April 10, 2014

Let me tell you about a few of my new favorite things.
An Umbrella (La Sombrilla)-Many of you from Oregon might judge me- “Who really needs an umbrella for rain?”. Here the umbrella is for the sun. It took me some time to conform, but many Nicaraguan women use them, and once I made the purchase, I was a believer. The umbrella deflects the intense heat of the sun, and I appreciate their shared wisdom.
The Pool (La Piscina)-I can’t really express how wonderful it feels to just know that as we are out and about in town that when we arrive home, we have an immediate way to cool off. In this city where I step out of the shower and get a sheen of sweat covering my face, you can image what it is like to see this welcome sight. Whether coming back from a walk to the grocery store or a Bible study in Pantanal with dust and dirt stuck to me by the sheen of sweat, the pool is instant cool. Our average dipping is 3-5 times a day, and we have found it a great place to study our Spanish vocabulary.
Mr. Mister (Mi Esposo)- Those of you around in the 80’s might be misled by the name of the music group, but this is my new name for Stephen. He purchased a spray bottle, filled it with water, and (trying to avoid TMI (too much information)) he sprays us down as we lay in bed. The combination of the mist, ceiling fan, and the open window is a blessed reprieve.
Absolute Surrender (Un Libro)- A small book by Andrew Murray, that was recommended to me by Stephen. I was not really interested because it sounded too difficult in a place that already demands a lot, and quite honestly, to have a spouse recommend a book about surrender seems a little suspect.  But when I was the recipient of a kinder, more caring husband, I figured I should at least take a look at it. What I found was a book sharing the honest truth about what God has for us, shared in a way that makes me want what He has to offer. I have not finished the book; it is one of those that I read bit by bit because I need to think about what it says, but let me leave you with a few quotes:
“Father, let the Holy Spirit have full dominion over me, in my home, in my temper, in every word of my tongue, in every though of my heart, in every feeling toward my fellow-men. Let the Holy Spirit have entire possession.”
“And yet some of us want God to give us a little help while we do our best, instead of coming to understand what God wants, and to say: ‘I can do nothing. God must and will do it all.”
So, He is changing me for the good; through His word, His work, and my blessed husband!