So it's only actually Sunday, but it seemed like an appropriate anticipatory title for tomorrow. Plus, Emily and I are listening to her 80's play list as we make final preparations for tomorrow.
Let's start by summing up the weekend: Friday was largely uneventful, but we walked to the city square and got ice cream before a last minute game of Hand and Foot with Emily's parents (which we DID win despite what the critics say). Yes, we have one more win to get before we catch up to them, but still... Saturday was cleaning (no pila cleaning this time), then watching the university guys from the granja play soccer, then playing soccer with the ninos at the granja, and finally Pizza Hut with Emily's parents. I think my favorite part was getting ant bites at the soccer game and having to ice one of them this morning to keep it from itching (sarcasm doesn't translate very well here, so that was me getting in my quota for the day). I learned that I am actually not that bad at futbol when I play against the little guys, but it's mostly cause my legs are twice as long as theirs, not so much because I'm more skilled. Lol.
The mystery of the week: the strange seed piles that keep appearing outside our patio door. A new pile appears about every two days and consists of 6-12 seeds. The patio is totally walled in with the only entrance being through the house. If anyone can Encyclopedia Brown that one for me, I'd appreciate it.
Other than that, I feel as ready for tomorrow as I probably can under the circumstances and as terrible as it is I draw some comfort from knowing that I'm at least more prepared than the other missionaries that only got their teaching assignments four days ago. I know I'm a terrible person. But I'm praying that we all can be a very positive influence for Christ on our students this year. It's a pretty great group of girls :-)
The last exciting note of the day: Emily and I have a house in the Cayman Islands whenever we want it. That's our payment for helping our friend David with his classroom decor.
Thank you all so much for your prayers. I'll let you know how day one goes... by Friday hopefully.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Futbol, lattes, and frustration...
Yes, Wednesday I played my first game of soccer in Honduras in La Canchita (let's just say it's an outdoor indoor soccer court and you can use your imagination). It was a ton of fun. I don't think it hurt that Emily and I really needed to work off some frustration from this week at the school :-) Now, I don't really want to write about all the frustrating things that happened this week, but I'll just say that the culture and way of doing things here is very very different than what we're used to and we feel very unprepared for school on Monday. Is that going to change by worrying about it? Not at all. So I'm gonna move on...
During my short time here so far, I have discovered a dimension of our God that although had been within my realm of knowledge, I had not known this character of God as I do now. That is God as our provider. And I am as aware as anyone about how cliche that sounds. Unlike the typical story about God providing last minute needed financing for this or that, my discovery has been somewhat different. I don't know how else to explain it other than I feel physically and personally cared for by my heavenly Father through the material things he's provided me for my year here. One good example is the house that Emily and I are staying in. By all standards (especially Honduran standards) it's HUGE for only two people. But it gives us the escape from school we need, our own space to be by ourselves and be with the Lord, and room to just be calm and breathe after a hard day at work.
It's different, though, than just being thankful for what I've been given because here it's not just being thankful for things I get to have... it's more like a lack of worry about things (material things) in general because I have every thing I need. As though God is (and I know he is) providing all that we need to be empowered to do our work here, but also to be cared for enough such that my mind is not ever occupied with worry or care about material things. It frees my mind up to focus solely on what is important, solely on my mission of sharing the gospel.
It's a different perspective that is difficult to explain so I hope it made sense, especially since my writing gets exponentially more confusing to follow after 9:30 now. Maybe one more reiteration will help: He's shown me that he is provider in many more ways than last minute hero stuff. He provides daily, not only physical things, but also mental and emotional ones. And in my case, material things in order to provide peace of mind, which is a mental/emotional thing... ya, something like that.
The bottom line is this, and be reminded and encouraged if you have forgotten recently: God cares for his children. We often and easily forget that his provisions are grace not our right, but he gives generously anyway because he is slow to anger, full of patience, and abounding in love. He cares for us. Individually, specifically, personally. He has not forgotten you, overlooked your needs, or procrastinated in attending to you. I accuse him of that all too often (of course ever accusing him of that is too often, but you know what I mean). We have been given grace, things we don't deserve, the love and attention of a Father we don't deserve. Don't feel guilty or defensive if you struggle with gratefulness, we all have that struggle. As I'm learning here even orphans in the middle of Honduras have that struggle. But do not let your struggle with ungratefulness become an internal debate about the character of God. He is always good, always caring, always attentive. We don't feel it and it is hard to believe, but that is our struggle not a question of the character of a God who is greater than our hearts.
Well, that ended up going a direction I didn't mean to. Anyhow...
Walked to the mall today to get an iced latte during lunch break, my first since being here (iced latte, not lunch break). It was delicious! (Que rico!) And I couldn't help but sit there and think "How unspiritual is it that I'm sitting as a 'missionary' in a developing country sitting in one of the nicest places in town sipping a latte?" but I couldn't help but sit there and think, "The Lord is good."
During my short time here so far, I have discovered a dimension of our God that although had been within my realm of knowledge, I had not known this character of God as I do now. That is God as our provider. And I am as aware as anyone about how cliche that sounds. Unlike the typical story about God providing last minute needed financing for this or that, my discovery has been somewhat different. I don't know how else to explain it other than I feel physically and personally cared for by my heavenly Father through the material things he's provided me for my year here. One good example is the house that Emily and I are staying in. By all standards (especially Honduran standards) it's HUGE for only two people. But it gives us the escape from school we need, our own space to be by ourselves and be with the Lord, and room to just be calm and breathe after a hard day at work.
It's different, though, than just being thankful for what I've been given because here it's not just being thankful for things I get to have... it's more like a lack of worry about things (material things) in general because I have every thing I need. As though God is (and I know he is) providing all that we need to be empowered to do our work here, but also to be cared for enough such that my mind is not ever occupied with worry or care about material things. It frees my mind up to focus solely on what is important, solely on my mission of sharing the gospel.
It's a different perspective that is difficult to explain so I hope it made sense, especially since my writing gets exponentially more confusing to follow after 9:30 now. Maybe one more reiteration will help: He's shown me that he is provider in many more ways than last minute hero stuff. He provides daily, not only physical things, but also mental and emotional ones. And in my case, material things in order to provide peace of mind, which is a mental/emotional thing... ya, something like that.
The bottom line is this, and be reminded and encouraged if you have forgotten recently: God cares for his children. We often and easily forget that his provisions are grace not our right, but he gives generously anyway because he is slow to anger, full of patience, and abounding in love. He cares for us. Individually, specifically, personally. He has not forgotten you, overlooked your needs, or procrastinated in attending to you. I accuse him of that all too often (of course ever accusing him of that is too often, but you know what I mean). We have been given grace, things we don't deserve, the love and attention of a Father we don't deserve. Don't feel guilty or defensive if you struggle with gratefulness, we all have that struggle. As I'm learning here even orphans in the middle of Honduras have that struggle. But do not let your struggle with ungratefulness become an internal debate about the character of God. He is always good, always caring, always attentive. We don't feel it and it is hard to believe, but that is our struggle not a question of the character of a God who is greater than our hearts.
Well, that ended up going a direction I didn't mean to. Anyhow...
Walked to the mall today to get an iced latte during lunch break, my first since being here (iced latte, not lunch break). It was delicious! (Que rico!) And I couldn't help but sit there and think "How unspiritual is it that I'm sitting as a 'missionary' in a developing country sitting in one of the nicest places in town sipping a latte?" but I couldn't help but sit there and think, "The Lord is good."
Monday, August 23, 2010
Lessons learned in Honduras thus far...
1) Don't go anywhere by yourself unless you're taking a taxi and you know exactly how to say where you're going. (and you may want to make sure that the taxi is willing to go where you want before you get in otherwise you might just have to get right back out and look a fool in front of the locals)
2) Don't wear silly bands or anything around your wrists to the hogar because the girls WILL take them away from you and not bring them back.
3) Sweep and mop and take out the trash. It's dusty and toilet paper goes in the trash so this is essential.
4) Always keep a rain coat handy and don't leave your laundry outside to dry if you won't be back before 2 pm (it'll get rained on).
5) NEVER repeat something before you know what it means, especially if boys are telling you to say it.
6) If you're gonna teach, check the curriculum before you agree to teach the class or you might get stuck teaching agriculture and human reproduction.
And I'm sure the list will continue until the day I leave. Lol.
2) Don't wear silly bands or anything around your wrists to the hogar because the girls WILL take them away from you and not bring them back.
3) Sweep and mop and take out the trash. It's dusty and toilet paper goes in the trash so this is essential.
4) Always keep a rain coat handy and don't leave your laundry outside to dry if you won't be back before 2 pm (it'll get rained on).
5) NEVER repeat something before you know what it means, especially if boys are telling you to say it.
6) If you're gonna teach, check the curriculum before you agree to teach the class or you might get stuck teaching agriculture and human reproduction.
And I'm sure the list will continue until the day I leave. Lol.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
The beginning of week two...
Tomorrow is the first day of our second week at school. Well the second week of planning anyhow (and the last one). Which brings about a set of mixed emotions. Nerves obviously because I've never managed or taught a classroom before. Excitement because part of me is ready to just dive in, see how bad it's going to be and start improving on it. And probably a thousands feelings in between and beside. All in all, I have to say I'm doing better than I thought I might.
Today was a good day. At church this morning there was an American mission team, meaning the service was translated into English :-) Very refreshing. And we were able to bring the young moms from one of Emily's parent's projects "Buen Pastor" several of whom supposedly accepted Christ last week. Fantastic! It didn't hurt that we showed up early for church so made a quick trip to Dunkin Donuts right before the service.
Next was a soccer game and having five of the guys from the soccer team/the farm (Granja, boys orphange) over to the house for dinner on a spur of the moment invite. It took a little while to clean up but thankfully one of the guys did most of the cooking so it wasn't bad. To answer the questions that I know some of you will teasingly ask the answer is NO. Enough said about that.
Going into this week my prayer requests are largely the same: rest, strength, wisdom, and beginning today homesickness :-/ I am beginning to miss friends and family especially on Sundays and its hard, but our God is indeed a good Father, yes? He continues to remind me that such sacrifices are a beautiful thing and precious to him when they are made in the service of his kingdom.
A young mother, age 19, was sitting by me in church this morning with her young daughter as I was tearing up a bit from missing family. I stood there during the worship music holding her little girl for her so that she could rest her arms and realized something... In America I was so far disconnected from people like this precious mother who is living in Buen Pastor because her family didn't have enough money to support her and who may or may not have chosen to have this child. But here I can laugh with her using my limited Spanish, hold her child during the service, show her love in simple ways, for the cost of missing my family this particular Sunday. Is it simple, yes. Does it make a global impact on the world, no. Do I believe that God will do much greater things than these as I am willing to obey, undoubtedly.
I just hope I'm ready.
(Oh, and I never got the video from the previous post to load, but it's on Facebook now. Look under my videos to find it :-)
Today was a good day. At church this morning there was an American mission team, meaning the service was translated into English :-) Very refreshing. And we were able to bring the young moms from one of Emily's parent's projects "Buen Pastor" several of whom supposedly accepted Christ last week. Fantastic! It didn't hurt that we showed up early for church so made a quick trip to Dunkin Donuts right before the service.
Next was a soccer game and having five of the guys from the soccer team/the farm (Granja, boys orphange) over to the house for dinner on a spur of the moment invite. It took a little while to clean up but thankfully one of the guys did most of the cooking so it wasn't bad. To answer the questions that I know some of you will teasingly ask the answer is NO. Enough said about that.
Going into this week my prayer requests are largely the same: rest, strength, wisdom, and beginning today homesickness :-/ I am beginning to miss friends and family especially on Sundays and its hard, but our God is indeed a good Father, yes? He continues to remind me that such sacrifices are a beautiful thing and precious to him when they are made in the service of his kingdom.
A young mother, age 19, was sitting by me in church this morning with her young daughter as I was tearing up a bit from missing family. I stood there during the worship music holding her little girl for her so that she could rest her arms and realized something... In America I was so far disconnected from people like this precious mother who is living in Buen Pastor because her family didn't have enough money to support her and who may or may not have chosen to have this child. But here I can laugh with her using my limited Spanish, hold her child during the service, show her love in simple ways, for the cost of missing my family this particular Sunday. Is it simple, yes. Does it make a global impact on the world, no. Do I believe that God will do much greater things than these as I am willing to obey, undoubtedly.
I just hope I'm ready.
(Oh, and I never got the video from the previous post to load, but it's on Facebook now. Look under my videos to find it :-)
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Who knew you had to clean out a pila?
There's a video that should be here... but it's not working yet :-)
Friday, August 20, 2010
It's a special kind of beauty
So you may have noticed, I changed the name of my blog... So, I guess I should explain why :-) Other than the fact, of course, that the previous title was lame and intended to be temporary until I could come up with something better.
In English, "en vasos de barro" means "in jars of clay." I came across a passage this evening that I hadn't read in quite awhile that jumped off the page at me. Really the passage was the entire chapter of 2 Cor 4. Go read it when you have time. But more specifically verses 6 and 7 read:
"For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us."
I wish I could even begin to put into words how applicable those sentences are to where I find myself right now... in a place of humility realizing that I have never had a platform anywhere near as influential as the one I'll have with these 200 some odd students beginning a week from Monday. Not to mention the girls at the hogar, Buen Pastor, and Misericordia ministries, all my coworkers and the community. If for no other reason than I stand out like a sore thumb here because I'm fair skinned with blue eyes, I have a platform. But I've also been dubbed a missionary by the school and have 200ish students listening to me teach everyday... it's hard to comprehend the opportunity and responsibility I've been given here.
But the point, of course, is not that I have a larger sphere of spiritual influence then I've ever had, but that I have been given the knowledge of the glory of God, the knowledge of Jesus Christ. And therefore, I have a debt to pay anyone and everyone I encounter who does not know, know of the gospel or know of the grace extended to us by our Savior.
And furthermore, that it is in jars of clay God chose to place this treasure. That the glory would not be the vessel's but every eye would be transfixed upon the treasure alone.
Whether or not all of that translated to you, I don't really know. But it is a beauty of a vary unique sort to be a vessel that exists not to be anything to look at, but to be as simple and unembellished as possible so as to bring the greatest amount of attention to the treasure you hold.
Perhaps it is the nature of the expectations of the 7th Day Adventists at the school with their no make-up and no jewelry policies or the way people won't stop gawking at me when I walk down the street that has brought these things to mind. But it is going to be a challenge for me to hold only the treasure God has given me, to know only Christ crucified, and to show everyday that the surpassing power belongs to God alone.
But it is our call as keepers of the gospel to do just that. As more of the passage says, "For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day."
At least some of that made sense I hope. And that is why the blog is now named "En Vasos de Barro." But why is it in Spanish? Cause everything sounds cooler in a different language ;-)
In English, "en vasos de barro" means "in jars of clay." I came across a passage this evening that I hadn't read in quite awhile that jumped off the page at me. Really the passage was the entire chapter of 2 Cor 4. Go read it when you have time. But more specifically verses 6 and 7 read:
"For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us."
I wish I could even begin to put into words how applicable those sentences are to where I find myself right now... in a place of humility realizing that I have never had a platform anywhere near as influential as the one I'll have with these 200 some odd students beginning a week from Monday. Not to mention the girls at the hogar, Buen Pastor, and Misericordia ministries, all my coworkers and the community. If for no other reason than I stand out like a sore thumb here because I'm fair skinned with blue eyes, I have a platform. But I've also been dubbed a missionary by the school and have 200ish students listening to me teach everyday... it's hard to comprehend the opportunity and responsibility I've been given here.
But the point, of course, is not that I have a larger sphere of spiritual influence then I've ever had, but that I have been given the knowledge of the glory of God, the knowledge of Jesus Christ. And therefore, I have a debt to pay anyone and everyone I encounter who does not know, know of the gospel or know of the grace extended to us by our Savior.
And furthermore, that it is in jars of clay God chose to place this treasure. That the glory would not be the vessel's but every eye would be transfixed upon the treasure alone.
Whether or not all of that translated to you, I don't really know. But it is a beauty of a vary unique sort to be a vessel that exists not to be anything to look at, but to be as simple and unembellished as possible so as to bring the greatest amount of attention to the treasure you hold.
Perhaps it is the nature of the expectations of the 7th Day Adventists at the school with their no make-up and no jewelry policies or the way people won't stop gawking at me when I walk down the street that has brought these things to mind. But it is going to be a challenge for me to hold only the treasure God has given me, to know only Christ crucified, and to show everyday that the surpassing power belongs to God alone.
But it is our call as keepers of the gospel to do just that. As more of the passage says, "For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day."
At least some of that made sense I hope. And that is why the blog is now named "En Vasos de Barro." But why is it in Spanish? Cause everything sounds cooler in a different language ;-)
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Adventures can be mundane sometimes.
After a few more days in the grand city of Comayagua, there is very little excitement to report. It's amazing how the days can blur together when much of what you do all day is make lesson plans get home around 5:30, make dinner, clean the kitchen, work on various projects in a dazed state of mind, and finally crash around 9. I suppose I should be thankful for the relative calmness of it if nothing else since I week from now kids start coming to school and all chaos will unleash :-)
The encouragement we got today from one of our supervisors: You will be fighting a war this year. You'll be fighting to teach the kids and the kids will be fighting to not learn anything. Grrrreaaaat...
In other news we have some new friends living in one of our sets of drawers eating away at the wood. Fun times. But seriously, two more missionaries arrived today, twins from Jamaica who went to school in NYC. More girls our age to spend time with!
Suppose I'll end with prayer requests for the end of the week: That I find time to practice my Spanish more often and can really begin to break that communication barrier to more effectively be a witness here. And that the Lord will renew my mind so that my concept of success changes from being a perfect teacher to being an effective tool for his kingdom. They may be related in my case, but certainly NOT the same.
I want you all to know too, that I count myself eternally blessed to have you all in my life. This wouldn't be possible without the support of your prayers, encouragement, and friendship. Love you all and miss you like crazy!
Ahora, yo vivo en Comayagua pero no es mi hogar.
The encouragement we got today from one of our supervisors: You will be fighting a war this year. You'll be fighting to teach the kids and the kids will be fighting to not learn anything. Grrrreaaaat...
In other news we have some new friends living in one of our sets of drawers eating away at the wood. Fun times. But seriously, two more missionaries arrived today, twins from Jamaica who went to school in NYC. More girls our age to spend time with!
Suppose I'll end with prayer requests for the end of the week: That I find time to practice my Spanish more often and can really begin to break that communication barrier to more effectively be a witness here. And that the Lord will renew my mind so that my concept of success changes from being a perfect teacher to being an effective tool for his kingdom. They may be related in my case, but certainly NOT the same.
I want you all to know too, that I count myself eternally blessed to have you all in my life. This wouldn't be possible without the support of your prayers, encouragement, and friendship. Love you all and miss you like crazy!
Ahora, yo vivo en Comayagua pero no es mi hogar.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
The Promise of Today
Here's the truth that I'm gonna be clinging to today: God works powerfully through people by his Spirit even when they don't understand. At the beginning of Acts the apostles were still not really getting some of the finer points of Jesus' plan for the kingdom (Acts 1:6). But even with the misunderstandings was Peter in front of thousands ten days later preaching the sermon that would start the avalanche movement of Christianity (Acts 2)? Better believe it. Seek wisdom from God if you don't have it (James 1), but trust him no matter what.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Orientation Day
Everyday in Honduras is an adventure. Maybe things will at least become more routine when school starts if not any calmer.
Today was orientation day at the school (la escuela) Marantha that Emily and I will be teaching at. It started off very slowly in the true Honduran style. We sat for about two hours waiting for one of the principals to talk to us when finally some random people recruited us to cut out little orange circles... for what? We still don't know. All we got out of them was "Es una supresa." I felt like I was being initiated or better yet, hazed :-)
Anyhow, after lunch we got a very overwhelming orientation. We didn't think we were going to have to write our own lesson plans but that turned out not to be true. And we are each teaching 4 grades. Yes 4 different grades. That should be interesting. 5th through 8th. The principal we spoke with kept telling us, yes it is going to be hard, very hard, but you have to just pray for strength everyday. True enough.
Finally, we met with Pastor Trundle, the general principal of the school. That was the most encouraging time. He just kept reiterating to us why we were here. That we had been chosen to teach not because of our academic accomplishments but because he thought we would be able to show Christ to the hundreds of kids at the school who did not know him. That's the primary thing. Sharing the gospel. Education is just a tool to that end. Nothing more.
When I first decided to come here for the year I did not have a clear ministry or mission oriented purpose in mind. But after that meeting I felt like I had just been told what my purpose here was, by Pastor Trundle yes, but also by God. My mission field is going to be the classroom. I'll still be able to help at the hogar and travel some, Lord willing. But my time and energies are going to be consumed with working at the school and therefore, will be my primary focus.
A few people asked for prayer requests to be included in my blogs so my request for today: pray that I will find strength and wisdom everyday as I prepare for the students coming in two weeks. That I would be able to teach them not just the science but the way God reveals himself in such a beautiful and profound way through his creation and that my focus would not be on doing a perfect job teaching, but doing the best job I can showing the students Christ.
Gracias a Dios para esa oportunidad.
Today was orientation day at the school (la escuela) Marantha that Emily and I will be teaching at. It started off very slowly in the true Honduran style. We sat for about two hours waiting for one of the principals to talk to us when finally some random people recruited us to cut out little orange circles... for what? We still don't know. All we got out of them was "Es una supresa." I felt like I was being initiated or better yet, hazed :-)
Anyhow, after lunch we got a very overwhelming orientation. We didn't think we were going to have to write our own lesson plans but that turned out not to be true. And we are each teaching 4 grades. Yes 4 different grades. That should be interesting. 5th through 8th. The principal we spoke with kept telling us, yes it is going to be hard, very hard, but you have to just pray for strength everyday. True enough.
Finally, we met with Pastor Trundle, the general principal of the school. That was the most encouraging time. He just kept reiterating to us why we were here. That we had been chosen to teach not because of our academic accomplishments but because he thought we would be able to show Christ to the hundreds of kids at the school who did not know him. That's the primary thing. Sharing the gospel. Education is just a tool to that end. Nothing more.
When I first decided to come here for the year I did not have a clear ministry or mission oriented purpose in mind. But after that meeting I felt like I had just been told what my purpose here was, by Pastor Trundle yes, but also by God. My mission field is going to be the classroom. I'll still be able to help at the hogar and travel some, Lord willing. But my time and energies are going to be consumed with working at the school and therefore, will be my primary focus.
A few people asked for prayer requests to be included in my blogs so my request for today: pray that I will find strength and wisdom everyday as I prepare for the students coming in two weeks. That I would be able to teach them not just the science but the way God reveals himself in such a beautiful and profound way through his creation and that my focus would not be on doing a perfect job teaching, but doing the best job I can showing the students Christ.
Gracias a Dios para esa oportunidad.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Maiden Voyage
As this is my first attempt at blogging, I am not blog "savvy" so ignore the ridiculous appearance and confusing side panels as they come and go and change... focus on what's obviously more important: what I have to say ;-)
This is the end of my second weekend here in the wonderful city of Comayagua... well, in Honduras anyway. My first weekend we meandered to Copan northwest of here to check out the Mayan ruins. Fun times! Emily and I (and Taryn and Lindsay) have some great long standing jokes from our wonder of a tour guide at the Mayan city. He used the phrases "Yes, very special" and "I found it" a lot if that tells you anything.
Anyhow, I've been in Honduras for 11 days now and it seems like it has been much longer. I'm only used to two weeks out of the country at a time, so about this time is when I get really tired from an awesome trip and am looking forward to going home in a day or two... instead I start work at Maranatha school in the morning. It's been my observation thus far that this 11 mo excursion will be a lot of little adventures within one big one... orientation tomorrow will definitely count as one of those little adventures.
Another daily adventure, of course, being communication. This week I've tackled Espanol in the present tense (much review thankfully) and picked up on a lot of phrases used commonly. But nothing to brag about yet... except the one thing that was likely the best moment of my week: being asked and able to translate something for one of the visiting Americans.
Quick background: groups of Americans come often to play with the kids and help with various projects around the orphanage (el hogar) and the farm (la granja). At the end of their week here, they throw a going-away party of sorts at the hogar. Whenever I'm with the kids I use as much Spanish as possible to practice and one of the Americans, Linda, overheard me and called me over. She was with a girl that her and her daughter had made a special connection with, Wendi. Linda wanted me to explain to Wendi how much they cared for her even in the short time they'd known her. I was tempted at first to say that I didn't actually speak Spanish but instead I warned her I was still learning and would do my best. Thinking quickly on my feet I'm sure Wendi thought I sounded ridiculous with my many grammar errors but I said something to the effect of "Wendi, ella dice que Ud. eres,,,er ,,, es muy especial para ellas." Haha. You've gotta have a sense of humor trying to learn a language. Linda and I talked for a minute about the merit of a mere week's worth of investment in a life like Wendi's and before I walked away I looked at Wendi again and said "Te queremos." Which means "they love you" (and grammatically correct this time :-) For a second I saw understanding in her face before moving on to play with one of the other kids.
This first week and a half has been hard to be sure. Exhausting because of the language barrier and so many new things to learn. Sad at times because of home-sickness and missing the company of family and friends that know me and understand me. It's been a lot of other things too with various challenges and laughs. But I am so thankful to God for that little victory and I hope that this blog can become a long list of little victories as God enables me to work and to serve the people of this... well, let's be honest, random city. Lol.
This is the end of my second weekend here in the wonderful city of Comayagua... well, in Honduras anyway. My first weekend we meandered to Copan northwest of here to check out the Mayan ruins. Fun times! Emily and I (and Taryn and Lindsay) have some great long standing jokes from our wonder of a tour guide at the Mayan city. He used the phrases "Yes, very special" and "I found it" a lot if that tells you anything.
Anyhow, I've been in Honduras for 11 days now and it seems like it has been much longer. I'm only used to two weeks out of the country at a time, so about this time is when I get really tired from an awesome trip and am looking forward to going home in a day or two... instead I start work at Maranatha school in the morning. It's been my observation thus far that this 11 mo excursion will be a lot of little adventures within one big one... orientation tomorrow will definitely count as one of those little adventures.
Another daily adventure, of course, being communication. This week I've tackled Espanol in the present tense (much review thankfully) and picked up on a lot of phrases used commonly. But nothing to brag about yet... except the one thing that was likely the best moment of my week: being asked and able to translate something for one of the visiting Americans.
Quick background: groups of Americans come often to play with the kids and help with various projects around the orphanage (el hogar) and the farm (la granja). At the end of their week here, they throw a going-away party of sorts at the hogar. Whenever I'm with the kids I use as much Spanish as possible to practice and one of the Americans, Linda, overheard me and called me over. She was with a girl that her and her daughter had made a special connection with, Wendi. Linda wanted me to explain to Wendi how much they cared for her even in the short time they'd known her. I was tempted at first to say that I didn't actually speak Spanish but instead I warned her I was still learning and would do my best. Thinking quickly on my feet I'm sure Wendi thought I sounded ridiculous with my many grammar errors but I said something to the effect of "Wendi, ella dice que Ud. eres,,,er ,,, es muy especial para ellas." Haha. You've gotta have a sense of humor trying to learn a language. Linda and I talked for a minute about the merit of a mere week's worth of investment in a life like Wendi's and before I walked away I looked at Wendi again and said "Te queremos." Which means "they love you" (and grammatically correct this time :-) For a second I saw understanding in her face before moving on to play with one of the other kids.
This first week and a half has been hard to be sure. Exhausting because of the language barrier and so many new things to learn. Sad at times because of home-sickness and missing the company of family and friends that know me and understand me. It's been a lot of other things too with various challenges and laughs. But I am so thankful to God for that little victory and I hope that this blog can become a long list of little victories as God enables me to work and to serve the people of this... well, let's be honest, random city. Lol.
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