Idioms and Broken Pottery

    While in Juarez, Mexico, Peyton and I made several memories.  This is one I will never forget!

     On Saturday morning, we were on the bus at 5:30 AM heading four hours southwest to a town named, Casas Grande.  There we helped with two festivals where we handed out OCC Shoeboxes to precious little ones.   After the conclusion of the second festival, we boarded the bus to travel thirty minutes down the road for our last festival and OCC distribution.

     We were excited about visiting this village.  It was a small, rural village, and Carlos said that they many had never heard the gospel. Also, recently a local man had rediscovered the ancient Mayan skill of making unique pottery.  His pottery was world-famous.  Celebrities, such as Laura Bush, had flown into the small town to purchase this guy's pottery. And it was expensive- like $10,000 per pot expensive.

     After the festival and shoebox distribution, our team visited with locals and proceeded to buy some inexpensive pottery as souvenirs.  Most of us wanted to visit the skilled potter that was world-renoun for his work.  So we went into his shop.  Bobby was chit-chatting with the artist while Peyton and I walked around examining the expensive pottery. Ironically, his first words to me in the shop were, "Mom, don't be a bull in a china closet."  I laughed and agreed, pointing out for him to watch his step as there was a sudden slope in the floor. We continued to look at the beautiful bowls and vases always eyeballing the price tag.  As we headed to the register where Bobby was still engaged in conversation, Peyton raised his arm, pulled at his neck, bumped a vase, that plunged into another vase on its way to the floor.  CRASHHH!!!!
     Oh my!  I gulped as I turned to realize that my child had caused the commotion. Peyton was already on the ground picking up the pieces….saying, "Mom, I'll pay ya back. I'm so sorry."  I looked at the store owner and said, "I have a debit card?" YIKES!  I asked the store owner how much I owed for both of the broken pots.  He explained that I only had to pay for one and that was $30. WHEW!!  He was a nice guy, or Bobby had been buttering him up.  I was still in shock, but laughing uncontrollably while thinking about the "memory" we had just made.  The kind man gladly accepted $40 and insisted that I take one of the pots home with me. He then showed me how to sand down the chipped edges and make it look new again, as he had done several times before.   I took my purchase back to the bus knowing  I would never be able to look at that pot and not "crack" a smile.

     The next day (after Peyton had recovered a little more) I reminded him of the idiom he had rattled off to me as I entered the shop.  Several jokes went around, mostly about how Peyton could really "crack us up".
     That pot represents a happy (thankfully inexpensive) memory, as well as a lesson in the irony of idioms. But, it reminds me of a little more, too.
      It reminds me of the Potter that molds us and shapes us into who He wants us to be.  Do we crack sometimes?  Do we break? Shatter? Of course, we all do.  But even if/when we break, we are fixable.  He can sand us down, and start something new. Something beautiful. Pretty amazing!
     And just like our little pot, we all have a story. Sad stories. Happy stories. Funny stories. Restored stories. And some of us probably "crack" the Potter up a little more than others……

What is Your Education Worth?

*Dedicated to all my teacher friends returning to the classroom tomorrow

What is your education worth??

I feel like I've asked myself this question many times over the past couple of years. Being a 20 year veteran in education, I am very passionate about this question. Being a parent of a teenager and a tween, I am very curious as to how much the "college days" will cost me. Lol!

Having visited several countries during my adult life, I am always interested in the education provided by the government in those specific countries. These last few days, our FBB team visited Mexico to help with OCC shoebox distribution.

Carlos Garcia, our fearless leader and founder of Amigo Fiel, reminded us again about education in Mexico. Children go to school through sixth grade. After sixth grade, parents are given the option to allow their child to continue their education which will cost them approximately $500/year. Many/most can not afford this luxury for a couple of reasons. First, the $500 is a huge sum of money. Secondly, after sixth grade, students may begin working in factories and help their families by bringing in additional income. Hard for us to swallow, right?

For example, a family has two parents and three children. Both parents work each week and earn approximately $100/week, or $50 each. When one child completes sixth grade, the household income increases to about $150/week. When all three children begin working, the household income will more than double. For this reason, some parents determine they cannot afford to allow their children to attend school after sixth grade- even if they receive a scholarship! It is simply heartbreaking for this educator!

This is true in many countries. In Kenya, only the smartest, "cream-of-the-crop", are allowed to continue their education. Wow! (Pretty sure I would not have made the cut!)

Perhaps this is the reason I get so defensive when our students are compared to students in other countries. Do those countries provide free education to all? It is definitely something to ponder.....

And the price of education... Can we even put a number value on our education? Is it possible to accurately figure the investment of time and money that my teachers poured into me? To countless others over and over, year after year...
I think not!

There are many things God pointed out on this OCC trip to Juarez. First, He has a BIG sense of humor, and ALWAYS takes care of us. Secondly, I am spoiled!!! I often lose my joy because I sweat the small stuff! (Matching boots to a new dress- you get my point) And of course, the value and blessing of an education. Thank you Lord for reminders along the journey.