the pox

the 4th, booyah

those eyes, this is Nadier

feet washin'

I have 3 weeks left. Don’t even get me started about it, I think Hannah and I may just stay here, hope that’s kewl with everyone? It has definitely turned into home, our room is a disaster as usual (mostly my side) and we are thinking about pushing out beds together… Whatever like ya’ll care.. Ha. So last Friday I was given the most amazing opportunity. Let me tell ya about it:
There’s this organization called, Samaritan’s Feet, sort of like Tom’s, but focused on spreading the Gospel while providing shoes rather than just meeting a kid’s physical needs. So Samaritan’s donated shoes to the shady O.V. and me and my family aka our team got to help distribute over 200 pairs of new shoes while sharing the Gospel to our kids at holiday clubs! Nuts.
When kids hear they are getting a new pair of shoes you’d think they had just been told them they were getting to go to Disney World, something as simple as a pair of shoes, is such a luxury to these kids here. Anyway, as apart of the program we share the Gospel with them, and then they move to the “foot-washing” station, and I got to wash my little pre-schoolers narsty, smelly little feet! It was quite an experience. Most of them are too young to recognize and fully comprehend the reason behind the symbolism of getting their feet washed. But being able to kneel at their feet and pray over them while cleaning their feet was the most humbling experience. I realize that most of them have no idea what I’m saying half the time when it comes to the Word, but if anything it’s planting a seed for the future.

These kids know nothing about my world back home, it’s completely irrelevant to them, and that has been a struggle to try and connect what I know and am used to from home and to mix it with their completely different culture. I have had to discover different ways to gain that trust and respect that eventually evolves into a solid relationship. (not sure if that makes any sense, but I think this will explain my realization a little betta')..

I was suddenly faced with my naked self, open for affirmations and rejections, hugs and punches, smiles and tears, all dependent simply on how I was perceived at the moment. In a way, it seemed as though I was starting my life all over again. Relationships, connections, reputations could no longer be counted on.
These broken, wounded, and completely unpretentious people forced me to let go of my relevant self—the self that can do things, show things, prove things, build things—and forced me to reclaim that unadorned self in which I am completely vulnerable, open to receive and give love regardless of any accomplishments.

Love, carley

Ps. There has been an outbreak of chicken pox in my pre school hahaha. So typical.