Expect the Unexpected (by Carol)

Over the years God has taught me many things.  Some lessons have come easier than others.  Through everything, though, He has taught me to expect the unexpected.

The Bible says that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).  This means that he is unchanging and consistent.  It does not mean that we should put Him in a box limited by our human understanding.  If all the aspects of God could be fathomed and understood by our rational minds, He would not be God (Ecclesiastes 8:17; Romans 11:33).

Therefore, I have come to expect the unexpected.  The cool thing about the unexpected is that it rarely comes when I expect it!

Teaching middle school was something that I never expected to do.  Yet that is the opportunity that God used to open the door for our return to Paraguay.  I am teaching language arts, social studies, and Bible to 6th through 8th graders.  It has been a challenge learning to balance my teaching responsibilities with being a full-time doctoral student, missionary, wife, and mom.  However, my students have found a special place in my heart.

God has ignited within me a passion for teaching and sharing God's Truth within all subject areas.  I seek to love my students in such a way that they experience a taste of God's love for them.  I desire that their understanding of God goes beyond a doctrinal "head" knowledge to a true "heart" knowledge.  I want them to learn to expect the unexpected.

At the end of the semester, the secondary students have a final exam in each of their subjects.  One of the sections of my 8th grade Bible exam asked the students to write a paragraph summarizing what they had learned from each of 3 units and how it could be applied to their lives.

As it came to the end of the exam time, I noticed that all of the students were finished except for one girl.  When I approached her desk to look at her paper, I saw that she was writing a lot more than the expected paragraph.  I knelt down and told her that it was not necessary to write so much and that what she had was sufficient.

At that moment she broke out into tears.

"What's wrong?" I asked.  I interpreted her tears as a sign of stress over the exams.

She gave me an embarrassed smile.

"Would you like to step outside and tell me?"

Outside of the classroom, a new stream of tears began to flow down her face.  "Mrs. Paige," she said, "You don't understand.  I know that I don't have to write so much.  I NEED to.  God has been speaking to me about a lot of things.  Every time He tells me something at church or home, I come to school and hear the same thing in your class.  I am so full of the Holy Spirit!"

My heart leaped as I hugged the young lady in front of me who was radiating the beauty of God's love.  I had not anticipated an unexpected move of the Spirit during an 8th-grade final exam.  I have a feeling, however, that it had been totally expected by God.

Called to Love (by Donald)

As I look out on a sea of unwashed faces and uncombed hair, my heart breaks.  How many homes are represented here?  How many are homes where the children are not receiving enough love?

Then, I remember my Lord asking Peter, "Do you love me?"

To Peter's "Yes Lord," he responded, "Feed my lambs."

I realize that he meant more than physical food.

These children come to the Costanera church to get food and receive love along with it.  I am amazed because I can see it changing their lives.  However, I worry that it is not enough to break the cycle of selfishness, neglect, and poverty that generations of their families have endured.

Then, a little hand slips into mine and gives it a tug.  As I look down into the beautiful unwashed face she tells me, "Your face keeps changing."

I kneel down so that we are eye level and ask, "How so?"

She tells me, "It is happy then sad, happy then sad."

I smile and tell her that I will work on keeping it happy.  With a smile, she returns to her food.

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Let the Little Children Come

Being a teacher is definitely not for the faint of heart.  It is one of the most difficult jobs I have ever done.  Difficult, but definitely worth it!

I grew to love teaching preschool last year, so when asked to take on the 3rd grade class in the afternoon, I asked myself,  "how much harder could it be?".

Well, after 2 weeks into the school year, I was seriously reconsidering the wisdom of my decision.  I was also wondering what God's purpose was for putting me with that group.  Had I really heard his voice?

The two basic things that seemed to interest the class the most were talking and arguing.  More of my time was spent trying to keep them quite and putting out fires than actual teaching.  

I teach at a Christian School that has relatively small class sizes.  There are 16 in my 3rd grade class.  The majority have been together since preschool and will stay together until they graduate.  Needless to say, their interpersonal relationships are very important.

In addition to all the normal English learning stuff, I had also been trying to teach them about respecting and loving each other.  However, nothing seemed to be sinking in.

Until One Rainy Day...
  
We went down to the covered parking area for recess.  When I called them to come in, the boys were arguing and fighting about something.  One was so angry that I had to physically restrain him from hitting one of his classmates.  What really got to me, though was that several were continuing to taunt him even though they knew he had trouble controlling his anger.  They were enjoying watching his reaction.

With the help of a male teacher, I was able to get my class safely upstairs and sitting at their desks.  And, that is when IT happened.

I was so disappointed and frustrated that the moment I began to speak to them, tears starting trickling down my face.  "Uh Oh, the teacher is crying!"  The room fell into a complete silence.  

"Do you know why I am crying?" I asked.

No answer.

"I am crying because you have no love for each other.  God put us together in 3rd grade as a family.  You were purposely trying to make a classmate angry and enjoying it.  There is no love."

Then, in that moment God did something that I had been trying to do for almost 2 months.  One of the boys stood up and asked to say something.

With tears flowing he said, "I do not feel safe at home.  My family is always fighting.  I am in a Christian school where I should feel safe, but all we do in this class is fight too.  It should not be that way."

Suddenly the flood gates opened.  Another boy started crying and shared that his parents were going through a divorce.  As I looked around the majority of the class was crying, most of them boys.  I was completely taken off guard as I strongly felt the presence of God in that room.

I opened my door and saw through the office window that the school's director was unoccupied.  I explained to her what was going on.  She came in the class, and both of us started praying with the children.  I felt a great sense of compassion well up in me as I touched and prayed for each and every one of them.  The children then began praying for each other.

I felt like I was part of a scene from the movie "Facing the Giants" as I watched my students ministering to each other.

With just a few minutes left of the school day, I had the students line up to leave.  I then sat down on the floor.  They all surrounded me, and one of them actually crawled into my lap.  As I was sitting there with a rather large 8-year-old boy in my lap, it was then that I realized that it was indeed God's plan for me to teach this class this year.

It was His plan if for no other reason but to witness the miraculous way He used the honesty of an 8-year-old boy to accomplish His will and purposes within the hearts of many, including a frustrated school teacher.

"Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children." Matthew 19:14
 

True Identity

"The line separating good and evil passes, not through states, nor through classes, nor between political parties...but right through every human heart and through all human hearts." Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

Part I - Father

One of the interesting things about living in Paraguay is the lack of racial diversity, most notably the scarcity of people with dark skin.  Needless to say, Donald sticks out wherever we go.  In fact, just spotting another black face at the other side of the mall's food court is enough to spark an immediate friendship.

Another observation through living in Paraguay is that many Paraguayans do not seem to have the same cultural inhibitions that we have about staring at people in public who are different or blatantly pointing out said differences.  When this is done out of simple curiosity it is tolerable.  When it is done with disgust or hostility it can be disheartening.

Ignorance is not colorblind, nor is it bound by race, culture or even social class.

Donald's obvious difference in skin color has been an unexpected asset to ministry in that EVERYONE notices him.  That, combined with his friendly, outgoing personality has opened many doors for sharing the Gospel.  Practically everyone in our town knows who he is and that he follows Jesus.

It is those things that have to outweigh the negative everyday experiences that his difference seems to provoke.  Finger pointing, name calling, racial profiling by the police.  He has even had people working on the street tell him that he and his black skin are ugly.

Even when he is angry or disheartened by the treatment of others, however, Donald does not let that change who he is.  He is still secure in his identity...his identity as a black man, but most importantly his identity in Jesus Christ.  That identity is what truly draws people to him. 

Now, comes the hard part.

Imparting that sense of identity to our children...

Part II - Daughter

Cora was born in the United States, but moved to Costa Rica when she was 18 months old.  She has lived in Paraguay since the age of 3.  In her 8 years she has visited 7 different countries and 15 different states.  She is fluent in both English and Spanish.  She has a mother who is as white as her father is black.  Her beautiful brown skin, dark eyes and curly black hair fall somewhere between.

Her smile can light up a room.

Racially, Cora is neither black nor white.  Culturally, she is neither Paraguayan nor Northamerican.  Somehow we had managed to shield her from all labels.

Or so we thought.

Awhile ago Cora shared with us that one of the things that the bully in her class was doing was making fun of her for being black.  We thought that had been resolved.

Then, the other day as I was tucking her into bed, she said to me, "Mommy, I don't want to be black, I want to be white."

Yet another little girl in her class had been making fun of her and told her that nobody would ever want to marry her because she was black.

What a blow!  Not even the struggles that Donald and I have had as an interracial couple and now living in an undiverse country compare to hearing those words from my own child...seeing the hurt in  beautiful brown eyes brimming with tears.

I knew at that moment that the words I needed to share with Cora were of infinite importance.

I want her tender heart to know that God made her just the way He wanted and that she is beautiful.  She possesses not only a worldly beauty, but a beauty that shines from within.  She is who God says she is; not her classmates, not the world.

What defines our identity?  Who tells us who we are?

Is it our skin color, gender or social class?  Is it our career, educational level or political affiliation?  Is it the denomination of the church we choose to attend?

As long as we let the World define who we are, we will be lost and unfulfilled.  Even as Christians.  The world will never change.  There will always be those who hate us for our differences.

Cora, like all of us, needs to be taught to feel safe and secure in her identity in Christ...who He says she is.  Then, no matter what the world throws at her, she will not be moved or shaken.

And, just perhaps the tables will be turned.  The world will indeed change, one bit at a time.  Changed through her quite, unwavering testimony.  Not to be mistaken for weak, but more like that still, small voice that Isaiah heard.

A voice of someone with the regal bearing of royalty.  A princess who knows who she is and WHOSE she is.

   

  

First Flight

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.  Isaiah 40:31

I have always loved the image of soaring on wings like eagles and often think of this verse when I spot birds high in the sky.  It is the waiting part that I'm not so good at.

This past week God gave me a great object lesson that brought this verse home.

On December 22nd, three baby birds hatched from their eggs on our back porch.  Every day we monitored their progress from the window, enjoying watching their growth and the way their mother took care of them.  Often, when the momma bird came back with food and the babies peeped their heads out of the nest, Daniel would excitedly exclaim, "Babies!"  We would all look, scrambling to snap a few photos.

Looking back on the progression of the photos, the verse from Isaiah and a great analogy came to me.

The first couple of days after hatching, the babies' eyes were closed.  They flopped around without a real purpose, depending solely on their mother for food and warmth.  Because they were born that way, they did not know what they were missing.


It is the same with us.  Before we know Christ, we are spiritually blind.  We do not know what we are missing until Christ opens our eyes and we see the world through His eyes.

You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
Revelation 3:17

After the babies' eyes were opened, they continued to stay in the nest a few more days, being cared for and fed by their mother.  Every time she came near, they quickly popped up their heads, eagerly straining their necks to receive the nourishment they needed to grow.

It is the same with us.  Both as new believers and seasoned followers of Christ, we cannot grow without nourishment from God's Word.  We are to approach God with the same eagerness as these baby birds.  That is how we grow in both faith and wisdom.

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”  Matthew 4:4

 After a couple more days, the fledglings began to grow restless, wandering around the top of the porch pillar that contained their nest and stretching out their wings.  It was if they knew the day to use them was coming soon.  Yet, they were not quite ready.  They needed to wait.

It is the same with us. God has a purpose and a plan for each one of our lives.  He wants to see His purposes fulfilled through us, but in His time.  Sometimes the hardest part of following God's will for our lives is the waiting.  We want to stretch our wings and fly, but we are still waiting for His promises to come to pass.  Our job during these seasons in our lives is to prepare ourselves and wait patiently.

When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.” And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.  Hebrews 6:13-15

January 1st signaled the start of a new year and a new beginning for the three fledglings.  One by one, they waited anxiously by the edge of the pillar.  And one by one, the mother bird swooped out of nowhere, pushing them out of the nest and soaring with them to new heights.

However, one of the birds soared straight into our back window and tumbled to the ground.  It stumbled around for a few minutes, seemingly alone.  Then, again, from out of nowhere the mother swooped down, picking up her child and helping it to fly once again.

Finally, mother and child were perched together in a nearby tree.  Through the guidance of his mother, the fledgling had grown both in strength and confidence.  He is ready for the next adventure.



It is the same with us.  When the time comes and we are prepared, God gives us the courage needed to take the leap of faith.  As we go off  into the seemingly unknown, however, we may lose our equilibrium for awhile.  We may bump into a few walls.  Yet, God promises to always be there with us.  He is right by our side, ready to swoop us up and carry us to new heights.

Again: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.  Isaiah 40:31

May the Spirit of the Lord propel you to new heights!

Acción de Gracias

 

While we were in the States, our church in Paraguay, Pozo Azul, allowed the community to use their facilities to hold a 3 month course in sewing and handicrafts.  Eight women completed the course.

On December 15th a special Thanksgiving Service (Acción de Gracias) was held to thank God for these women and the children and adults of the church who successfully completed another year of school.

Each participant in the community course learned skills that can help provide some income for their families.  They also received a certificate from the ministry of education.  Their finished products were proudly displayed.

Certificates were also given to the teens and adults who completed Bible studies during the year.

Finally, each child who successfully passed on to their next grade level received a special gift.

In a country where education is undervalued, we give thanks to God for all these accomplishments!

Baptisms and Babies

On December 8th we went out to the Methodist campground for the annual celebration of baptisms.  Many of the Paraguayan Methodist churches were represented, coming by the busloads to make a day of it.  After a church service, all of the candidates for baptism headed over to the pool surrounded by family and church members singing praises to the Lord.

After the last baptism was over, the praises were replaced by squeals of laughter and delight as those surrounding the pool jumped into the water.  To many of them swimming in a pool is a rare treat.  The water also felt extremely refreshing in the 100 degree heat.  When a couple of children realized that Donald and I knew how to swim, we were immediately surrounded by dozens of wet, smiling faces requesting a tip or two.

All those who weren't swimming or playing fútbol (soccer) were sprawled out in groups on the grass and under the shade of mango trees, fellow-shipping in conversation and food.

     
An added blessing to the day was the presence of all four babies that were born to the staff of the New Horizons School in 2011.  Due to various reasons, this was the first time that they were all together at the same event.  Mommies and babies had a great time playing together and taking advantage of the moment for some cute photos.

From left to right: Benjamin (6/2011), Ana (8/2011), Eirene (6/2011), Daniel (5/2011)

 Click here to view more pictures from the day.

Daniel's First Haircut

We waited as long as we could, but we finally had to cut Daniel's hair.  With heat indexes in the low 100's, the poor little guy was suffering.  So, off came those cute curls.  I am pleased with the end result, though.  And, so is Daniel.  Donald did a great job cutting the hair and Cora was an excellent photographer!

Before

After

Privileged

Verifying information for Home Visits

One of my biggest roles at the New Horizons school is the organization of the selection process of new students.  Every year there is space for 56 new preschool students.  There are also openings in the other grades depending on if students move or are asked to leave because of academic or behavioral issues.  Due to the excellent reputation of the school and its accessibility to families with lower incomes, the amount of applicants always far exceeds the available space.  Every decision that we make is done through much prayer and guidance by the Holy Spirit.  Still, it is hard to have to turn away so many that would benefit from the school. 

It is my privilege as part of the selection process to make home visits to the prospective students and their families.  I call it a privilege because every time I step into a home I am given a 30 minute glimpse into the life of that family.  This often gives me the opportunity to speak into their lives.  Also, the knowledge that I might never see the family again if their child does not get in the school encourages me to speak with boldness.

After 4 years of visiting homes I have learned to let go of my agenda of completing the visits as fast as possible and let God control the situation.  

Just a couple of days ago I was visiting houses.  The heat index was around 100 degrees and all of the homes were located farther away from the school and somewhat difficult to find.  Locating homes here in Paraguay is always complicated by the lack of street signs, dead end roads and just plain bad directions.

Needless to say, I entered into my last visit hot, tired and more than ready to finish and go home.  This desire was increased as my host turned over the seat cushion of the chair I had nearly sat in and found a small scorpion underneath.  NOT my favorite insect!

Anyway, as I was determined more than ever to finish my interview and get out of there, that still small voice entered from stage left and stopped me in my tracks.  "Listen to what she has to say," it instructed me. "And do not judge."

So, with a mental sigh and reluctant obedience, I settled cautiously into my assigned chair (after checking for more scorpions) and began asking questions.  What I learned was more about the mother than the student.

In front of me was a single mother of three boys, each of them from a different father.  The first two fathers were not in the picture, and she left the father of her youngest after he broke her arm in an altercation 8 months ago.  Shortly thereafter she lost her job and had to move in with her mother.

As she shared, tears began to flow, and that is when I knew that GOD had prepared her heart for that moment.

I was able to share with her both about Christ and the importance of raising her sons to be different than their fathers.  I spoke to her and the grandmother about breaking the generational sin that seemed to be keeping the family in bondage.  I shared that the new generation could be free to have a future and a hope through Christ Jesus...but it depended on them.

My words were strong but encouraging, and were definitely not my own.  God used me in spite of my hot, tired and reluctant state.

God also opened the door for the student to enter the New Horizons School.  Despite all of the family circumstances and transferring to a different school every year, he had managed to score the highest of everyone in his grade level on the entrance exam.  He ended up second on the waiting list, and exactly 2 students in his grade are not coming back next year.

My prayer is that with his resilience coupled with Godly instruction, we will indeed witness a change in this family.

... A future and a hope that did not seem possible until just a couple of days ago.

Being a missionary is not glamorous, but it certainly is an awesome privilege to be used to advance the Kingdom in such a way.          



      

And a Little Child Will Lead Them...

The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.  Isaiah 11:6

 One of the things that I love best about Cora is that she has a tender and forgiving heart.  She is loving and giving and wants to be friends with everyone.  She was so excited to come back from the States this August and reunite with all of her friends at school.

The first couple weeks of being back went smoothly with hardly a bump in the road.  That all changed one day, however, when Cora came home in tears saying that a girl in her class was picking on her.  We comforted her and told her to tell the teacher the next time it happened.  And, it did happen ... again, and again, and again.

Unfortunately, Cora would not stand up for herself despite what we said.  She simply could not understand why the girl did not want to be friends with her.

It got to the point where it was obvious that the little girl was bullying our daughter.  She was also the sneaky kind of bully that would wait until the teacher was not looking.  Donald's solution was simple...punch her in the nose.  Cora and her sweet, gentle nature was horrified at the thought.  I told her to yell loudly when being bothered in order to draw the teacher's attention.  Cora would not do that either.  Finally, frustrated with our daughter's lack of action and will to stand up for herself, we had a conference with the teacher and a conversation with the girl's father.  We also forbid her to even speak with the girl.

As we were busy taking matters into our own hands, Cora had a different solution.  She chose to PRAY.  Every single night before going to bed she included this little girl in her prayers, asking God to help her.  Every morning during her prayers on the way to school she remembered to ask God to help her classmate during the day.

During the last week of school, the father of that little girl approached Donald and asked for a ride home.  On the way, he shared with Donald that he and his family had started counseling and that his daughter was being helped by a psychologist.  He wanted him to know that changes were being made.

Wow!  That truly humbled us.  I am convinced that Cora with her gentle heart and persistent prayers made a difference in that family's life.  Much more effective than a punch in the nose!    

Pray and Fast for Nuevo Horizonte

The selection of new students for the New Horizons School has been made and the school year is quickly winding down.  Through its programs and Godly instruction, over 750 students are not only receiving a quality education, but are entering into life-changing relationships with Jesus Christ.  Many of their families as well as members of the community have also been changed through the ministries of the school.


Right now, however, New Horizons is struggling financially, leading the administration to make some very important decisions that will impact the lives of many.  The school theme for 2012 is "Trust in God," so we are praying and trusting God for His guidance and provisions. 

On November 27th there will be a day of corporate fasting and prayer for the school.  Please join us in supporting this important ministry.  If you are feeling led to give financially, please click here to be directed to the school's website. 

For this day of prayer:

 

1) We are inviting staff, students, families, supporters and our prayer warriors to join us in prayers of repentance.   2 Chronicles 7:14

 

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land.”

 

2) We are praying that God will provide us direction for our future organization plans for the older students and future growth.  Proverbs 1:5  

 

“Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance.”

 

3) We are facing a financial testing; God please help us to be good stewards of the resources and please provide the resources needed.  1 John 5:14

 

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God:

that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”

 

Paige Mission Video...Fresh off the Press!

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God Provides in Mysterious Ways

About a week ago we were returning home late from a wedding on a Saturday night. It was about 11:45 pm and we had stopped at a traffic signal at a busy intersection. Just as the light turned green we noticed a taxi coming toward our car from the gas station beside us. Donald honked the horn, but the taxi did not stop. It went right across the front of our car, taking off the bumper and damaging the grill. It was at that point that we noticed that there was no driver!

To appreciate the significance of this story, I need to share something. There was already damage to the front bumper and grill of the car. Also, even though we really could not afford it, we had planned on taking it into the shop that Monday to be repaired. Since Cora is still on summer vacation, it would have been easier to do without our vehicle for a week. Still, we were praying about how the repair would affect our finances and if it was okay to spend the money.

When the taxi hit our car it only damaged the parts that we were originally going to pay to have repaired. The taxi driver ran into the street and jumped into his car, but he did not try to leave the scene. Two police officers witnessed the accident and were very helpful. The taxi was also insured! All of these things we consider to be miracles, especially here in Paraguay.

So now, the repair of our car has been paid for by the insurance company. Coincidence or God's provision? You decide.

Daniel

Naming children is both a great privilege and responsibility that is given to parents. After all, your name is a great part of what identifies you and is something that you keep for a lifetime. When we chose Cora's name, we wanted to honor our grandmothers with a namesake as well as give Cora a sense of permanence within our family. Her third name was added because it is Spanish and Donald had always liked it. Thus she became Cora Irene Pilar Paige.

With our new baby, we had decided to continue with the use of family names. Then, I had a brilliant idea. Of course it was brilliant, because it was really God's idea. "Why don't we ask God what He wants to name the child?"

At that suggestion we both closed our eyes and prayed, asking God for a name. After a few minutes, Donald asked me if I had been given a name. I told him that I had heard the name "Daniel." Surprised at my answer, he told me that he had received the same name. We both knew that it came from God because neither one of us had considered that name previously. In fact, Donald confessed to me later that he had not particularly liked the name and had asked God for a confirmation to make sure he had heard right. He wasn't expecting the confirmation to come so soon. He has since repented of his initial reaction and actually likes it now.

Daniel is Hebrew and means "God is my judge." When we were given the name, we knew that our child was a boy. Two weeks later an ultrasound confirmed that fact. It is also interesting that when I found out that I was pregnant, both Donald and I were doing a Daniel fast.

So, around May 20th we will be welcoming into the world our new son, Daniel Neil Edward Paige. The other 2 names are for our maternal grandfathers.

Please join us in thanking and praising God in the miracle of our son.