Music

First full week of piano lessons went exceptionally well! I love each of my new students and I look forward to teaching them and becoming closer friends with them. Each one is unique, and has a special talent that I want to uncover and bring out. Not all of them love piano lessons, actually it bores several of them, but, I have seen in each of them an attraction to music and it's language. Whether it be piano, guitar, vocal, or violin, there's something in each of them that longs to make music. They are all so worshipful as well, at church, or at home whenever worshiping, there is such heart behind each voice. Even the littlest, David, sings with a full voice, claps his hands, and sways with the music, he is such a joy to be around. Music is amazing, it has a language all in itself. And whether you speak the same language or not, you can be deeply connected through the language of Music. Anything can be communicated through music, happiness, love, anger, peace, and they that know music, they understand it.
Language and communication is so complex. I am so glad that I have this language to communicate through, lest I go completely crazy not being able to say all I want to say in Spanish. It is so enjoyable working with the children that are bilingual. I love their accents when they speak English, and just as they help me with Spanish, I help them with their pronunciation in English. Here is a funny story I think you all will enjoy:
I was playing a game of Risk with Josiah (who is bilingual), Fidel (who is not), Mikayla (who is almost), and myself (who is trying). Josiah kept going back and forth between languages, to make sure everyone playing was on the same page. Then the game got a bit competitive, and we started to throw "playful bashes" at each other. i.e. "You better get used to losing" and so on. Well Josiah meant to say "What do you think you are, girl?" but it came out "What girl think you is?" It was hilarious, I think we all laughed for five minutes straight. It's amazing how much the brain can handle, most of the little ones can understand English, even though they don't speak it. Working twice a week with the kindergartners is really showing me how much they already know of English, they just need the practice now to speak it.

A Heart Like Theirs

I was reading about Paul and Silas in Acts 16, about when they were beaten, thrown in prison, and held in shackles, but still praised their Lord that they were worthy of such treatment! The condition of their heart amazed me. Thinking back, I get annoyed, upset or angry at such little things, and now, seeing the example of these two followers, I see that what is in the heart, is that which will come out.

Paul and Silas set out from the beginning with the right kind of heart. Ready to worship and praise God in good times, and in bad. They knew that they would get rejected, hated, and tormented, but they still followed God with their whole hearts. God not only brought them through, but led them to minister to the jail keeper. He was saved along with his whole household! This brings me to another conclusion: God knows everything. He knows what he is doing, and how he's going to do it.

We all have learned this in Sunday School. But to really think about it, and then act on it. To put all of my trust and hope in God, all of it, not withholding anything, takes a lot of courage. And the funny thing to me, is that courage comes from God! So we need God, to need God.

All of this, and yet, so much more to learn. Oh to have a heart like theirs.

Here are a few pics of this week:

Joan and Tom organizing school ciriculum

 The growing palm tree under their porch

 Refuge Ranch!

 One of the many games of Risk this week

 A huge thunder storm came through last night. I loved every minute of it. Althoug, quite upset, I was standing out side taking this picture, and I missed a picture opportunity of a lighten bolt three times!

 Before...

 After!

 "Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul"

O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! Who hast set thy glory above the heavens.When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

~Psalm 8:1, 3-4, 9