Singing in the "Rain"

Well, this week brought an interesting "event" to my Recess duties...

On Wednesday, as per usual, I was a jump roping machine with my third grade students. Two weeks ago, I taught a few of them how to jump and crisscross the ropes, and haven't been able to escape their attention since, ha! Every day they are wanting me to showcase my skills so they can see how I do it. And then, of course, I watch as 10 or so students attempt to do the same performance for me. I really am enjoying this sweet ending to my school year. It's a memory I hope to cherish: Nicolas, as he looks like a rooster crowing while he attempts to jump uninterrupted jumps right next to Silina, who looks as if she was born for this. {I say rooster because Nicolas hunches and bobs his head with every jump... even after MUL-TI-PLE: "Nicolas, stand up straight while you jump!" ...He is afraid that he will hit himself with the rope behind his head.. silly boy.

Fun, all around, to say the least.

In between jumps, I gaze across the courtyard as several of my students are playing hardcore football {soccer}. Seriously, I have Real Madrid and Barcelona at my fingertips with these kids. They are intense, quick, and focused! But, sometimes, this is a formula for some pretty flared pride. Have to work on this one...

As I was peering from left to right, I was suddenly caught off guard by a loud scream: "WooooaaAAAAHHHH!!!"

Enter: A water pipe eruption.

That's right, the bathroom that is connected to my classroom sits next to the outer wall of the school, and wouldn't you know it--- the pipe exploded with water. It reminded me of one of those movie clips where the kids dance, sing, and play while the fire hydrant located behind them on the corner spews water into the air and onto the streets.  Yes, children were splashing, running through, and hopping over the river that was beginning to form in the school's courtyard. One of my students said it best: "Ms. Angela!! It's  like the Jordan River!!!"

Thankfully, no water seeped indoors into our classroom or school building. {Thaaaank goodness! THAT would have been interesting...} But, the day was then sprinkled with a small work crew that came and drilled, hammered, and fixed the water pipe as I taught for the duration of the afternoon.

Oh man, days are never boring here.

My Jesus Knows No Barriers

Well, this is one of those posts where I just really... am at a loss for words. Seems like that is a definite pattern these days. Where do I even begin?!

Nine weeks has simply began to disintegrate before my eyes. I am now sitting with a little over a month left here. And when I say, "a little" ...that breaks down to 32 days to go. Woah. 

So, I guess... I'll start with the recent happenings, and hopefully will shed some light on my life these days + my thought process through it all... 

This past Thursday, I had a conversation with a high school student about the difficulties here, and what needs to change. {What needs to happen? What IS happening? Who's affected?...} It was a good one, that is for sure. It was a conversation I did not foresee, and it definitely wasn't something I was seeking out at the time. But, it was good. deep. and woke up my spirit.  

And, wanna know what I got out of it? A big task remains. 

How do I say that barriers need to fall, when I also need to hand over my own inhibitions to God? How can I even begin to say how this area "is doing something wrong" when I, obviously, make mistakes and am striving to be more like Christ... and still have a ways to go?

Well, to answer that, let's just say that my spirit was moved, and I definitely feel like God spoke to me... I feel like God poured a vision into my being so I can share the potential of great change here. 

So, please, do not read the following thinking that I have everything together or that I am judging anyone here. I'm not. That's not my style. What IS happening is that I am going to share with you how I see Jesus moving... or, better, how he could move here, if allowed. 

I don't remember the song that I was singing at the time, but while worshipping, I got this wonderful visual that played in my mind... as if I was watching it first hand. Eyes shut. Heart open. Spirit bowing before my great God. When suddenly, I see the skies open and God begins to pour over this area the truth of His great sacrifice. The sacrifice of His one and only Son. Jesus. I see Jesus on the cross, blood... dripping down. The blood, bearing the message of freedom. I see the blood sweeping over this barren land, like the days of the first Passover, and redemption is given. In response to this wonderful gift, I hear shouts and songs of praise bursting forth from every home. Every family. Everyone. Ahhh... it was sooo. so. good. 

But, this recent said conversation came after that vision. And, I was reminded that even though the Spirit moves in mysterious + unseen ways, we {people} remain of the flesh. 

Barriers exist between the two people groups here: Muslims and Christians. Sadly, the group that could make some great headway towards peace are stuck. They are focused on their own lives. Their own problems. Their own inabilities {or, abilities, for that matter}... instead of focusing on how Jesus lived. How he served. How, culturally, he was so abnormal. 

Living in the Middle-E. has really opened my eyes to that fact. It would be so very odd for a gentleman to come and witness + speak with a woman today... I can only IMAGINE the kind of ridicule Jesus received for doing so back then. Jesus served with an all-out abandonment, putting the laws + ways of man behind the laws + ways of God. Where has that kind of mentality gone?? It started here.  Do I need to say that again? Jesus lived here. He worked here. He did miracles here. He died here. His ministry began... right... here. Where is it now?!

 Fear + pride + bitterness + numbness are overtaking the majority of the hearts that are here in this place. The hearts that proclaim Christianity are the same hearts that look to their neighbor in disdain. 

Culturally, this area is different from my home. Of that, I am aware. But, my Jesus is the same Jesus they know. I would venture to say that most of you reading this post know some who live close to you who, perhaps, could fit in this same category: nominal. 

Am I pointing fingers at them and bickering? Definitely not. 

But what I am doing is praying that Jesus would penetrate into their cores. Praying that the peace that can only come from Jesus would find rest in their hearts. Praying that He would move in ways that I am not ready for, that they are not ready for. Praying that this area would not be characterized by fear or uncertainty, but instead, by a people who stand for Jesus loudly + boldly, disregarding all other opinions thrown at them from man. Praying for a people who humbly serve their neighbors, enemies, and friends. 

Praying that it does not stop here. Praying this place would serve as a catalyst for change, and that Jesus would take the hearts of the millions of others that live around this forsaken place. 

My Jesus knows no barriers. All that needs to happen, is an invitation needs to be given. So, I'm asking: Jesus, please come. Move in my heart and theirs. Break our pride. Move us to where it is uncomfortable. Let us bring you glory and praise with our lives. 

Amen and amen.