The Stench.

The year is 2014.

The stench is perpetual.

What is that stench?

For a few moments, I search my mind for some familiar recognition.    I mentally run through the normal things that my nose takes in on these dusty roads... urine, vomit, rotten veggies, feces, trash, fermented fruit, remnants of a night of inebriation.     

Unsure of what it might be, I turn my head back to the left and behind me.   The sight takes my breath away and the stench suddenly becomes distant and distinctly unimportant.

There they are, students.   Not just any students;  students of Instituto Vida Abundante in their white school t-shirts.  2 approach me carrying a beautiful Arbor Day mural made from 100% recycled items.  These two are followed by the rest of the 60 walking in 2 lines, very proud to be a part of the Arbor Day parade.

I look at the boys in front and I begin to remember ... a young man who finished 6th grade as a 16 year old with perfect attendance,  a young man whose mom abandoned the family and left the house in the care of her children,  a young lady sold by her mother and then rescued by her father,   a young lady who came to school after her father had broken the windows out of their home in a drunken state, a teeny 13-year old bolt of energy who came to us from a remote village speaking primarily Miskito who has become a mascot of sorts for our little school.

My heart begins to just celebrate the way our God perfectly planned for each student.  He has built a safe place for them to study and grow,  He works in their hearts to give them a hope,  He touches many churches and committed people to love these students from afar.

I smile a HUGE smile... and I thank God for the moments when I get a small glimpse of what He is doing.

The day-to-day is often difficult and overwhelming for this spoiled Texas girl.     BUT GOD... He is faithful, friends.   He doesn't call us to something unattainable.  He calls us to good work with the hands and hearts that he has given each of us.    He gives us the very things that we can ONLY handle with His Grace, Mercy and Power.   He never, ever gives up on these students... nor does he give up on me.     BUT GOD... never, ever gives up.

We walk in the parade for almost an hour.   Our students present a song, a poem, a dance, recycled projects and our mural.     3 of our students have a 10 minute visit with the Secretary of Education for our Department and with a UN representative.  They are able to talk about Instituto Vida Abundante, our logo, what the logo represents and how God's creation is the thing we are protecting.   

Junior - 2014 - 7th grade

This is Junior, one of our smallest young men in stature and one of our grandest in character.   He is very impressive in his presentation.  Not 10 minutes before, he was a nervous wreck and wanting to throw our mural backward into the lagoon.    

Our mural wins 2nd place!   In a time where we NEVER expect to win anything nor even be recognized for participating, our students were honored.  Their work was recognized and all I can do is say thank you to the One who LOVES these children.   He gives them tangible moments to encourage them to keep 'walking through the stench' and out into the marvelous light.

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Update:  That little guy in the picture has become a young man and is studying at University to be an Architect or Engineer.

Junior - 2018 graduate of Abundant Life Institute