Looking beyond ourselves

Isn't it funny how you can be in a fuming bad mood and then someone needs your help with something, and in helping them, you forget why you were angry?

I was frustrated over a simple thing and I was writing about it in a different blog that I keep for such entries that no one else needs to read... When I was approached by a sweet, quiet tempered Asian man who couldn't speak English very well.

He was having difficulties writing a paper to explain to policemen why his license plate lights wouldn't work. Apparently, it's actually a problem with the car it's self. He had an impressive document of research he had done to prove that what he said was true. There were problems in the making of this particular car, and he had tried to get it fixed several times, but it never worked.

He needed my help to word letter of explanation. Some policemen didn't understand when he gave it to them, that he needed it back. He said that he has had to print out this same document several times, and now he needed help to word it in such a way that they would understand that this was a document he was going to KEEP in his car, to prove to the policeman, that the lights were not his fault.

He was so sweet, and halting in his speech, that I came back from helping him, to my own document of pent up frustrations, only to realize that the frustrations were gone. I now see that the thing I was so upset about was really very silly and easily fixable with time. I just need to be patient and not worry so much, I guess.

I just think that it's so neat how the Lord uses the needs of others, to meet the needs in OUR lives... I was really just being selfish, and I needed to look beyond my own problems, and actively help somebody else.

I know, helping to word a document isn't that big of a deal, but that was all it took. Like drinking water will always quench your thirst faster than tea or koolaid, this also was surprisingly very simple; something I know I already knew, but in the heat of the moment, I forgot.

God always gives us a way of escape... Even when the temptation is something so seemingly trivial as a pity party that no one else will see. And that "way of escape" was more like a rescue, actually... There are probably 30 people in this library, why did he come to me? and why was his need such that I would have to get up and physically leave the spot where I sat simmering, to go and cool off thinking about helping him with something else.

Maybe that wouldn't have been any ordinary pity party, and actually would have slipped deeper inside my thoughts and become a barrier between me and any person who tried to talk about it? I don't know... I only know that if God sees all sin on the same level, and self pity and selfishness are just as bad as smoking or immorality, than I needed to be rescued.

Progress

Nothing new, but lots has progressed since I last posted. Johnathan and I are up here at Lynchburg now. Johnathan has started his classes, and we've already paid our first two month of rent. (I know, I know; I'm not confusing the deposit or anything and yes, I do know the difference between that and rent.) Anyway, We're doing well.

Johnathan's 24th birthday was last week! His family came up to see us and we all went to O-Charlie's. (Johnathan's favorite "fancy" restaurant) His brother, Joel, wasn't able to make it because he had to work, and they wouldn't give him the day off. We missed him terribly!! He's such a pleasure to be around. He's got a quick sense of humor, but he doesn't really speak much unless your actually talking to him or asking him a question. He's one of those rare people who aren't quiet because they are insecure, they're just quiet because they don't have anything to say.
I haven't made many friends since coming here, but he's definitely one of my favorites! (We miss you, Joel!)

He gave Johnathan a little metal boat on a music box for his birthday, and when you wind the music box up, the boat rocks up and down as if it's on the ocean! It's one of the most peaceful things I've ever seen and we play it all the time.

Johnathan is doing better in his classes than he thought he would, even though they are extremely difficult. I'm so proud of him! He has the most amazing work ethic of anyone I've ever known. He studies late into the night, and then gets up at 5:30 in the morning to go to class. He spends hours with tutors and professors who might be able to help him, and even though he gets discouraged, he still manages to smile at me and make me laugh. He's very understanding when I get tired, but I still feel bad and wish that I could do something to help him get through it. It's too bad I can't just learn a couple chapters in a text book and then "download" them to his brain.

Some of the teachers really don't seem to know how much they are asking their students to do! They need to attend the Seven Laws of the Learner class! One man split his class up into groups of twelve, and assigned them each to study a certain business man. They have to basically pretend like they are a company trying to "sell" this man to the public, I guess, with reports and all kinds of fun stuff. All this would be good a good enough project for them to be working on while they are in this class, and most wouldn't complain... Until he said that they are also required to read every one of the books that this man has ever written! I think there's around 70 books belonging to the man that Johnathan's group was assigned to study. Johnathan tried to appeal, but his teacher thinks that he's being "tough" and that because of that, he is a good teacher; but he's not. He's got his students running ragged and out of breath, barely passing quizzes and exams, because there is simply too much on their plates. Did I mention that some of these teachers need to attend the Seven Laws of the Learner class??

Anyway, I don't want to talk about that anymore, it's making me upset. lol!

On a happier note: I've been feeling the baby move a lot lately! At first I honestly thought it was just gas, but since then, I've been paying closer attention to the way it actually differs from that feeling entirely. For example, gas is more of a rumbling, bubbly feeling, where as THIS is more like a little "bump" here and there. I feel it mostly when I'm at home, laying down. Maybe the baby has no way to know that it's bedtime since it can't see the sun yet? lol. The other day I told Johnathan about it and he got all excited and said, "I want to feel it!" But the baby is still too small for anyone else to feel it but me. *poor Johnathan* :(

I've been having a hard time finding maternity clothes. On one of my searches, a lady sympathized with me and said, "I just had a baby myself, and I will tell you that the only places in Lynchburg that sell maternity clothes are Target, and Burlington coat factory." That was rather disheartening, since I generally don't like what target has to offer anyway; so I went to check out Burlington. I wasn't that impressed with their selection either, but I did find a few things that would work for me.

I wonder why modesty doesn't seem to be an issue for a pregnant lady? Do they look in the mirror, decide they are too ugly for repair anyway, so they just blow it completely?? I'm serious! Some of these shirts are so tight, they reveal every single curve you could possibly be hiding!! Why???! *sighs and laughs softly* I will never understand girls my own age.

Then Johnathan's dad and brother told me about a Good Will somewhere, and THAT'S where I hit the jackpot. The reason why Lynchburg doesn't have any decent maternity clothes is because they're all at Good Will! All these "old fashioned" styles that nobody likes anymore because they are modest; they give them to the Good Will for people like ME to find! Yayayayayayay!! *laughs and grins happily*

Anyway, I think that's just about it for now. I'm sorry I haven't been posting very much. I'll try to do better.

I love and miss every singly one of you more than you can imagine!!