This week we had the strange experience of having to share our backyard with a “chachalacas,” a very large bird native to these parts, and her family, a brood of 3 chicks. We first realized she was nesting when she made this horrific scream the night before her babies escaped the nest and fell into our closed-in backyard. We have tried to cooperate with giving her space and time, but the tight quarters have not made for easy “sharing.”
After some time, we realized they had virtually kicked us out of our backyard! Thus we attempted to reach out to them with food and water, but our presence caused the mother to just fly off, leaving her three babies on their own. We were distraught by the response. But the next morning, she showed up with 3 adult friends. They all helped with feeding, guarding, and caring for her chicks and the object lesson was exactly what we needed to see. She is now more comfortable around us and does not seem as overwhelmed.
On our first two visits here we met tons of expats that we built relationships with very quickly. Now that we have been here for over 3 weeks, our only contacts have been with the nationals, building only shallow relationships because of the language barrier. We have missed our “birds of a feather.”
This Sunday we met with an Expat Worship Service with fellow believers that sing and talk in English. We have a lunch engagement with another couple, too. We did not realize the importance that this aspect had on our own spiritual health. The mother bird had a good idea! Thank you, Heavenly Father, for always providing direction and provisions. No even one bird falls to the ground without our Heavenly Father's knowledge ... and we are much more valuable in His eyes than the birds.
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