Other | Amy Medina

Firsts

By Amy Medina

On August 22, 2011

In Other

I’ve had a lot of roles during the 8 years we have served at HOPAC (though not all at the same time, of course!)

5th grade teacher
6th grade teacher
6th grade homeroom teacher
6th grade Bible teacher
Coordinator of after-school activities
Recruitment
Graduation Committee
Strategic Planning Committee
Member of Parent-Teacher Association
Substitute Teacher
Student Council Advisor
Teacher Care Coordinator
Accreditation Committee
Weekly Elementary Chapel Speaker
Secretary to the Chaplain (that would be Gil)
Youth Group leader

Yet there is one role I have never had until this day…..

PARENT!

She woke up this morning, shot out of bed, and said, “I can’t believe it! It’s finally here!”

So yes, you could say she was excited.

This really was her first day of school. She did a couple of months of pre-school last fall, but it turned out to be a kind of traumatic experience for her. And since none of the teachers were speaking to her in Swahili (which was the whole reason I enrolled her), we ended that situation pretty quickly. So I’ve done pre-school here with her at home, which means this is her first really real time away from me.

Sniff.

But I’m so thankful she gets to go to the best school in the entire world. There’s no other place I would rather her be.

We love working at HOPAC. But to know that my daughter is getting Christ-centered education with dedicated volunteer teachers who are willing to come to Africa to invest in my child is quite an amazing thought. To know that Grace will play every day with kids from a multitude of ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds is just wonderful.

With Miss Redfield, her fabulous teacher

(Josiah, looking forlorn)

But what I love even better about becoming a HOPAC parent is that it takes my relationships with other parents to a whole new level. We’ve always wanted our ministry at HOPAC to be holistic to the whole family, and this gives us that chance.

And to top off our very exciting day, Grace lost her very first tooth on her first day of school. How do ya like that??? She was devastated to find out that she would be missing her second and third day of school, but she is also pretty excited about her little sister coming home. A lot of excitement for one day in the life of a five-year-old.

And this is only Monday!

“Some” day finally became “this” day!

By Amy Medina

On August 22, 2011

In Other

Well, what do you know. She told me we would have the letter today, and we actually did. Wonders never cease.

Interestingly enough, on August 22, 2008, exactly three years ago, we received our final-final letter for Josiah. Guess that’s a good day for us.

I am so thankful for Mrs. A today. She went above and beyond the call of duty to get us our letter today, willingly working with me as we crisscrossed town to track it down. It was an extremely, long, tiring, emotional day, for many reasons, but in the end I came home with a letter. I would write in CAPITAL LETTERS, but honestly, I’m too tired to talk that loud.

And now it’s 8:00 at night, and I am persistently working with a travel agent to try to get us tickets to go to Mwanza tomorrow. If it works, we’ll leave here at 7 am. Yikes.

It’s ironic, because this weekend I told Gil, “If we get the letter on Monday, maybe we should wait until the weekend to bring her home.” It’s the first week of school, Grace’s first week of kindergarten, and it would be better for her to come in over the weekend. Yeah, right. We got the letter on Monday, and we’re taking the next flight out of here.

Common sense sometimes disappears where love is concerned. We’re coming, baby girl. I don’t care how tired I am.

But Gracie deserves her own post about today. So that’s what’s next.

Labor Pains

By Amy Medina

On August 20, 2011

In Other

I think you will get your letter on Monday.

That’s what she told me yesterday.

But I’ve learned not to get my hopes up. I know from experience that even when they tell you the letter is ready, that doesn’t necessary mean it is.

But one thing I know for sure: She’s coming into upheaval, and I’m worried.

Oh, but I’m not supposed to worry about Lily, right? Consider the lilies.

Monday is Grace’s first day of school. It’s also Gil’s first day of school. Today, this very day, we have an 11th grade student moving in with us for the year. We have a tick infestation. And then there is Josiah, who for the past three weeks has been having “stress issues,” which is a nice way of saying a general increase in kicking, hitting, stealing, lying, being mean, and peeing in unusual places. Since he is three and can’t tell me what is going on in his little brain, we’re just chalking it up to him trying to process his older sister starting school and his younger one still not with us (and Romans 7, of course).

And I’m not anticipating that bringing Lily home will be a walk in the park. She’ll have to process the loss of everything she has ever known. She is accustomed to screaming to get what she wants. And there is only 16 months age difference between her and Josiah.

It’s funny–there’s a part of me that wouldn’t mind at this point if we have to wait another couple of weeks. But I’m keeping my mind and my heart on those lilies.

And I’ll keep you posted.

Art, Truth, and Fairy Tales

By Amy Medina

On August 17, 2011

In Other

I wish I was better at writing book reviews. I love reading. Books have altered my thinking and helped me understand my salvation and made me a more compassionate person and filled me with passion and I think everyone should read them. And this book has done all of the above, and I think everyone (literally, everyone who reads English) should read this book, yet words fail in knowing how to convince you.

I could tell you that Saving Leonardo is about art history and worldview. Uhhh…yeah. Are you ready to run over to Amazon.com and buy it?

So how do I explain that this book is a life-changer, and so much more than just about art history and worldview?

Well, this is what the author herself says: “Artists are society’s barometers, sensitive to new ideas as they percolate through the cultural atmosphere.”

Artists reflect culture. They reflect worldview. If you want to understand culture, you must understand art.

And why do we need to understand culture and worldview?

“To use a biblical metaphor, all Christians are called to be missionaries, responsible for learning the language of the society they are addressing. Within the boundaries of their native land, they may not face a literal language barrier. But they do face a worldview barrier as they seek to communicate with people whose thinking differs from their own. And they need training in how to overcome that worldview barrier. They must learn how to frame the biblical message in ways that connect with people’s deepest convictions.”

Have you ever wondered why evolution is seen as the One and Only Truth, despite its many flaws? The worldview behind the ever-changing definition of gender? Why Christians are seen as dangerous? Where postmodernism came from? Why screeching is considered music and a grid of straight lines is considered art?

If you feel like you know that abortion, homosexual marriage, transgenderism, and other forms of secular thought are wrong, but you are tired of feeling “intolerant” and “homophobic” and therefore just keep your mouth shut, then you must read this book. If you are scared about the slide of our society into secularism, and as a result try to shield your children against anything remotely non-Christian, then you need to read this book.

Yes, this book is intellectual. In some ways, it is a textbook. And that description alone will turn off a lot of people. But I plead with you to believe me when I say that first of all, Nancy Pearcey is far more interesting than any textbook you’ve read before, and what she has to say is far more important. Vital, actually, if you want to understand modern culture and why certain movies are being made and what is motivating your next-door neighbor.

Nancy Pearcey’s first book,Total Truth, revolutionized my life a number of years ago because it introduced me to the concept of worldview. I still highly recommend that one as well, but you can start with either one. Both are fantastic. Both are on my Top-10-of-All-Time list.

I read Pearcey’s books and I am very proud to be a Christian. I read her books and I am convinced more than ever that what I believe is true. Really, truly true, for all of mankind, literally and historically….not just “true to me,” not just “my own personal spirituality” but true in the sense that Jesus Christ was a real person who was God-in-the-flesh, who lived and died and rose again (literally and historically) and that He changed the course of history, and my life. Some fairy tales really are true. That’s why we like them.

Summer Dreamin’

By Amy Medina

On August 16, 2011

In Other

Although technically, I guess, it is winter here.

But still hot enough to spend a week at our favorite beach house! We invited two families and two students, and of course, it was a relaxing, soul-uplifting, rejuvenating time.