This story was written and sent by Nathan in April, but in the wonders of
internet communication, I did not receive it. Forgive the tardiness of the
message! -Liz

"Please, Mr. Nathan, please," little Deysy pleaded. "Yes, Mr., please come."
Another student pleads. "Yes, yes, yes!" the students started chanting. "Wait!
We donīt even have a boat!" I said, trying to come up with a good reason not to
go. "I have mine!" Saul said, then Yecson jumped in, "Ya, we all worked soo
hard. Yes! Yes! Yes!" the chanting started again.

"Ok listen. First letīs get back to my house and then we will decide." For my
studentīs Bible assignments they had to help me chop grass for an old widow
named Lola. She has no sons and lives with her daughter in a little shack about
10 ft. wide. Weeds and bushes 2 to 3 ft high surrounded the small thatched
roof. 2 hours earlier when we were approaching the house with machetes and
rakes in our hands, the students had said, "Do we have to chop all of that!?"

"No, you donīt have to if you donīt want to. You can go home and Iīll do it by
myself. Remember weīre doing this for Jesus and each of you have a desicion to
make." I had answered. I am not sure if they were more worried about displeasing
Jesus or getting in trouble with their parents but they pulled out some files
and started sharpening their machetes. I was really proud of them because 2
hours later the job was done and now I was standing before 8 dirty, sweaty faces
with big brown eyes and bottom lips stuck out. Standing in front of my yard I
said "Ok".

"Wahoo!! Weīre going to the beach!" the students started jumping and yelling.
So a few minutes later, with life-jackets and big grins my students started
climbing into what Saul called his boat (a hollowed out tree) also known as Took
Took, because of the sound the motor makes as it scoots along. I started
regretting my decision as soon as we pushed off and little springs of water
started coming in from the bottom of the boat.

"Um, Saul?" I said, "Is that normal?" Saulīs one-of-a-kind, big 10 year old
smile with his white teeth shinning out from his dark face turned to me as he
said, "Si, mister." As he threw me a cup to bale out the water. The wind and
current had pushed us away from the shore quite a bit before Saul got the small
motor to start. We all let out a yell of excitement as we finally started
heading out of the lagoon and towards the beach. Saul drove the boat right up
to the beach and all the students started jumping out before we had come to a
complete stop. And then of course, the party began. After an intense game of
tag, Yecson, the young boy who lives with Rebecca and I yelled out,"Last one in
the water is a girl!" At once there was sudden yelling and not very manly
screaming as all the boys raced to reach the water first. For the next 45 min.
I stood on the beach and watched my students play. It was so much fun to watch
their faces with all the different expressions as they splashed in the water.
Every few minutes Yecson would glance at me after he did something funny or
amazing to see if I was smiling. After he saw the smile he would quickly turn
away to act like he didnīt see me and keep playing with a little bit of a smile,
knowing I was watching. I feel the same as Yecson when I think of God watching
me and then I act like I didnīt think the thought and begin to work harder to
get him to smile bigger. They boys began to play one of those boy games that
have no end, but makes you feel macho. As I stood on the beach, the waves
slowly burying my feet in the sand, I started to analyze the game remembering
times I played games of the same sort. It started like dominos with one boy
having a great idea to push another boy under the water then with a great, proud
smile, feel the sense of macho man. But before the feeling could totally be
grasped that same boy would find himself under the water gasping for air. And
everytime they would come up again with determination, deciding that they
wouldnīt let it happen to them again. It was so much fun to think of what was
going on in their minds as smiles, smirks, grins, and frowns flashed across
their faces. As I stood there, I heard a small voice say, "these are your
disciples." I hate for this story to come to an end because thereīs so much
more to tell, but the point is here for you: There is only ONE Mr. Nathan
working in Palacios and there is only one you working in your job, school, or
home. The people or children around you are your disciples and as leaders we
will be judged for how we train every day, whether at the beach, in the kitchen,
or on the job. So raise your disciples with care because we are leaders.
Nathan