"It's your turn!"
I put down a Winnie the Pooh card to win the hand. I didn't quite catch on to the game the girls had going until watching a couple hands. If there was a Disney princess card on the cushion we were all sitting around and you laid down any card with a Disney princess, you got that deck. Likewise, the same went for a match of Mickey or Minnie and Winnie the Pooh.
This game went on for a good while as girls transitioned in and out. Since only 4 people could play this made-up game at a time, Madelin and I sat out during one of the rounds and began reviewing for her exam tomorrow. We're entering into "finals" week in the Dominican Republic, too.
From a distance, I could see Marisol walking on her way to her house. She stopped when she saw me and asked across the way,
"Are you coming to my house today?"
"Do you want me to come to your house today?" I yelled back.
"Yes!"
It was settled. I was going to Marisol's house today.
Marisol has been wanting me to come visit her family in her house for so long. I've only made brief visits before, so today was special. When I arrived, I was greeted by her mother and two younger brothers. I was accompanied by three other girls and we all took a seat on the couch in the dimly-lit wooden house. We began talking about our plans for Christmas and traditions we all have. I shared how I will be attending yet another wedding while I'm back, but this time it will be in the frozen tundra of Iowa... and I haven't a warm dress to wear! The girls jumped in to give me advice on what I can do to alleviate this problem.
Marisol and her two brothers were beckoned by their father in the back room, so she asked to be pardoned for a moment, making sure I knew that she would be returning. A few minutes later, they came in bearing treats from the local colmado. They were so excited to give me the chocolate racecar they purchased just for me. The other girls were given lollipops that had jokes written on the wrappers, so we, of course, had a good laugh with those.
I shared with some of the girls on Saturday the exciting news I received just the week before. Realizing that neither Madelin nor Marisol were there to hear the news, I decided to share it once more.
"Guess who I talked to last week... The author of the book The Princess and the Kiss! If it works out, we are going to meet up while I'm back!"
The girls were so excited! They love this book and its message so dearly. I told them that maybe they could make something for me to give to her.
"You mean, we can write her a letter and she'll get it!?" They could hardly believe it.
Then the girls just exploded into retelling the story. They began recounting every page to Marisol's mother of how the princess encountered Principe Pavo Real and how he only thought in himself.... Principe Roman Romantico and how he came with roses and chocolates, telling the princess how everyday would be like a honeymoon... and then Principe Tobias del Tesoro who had enough money to buy whatever she desired in life.
They know this story front and back.
"And the princess was given a kiss by God that her parents protected until she was ready and she only had that one kiss to give so she was saving it. And then she met the farmer and he had a kiss that God gave him when he was little... I know they're going to marry because I saw the page where they have a wedding!"
Marisol couldn't get the words out of her mouth fast enough!
Her mother then shared with the girls that there's a very important message to this story. She went on to say how many girls here go around and give kisses to whatever man they see, but God wants them to guard their hearts and wait until they're old enough and find the person He has chosen for them.
YES!!!
Then Marisol shared how the kids at school often invite her to play some game similar to "spin the bottle" without the bottle. Mind you, she's only 9 years-old.
"But I tell them, 'I'm a Christian, and I don't do that,' because I'm saving my kiss," Marisol said proudly.
WOW! Go Marisol!
I am telling you... God is doing something new here. The girls are beginning to see themselves through the eyes of our Father.
You should just see their faces when I take roll every Saturday... "Princesa Mariana"... "presente!"... "Princesa Madelin"... "presente!"... "Princesa Marisol"... "presente!" The girls' countenances lift and they sit a little taller in their seats as I call their names in the truth of who they were made to be...
Daughters of the King of kings, absolutely beautiful in every way.
I needed today with the girls. For the past month I have felt as though I've been slammed with one trial after another. Yet God has faithfully encouraged me through His Word to hold fast. I was particularly empowered through 2 Corinthians 4...
That's just it. We are charged to look not to the things that are seen, but the unseen. I can become so distracted by ridiculously absurd cares of this world and fail to realize what God is working behind the scenes. I know the enemy does his best to trip us up in every way possible and to get our minds off the goal, but I have to cling to my faith in my Father and trust He is moving despite the language barrier, despite my shortcomings, despite the roadblocks, and despite myself.
I'm not saying that it's been Satan who has thrown all these various trials into my path, but I certainly wouldn't put it past him... especially not after today and witnessing what God is doing in the lives of these girls. Peter even tells us to "think it not strange" concerning the fiery trials which are to try us (1 Peter 4:12-13).
The things of this world are transient, but this- the girls standing up for what they believe in, setting their hearts on Jesus, and receiving this message of God's love and purity- these are the things that are eternal.
I put down a Winnie the Pooh card to win the hand. I didn't quite catch on to the game the girls had going until watching a couple hands. If there was a Disney princess card on the cushion we were all sitting around and you laid down any card with a Disney princess, you got that deck. Likewise, the same went for a match of Mickey or Minnie and Winnie the Pooh.
This game went on for a good while as girls transitioned in and out. Since only 4 people could play this made-up game at a time, Madelin and I sat out during one of the rounds and began reviewing for her exam tomorrow. We're entering into "finals" week in the Dominican Republic, too.
From a distance, I could see Marisol walking on her way to her house. She stopped when she saw me and asked across the way,
"Are you coming to my house today?"
"Do you want me to come to your house today?" I yelled back.
"Yes!"
It was settled. I was going to Marisol's house today.
Marisol has been wanting me to come visit her family in her house for so long. I've only made brief visits before, so today was special. When I arrived, I was greeted by her mother and two younger brothers. I was accompanied by three other girls and we all took a seat on the couch in the dimly-lit wooden house. We began talking about our plans for Christmas and traditions we all have. I shared how I will be attending yet another wedding while I'm back, but this time it will be in the frozen tundra of Iowa... and I haven't a warm dress to wear! The girls jumped in to give me advice on what I can do to alleviate this problem.
Marisol and her two brothers were beckoned by their father in the back room, so she asked to be pardoned for a moment, making sure I knew that she would be returning. A few minutes later, they came in bearing treats from the local colmado. They were so excited to give me the chocolate racecar they purchased just for me. The other girls were given lollipops that had jokes written on the wrappers, so we, of course, had a good laugh with those.
I shared with some of the girls on Saturday the exciting news I received just the week before. Realizing that neither Madelin nor Marisol were there to hear the news, I decided to share it once more.
"Guess who I talked to last week... The author of the book The Princess and the Kiss! If it works out, we are going to meet up while I'm back!"
The girls were so excited! They love this book and its message so dearly. I told them that maybe they could make something for me to give to her.
"You mean, we can write her a letter and she'll get it!?" They could hardly believe it.
Then the girls just exploded into retelling the story. They began recounting every page to Marisol's mother of how the princess encountered Principe Pavo Real and how he only thought in himself.... Principe Roman Romantico and how he came with roses and chocolates, telling the princess how everyday would be like a honeymoon... and then Principe Tobias del Tesoro who had enough money to buy whatever she desired in life.
They know this story front and back.
"And the princess was given a kiss by God that her parents protected until she was ready and she only had that one kiss to give so she was saving it. And then she met the farmer and he had a kiss that God gave him when he was little... I know they're going to marry because I saw the page where they have a wedding!"
Marisol couldn't get the words out of her mouth fast enough!
Her mother then shared with the girls that there's a very important message to this story. She went on to say how many girls here go around and give kisses to whatever man they see, but God wants them to guard their hearts and wait until they're old enough and find the person He has chosen for them.
YES!!!
Then Marisol shared how the kids at school often invite her to play some game similar to "spin the bottle" without the bottle. Mind you, she's only 9 years-old.
"But I tell them, 'I'm a Christian, and I don't do that,' because I'm saving my kiss," Marisol said proudly.
WOW! Go Marisol!
I am telling you... God is doing something new here. The girls are beginning to see themselves through the eyes of our Father.
You should just see their faces when I take roll every Saturday... "Princesa Mariana"... "presente!"... "Princesa Madelin"... "presente!"... "Princesa Marisol"... "presente!" The girls' countenances lift and they sit a little taller in their seats as I call their names in the truth of who they were made to be...
Daughters of the King of kings, absolutely beautiful in every way.
I needed today with the girls. For the past month I have felt as though I've been slammed with one trial after another. Yet God has faithfully encouraged me through His Word to hold fast. I was particularly empowered through 2 Corinthians 4...
"We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed... For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."
2 Corinthians 4:8-9, 17-18
That's just it. We are charged to look not to the things that are seen, but the unseen. I can become so distracted by ridiculously absurd cares of this world and fail to realize what God is working behind the scenes. I know the enemy does his best to trip us up in every way possible and to get our minds off the goal, but I have to cling to my faith in my Father and trust He is moving despite the language barrier, despite my shortcomings, despite the roadblocks, and despite myself.
I'm not saying that it's been Satan who has thrown all these various trials into my path, but I certainly wouldn't put it past him... especially not after today and witnessing what God is doing in the lives of these girls. Peter even tells us to "think it not strange" concerning the fiery trials which are to try us (1 Peter 4:12-13).
The things of this world are transient, but this- the girls standing up for what they believe in, setting their hearts on Jesus, and receiving this message of God's love and purity- these are the things that are eternal.
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