I just recently finished Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout by Cal Newport. It's been a timely read. In the book he offers "a philosophy for organizing knowledge work efforts in a sustainable and meaningful manner, based on the following three principles: 1. Do fewer things. 2. Work at a natural pace. 3. Obsess over quality" (p. 8).
Our rental property has some beautiful flowers.
And the last pic is the night-time view.
Since arriving here the to-do list is remaining full and ever-increasing. However, in the midst of it all, I've been able to sustain a pretty healthy pace and get a lot done. Here's some of the things I've been able to check off the to-do list:
Setup up account with LUMA, the electric company, and with Autoridad de Acueductos y Alcantarillados (AAA), the water company
I was told this was going to be difficult but I experienced nothing but great service and kindness from the staff of both companies.
Purchase a vehicle
This is a huge praise! We had so many praying that we would be able to find a vehicle on the island and the Lord provided us a great deal on a 2019 Dodge Caravan. We are especially grateful for Pablo who attends Redimidos de Cristo for helping us.
Complete papers for "Church Planting a in Post-Christian Context" class
I only have one more class left and I'll have earned my M.A. in Church Planting from NOBTS.
Meet with local pastors and missionaries
I've had three meetings so far and two lined up for this week
Buy the kids a pet
I went with a hamster. Needless to say, the kids are really excited! I'm not sure what her name is because they all chose their own name for her. We're such a unified family...haha.
There's other things I'm working on but that's a small sample. The family has been up to a good bit as well. Maria is mastering the art of cooking arepas and tostones, which are truly amazing! She and the kids are continuing to work on their Spanish along with other memorization projects. They've frequented the beach multiple times. It's been so hot here that the coolness of the water is really quite refreshing. Last week our kids were able to attend a day camp with the Youth for Christ ministry here in Aguadilla. They had a blast and it was a blessing for them to be able to meet some kids their age within the first couple weeks of being here. This too was an answer to prayer!
All in all, we're encouraged by how God has been answering our (and your) prayers. This next week we plan to host a prayer meeting at our house with some families we've met here in Aguadilla. Lord-willing, the truck we shipped over here with all our stuff will arrive this Thursday.
Best Quotes from Slow Productivity
"This philosophy rejects busyness, seeing overload as an obstacle to producing results that matter, not a badge of pride. It also posits that professional efforts should unfold at a more varied and humane pace, with hard periods counterbalanced by relaxation at many different timescales, and that a focus on impressive quality, not performative activity, should underpin everything." (8)
"We don't need science to convince us of something that we've all experienced directly: our brains work better when we're not rushing." (60)
"To be overloaded is not just inefficient; it can be for many, downright inhumane." (99)
"Sometimes cultivating a natural pace isn't just about the time you dedicate to a project, but also the context in which the work is completed....As the French philosopher Gaston Bachelard argues in The Poetics of Space, we shouldn't underestimate the ability of our surroundings to transform our cognitive reality." (154)
"Slowing down isn't about protesting work. It's instead about finding a better way to do it." (216)
All quotes from Cal Newport, Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout (New York: Portfolio/Penguin, 2024).
Praying for you day tmr (Sunday)! I enjoyed your quotes :)