We must be ready to allow ourselves to be interrupted by God... It is a strange fact that Christians and even ministers frequently  consider their work so important and urgent that they will allow nothing to disturb them.  They think they are doing God a service in this, but actually they are disdaining God’s ‘crooked’ yet straight path. Life Together (Bonhoeffer)

God’s ‘crooked’ yet straight path.  Hmmm.  “If we are working for the God who never sleeps and who is ever sustaining all of life, we should not be surprised that He requires that we be flexible, sensitive and open to redirection.”

These past two months have brought much ‘redirection’ in El Jordán as a whole... in the lives of us who work there...  Sometimes when life’s path seems so crooked... or with sharp, unexpected corners, it takes us by surprise and we wonder what is happening...  We want to know why and where we are going... when things are going to be ‘normal’ again... 

 Once again... (and again...) I’ve been reminded that this isn’t MY path I’m walking... nor is it MY work I’m a part of...  this is about God... His direction... His ‘crooked’ yet straight path... No matter how ‘crooked’ it might seem to us... He is faithful... and always will be.  His path is straight.

 Thanks God!

 At the beginning of September, my cousin Jennie and her friend Julie came to help us with the small kids at El Jordán...   Both have experience working with kids... love them and have a desire to serve...  They had return tickets for February 2009...

 They were an answer to prayer and arrived at the perfect time – before the busyness of the last months of the year...  It sometimes feels like we are in the middle of a circus act... juggling and trying to keep several balls in the air...  One thing that I try to keep in perspective is that activities come and go... so we shouldn’t get so caught up in the worries of activities that we lose sight of why we are really here - PEOPLE...  Jennie and Julie made it possible to give more attention to the little ones – even in the midst of busyness of getting ready for the international fair etc...

 I think I told you about the problems we had getting a space at the international fair this year...  For the last 6 years or so, this has been the biggest opportunity for our girls to sell their crafts...  We’ve come to expect “our space” and being given “priority”... so I was speechless and sick to my stomach when I was told that all the spaces had been designated and we weren’t taken into account...

 God’s ‘crooked’ yet straight road?  Was He trying to remind us that it wasn’t “our” space... that our dependence needed to be on HIM?  In the end we were given a space – but literally, the size of a twin bed...  Together with the students, we thanked God for the space He gave us... and asked Him to show us that our “success” didn’t depend on the size nor location of our space... 

 The first nights of the fair were terrible...  our little space was stuck in between other more “in-your-face” sellers... Even people who knew us would walk by without even realizing we were there...  A lady with a good location, but very few products, offered space to put a small table...  In the end, that small table sold more than our “stand”...

Simultaneously, there was some political unrest... a mob of armed indigenous people were marching towards the city of Santa Cruz... intent on surrounding the city to pressure the opposition.  There were tense rumors flying around that their plan was to arrive at the international fair and spoil the party... 

 Street kids have their secret back ways into the fair to collect the aluminum beer cans... it crossed my mind that I should get them to show me... just in case we needed to get out quickly...  Fortunately, the mob was dispersed and never fulfilled their threats... You could feel the release of tension... and people started spending money again at the fair...

 With our twin bed-size space and our extra little table, we were able to sell more than last year...  It was our best year ever... in spite of the political tension, bad location etc!!!  Thanks... to God!

 At the same time... we came to another major bend in the road... The mission asked its members to leave the country until some stability returned to the country...  This meant that Heidi, Jennie and Julie all had to leave... and their return was uncertain...  Marco’s papers are still in process, so we weren’t able to leave...  What a crazy week... trying to track down Heidi’s passport and visa... working on tickets... and just working on details... and dealing with the shock and upset from this news...

 Personally... I didn’t even want to think and deal with what this meant for me... Heading into our grad and exposition... I’d be left without 3 full-time workers which not only wiped out the “team” from the kids’ floor... but it also took away those extra hands, help and perspective that make my job so much easier...

 My thoughts would jump ahead to Medin’s visit (and this year, her mom too!) in November... Every year she bakes thousands of cookies – which we give away as “thank yous” to people and institutions that support El Jordán...  My uncle and aunt... and their (our) good friends were planning to come in December to cook up over a hundred roasts and help with  Christmas on the Streets...  I’d start worrying.. and feeling overwhelmed...  What would I do without the extra help from outside that always arrives with extra ‘umph’?  I knew that we’d make it... because God is always faithful... but my worries still burdened me...

 Working with less people during a busier time requires us to work together... and more efficiently...  We don’t have the luxury of each having an “area”... it’s neat to see how things have melded.   Wilma sometimes has to help with the little kids... so that means she doesn’t have enough time for cleaning...  ...so each class has not only been cleaning its own room, they also clean one more room...  whether bathrooms, stairs or living room...  We have three sisters that have been an amazing help... two of them used to only help with the kids on our chapel nights... but now they come in to cover “holes” that we have...  Other volunteers as well have stepped up to the challenge and things are going well...  God is good.

 The political situation has settled somewhat... there have been some agreements signed... and the girls have been given the green light to return... so when it can be arranged, they will be back with us... and also Medin, her mom... Norm and Nancy, Alejandro and Susie will be coming too... Yeah!

 Wednesday the 22nd was our graduation...  an evening where we honor our students and our volunteers...  Our students who have satisfactorily finished their courses get “diplomas” and wear gowns...  Others receive only a certificate, without wearing a gown... whether they didn’t have a consistent enough attendance or if they started coming to class in the last months...  We try to make it really special... there were half a dozen volunteers giving the girls hairdos... putting on a bit of make up...  They looked really good...  We had so many helpers... Even with some “bumps” in the road – the lady who was supposed to decorate had a medical emergency and at last minute couldn’t come... our gifts for the volunteers weren’t done until last minute.... and our administrator had a car accident that afternoon... – everything still came together... our volunteers were excellent... 

 The program went well – with the kids singing a special number... the “procession” of the “graduates” getting their diplomas... a testimony... a special number from one of the classes... the volunteers were given their presents... and then we sang “happy birthday” to El Jordán... We are EIGHT years old!!!!!!!  Wow.  ...then we had refreshments... and it was done... We actually got out early!!!

 For the last couple years we’ve gotten the volunteers and students to choose the students in three categories – one who has shown responsibility in their classes... another who has shown spiritual growth and change.. and a third who has shown maturity in their walk with Christ...  Jeanneth got chosen in all three areas... she was the one who we asked to give her testimony... and she did a good job of sharing what God had done in her life...  One visitor, who is said to be a negative critic of everything, especially anything Christian, actually phoned up her sister the next day to say that she was so impressed with everything... especially the testimony – that it actually made her cry...

 We wanted our grad to be something that gave the honor and glory to God... Our prayers were heard and answered... 

 My personal highlight of the evening was to see Johnatan receive a certificate.  I’ve probably known Johnatan for well over a decade... since he was a kid, “Bugs Bunny” on the streets...  Now he only has one big front tooth left... the others have either been punched out or rotted out... but he is still better known as “Conejo” (Rabbit).  His years on the streets are still visible on his face... arms... and the way he walks... but there is something different about him now...  He has a spring in his walk, he has a “clean” look to him..  His girlfriend is still completely on the streets but Johnatan has been coming to the boys’ Bible Study for almost two months now...  He has started to “watch” cars and sell candies at a movie theater to earn money honestly...  His joy at receiving a certificate was so neat to see...  As he joined the rest of the students on stage, he showed off his certificate, his front tooth in a big, wide smile... and stood there with his shoulders straight... 

 Sunday was our exposition – where our students sell food... their products... and we have a ping pong, air hockey and foosball tournament...  When I got to El Jordán before 8 in the morning, Johnatan was already there...  wanting to help... he worked so hard all day long... moving tables and chairs and so much more... until after 7 at night...  He proudly put on his nametag that showed he was a “student” at El Jordan... He was willing to do anything – from peeling garlic to asking for an apron to be a “bus boy” at lunch time... 

 Our expo was great... there were over 250 people for lunch... others who came late didn’t find any food left...  There were over 50 who participated in the tournaments... and then a lot of others who came to see, buy, have a coffee and cake etc...  It’s a encouragement to our students when they see so many “outside” people interested in THEM...

 ...but... the sad reality of some of our students is never too far from the surface...  The day before grad one of our girls boyfriends had been drinking for a couple days... and “stole” their son – threatening to not come back...  Two of our newest students had drunk, abusive partners on Sunday...  one couldn’t get away... and the other found a way to come to El Jordán to help... she spent hours in the kitchen washing plates and trays and coffee cups...  Another of our students got a phone call from a neighbour telling her to come home quick... that her boyfriend had been drinking all day and was now beating up their children...  She didn’t really have anything to sell... but wanted to come and help...  and spent the afternoon washing bathrooms... and scrubbing pots... When I passed on the message to her, tears came to her eyes... she said that she had had such a good day... and now she had to go home... Our road isn’t done yet... there are still so many who need Hope... and a new Life...

 Please continue to pray for us here... I know God’s heart breaks for these people... He has shown Himself faithful again and again at El Jordán... allowing us to reach out to them... in His name...  Please pray that when the road seems “crooked” and hard to follow, that we would remain faithful, obedient... and “be still” as we see how He makes the way straight...  Also... please continue to pray for our need to work more directly with the men...

 Thanks for letting me share what is going on here... Thanks for your prayers... support... encouragement...  We appreciate you so much!

 Because HE is faithful... lots of love, Corina (for Marco too)