Agape Feast Feeds Thousands

This week was the last week of school. Everything was hectic as usual, with chores to be done, food to be made and most importantly, exams to be studied for. With all of the chaos surrounding us, I came up with the idea of an Agape Feast. It seemed to be a good way to bring not only the crazy week to an end, but also the school year and of course, a peaceful way of bringing in the Sabbath.
It had been in preparation all week, different ideas churning in my head, trying to figure out the best way to attack the situation. After a interesting week, a couple shopping trips to San Pedro and a lot of time spent in the kitchen, it was time! The food was ready with a full on spread of breads, fruits, vegetables, crackers and spreads. It was exciting, something a new experience to share with my Honduran family. Everything was perfect, nothing missing. Even the tables were set up just the way I wanted!
On Friday nights it is the schedule to have vespers first with dinner following. The song service for vespers was great, the participation excellent, everything was going as planned!
While the short devotion was being given, without notice, they started coming. First one, two... that's not too bad, it's ok.... three, four, five... a little more than I would like, but no worries... six, seven, eight... hmmm we're going to have to change something... nine, ten... yikes... eleven, twelve! Twelve visitors, twelve people uncounted for. Twelve extra people that I had to figure out how to feed. In preparing for our special Agape Feast, it had never occurred to me that guests might come. Because the food was so special and more expensive than normal, an exact amount had been bought and prepared, there was no way we could feed 12 extra people!
Vespers ended and I quickly went into the kitchen, coldly calculating my next move. I started sending out trays of food, telling the kids to put one of each on each plate, starting with the guests, each time looking at the tray and knowing good and well that there was no way there was enough for 70 some people.
Then a miracle started happening! One by one the kids started coming back, but instead of telling me they had run out, they diligently reported that there were extras! I couldn't believe my eyes, I was in shock. While sitting in vespers I had counted and recounted that food, it was impossible!
In the end there was plenty to eat, so much so that there seemed to be an epidemic of fullness throughout the entire hogar after the meal was done. To say the least, the feast was a big hit and a lot was gained from experiencing it.
Reflecting on it later I realized that this was my version of the well-known two fish, five loaves story. God had created a miracle right before my very eyes! Who was I that I should deserve such an honor? So maybe the Agape Feast didn't feed thousands, not even hundereds, but the fact that a miracle took place is what's most important, the most incredible part about the whole night!
That's the second time this week that God has personally come down and worked in the kitchen with us! He sure must like to cook! haha
What's on the week next week God?...

Where did the fire come from?

One of my daily tasks is to prepare breakfast every morning. Last Friday morning, I was going through my usual, drowsy routine of getting up before light had broken to make the trek to the kitchen. Everything was going on as usual:
unlock front door - √
turn on eating area light - √
turn on kitchen light - √
unlock refrigerator door - √
bring food out of refrigerator - √
light stove -....
As I went to light the stove, there were no matches to be found. I look high and low, in the nooks and in the crannies, over and under, left and right = nothing! I looked in the storage room behind the kitchen, in the bakery, in the storage area again, in the kitchen... still nothing. What was I to do, I needed matches?! Normally such a thing would seem like such an emergency, but with such a tight schedule it was important that food for these 45 kids was ready on time, if the food wasn't ready on time, then the whole groove of the morning would be thrown off. I walked outside again, trying to figure out what it was that I was going to do. I said a quick prayer that God would help me find some matches and headed back into the kitchen again. As I looked up, a small, yellow flicker caught my eye. It was fire! But where was it coming from? The stove! But I hadn't turned on the stove, let alone lit it! I was quickly able to make up for time lost and like every morning, the food was warmly awaiting the kids as they entered the cafeteria.
Who turned the stove on? Where did the fire come from?... what do you think?
I cooked with God this morning :)

In the Hood...

Mystery Woman

"Your mom's here."

The words bounced up and down in my head, he looked back at me with a confused look on his face, wondering if I'd heard the same thing he had just heard.

His facial expression spoke for him.

"Your mom is here."

He quickly jumped down from the truck trying to organize his thoughts, my mind was racing, thinking surely this was a mistake.

I quickly got down from the truck as well, I was not about to let my kid walk up to some stranger who was professing to be his mother. Not wanting to smother, I stayed a good distance behind, but low and behold, it was her.

If you couldn't tell from anything else, it was in her sharp, cutting eyes... I know those eyes... they're just like his.

A woman he had never met before, claiming to be his mother, touching him, hugging him: that was my job, who was she to come in and interrupt his life after so many years. Do I attack or do I stay back?

Minutes seemed like hours, waiting for her to leave; she leaves: what now? Do I act normal, do I ask questions?

Cautiously walking into his room, I wait for him to call, his eye catches mine. Nervous not quite sure what to do, I turn to leave only to hear the precious words: "Mandy, come!"

I go to where he is, trying to read him, but he won't let me in, afraid that this stranger, this mystery woman has forever changed my little buddy, he speaks...

He's confused, not sure whether or not to be happy, sad, excited, mad, shy, talkative.... he doesn't know... and I don't either.

It will take some time. I want to save him, save him from his thoughts, but this is something that he has to do on his own.

Do I hate this unknown female? No

Do I like her? No

Should I? I'm not sure.... I have to wait and see, see where the mind of this little boy takes it all. How will this all turn out? I don't know.

Am I scared? yes, but for him or for me, I'm not sure.

The only thing to do: pray and pray some more, assuring him all the way, that no matter what happens, I will always be here and I will always love him, and always support him. I will never abandon him.

I hope he understands...

Luna

The light of the moon glistens in the tears rolling down her cheeks as she looks back, wondering when she will ever come to see her home again. The fear in her eyes is sharp and striking, but she valiantly keeps moving forward, gently placing each foot on the ground, with each step taking her farther away from where she wants to be. It takes all of the strength within her to keep her from running back to the comfort of what she knows, but there's no going back. The car door slams shut and like the switch of a button, her whole world vanishes before her, abandoning her in the dark: alone, scared and lost. If she keeps her eyes open and focused and doesn't turn from what she's learned, I know He will carry her through. She need not have fear of what lies in front of her because the Lord Jesus Christ is with her, He loves her, He will never leave her alone.

Stop.

Things are so much easier said than done. Is it really that easy to let things go and trust to make it out okay in the end? Can you just give it up and let your burdens rest on the shoulders of someone else?

Yes.

With faith it is possible. although it might not be easy, it is attainable. She's starting a new phase in her life, physically and mentally farther from anywhere she's ever been or anything she's ever done. With much prayer and faith, she will adapt. She will learn, she will grow and she will achieve, because this is where God has lead her. With more bravery and faith than I can understand, her presence in my life has taught me gratitude. Accepting wholeheartedly the blessings from a Father who cares and only asks for our love in return. Choosing to move forward and use the gifts we receive, whether it takes us out of our comfort zone or not. Are you comfortable yet?

(ps- Mommy y Daddy, gracias por todo me han dado, ahora yo entiendo un poquito mejor los bendiciones he recibido de ustedes.)

Sun-kissed

Deep, dark eyes sparkling in the afternoon sun, freckles gently dusting his nose, looking in his eyes, he seems to be screaming out for help. As if his heart is breaking in two and he doesn't know why. Everyday is a journey for him, fighting the world around him, trying to allow the good to shine through. The emotional scars taunting him daily, constantly reminding him of where he was and what he could be. The spiritual battle going on inside of him is fierce, it's difficult for him to choose the right way to go. Everyday he decides who he wants to be. Waking up, it is hard to know what challenges he will encounter. He's sweet, he's vicious, he's sincere, he's sarcastic, he's kind-hearted, he's insulting, he's warming, he's malicious... unbeknownst to him, I am continually praying for him. For many of the kids that surround me, everyday is a battle, much different from the one you and I know. With emotional baggage weighing them down, some of them wondering why they weren't 'good enough' for their parents to love them, others wondering why did their parents have to die, why couldn't another kid's parents have died. The other night I was putting the boys to bed, we were joking around and having fun as usual, when all of the sudden I heard the sound of a fist pounding someone's body, quickly followed by the sound of someone crying. As I ran over to see what was going on, I yanked the one boy from on top of the other and began to interrogate him as to why he was hitting. He pushed and pulled, trying to free himself from my grip but I wouldn't let him go. Finally he gave up and I stood there with my arm wrapped around him, my hand laying over his heart, feeling it stomp at a racing pace against his chest. We stood there in silence, my mind searching for the answer as to what could have possibly set him off. I asked him again 'Why were you hitting him?' He pulled away and ran to his bed, his breathe steady, but hard. I left the room, still in thought over what had just happened. I've seen these boys fight before, but this time it had been different, it was something deeper. I have yet to find out just what went wrong. But thinking about the other night reminds me of a different kind of love that you learn while living here. The kind that allows you to stay when you want to walk away the most, the kind that holds on even when you don't want it to. The kind of love that no matter how heavy the weight gets that you are carrying on your shoulders, it is always there to help share the load.

Message Bean

My plant...