Too many walls and not enough bridges...?

 ...Hoping this wall will be a bridge to new experiences and friendships.

At the airport JFK, 18 hours door-to-door

Exploring possible locations for the wall

Saturday

Yesterday on the airplane I read an article about those moments when you take on leadership in a setting that is new to you.  One of the benefits is that you are able to see the organization from a perspective different from those who have been around for years.  You bring a fresh outlook.  And one of the challenges is that a feeling of inadequacy can be crippling.  Part of the human condition, the article called it.  Some people can hide it well but, the author suggested, if we use the feeling to awaken the learner within… we can be a force for good.  The teacher becomes the student who becomes the teacher.  Reminds me of Jesus’s words: “Whoever would lead must be a servant.” (paraphrase)

So here I am this morning 4:39 AM on Saturday, April 22, 2017. I woke up thinking of all I have to learn by 8AM.  We arrived in Ashapuco, El Salvador last night around 7PM having traveled for 18 hours by car and plane.  It was so refreshing to see Bobby, Terry and Jake (Age 16) here at their home on the school compound.  It was already dark when we arrived, but we started our seven day visit with a tour of the school.  The kids and Nate haven’t been here for 7 years (third time for all three of them). I was here with Mom and Dad Tiday last year (this is my fifth time).

Our goal this week is to build a rock wall for the students at Casa La Atarraya school.  It will be part of their gym program.  When we were here eight years ago, this school was the same size as Carlisle Christian Academy (~100), the school where I teach.  Since then it has quadrupled (or more) in size and added numerous programs such as nursing, mechanical, design and technology and construction.  This week the high school students are excited to be adding rock climbing and our team of four has our work cut out for us.

3 hours from now the kids have been invited to come and learn about the sport in general.  Bobby has asked that we have the older students trained on belay/safety and some of the basic concepts of rock climbing by this afternoon.  The challenge is that I, rock climbing team mom (kind of like being a den mother in charge of the camping expedition) needs to decide if the belay system that they have created here is safe, make adjustments and then teach the group using words that I don’t know yet (often translating for Luke and Gabe).  Words like sloper, belay device, and rock climbing hold were not in my Spanish curriculum.  So after writing this brief post… I will begin studying vocabulary and belay safety standards (Praise God there is internet).

A mission trip, at least for us, is a personal challenge.  You never really know what a day will hold.  At this moment I am thankful for being here with my kids and husband.  I am thankful to have something fun and educational to share.  I am thankful for the people at the Climbnasium and my nephew, Ty, who donated materials for this trip.  I am thankful for all those who are praying for us. And I am thankful for what God is doing in me through all of it.