Paz en la Tormenta

I have this friend, Louis. He loves to smile, sleep through baseball games, play with kids and sing. He’s always giving me new songs to listen to and saying, “Es tuani. Necesitas aprender lo.” (It’s cool. You need to learn it.) One of the first songs he showed me was Paz en la Tormenta. (Peace in the Storm) Louis told me how this song meant a lot to him and how it has helped him through some hard times. I almost cried the first time I listened to it, and I only understood 2 lines. Since then Louis has been great friend, making me laugh on a sad day and praying with me when we don’t know what to do.

We are good at reminding each other to trust God,
who has been by our side through other times.

Friday Bridgette, my sister, got news that she has a small tumor in her pituitary gland, that’s right above your brain stem. Her tumor is very slow growing and almost certainly benign, but she is going to need surgery to have it removed. She met with the neurosurgeon Tuesday and received very good news. The tests show that her vision is not affected although the tumor is touching her optic nerve. This greatly influenced the surgeon's recommendation that Bridgette go to Harding for her freshman year, study hard and when she gets out in May, they will remove the tumor! Even though surgery is not the most desired outcome, we are thankful the tumor is not causing any other problems right now and can be removed next spring!

mi hermana favorita

Naturally, the thought of brain surgery on my baby-sister is not incredibly comforting but this is what is… Praise the Good Lord Above, we only had to wait 4 days to see the surgeon. God already had me Stateside when we found out. I was able to see and hug her that night because she was coming to Gran’s with Mom and Dad. We had a great weekend, processing and just making memories. We even got to celebrate Grandad’s 81^st Birthday! Another comforting thing was the message Louis sent me Friday afternoon. Without knowing what was going here, he sent me a message that said, “Paz en la Tormenta.” What a beautiful reminder. He was finding peace after a stormy week and shared it at just as a new storm was brewing over my family and me.

[Listen HERE]

Cuando lloras por las veces que intentaste… (When you cry for the times)

Tratas de olvidar las ágrimas que lloraste. (You try to forget the tears that you cry)

Solo tienes pena y tristeza (Just grief and sadness)

el futuro y cierta espera. (the future and what’s expected)

Puedes tener paz en la tormenta (You can have peace in the storm)
Muchas veces yo me siento igual que tu. (Many times I feel the same as you)

Mi corazón anhela algo real (ajaaa) (My heart longs for something real)

El Señor viene a mí y me ayuda a seguir. (The Lord comes to me and helps me to follow)

Ten paz en medio de la tormenta. (Have peace in the middle of the storm)

Puedes tener paz en la tormenta. (You can have peace in the storm)

Fé y esperanza cuando puedas seguír (Faith and hope when you follow)

a un contunto hecho padazos. (After being tossed around and falling into pieces)

El Señor guiará tus pasos. (The Lord will guard your steps)

Ten paz en medio de la tormenta. (Have peace in the middle of the storm)

Puedes tener paz en la tormenta (You can have peace in the storm)

Puedes tener paz en la tormenta (You can have peace in the storm)

Puedes tener paz en la tormenta (You can have peace in the storm)

Bella esperanza cuando no puedas seguir (Beautiful peace when you can not follow)

a un contunto hecho padazos (After being tossed around and falling into pieces)

El Señor guará tus pasos (The Lord will guard your steps)

Ten paz en medio de la tormenta (Have peace in the middle of the storm)

[Translation is not exact as I am still learning and Google translate is not always perfect. But you get an idea!]

So much truth in this song. We can have faith and hope and peace in the middle of a storm. He makes himself known so we can follow Him as he guides our steps. Praying you and your family are leaning on Him through all the trials we face. What ever the storm is you are weathering, I pray He provides just what you need to overcome. I also pray we are opening our eyes, minds and hearts to see the storms of others and how we can be rays of hope for the end of their storm.  Thank you so much for the support you have shown my family through the last roller coaster of a week. We are so thankful that God is always working and that He calls His children to be His hands and feet!

The Happs

that stands for happenings :)

36 days ago I left Jinotega. It was a little sudden as the plan was to stay in Nicaragua through December. However, the needs and opportunities that God has provided over the last 36 days have proven I am right where I should be.

The Mist covering the mountains the day before I left.
¡Ciudad de las Brumas!

I flew straight from Managua (the capitol) to Atlanta where Dad picked me up on Thursday. Friday the young professional group from church spent the day at Six Flags. They even let me come tag along. I love that group of friends and roller coasters; so it was a solid day! 

Our whole group. My how I've missed these friends!

I'm not sure if I can explain how much I love swings!!

Saturday morning was Momma time. We hiked Stone Mountain together. In Jinotega, I am used to being surrounded by mountains, walking around the city often and hiking a fair bit too; things I was already missing. So it was nice to be outside and seeing a mountain top view of Atlanta. 

Sunday was spent at church and catching up with dear friends. My church family at Snellville is such a blessing. I love the singing, the lessons from Mr. Harold, our young professional class and the welcoming smiles. But with so much love in one place, it was part of the too much category that made the transition hard. (See previous post for more explanation.) I was having a hard time letting myself feel “happy” about being in Atlanta knowing I came to the States to be in Fayetteville. Also, so many things change in 5 months, that I felt a little lost and out of place. [[Please know I say this to explain my awkward actions. No one ever said or did anything to make me feel out of place. It’s just how the reverse culture shock was working.]] I got to end the night back at Stone Mountain with one of my best friends, Jami, watching the laser show. Just sitting back, laughing and singing along was definitely peaceful.

Got to try TacoBell's breakfast with Jami too.
I had been waiting since February!

 Monday I hit the road for Fayetteville. It was a very good drive on a beautiful day with lots of time to dance and sing in the car like a goofball. I made it to Gran and Grandad’s just in time to help make dinner. Being in the kitchen with Gran is one of my favorite things! We laugh while I try to learn all I can from her. Gradad taught me about some of the best of Andy Griffith. Before the night was over, we took a selfie in the window to mark our first evening together.

Grandad said, "Well this is kinda stupid,
but if it makes you two so happy, let's do it again!"

In the weeks since then we have spent a few days in Huntsville visiting doctors. Thankfully Grandad has continued to receive good reports. Right now he’s just over halfway through a new round of chemo and handling it very well. Praising God for that daily! We have also spent a few days working around the farm- fixing Gran’s garden beds, trimming trees, preparing the most efficient water system for the cows and trying to get ride of our mole population. Daily we see to the animals... Right now we have 1 cat, 20 cows with 5 calves (ish), 4 guienes, 1 rooster, 1 hen, 1 peacock with the 3 babies, 3 wild bunnies and 1 extra cat that is trying to get comfortable with our porch. We actually just let the peacocks out this week! They’ve been growing under the watchful eye of Gran and their mother in the pen but got to meet the great big world…

Before and after in the front flower bed.
And our fence line has trimmed trees too-
which is really just any excuse for me to drive the 4-wheeler!!

This little calf was born about a week after I got here.
TOP: just an hour old
BOTTOM: 3 weeks old

The baby peacocks venturing out into the world for the first time.
Momma Peacock thrilled to be able to fly!

Grandad is definitely an extravert (Dad comes by it honestly). So when he is in good health, he’ll often say, “Well Helen, think we ought to go visit ______ today?” And off we go! We never know who is going to come to mind or where a day of errands will take us, but I love it. 

I even got to make a visit to Huntsville for time with Kelly!

There’s a part of a TobyMac song that has been running through my head the last few weeks. 

So speak Life, speak Life.

To the deadest, darkest night.

Speak life, speak Life.

When the sun won’t shine and you don’t know why.

Look into the eyes of the broken hearted;

Watch them come alive as soon as you speak hope,

You speak love, you speak…

You speak Life, (oh oh oh oh oh oh) 

[You can listen to the full song HERE]

That has been my aim over the last few weeks, to speak Hope, Love and Life. Not just to my grandparents but to all people I interact with while I’m here. These first 36 days have a great blessing and time of learning. I do not know how much longer I get to stay, but I plan on taking advantage of all my days with family!!

Transitioning Stateside

Culture can be defined as "all learned behavior which is socially acquired." Eugene A. Nida 

Culture shock can be defined as “the disorientation resulting from the removal or from the distortion of the cues, signs, rules and regulations that govern social interaction.” Pat Hile 

Culture shock is something I heard a lot about before going to Nicaragua. It is also something I was praying to work through knowing it affects everyone at some point. While there are many things about the Nicaraguan culture that surprise and shock me, I do not think I have gone through deep culture shock- as in major disorientation not understanding the culture. There have definitely been moments I did not understand what was happening and other moments where I was frustrated for being in a state of confusion. However, it has not been overwhelming. So naturally I was due for some shock after 5 months and coming back to the States, I certainly experienced some major reverse culture shock…

For me it began with too many…. Too many emotions about coming to the states. Too much relief to be back in the arms of my dad. [Naturally I started crying.] Too many lanes and cars. Too many choices for everything… food/resturants/gas/socks/cheeses. Too much information on the news. Too much hurt from leaving my new family. Too many questions that I don’t have answers for. Too many changes in my heart and head to just go about a “normal” day. Just too many.

It makes since and it’s textbook. But the thing is there’s no 6-steps to instantly overcome reverse culture shock. Yes, there are plenty of tips to overcome and re-adjust to life in your “host” country. They take time. Time to relearn how to behave and talk (I found myself speaking Spanish to lots of people accidently). Time to remember that the extra stuff isn’t bad. Time to remember the relationships are what matter- wherever you are. Time to not be scared to call the States “home.” Time to reconnect and be patient while everyone else has changed just like me.

While I still haven’t gotten used to AC everywhere- I keep a sweater with me at all times- I have finally readjusted nicely. I don’t want to curl up in a ball and cry quite as often. I get to talk to friends back in Nicaragua enough to not feel completely left out. Like I said, the work still goes on, and God has been up to some pretty awesome stuff down there! But I am genuinely happy to be here, in Fayetteville, Tennessee with my wonderful grandparents! They are doing well and have adjusted to having a third person in the house again. I’ll share more about our activities soon.

It wouldn’t be a complete blog post without a song, right?! So I’ll leave you with this and a prayer.

Christy Nockels- Sing Along

From babies hidden in the shadows
To the cities shining bright
There are captives weeping
Far from sight
For every doorway has a story
And some are holding back the cries
But there is One who hears at the night

Great God
Wrap Your arms around this world tonight
Around the world tonight
And when You hear our cries
Sing through the night
So we can join in Your song
And sing along
We'll sing along

From the farthest corners of the earth
Still His mercy reaches
Even to the pain we cannot see
And even through the darkness
There's a promise that will keep us
There is One who came to set us free

Great God
Wrap Your arms around this world tonight
Around the world tonight
And when You hear our cries
Sing through the night
So we can join in Your song
And sing along
We'll sing along

So let Your song rise
And fill up the earth
Let Your hope ring out
Let Your heart be heard (x2)

Great God
Wrap Your arms around this world tonight
Around the world tonight
And when You hear our cries
Sing through the night
And we will join in Your song
And sing along
We'll sing along
We'll sing along (x6)

Dear our Great God. Thank you for holding us in your hands and wrapping us in your arms. We need you.  Your love, compassion, truth and justice. Please continue to hold the world together. Please intervene like only you can to provide peace and truth in a time with lots of hurt and destruction. I especially thank you for holding my family and friends all over the globe. Praying we sing loud enough for the world to notice You.

More info on culture shock if you’re interested: http://www.ovc.edu/missions/msb/culshock.htm#fn1