Attuning: August Update

Hello All,


COVID and Provision Update

Life here slowly seems to be emerging to more of a sense of normalcy. We, in Tegucigalpa, have moved from Phase 0 to Phase 1 in re-opening. I'd give you more of a context on that except that I don't actually remember how many phases there are in the plan. What that basically means at this point is that the airports are set to re-open on Monday. However, we haven't heard word on whether or not anyone except Honduran citizens and residents will be allowed back into the country. More businesses are open at this point, but unless you are working and have permission, you're still only supposed to go out once every two weeks based on your ID number. Some government offices have started opening, but the US embassy remains closed. We're up to 49,042 cases. Even though the nation is beginning to open up and people are returning to work, we continue to give out provision bags because there is so much unemployment at this point. We are starting to process how long we stay in this mode of providing relief. Thus far, I am heartened that we haven't created a dependency on us just because so much of the time line in obtaining elements of these provision bags is out of our control. Due to that and our relatively small budget, we haven't been able to handle out weekly. We haven't handed out to people in a predictable pattern either. We keep a list of people that we have in mind and check in on them, trying to keep in mind how long it has been since the last time they have received from us. The government has also periodically distributed provision bags. I believe our neighborhood has received four times since March. We always want to keep track of our ministry community, but we've developed enough trustworthiness in relationship with them that we can ask them how they're doing, and they will respond honestly whether or not they actually need provisions or not. At this point in time, we have provided 216 provision bags, and we are in the process of buying the elements to make more. Overall, we want to give a blessing from the Lord that provides relief during this time of hardship, but we don't want to create a situation where someone plans on the provision they receive from us. We still want to see people innovating creatively and seeking the Lord as to how to provide for their families. 


Immigration Situation

As the airport is opening again and this year is just flying by, Raúl and I have been trying to discern whether a trip to the US is plausible for this year. I would love to see my family especially for the holidays. But, Raúl's current situation is that he doesn't have the paperwork needed to enter the country again. Last year, when we entered the US, an error was made on Raúl's green card, and he was given a two-year card instead of a ten-year card. In the process of petitioning to fix this mistake, we had to turn in his two-year card, and the only physical evidence that he has residency that we had was a stamp in his passport. That stamp expired May 1. At this point, he would have to have a returning immigrant visa, but the US embassy is closed and not issuing visas. Or, he would have to have his corrected green card in hand. We have been waiting for over a year to have his green card. A week ago, our lawyer just checked in to see where USCIS is in the process, and he was told that the card was approved but hadn't been sent to the printer yet and could take two weeks to go to the printer. Just a few days ago, we received notice that the card had been produced and was under quality review. Now we are waiting for them to send it to my parents' residence. From there, we have to figure out a way to get it down here to Honduras before we can travel. Meanwhile, plane ticket prices right now are feasible, and it would be a good time to buy. But, with Raúl's immigration situation being so uncertain, I'm having trouble discerning how to move forward, whether to buy plane tickets (in which the dates could be changed) or not. In this realm, we would so appreciate your prayers that Raúl's green card would reach my parents' house much sooner than the estimated time we were told, that we would find a safe and reliable way to get that card down to us, and that God would grant wisdom and discernment in terms of what to do about traveling and plane tickets. 

Grad School

This past weekend, I started my master's in Christian counseling through the Townsend Institute at Concordia University. The first class was an online kickoff conference over the course of four days. There were some great teachings from some excellent speakers including Dr. John Townsend, and I also participated in some process groups with my peers. I feel so blessed by the people that I met in my process group and the way that they are developing into friends and a support system. The program I am doing lasts for three years (provided I don't have to stop for financial reasons) which feels daunting and like a long time, but I love what I'm learning. I am still finding a rhythm of time management and balance since I've been out of school for nine years and wasn't a wife and a missionary and an online teacher during my last season of schooling. In the midst of it all, I have seen God's hand on this decision however intimidating it can feel sometimes. He has been so faithful in financial provision and also in resources and solutions right when I need them that I feel Him championing my schooling as much as I'm working toward it. 

Ministry

Apart from food distribution, ministry consists primarily of two prongs right now: 1) prayer and worship and 2) relationships. Lindsey and I still get together once a week to spend time in prayer and worship, and those times have been a lifeline in keeping in tune with the Father and our own callings during these trying times. Relationships right now have also been key, but they are being conducted more through voice messages, texting, and video calls than in person. We still don't know exactly what stays or starts as we transition into less restrictions, but we're learning to lean into that mystery. One of the skills that we have been learning a lot about in my grad school class is attunement. Attunement is being present with someone else, entering into their experience, and offering empathy through our body language and through genuinely listening. Attunement is not rushing into giving advice, commenting "encouraging" cliches, or problem solving. It is letting the person know that their feelings are valid and that they are not alone. As I have been trying to be intentional in sharpening this skill, I've been struck with the question of how often I attune to God. I want to get better at just being with God, listening sincerely, and letting our time together be about presence. So often, I think we can pursue God because we want a word and need an answer or have a need. During this ongoing time of COVID stillness, I've been learning to just sit with the Lord, giving the invitation of "What do you want to say to me today?" I want to posture my heart toward Him in a way that lets Him know I care about His Person more than I care about His answers or His gifts. I want to be a trustworthy friend. 

Here are the playlists we've made this month and the music that has invited us to just be with God in the places where He leads:

Intercession - Part of having empathy for God and entering into His experience is being willing to enter into the experiences of those He cares about and to intercede on their behalf.

Reunited by Lindsey - One of the desires of God's heart is unity within the Body of Christ. They will know we are Christians by our love. 

Beloved - As I have been learning about the four aspects of character structure (Attachment/Bonding, Separation/Boundaries, Integration/Reality, Adulthood/Capacity), I began to wonder what the Body of Christ would look like if it were healed in each of these areas. This playlist focuses on bonding deeply with God. 

Dependency by Lindsey - Continuing the same theme of having a solid attachment to the Lord, this playlist focuses on how our trust and confidence in God's goodness makes it easier to run to His presence for any reason. Our natural response to being loved is giving Him our lives. 

Stand - This list stems from being able to recognize how God has made us as individuals and to stand securely for our calling, valuing what makes us different from the rest of God's creation. When we know who He is, we have the confidence to trust Him. When we know who we are and who we aren't, we can have boundaries, state our needs, and say a whole-hearted yes that stems from love and security rather than from obligation and insecurity. 

All of my love,
Sarah