I have been thinking so much today of Guatemala and trying to refocus my mind to get back on the mission that's in my heart. Been feeling distracted through the business of what is considered life here in the states. This scripture came to mind:
"Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." (Romans 12:2 NLT)
I am becoming a busybody, doing, doing, doing to the point where I felt physically sick this evening. "Slow down" is what was being heard in my head. I sat down for about 30 minutes today (waiting for a friend to join me for dinner) and came to the realization that I was not letting God transformed my mind, thoughts, actions. The circumstances around me were doing that which have ended me here. Thanks be to God for helping me and reminding me of what His perfect plan is: to live in the center of His will.
This brings me to being reminded of Clarisa. While in Guatemala this past February I met this super clingy, somewhat fussy little chunk of love. This was the second time she had been at the orphanage because she had been taken from her family due to a judges decision and placed at the Hogar (this is what the orphanage prefers to be called; "Home"). We were informed that it took Clarisa a few months to get adjusted to being at the Hogar and had to be taught and guided through her emotions. Before being reunited with her parents, she was a happy, good tempered girl (this took a lot of work from the women in the Hogar). When I met Clarisa it was her second time being sent to the Hogar. We were told that all the hard work from the previous time of getting her to be a little more emotionally stable, went to the gutters when she went back home and they were starting all over again. Though Clarisa was a little bit of an emotional wreck, well for her age, I had a good time walking around with her and playing with her. I'm not sure if Clarisa has been sent back home or not, but the work that the women do is breathtaking! It takes a lot of dedication and hard work on their parts to help a child control their emotions. This scares me a little and brings things into perspective that God is asking me to work. However, this is not me, it's Him working through me and in me. I'm looking forward to seeing how God is going to continue to transform the way I think. It's scary and exciting!
