Rachel's Rhythm

Friday, January 28, 2022

Anybody else have a hard time getting back into a routine after the holidays? After hanging out with Ivan's family in Shell for New Year's we hosted the annual National Retreat at our house the following weekend. So we were well into January before we got back to our "normal" schedule. And we are about to have it all turn upside-down again with our planned trip to the Dominican Republic. So maybe in March we'll get back into our groove!

I have now received my two doses of the COVID vaccine and just in time for all the new standards in Ecuador. It has become mandatory to show proof of your complete vaccination in order to enter most public places (stores, stadiums, businesses, etc.). It has been required for entry to Ecuador since the beginning of December and I don't foresee them lifting these requirements anytime soon. Masks are still required in all public spaces and some places are now requiring specific types of masks for entry. As in many other places, the Omicron has spread quickly and so many plans have been rescheduled or cancelled in the last few weeks. We are expecting camp locations to be requiring vaccination cards for entry and this may or may not affect our goals for bringing kids to camp this summer.

If anything, we continue to remember the importance of making plans but letting God guide our steps and holding things with open hands.

I love the image from Romans 5:2 of standing in a wide open space full of God's grace.

"We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand- out in the wide open spaces of God's grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise." (Romans 5:2 MSG)

God is full of grace and welcomes us with open arms. I imagine the opening scene from the Sound of Music where Maria is just running and twirling around in the field on the mountain, full of joy and laughter. In a world that continually feels more restricting, I rejoice that my God embraces.