Rhyme and Reason

“Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.”  -Victor Hugo

“Music is love in search of a word.” -Sidney Lanier

“Prayer is as natural an expression of faith as breathing is of life.” -Jonathan Edwards

Let me first start off by saying this blog is getting a teensy bit dangerous because I am starting to sense it as an obligation.  I feel a need to blog, some sort of duty, and though I want you to provide a looking glass into my life here, I want it to be naturally constructed.  With that being said, do not surprised if my blogs become less frequent.  Along with the aforementioned reason, my perception of my experience is changing as I have been here for awhile, so the same sensation of novelty is not as potent of an impetus to write.  Perhaps this means my blogs will at times take a more discussive approach, as I initially intended, rather than simply an explanation of some recent going-ons in my life.  In any case, I hope you continue to enjoy this avenue of viewing my yestermorrows.

I’ve done my fair share of traveling and such, and when I’ve gone somewhere for an extended period of time there are some essentials that come with me.  One that has been such an incredible gift while here is the guitar.  Music is the universal language that we all can share, and with the guitar I have been able to connect with people on a different level.  It has served multiple purposes and continues to be a thread that is woven into the relationships I have here. 

This is not meant to puff myself up, but to praise the way God has used this gift He’s given me.  For instance, we have started to used music and the guitar in our volunteer team meetings, and it has been a very spiritual boost through which God reaches us.  Furthermore,  as glimpsed in an earlier post, I have used guitar in performance, accompanying in song in both Spanish and English.  It is great I can connect with the staff through this instrument.  Plus, I may start giving lessons here!  A couple of staff members are interested, but also, remember Alto Salaverry?  In a recent trip there a muchacho brought out a guitar and I got to play in front of some of the people of the pueblo.  The kid is interested in lessons, and hopefully it will work out! 

I am so grateful for the way I have been blessed through music.  As I grew up in a musical family, I really see it as sort of a second language, and I am glad it is being used outward.  With the guitar specifically it is extra special:  my dad is my guitar teacher, so when I bring my guitar, it’s like I bring a little bit of him with me!

While blogging I have tended to write about the positive things.  I prefer to focus on the uplifting things rather than those that will drag ya down, and it goes the same for sharing with you.  However, being here has offered a variety of challenges, and those of you who believe, I ask for your prayers to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  There really is a lot of need for prayer, on a personal front and for this orphanage.  I have my days that are more difficult than not (case in point, I got stuck in the sand in Alto Salaverry last week while driving…twice.  Plus I took out a volleyball net set up in the middle of the road.  Later on in the night, I took care of one of the casitas, where looking after 10 or so youngins presented different hurdles…).  However, these children need petition on their behalf.  The things we are dealing with are issues that go deep, even crossing generations, and they need supernatural aid.  Iit is easy for me to get focused on what I’m doing rather than what God is doing, but without true Love as the base of what’s being done here, it is meaningless.  Even if you are thousands of miles away, you can play a vital role in these children’s lives.  For more specific info on the orphanage, check out the link to the right. 

I don’t have photos to share with you this time round, but in line with the musical component of this post, I leave you with a beautiful song in Spanish que se llama “Cada día”, performed by Jesús Adrian Romero and his wife Pecos.