As hard as it is for me to not get wrapped up in the emotional details of what's going on, I realize now that I need to toughen up a bit in order for God to use me ( think?). I'm reading a book right now about oppression vs. opportunity for women around the world. It's really challenging me to think about what the future holds for girls like those that I've recently come to know. The bottom line is that they need to be able to do something productive when they get back to their home country to make money.
Instead of looking at the next weeks, months and even years as wasted time, I'm now seeing it as an opportunity for them to learn a trade or skill that might help them when they get home. Sewing, jewelry-making and cooking/baking immediately came to mind because those are things I already know how to do (although not always very well!). I can't believe how much I (and probably you, too) take for granted the fact that as Americans there really isn't anything we can't learn to do if we want to. We can walk into a book store and by a book on almost any trade and learn how to do it at our own convenience. We can take a class, watch a video or google practically anything we want to learn how to do. Oh, if only the rest of the world could be so fortunate...
Anyway, I've actually been back to the safe house several times in the last week for different reasons. One of which is that they haven't had a working tv in over 6 months. Now I realize that watching tv isn't high on anybody's priority list, but come on! Somebody donated a tv to the house a while ago, and a dvd player was donated also. When I asked if they ever got excited to watch a movie at night they just said that they didn't know how to set up the dvd player and the tv was broken.
I was given permission from one of the embassy officers to bring Andy back with me to take a look at the tv. After two failed attempts at connecting the broken dvd player to the slightly broken tv, Andy looked at the room full ladies and said, "don't worry, we'll figure something out." The next thing I knew we were walking out of the store with a new dvd player, a couple of movies and every last box of microwave popcorn on the shelf. I love him so much.
To say the ladies were grateful would be an understatement. There were smiles and giggles, clapping and finally cheering when the movie started. What a blessing these amazing women are to us after only a couple of weeks. I look forward to getting to know them better during our time here.
Again, email me if you have any ideas of things I can be doing with them. I feel so inadequate. Thankfully I've learned that there is at least one other church who visits them regularly. It feels good to know that they are being looked out for by different groups of people.
Thank you for praying!
And because it's really hard for me to write without including a photo, here's a picture of the only kid I know who can teach herself how to play the guitar. With a book. Hmmm... perhaps I need to have her teach a lesson or two at the safe house. :)
