Sunday, July 02, 2006

Sunday Mornings, Before Church, the Same Wherever You Are

Getting everyone ready for church is one of the most challenging parts of the week. Even as the kids get older, it’s still the same stressor. People argue. They can’t find their shoes. They lie about brushing their teeth and shampooing their hair. They bicker.

I usually try to stay out of things, because it goes better that way, but about 5 minutes before we leave I have to give orders to get people inline.

Ricardo and Jimmy are both from the orphanage called AGAND located in Guatemala City. Today I am taking 4 or 5 kids with me to the annual picnic because the director, who has been there for about 30 years, is coming to visit. Families from all over our area who have adopted from this orphanage will get together for a picnic and swimming this afternoon.

For several years we have not been able to make it to the annual picnic. It was held two hours from our home and lasted from noon to four on a Sunday. However, this year it is only 45 minutes away and we are done with church by 10 in the summer here, so we’re heading down for the picnic. The family we know best from our shared experience, featured here, won’t be able to make it this year, and we’re sad about that. However, it will be great to see the director and connect with others we have met along the way.

First though, I have to survive the next 10 minutes of getting everyone ready and out the door, and then make it through a service of getting Dominyk to sit still enough as to not distract the WHOLE congregation and to see if he can keep the words “bored,” “stupid,” “hate church,” and other more foul choices out of his hymn singing.

No comments: