Rwandan schools are out the entire month of April. I decided not to travel during this break for a number of reasons, and I was completely looking forward to "catching up" on all the things I had on my To-Do list that I made. :) Last Thursday, I made a To-do list for my Spring Break, and now it's the next Friday, and I've crossed off only about a third of those items.....

And I'm proud of myself! :)

Earlier today I was not proud of myself. I was being typical-overacheiving Emily and I was completely frustrated because the internet wasn't working fast enough (does it ever here?), my passport wasn't ready in time and the Embassy increased the fee, my taxes kept being rejected for what reason I don't know, the internet stopped working altogether, the fare to Puerto Rico (to visit Ellie) just went up by $110, my tea is cold, these beans are dry, my moto driver is actually driving the speed limit when I need him to go super fast....and on and on and on.

Whoa! I had to catch myself! I was agonizing and getting all bent out of shape because of technology and silly time limits, and accreditation reports for school. What are those to our Creator, but mere mundane tasks! And to think, I almost considered skipping out on my kids at the orphanage because the internet wasn't working fast enough. I had to check myself...BIG time!

So I just left everything there, and went to my kids. And I'm sure glad I did. There was a small, really nice matatu bus parked outside on the red dirt road to Mother Teresa's Home of Hope. I had never seen anything parked outside before. When I entered the dusty blue gate, I saw eleven families, many from the States, talking with the nuns and playing with some of the children. Eleven of my kids were being adopted! They were meeting their families for the first time! Little Mario ran towards me like he always does and said, "Umuchichi, umuchici Emily!" Which means, Visitor Emily! :) I saw Sofia and Mario and Justine, and so many others that I've loved on for a year and a half. And they were meeting their forever families for the first time. It was so special. One dad from Oklahoma, asked me if Mario knew any songs in English that they could sing to him on the long plane ride home. So Mario and I busted out "God is so Good" in three languages for them. :) I was so proud to show him off in front of his new parents. It was a special moment. I played with Marico, my sweetheart (his adoptive family hasn't gotten their visas yet), and joined Genina and Felicita in a Rwandan dance. They are trying to teach me! And then I took them all for piggy back rides up and down the play area. And then we laughed, and laughed some more.

Then I left and visited Glory, my new friend from Venezuela, who I'm tutoring in English. Her husband just moved here for business and Glory knows almost no English, and is not a Christian. Her home situation with her husband is less than ideal, and kind of scary, and Glory has also been really sick with malaria and amoebas this week. I don't know much Spanish, so we just sat there and communicated with short phrases and the dictionary, and smiles. Cause everyone smiles in the same language. :)

I ended the day with a nice long run through my favorite village, and an impromptu soccer game with the kids. And at the end of this day, I wasn't frustrated anymore. I wasn't even just OK. I was overflowing with joy! I didn't check anything off my list for that day, but it wasn't time wasted. I left all the technology and paperwork behind, and played with His children. Spent time with His people. I forgot about emails to write, and reports to turn in. I caught my breath. Slowed down....and just showed up!

If you're having one of those less-than productive days, just show up! Show up for people...the people you love. Love them, and know His love for them....and for YOU! You're not gonna find any reports or emails or taxes in Heaven. But you will find people!

Everytime I leave the orphanage, I walk past a beautiful blue and white altar for Mother Teresa, and painted in script on the top, it reads, "Make of your life, something beautiful for Christ."

You can start today!