Dominic's Domain

Broken Glass

 

Wandering a trackless beach with the sound of reef-softened waves gently rolling ashore is wondrous.  Sight, sound, the salty smell of the ocean, and the feel of sand pressing between toes interweave to create a deep and unforgettable footprint in our memory.  As we walk— on one hand rests a vast rolling blue blanket of uncertainty, and on the other a world of shades-of-green assurances.

 

When I walk along the beach I like to look for sea glass.  Sea glass is the ocean-dulled fragments of glass bottles that break and tumble amidst a watery grave.  Eventually, each piece may emerge on some distant shore.  They can be clear, opaque, of various greens, brown, blue, or black.  Some come ashore as tiny remnants of their former selves, while others strongly evoke memories of their previous function.  While combing the beach for these unique seashore treasures I’ve thought about their creation and shaping.  It was during one such reflective stroll that God illuminated these precious jewels in a new light; that is, that we are like pieces of broken sea glass.

 

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.  Romans 5:12

 

In the beginning we were whole and perfect; made to hold an intimate relationship with the Creator.  We fell and were broken.  In the dark places we searched for purpose; we searched for wholeness; but were lost.  While mired in the muck, God sent us his Son.  He gave us Himself.  Through Christ’s atonement we were stirred, freed, and lifted from the depths so that we might become whole and perfect again. 

 

Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.  Hebrews 10:22

 

God pierces the shadows of darkness, pulling us towards Him.  He holds us in His hands and polishes us, removing our sharp edges and shaping us toward His will and perfect plan.  In both flux and fidelity, we tumble in struggle between the spirit, soul, and flesh. 

He is unmovable and almighty; like a wall of rock that waves shatter against in violent explosions of rainbow mists.  He is merciful, generous, and gracious; like quiet waters sifting over silken sands.  He is the lion and the lamb. 

Called, we press forward…and at times dismayed and discouraged, we retreat…but He is undeniable.  Finally, we seize faith and surge forward onto Golden shores.

 

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? Romans 8:35

 

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

                                Romans 8:37-39

 

Still, some pieces of sea glass are too sharp and jagged.  They retain too much of their brokenness and their edges have not been suitably rounded and eroded. Held in hand or left on the beach these broken shards are not ready for harvesting.  So they are cast back into the sea.

 

“Your hands shaped me and made me.  Will you now turn and destroy me?  Remember that you molded me like clay.  Will you now turn me to dust again? 

Job 10:8-9

 

This act is not so much one of rejection but more as a deliberate investment towards change and a future.  The knowledge and hope is that those pieces will return to the shore ready to be collected.  Salvation can be like this.

 

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  Jeremiah 29:11

 

And so it is that we are like broken glass…sea glass.  Jagged shards who our heavenly Father refines and trains through loving discipline.  Once lost but now found…once broken but now redeemed; bright shining like the sun.  Delivered, we stand upon sands of “faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life” (Titus 1:2a), basking in His glory and ready for His harvest. 

Greetings from La Isla de Santa Elena,

 

Much has happened since my last letter.  Recently our team spent the weekend on Roatan— our first ‘down-island’ trip since coming to Helene on March 17^th.  The change of pace and scenery was a tremendous blessing…regardless of the availability of running water and electricity (an outage left us without power for about six hours).  During our weekend getaway I drifted in and out from an afternoon siesta with ESPN ambiance in the background.  Later that night I shared a whole grilled-grouper with a fellow missionary.  I also purchased the best island shirt ever— for 180 Lempira (less than $10!).  Our weekend was concluded with RChurch followed by a water-soaked, teeth-rattling and tailbone jarring return boat trip to Helene.  

 

School began on Monday and our ready and willing students clamored to our open doors.  My class currently consists of sixteen fourth, fifth and sixth grade students—who range from ages nine to fifteen.  That’s an age spread reminiscent of my Ridgway, Colorado Voyager Youth Program days!  Those experiences are proving valuable once again as I create lesson plans for a very diverse group of learners including one Deaf student!  God has been wonderfully creative in His careful attention to my life’s plan and how it is constantly preparing me for His next calling!

 

My students are an eclectic mish-mash of beautiful island children and I am eager to know them each better.  I ask for your continued prayers of support for me, my students, and fellow teachers.  Their names are:

Bradley

Dominick

Hasnie

Kiera

Prentes

Raisa

Ryan

Saymon

Tammarie

Trisianie

Junior

Karen

Odelle

Reymack

Shavanie

Shorna

 

Teachers and Teacher Assistants:

Ms. Sheila

Ms. Amalia

Ms. Dola

Ms. Darby

Ms. Kiera

Ms. Marian

Ms. Shanna

 

Be well and God bless!

 

 

 

Greetings from the Bay Islands,

 

It seems as though it's been some time since I've written, and after close inspection I've realized how quickly two weeks have passed!  This is telling as to my general state and condition during those elapsed days.  I did struggle with an ear ache and infection for several days, which coincided with the start of teacher training.  Our team nurse (Deirdre) provided the necessary antibiotics and I seem to be fully mended.  Despite the initial health impedences, God carried me through, allowing me to help facilitate the training of our four island teachers and two teacher assistants.  They are a delightful crew, and I cannot say enough of them.  I heavily anticipated cultural barriers regarding men and women; fully expecting a long and tedious journey to acceptance and open communication.  To my knowledge, I am the first male gringo who has worked closely with this all-female staff within a teacher training context.  However, praise God, for He has made this path straight and seemingly direct, as it appears I am well on my way to some measure of inclusion within this group.  I have so many stories that I could share regarding these happenings; from simple conversations to the downright bizzare antics of expression, but words cannot do them justice!  With only one week of training remaining, we still have numerous objectives to accomplish before we open the school's door to our students.  Please pray for continued wisdom and progress as we plow through what remains.

 

Our fresh water stocks have been steadily falling, but winds from the east have finally delivered rain, nearly filling our storage tanks.  After this rain water is processed through a filtration system, it is used to supply a significant amount of drinking water to the island's population.  During extreme periods of drought we use sea water which passes through an additional desalination process, however we've been having difficulties pumping the water to our new filtration/desalination station.  Our water was beginning to dwindle...but again, praise God!  He answered our prayers and delivered rain.

 

I hope this letter finds each of you well and standing in God's grace. Please continue to pray for our mission team on Helene.  Please also pray for the teachers of the Helene English Christian School, its school board, and the islanders in general.  Be well and God bless.

 

Holy week.  On Thursday we enjoyed a church barbeque at the community dock complete with live music and great local foods.  That night was capped with a three-hour church revival service. On Friday, we spent the better part of the day at Northside beach for an island barbecue and sea-bathing extravaganza.  For lunch I had beans and rice, potato salad, boiled plantain, and iguana and boiled iguana egg.  Aside from the many little bones (mostly vertebra) and the little piles of iguana skin, the meat was heavily spiced and quite tender and tasty.  The egg on the other hand, was the size of a small ping-pong ball, and a bit pasty and chalky— like a hard-boiled chicken egg that had been cooked too-long.  All-in-all the iguana was quite an experience and one that I will not soon forget. 

 

We left the barbeque about an hour or two before nightfall, but the festivities at the beach continued into the moon-filled night.  Later, our team nurse was called into action to stitch-up some of the participants of said festivities.

 

Saturday saw the arrival of Dr. Peter Maningas and his wife Ellen from Branson, Missouri, who will be helping in the medical clinic for the next two weeks.  On a side note, I have been battling an annoying ear infection for several days, probably as a result of the weekend’s sea bathing activities.

 

Our first teacher training session was held today and while the content was largely mundane and heavily laden with introductions, policies, and history material it seemed largely successful. 

 

Please continue to pray for us as we serve Christ in our far away home of Honduras.