Ever since I quit my job to come down to Nicaragua I have felt like I'm living on borrowed time. I wish it weren't true but my biggest worry is whether or not I will receive the support I need to be able to sustain this work over a period of time. I look at money in terms of how much time it buys me to be able to be here at the orphanage. I know from past experience that God has always provided for me in ways unexpected above and beyond my plans and expectations. So I know that I can trust in Him to continue to do so. But in my mind, thinking in the natural, I look at how much I have in my missions account and I calculate how long it will last and pray that my supporters will honor their pledges. So these three short months sometimes felt like an eternity while I was in Nicaragua. I didn't realize how much I would miss family, friends, home. And of course I spent much less towards the end than I did in the beginning. Of course mostly because I bought most of what I needed in the beginning and now I don't need to spend as much--until it's time to plant more trees and expand our growing area. But now that I'm back in So Cal for a two-week visit I feel like I never left. Time is a strange thing. It seems like I have gone through a time machine and time stood still here while I was away from home. In a way it has. I have no memories of this place as of November 15, 2009--the day I left. The lesson I learn from this is to make the best use of the time wherever we are.
Ephesian 5: 15, 16 say 'Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time because the days are evil'.
I am glad I am able to say thank God that He has given me a work to do that is keeping me busy. I have been focused on planting a bunch of vegetables and that has been done. I have also gotten to get to know most of the kids on a personal, one-on-one level, beyond what I would have expected at this point. And I know He has given me influence with them that they will listen to what I have to say about things such as how to treat one another. It has not been easy, like Paul said, '...the days are evil.' They sure are. Discouragement, boredom, loneliness, discourtesy, misunderstanding can ruin a day if you allow them. But God has an answer to all of them: persistence, perseverance, patience, prayer, la Palabra. I know God thinks bigger than me so I know that He has more for me to do there than teach kids to grow vegetables. I don't know what it is yet but I sense it will come about in that amazing way that He always does things. Thanks for taking the time to hear what I have to say and please keep these things in prayer and I will be praying for you that you will make the most of your time.
I always dreamed of doing this as a boy.
Jimmy's the real expert though.
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