July 19th

July 19, 2008

Today was kind of a blah day. We rode on a bus for about 16 to 18 hours from Tigulcigalpa, Honduras to San Jose Costa Rica! Buses are completely different in C.A. than in The States, the bus tickets were $45 and we got two meals! It was amazing! The seat reclined almost all the way back, it was awesome for sleep and I took Dramamean, which helped A LOT!
I slept a lot of the way and then once we got to the Honduras Nicaragua border we had to get off the bus and I didn’t know why we were getting off so I just left all my stuff on the bus and Scott said that was bad because someone could have stolen our stuff, so we had to watch the bus the whole time, making sure no one took anything. The bottom of the bus opened and we had to grab our bags and the people at the border rummaged through them, they just knocked on the drum that I got for my brother and then put everything back. Some of the girls had not packed discretely and we found that the phrase “air your dirty laundry” was more then appropriate for this situation. We were also mauled by at least a hundred boys, men and women once we got off the bus, to exchange currencies or take our food or just be in our faces.
We also to our surprise gave them our passports, that was scary! I didn’t think I was going to see it again, but once we cleared customs we were called back on the bus by our names on our passports and got them back then.
After that they served us lunch at about 2 pm which is pretty normal lunch time for them and it was kind of like KFC style.
Later in the afternoon we had to go through the same luggage thing at the Nicarugua Costa Rica border, but it was a little organized and Scott wasn’t sure if all the people that had packed t-shirts for him were going to be able to take them across without paying. Then we got back on the bus and finished up the trip to Costa Rica and we saw the most beautiful sunset in Costa Rica and watched some ridiculous movie about a chimanese being like James Bond…Julio actually saw it in theater with his neice!
We finally got in to Costa Rica late and got into the Seminary around 11. All the girls stayed in one room, with one bathroom, the boys were in the room behind us and Scott in a fellow missionary’s house. Once settle we all went to bed.

July 18th

July 18, 2008

Today was a pretty fun day! We left for Valle de Angeles (Valley of Angels) around 830 a.m. which is a tourist shopping area and got there around 930 and we had about 3 hours to shop and we couldn’t barter there! After we all met for our last meal with the Chicago team at a very casual, but nice restaurant. The superintendent, his wife, Jugo, his son, Scott and the rest of us were all there and just had a great time of fellowship together! Scott gave us these crosses that have Jesus as the center, they are pretty awesome and a great representation of our summer. We gave testimonies and prayed together for the last time with the Chicago team, it was sad. When we got back to the seminary we said our goodbyes to the Debbie, Kurt and Beth and sang our famous song called “Sabias,” tears were shed, but we just have to think that we will see these people in Heaven someday –which is tough. Then most of us took naps and some of us worked on the things that Scott gave us for the day. We just hung out all night with each other, went to the store, made dinner, packed and remembered the good times this summer as we made lists for Scott of the top ten funniest moments of the summer and the top ten memorable moments of the summer.

July 16th

July 16, 2008

This morning we got up around 7 or 730 a.m. and I ran to the bathroom and threw up while the rest of the team had breakfast and then they we headed out for a place called La Fraternidad. I stayed home at the seminary all day and Bob Shea’s wife Evelyn came up and checked up on me and the lady on the other team that lives up stairs too, they were really sweet. I was really sad that our last day in ministry I was sick and didn’t get participate, especially in a place where I feel called to ministry.

July 15th

July 15, 2008

We woke up early to get to Santa Ana for breakfast around 8 a.m. We had an awesome breakfast all together at the Church there which consisted of plantains, cream, beans, queso and of course no meal is complete without corn tortillas. Then we left for the forty-five minute ride to Cofra Dia, rocky ride might I add. The work-and-witness team got to work right away finishing up the painting of the school, organizing the classrooms back in order and some of the men went off and made a roof for the dining hall close to the school. The others (in the children’s ministry team)-Kendra, Juan, Mehir, Leslie, Beth and Debbie-set up crafts and began playing games with the 60 children that had come! Kendra was the presenter, I was so excited for her! And Leslie was Cometa! How wonderful!
I went evangelizing with Catherine and Mother Theresa and Franklin was off with his girlfriend and then we saw her later in the afternoon and she was like he is coming soon, we never saw him. It was really fun to hang out with them and in the early morning Claudia came with us too. We had this really powerful time of prayer with these people in a house where we bought these clay houses and they gave us these clay pots for free. Then we had a powerful time of prayer and there was lots of crying and healing, it was beautiful. After that we walked around a bit more and talked with and witnessed to a lot more people today than yesterday, which was good. I don’t feel like yesterday we wasted time, I think we did what God wanted and fellowshipped with His people, I’m realizing a lot lately how much fellowshipping really matters in the Kingdom of God.
Then we went to lunch up at the house. The lunch was hot right off the fire with café so it was so wonderful! After lunch we took more people to buy clay houses, they were only $1.50. After that my ankle was hurting so I stayed back which I was disappointed about but I needed to be there for the service at 3 p.m. and I helped out the children’s ministry. It was weird not being a clown.
At the church service there were 76 people in this small building that was actually Franklin’s office where he built his clay houses he sold. This building wasn’t actually the church building, they didn’t have a building, they just had a house, but this was bigger than the place they have for the house. This was a bit more intimate and comforting, I could feel the presence of God so much!
We had the order of service planned, but they went according to how they wanted which was ok with me, I knew that it was however they wanted it and I was completely happy about that, its like God has just changed my attitude about that. We did however have a special song prepared in Spanish and English and we were asked to sing. Then many people of the church gave their testimonies and it was great to see what God has been doing in the hearts and lives of the people of the little village of Cofra Dia. We also got to sing “Machcalo” in the service and dance! I love that all the kids sing so loud, it has to be my favorite, they are encourage to sing and scream the words, I love to head them worship the Lord. Then we prayed together and sang one last song and said our goodbyes. They were such hospitable people and so ready to serve; I know that I learned a lot from their attitudes and the children were so ready to learn and know more about Jesus. After we left and made our way back to the seminary we just fell asleep. We got back and once again, the ladies had dinner ready for us! Then we just took showers and got ready for the next busy day, our last for ministry that we have been used to all summer…

July 14th

July 14, 2008

Yippee! Today was the first day back in Cofra Dia since the first time we actually went to Honduras in June. We woke up bright and early, had breakfast and got in the van for the forty-five minute drive out to the village. When we got there the work and witness team started right away, as did the Children’s ministry group. The work and witness team (equipo de trabajo y testimonio) got the tools out and we began prepping the walls to be painted inside the school. That team was Julio, Esther, Maddai and I. The children’s team went to the back and set up their stage and started playing games with the 30 kids that had already arrived.
The evangelism team that I was in didn’t start right away. We waited for all the church members to get there and then Claudia explained to them what we would be doing and then we split into teams and left. I really wanted to be in a group with Catherine, because I knew it would bring me up a lot, but Wes really wanted me to be in his group. Wes and I just have this special connection that I can’t explain, we can read one another so well and so I thought why not. Wes was pretty negative about being in the evangelism team, he felt that the evangecube wasn’t relational; when I finally started thinking it was. It was kind of hard to be in the same group as him because of that. We were also in the same group as a man that reminded me of Indiana Jones and a women that reminded me of Sacagawea, they were amazing.
Lunch was suppose to be at 12 but we didn’t get there until 1 because Indiana Jones pointed to a mountain and told us we were going to climb it and we laughed and thought they were kidding but they weren’t! So Wes, Indiana Jones, Sacagawea, and I climbed up this mountain and witness at a couple different houses, it was such a different experience, it was really neat. One house accepted Christ, but Wes thought that Indiana Jones kind of pressing them into making a decision to accept Christ. After that Sacagawea just pointed to a group of trees and was like this way, it was crazy! We made it though, and climbed out of the forest that was behind the house.
That was just the team I was with for the morning. In the afternoon, I went with Catherine and this guy named Franklin, he was pretty fun and it was a good group and then this other lady and reminded me of Mother Theresa joined our group as well. She was so sweet and reminded me of what faith actually meant, she was so full of life. I love her!
Catherine and I got to ride another horse, which was awesome and got little clay houses for free as gifts, and the most delicious bananas I’ve ever had in my life. We had a really random afternoon, but it was really relaxing and nice. We got to talk to a lot of different people and invited them to the Jesus Film and also had some delicious fruit called grandias.
Then we had dinner at the same house up the hill with a beautiful view of the mountains. Then we went down the hill past the school to set up for the Jesus Film, it was Mary Magdalene’s point of view of the Jesus story. It was really cold but it was a beautiful night and I loved the film, this one was completely different. We had 142 people there; a lot of them were from the Catholic Church and the Nazarene church. I found out during this trip to Honduras that the Catholic Church here however is not like ours back in the states. It is much like the churches back at the beginning of the 20th century. They still have to pay the church for things and the church is almost the political leader of the town; they control everything, yikes! After the video we got to talk and pray with people, I was in a group with Wes and Kendra, it was really good, especially after today with Wes. I talked to him and he was a lot better, we made up and I wasn’t mad at him.
After the video we cleaned up everything and drove back to the seminary for the night.

July 13th

July 13, 2008

This was the last day for us in Villa de San Fran and it was sad because we had really gotten attached. We all just wished we could have stayed in one place for longer next time. It took a very long time and we didn’t have a moment to waste, but we finished up in the kindergarten with the bookcases and reorganizing by the time of the service, which was a blessing in and of itself because we didn’t think we were going to be able to help with the service or attend it because of all the work we were going to have to finish. However, I was in charge of the service, so I left the work and witness and did my favorite thing –the service stuff! Oh man, I wish in The States I could have a role like I do now, it is my favorite!
We got ready for the service and had a wonderful last service together. There were two teenage boys that accepted Christ into their lives, we all prayed for their journey’s in Christ and it was so powerful. We said our goodbyes, which was hard, some ladies shed some tears, we sang our song and were off.
P.S. I think today was the day that Leslie’s grandfather passed away, so I would like to let her know that I am praying for you and your family. I know what it is like to lose someone that close and I know that God definitely understands. I pray for His peace and His comfort in these days…

July 12th

July 12, 2008

Okay so today was a crazy day!
It was raining so hard during the VBS that they did it under a tarp and when I went over to deliver the parasite medicine for the kids that we give out, I ended up holding the tarp and letting all the water that was collecting and making the tarp fall, fall on me, needless to say the whole morning I was soaked from head to toe. No big deal though.
We were walking to lunch and happened to see a bunch of white people in the middle of the road and we knew they were Americans immediately because they were speaking my native tongue, English. We started talking to them and guess where they were from? Yep, North and South Carolina! Which is where Lindsey is from, we have actually met another group from there since we have been in Honduras, which is crazy to me. They were on a weeklong mission trip and the organization was called Love With-out Words. We got to talk a bit his team has been coming to Honduras for years and San Fran happened to be the town they ministering to this summer, how cool are God’s plans!? Scott said that this kind of thing has never happened to him before. They were doing work and witness as well as working with some med majors and doctors from Honduras to put together a clinic in town for the people.
I finally got what Hailey had said at training camp, about how running into other Americans and how they act like Americans and you act like not Americans and how you’re just so different than them. I could sort of see how I had changed during the summer, it was neat and at the same time I was like we don’t want you here! You are giving Americans a bad name - but they don’t any better.
Today when we had a little bit of a break, Kurt taught Catherine, Juan, and I how to make balloon animals, it was really neat. Then we went out into the park and made balloon animals for the children and oh boy, was it a challenge! All the kids in that moment reminded me of American children, they were so greedy, I didn’t think that to be possible in Honduras. I had a kid say to me, “Perrito, VAMOS!” which meant that he wanted me to make him a dog and right away. I was so surprised at the crazy of all it. I couldn’t discipline and for the first time ever, I felt like someone’s puppet. The children’s team had told me that the kids weren’t that well behaved here but I had no idea this is what they meant. It was so sad to me and another eye opening thing.
That night, we showed the Jesus film and I was sitting next to Debbie and Catherine and then got up to count and then it was time to pray with people so I prayed for the peoples hearts and that they would be open to His word and His way and then joined a group and prayed with individuals excepting Christ. I also got to talk with a guy who had excepted Christ a year ago and he was so excited about what we were doing and he was telling us about how he is involved and I could see Christ in Him, it was so amazing.
At that point I had just fallen in love with the city and could feel that presence of God working in that place in such a strong way. And Lindsey that night led another little girl to Christ! I am just so proud of her! The people that I had seen, which was quite a big number due to being on the evangelizing team, many of them didn’t know the Lord or just hadn’t made the decision yet so I know that God has big plans for San Fran and I am glad that we got to be there. But after that we took down the movie and went back to the hotel for the night.

July 11th

July 11, 2008

This was the first official day in San Fran with the Chicago team and it was a busy one! We had Children’s ministries going, work and witness and evangelism. Being on the work and witness team, I continued to paint and when I had a free couple minutes, I walked over to the park and played some games with the kids.
Kurt (from the Chicago team) decided he wanted to be on work and witness and Debbie was on the children’s team and Beth on the evangelism team. It was definitely something I’d never experienced before, because Kurt didn’t speak a lick of Spanish. I was at loss. I realized I had to translate for him and man I think for most of trip I lead onto not knowing as much Spanish I as spoke today. Oh my goodness! All of the work and witness team are Spanish speakers, except for Kurt and I…but it was so amazing and so different to not be the one who knew the least amount of Spanish and be able to teach someone some Spanish. It was such an awesome experience, I’m glad I’m on this team and to think that I wanted to get a break from it (the Spanish speaking – by being on work and witness), I love this!
We ate lunch at a lady from the church’s house and it was so good! After that we went back to working, while others went to evangelize. Lindsey told me that she did the cube for a little girl and she excepted Christ! I’m so excited for her! She is doing so many wonderful things in God’s plan and I’m so thankful for her, I can’t believe she thinks she isn’t good with kids. Then after dinner that night we set up for the Jesus Film and started it around 630 p.m. There were quite a few people and I got to talk to a few children and some adults. It was a good day overall and we were all ready for bed. We walked up to the hotel which was about 5 blocks from the park and all got our room assignments and keys. Maddai and I roomed together and I was like what are you thinking Kendra (who did the room assignments); I told her I wouldn’t wake up because I would think I was dreaming in Spanish! We got to talking a lot more though, I talk to her in Spanish and she talks to me in English, it’s working pretty well. Our showers are interesting, but Maddai said that she has showered in a lot worse; its kind of like a spiket, its different, but its ok.
It was fun to have something different, and oh boy we were so tired it didn’t matter where we slept. I’m glad I had a place to lay my head for the night.

July 10th

July 10, 2008

Today I want to give a shout-out to Esther because today is HER BIRTHDAY! Feliz cumpleanos mi amiga! We went again to San Fran to finish getting it ready for the next three days we would be there constantly. We finished scraping and prepping the walls and actually started painting. I am on the Work and witness team, so today we really worked and I got to talk to Claudia a lot more than I ever had! I guess Scott and Emily’s challenge is happening We played more with children as well. It was a good day! That night the food committee, which is Maddai, Claudia, Mehir and I went shopping with Scott to get food for dinner at the mall nearby and it fun. The malls are kind of like in the U.S. but kind of different too. We ended getting stuff to make Baleadas in the kitchen and when we got back we got right to work on making them. The Chicago team got in right around when dinner was ready and we were so excited to meet them! Their names are Debbie, Kurt and Beth. We all ate together, then Lindsey and the rest of the food committee came out with a big chocolate cake with exactly 25 candles on it for Esther! It was so fun! We got to talk to Beth and Debbie a little bit that night, but we were all so tired and needed our rest for the next week to come, so we went to bed shortly after that. Not before playing cards of course! And Kendra helped me translate a letter to Maddai into Spanish. Kendra said it was a good letter and was really touched by it. I’m glad I wrote it.
It was a good day!

July 9th

July 9, 2008

This was our first day of prep work in Villa de San Fran scraping walls of the school for painting – they glued everything on the walls!; touring the city for evangelism and playing with children. Esther and I prepared a power point for Scott, and that was fun connecting with her more. It was an early morning and we had a surprise service around 3 at the local place where they hold church here. It was a surprise service because we were the service and didn’t know it until we got to the place. It was really funny for us, specially thinking back to the beginning of the summer where we would have no idea what to do and who to sing and what to sing and PREACH! We all started laughing and then pulled everything together really quickly. Luckily in my Bible I kept songs in Spanish written down from other services we had done in the past, so that helped A LOT! Maddai said she would preach, a few lead worship (Mehir, Catherine, Wes and I) and one person gave a testimony. After that Scott came to pick us up and we left for the seminary to eat. That night the ladies at the seminary actually made us food. It was so good! We hung out together and made lunches for the next day.

July 4th

July 4th
We came back home today to have a BBQ at Scott and Emily’s. Julio, Alicia, Ronnie joined us as well and we asked Scott if we were getting fireworks but he said he hadn’t gotten any. It was neat cook the meal with Emily and celebrate my country’s birthday in another country. Kendra was talking about how she hadn’t celebrated the 4th of July in America in years; I decided I would be ok with that if that was my future. I haven’t missed much of the U.S. since I’ve been gone, I think God has created me to be the kind of person that is ok with being away for a long time without missing, especially if it’s doing His work. After dinner we were surprised when Julio brought out a bag of fireworks and we all got an opportunity to go a little crazy. It was fun and would have been very illegal in the U.S. (as far as the kind of fireworks that we had). We sang our national anthem and the Mexicans even got festive for us. Ronnie and Alicia said it was fun for them to be able to celebrate this fun holiday with their brothers and sisters in Christ. I agree, it was.

July 2nd

July 2nd
Scott and Emily has meeting with us before we left for Lake Atilan. They were meeting with us to discuss and general review of how we thought the trip and everything was going. We talked about just where I’m at and they gave me compliments life: that I reminded them of the post-modern church, that I had this way of being able to give an insight into what each situation means as far as God and how He is working with it. That I did a really good job of including people and that I was good at bringing people up and being positive about the situation. But the thing they said was really unique and not to loose was the insight because not everyone has that. Everyone in the group had these meetings with them. My challenge was Claudia, because of how I’d said I’d had the biggest difficulity with really feeling like I wanted to include her and everyone but it was really difficult because I have a hard time understanding what she is saying and communicating altogether with her and also feeling connected with her. Scott and Emily told me that I’d be surprised how alike we actually are; so they told me to challenge myself and find alternative ways of talking with her. I didn’t tell them about my frustration with Maddai and how I felt like she is this person that I’m so jealous of because I feel like she is leading this life I wish I were leading. Instead I decided to write them letters.
Then we went to Lake Atilan and it was so wonderful and amazing and I conquered another fear and went kayaking. Lindsey and I shared a room together for 3 days, we were perfect roommates. We went kayaking or boating in the mornings and shopping in the afternoons. We had live entertainment our first night in Atilan and went to this really nice, open restaurant and there was a woman performing on the street, spinning a who-la-hoop around her neck and there were other people playing drums for her act and then inside the restaurant later people played the guitar and sang. And they were cute! It was a fun trip. When we went shopping it poured, so we were pretty limited to a market that was under cover, though it was still fun, I bought a skirt and some things for my family.

July 1st

July 1
Sunday – Rios de Agua Vida
Gotitas de Amor
Monday- Talk with Scott
Lunch at Jerson’s
Nap
De-briefing at Armstrong’s
Tuesday- Gotitas de Amor
Movie night

July 1
Today we woke up at around 7 for devo’s @ 7:30. Catherine did the devotion and it was found in Malachai 1:6-8. Then we all hung out until Carlos came to get us. Kendra stayed behind to work on something that Scott and Emily had for her in the office and the rest of us were off to Gotitas de Amor. We got there and no kids has shown up yet so some of us girls started playing girlie games we all used to play in middle school like MASH. It was hilarious and we taught the Mexicans and they loved it! Then kids began showing up- the younger kids first- for help with their homework.
Around 10:30 a.m. Carlos and Lily (his wife), Catherine and Maddai left for the market while we “held down the fort.” When they got back most of the kids were leaving for lunch and some stayed to help with preparations. As we sat down for lunch Juan, Lindsey, Wes and I started playing spades, it was really fun. While we were playing spades, Carlos came up and told us that we were playing something of the Devil and kind of chuckled. Us, North Americans, all looked at one another with udder confusion. Juan then began to tell us that playing with regular playing cards is still something controversial in Central America – then it actually made sense that Juan wanted all these pictures of all of us playing cards for his Dad to see. A little bit later I had a conversation with Scott about it and he said that people still believed that about cards because some missionary a long time ago came in and told them that and their still getting used to the idea that the cards themselves and the games to be played are not of the Devil but if you have a sour intent while playing the games. It was definitely something for me to get used to. I know Carlos was only joking (in a sense) but I think he then allowed us to be a little more mindful of who we played cards in front of, i.e. not during church, while the Pastor was preaching.
We were a bit antsy today to start our 3-day vacation. We haven’t had a full day off all summer, so our whole group was completely ready for a little bit of rest and relaxation – even Scott and Emily. I think we were being a little bit lazy at Gotitas today because we knew we were going to leave soon.
We got home tonight (home to the School of the Missions)

June 27th

June 27th

We decided to have the VBS@ 2:30 PM. We had kids come up to the school in the morning to play games. Some of them actually remembered us from the first time we came. For me, especially this little girl named Lillian – she has something special about her – I just know it. We had lunch at the layman’s hut, made by his wife and other family, that was kind of the overseer of the village church there. All of our meals came from there; they were all so gracious.
After lunch we went back to the school to set up and get dressed. Then some of the us went out into the community to invite kids. It was a blast, Leslie, Lindsey, and I were chased (literally chased) by geese and we almost touched the border of Belize - all in one day, what an adventure! It was an interesting afternoon…
Leslie became Cometa for the week, along with Wes and I as clowns, Catherine and Lindsey were puppeteers, Esther as the announcer and Mehir with Josue for sound. The first day- the only afternoon without rain – we had 105 kids come! We played games after and got to converse with many before dinner at 5:30. Then at 6:30 we showed the Jesus film. It was the first time for anything like that (not only in our trip, but in my life!) and it was powerful. We had over 400 people! Afterward I sat with Lillian and prayed and prayed for all the people there and that God would be working in their hearts. It was hard to communicate with people because of my lack of Spanish so I just prayed that the hearts of the people would be softened and that God would be alive in the place. It was hard that night that all the little kids that I was sitting next to were laughing when Jesus was being crucified, that was hard for me to sit there and endure that. I was so moved by the film, even though it was in Spanish, every time I was impacted.
We were all pretty exhausted after that and went to bed. Our beds consisted of concrete floors in the school. It was interesting having no running water, but I think it brought us closer as a group.
We had a night in Jovente where we were worshipping in the rain and singing songs to the Lord and the power went out and it was still raining and we were singing underneath a little lean-to at the school in the dark. It was so amazing to see God alive in the lightening and thunder and everywhere around us. It was beautiful. We were singing past everything else that existed, past worldly things, past the Devil and just to our God, it was wonderful.
One day while in Jovente the kids group didn’t have anything to do for the afternoon so Lindsey went with Claudia to, Wes with Juan, Mehir and Josue with church folk, and Catherine and Esther with Kendra all joined evangelism teams. Maddai organized and put everyone in groups, except for me, which was intentional because Scott said we would do something else – which was fine with me because I wasn’t ready in my amount of Spanish I knew for evangelism, or so I thought.
That afternoon Scott and I got the opportunity to do something different. Though before we started our afternoon task we got a wonderful opportunity to talk with man used to be really involved in the church in Jovente but then moved to another town and he fell away from Christ because of a lack of involvement in a church. So Scott, Wes, Juan, the DS, Augusto (the pastor), and myself got the chance to pray for this man who was recommitting to Christ in his life and was willing to go to extreme lengths for Christ. It was such an wonderful experience being able to pray for this man as he accepted Christ back into his life.
After that, Scott and I picked up trash in the area where we were going to show the Jesus film and the surrounding areas. It was nice to do something different and Scott and I got a good opportunity to talk. I think that Scott and I are getting to be better friends, which is really nice – specially to have an American perspective on the culture that he is now fully emersed in his daily life. I didn’t think I would get that opportunity. Scott and I picked up everything from empty chip bags to old diapers, it was a really funny afternoon. We also unintentionally got some of the community involved. Some of the ladies and children from the family that helped cook our meals first started laughing at us picking up their trash and then started volunteerily helping. I hope they can keep their streets clean – though that might just be wishful thinking. After a bit we started talking to one of the ladies that was helping and she started teaching us Catchee, which is one of the 32 indigenous Mayan languages in Guatemala. We learned the song, If You’re Happy and You Know it, it was a really fun and funny afternoon. It rained a lot and I saw Scott and Jerson both slip down the same hill and fall on their butts and then Catherine fall up a different hill, it was so funny.

June 26th

June 26th

Wow! These past few days have been some of my favorite times. We got to Jovente finally around 9 or 9:30 AM on Tuesday. We were served breakfast in Chakte at the Pastor’s house before we actually arrived.
Once we got to Jovente we all met together, had prayer and got started. A blessing was that as we were pulling into Jovente we saw that our work and witness project was already done. Some of our group along with people (men) from the village were going to build a fence around the clinic, but the people took the initiative and built it by themselves! It was kind of disappointing not to be part of building the fence, since I was on the work and witness team. I was hoping I could be a part of something without having to constantly speak Spanish. I knew work and witness would be something that I didn’t need to communicate all the time but I didn’t get my chance on this trip. Though I am glad that the people in the community were able to take the iniative and do it themselves, it must have been a good way for the community to bond.
Since the work-and-witness team was no more Mehir and I took part in the group for the kids; Jerson went with the evangelism group; and Scott who was a quasi member of the Work-and-Witness team, went where he was needed. So my new group-for the kids-got started right away.
We didn’t have Remi right away but instead played futbol in this giant field that some kids showed us, and it was muddy and so fun. There was one point that there were 59 kids playing futbol with us and the numbers just continued to grow. I wasn’t feeling very well so I decided to sit down and catch up in my journal and a bunch of little girls that noticed that I was sitting down swarmed me and started asking me all kinds of questions; Juan said it looked they were going to eat me. After several minutes, Catherine who said she was going to the bathroom came around the corner riding a horse. Needless to say this afternoon I conquered my fears and rode a horse. It was a pretty hilarious and random afternoon.

June 25th

June 25th

We traveled most of the day and then stayed in PB at Jennie’s house (her son is Benjamin, he’s a missionary in Jordan). Scott is really good friends with her other son. Most of the people (Esther, Maddai, Kendra, Kalleta, Wes, Mehir, Jerson, Scott, and Juan) stayed in the air-conditioned (which is rare) rooms and the rest of us (Leslie, Lindsey, Catherine and I) stayed on the giant porch in either a hammock or a lie down lawn chair.
Scott’s friend took us to get ice cream down the street and we watched an American movie there as we waited for the rain to die down. Then we just went back and talked to Scott for a little bit and then went to sleep. Sleeping outside was an experience, I got a little wet, but it was lovely to experience Gods creation like that. And feel really emersed in it- just listening to the rain.

Honduras Máxima Mission

From July 11 through 19, 2008 our team of 16 people spent time in two communities of Honduras. The first was called Villa de San Francisco, with a population of about 1600, and the second was Cofradía, with about 300 people. The team consisted of five people from Mexico, one from Guatemala, nine from the United States, and one missionary.

Our purpose was to support and motivate the leaders that are forming the new cell groups of the Church of the Nazarene in these communities. We helped them with church ministries such as evangelism, discipleship, children’s ministry, and work and witness.

Together with members from the church, we walked from house to house, presenting the plan of salvation through the Evangecube. With the people that accepted Christ as their savior, we presented the Holiness Cube and started the first lesson in a series of discipleship lessons.

The leaders of the church in Villa de San Fransisco, Pastors Gustavo González and Rigoberto, and Maria and Heidy, ladies in the church, were willing and excited to continue with the discipleship of the new believers. In Cofradía as well, the brothers and sisters of the church learned how to use the cubes and discipleship lessons. The church members of both communities energetically helped with all of the ministries. They participated in painting the schools, evangelizing, and working with children through clowns, puppets, songs and games. Other projects in Cofradía included building two roofs: one for a house of one of the ladies of the church and one for a cafeteria for the children.

Another important ministry was the films we showed in each place: the Jesus Film for children, the testimony of Felix Vargas’ conversion “Out of the Dark”, and the newly released Magdalena. More than 100 people were present at each showing. After each film, we invited the people to accept Christ. We were pleased to find that there were hearts ready to accept Christ, many children especially.

Our team included three adults from Chicago. This trip was their first experience of evangelizing and ministering together in a cross-cultural setting. Kurt, Debbi and Beth participated in all of the ministries, working hard and filled with enthusiasm and love for God’s kingdom. In just a short time, they made an impact in Honduras that will not easily be forgotten.

¡Perhaps the most wonderful thing regarding the ministry in these two communities is that 33 people made decisions for Christ and the team of volunteer missionaries followed up with home visits to each new convert in the following days! Adults, youth, and children walked through their first basic Bible Studies and the pastors of these communities are committed to follow up and disciple these new Christians with the next lessons in the coming weeks. Praise the Lord!

These were days filled with celebration for the new believers, days of intense work, and days in which God spoke clearly to the souls of the community. We were filled with joy to say, “Thank you Lord for the strength and passion you have given us, and continue to give us, to serve. We love you.”

Stories to Tell When I Return

Hola Familia y Amigos!

So we've reached the time in our trip when I will have no communication with anyone. I will have plenty of fun stories to tell when I return and lots and lots of fun pictures to show. Hope you all have wonderful weeks and if praying is your thing then here are some things to keep in your prayers:

Team Unity
A team that is coming from Chicago that we will be working with
Work and Witness
Evangelism
Traveling Mercies
Ministries we are leaving here in Guatemala

Love you and God Bless

21st-24th

Tortillas we made
Coca cola on a nice day
The river we played in with the kids in Jovente
So many wonderful kids
Conquering my fear and riding a horse

I’ll try to update more later. I’m super tired now though seeing as we just got back from Jovente and we are going to the Zoo tomorrow.

If praying is your thing it would be wonderful if you pray for:
Traveling mercies
My Dad’s back
Saying goodbye to everyone here in Guatemala


June 24th

We got to Jovente this morning and as we drove past the health center that we were to build the fence around – it was already built!! We bought the stuff and the community built the fence for us, which was awesome. It still needs a door, which we might have the opportunity to build and we might work on this concrete slab. So Jerson (one of the guys who went with on our trip and was on the work and witness trip) became a part of the evangelism and discipleship group and Mehir and I joined the children’s ministry group – though still looking for potential work jobs. Which is great! We are still doing the ending service and we finished planning that yesterday.

We invited kids to Remi and to play futbol with us. There were 59 kids playing futbol with us before lunch. We also got to play with the kids in this river that they were diving into the women a little further down were washing their clothes in.

As I’m writing this – I wasn’t feeling very well while playing soccer and needed to set down – needless to say about 20 little girls came up to me and started speaking to me in Espanol and Catchee. Juan said it looked like they were going to eat me. Then Catherine came around a horse and we all got the chance to ride a horse. It was awesome to be able to conquer that fear of mine and super fun.

June 23rd

We drove the 5 hours to Puerto Barrios today, we ate at the same restaurant as when we went last time – only this time I didn’t get the fish! Then instead of staying at the District Superintendents house, we stayed at a friend of Scott’s house – it was super nice. It even had two showers. We also got a little American treat when we got there – ice cream! Us American girls slept outside while the others (boys and girls) slept inside the air conditioned house (which is a rarity here in the areas of Central America I’ve been to). It was quite the tropical experience with the thunder storm and the rain falling on the tin roof. Not many can say they’ve slept outside on a giant porch in Guatemala.

June 22nd

The last couple of days have been literally crazy, barely anytime to sleep. We are all really worn out. We leave for Jovente tomorrow. Today we did a children’s church and I was King Josiah as a puppet and Kendra was the other character and then Esther and Claudia were the voices. Then as a group we did the youth service (Sunday School); I was Potiphers’s wife who tried to suduice Joseph (who had the coat of many colors aka my scarf). And Joseph was Mehir, it was really funny- everyone was laughing. After church we went to Julio’s birthday party and had some good food – chicken, thick bean dip, corn on the cob, guac, this juice with cut up fruit in it, chips, corn tortillas and cake- and watched the euro cup. It was really nice and then we went to Gotitas de Amor. Instead of helping out with the literacy thing again – Catherine and I played a game with Eddy (one of the kids there). After a bit Danielle (the leader of the literacy workshop) came in and let me do the literacy workshop – it was like I was learning how to read. I can just imagine how frustrated the 50 year old women get – like the ones I was helping with the previous day.

I keep hearing, “…you can’t help everyone…” or “…you can only do so much.” I feel like that’s something I keep continuing to hear constantly throughout my lifetime. I think it will be a bad thing when I don’t hear those words anymore, because it will mean a piece of my passion has died or that I’m not trying hard enough. I never want to get used to it – will that mean I won’t be seeing life through Christ’s eyes if I get used to the pain and the suffering? I think so. I don’t think that He ever gets used to His children suffering. I think that’s a part of why I’ve been so tired, because I haven’t had time to process what it going on through all this culture shock, righteous anger, struggling, passion, brokenness – we’ve been so busy. I learned tonight though that this is the life that Christ has called me to. There are going to be times where I’m exhausted and I don’t have time to process but I just have to continue to pray that Christ will be my never dying strength – I don’t have another choice. My heart breaks but I continue to let God – not myself – LET GOD!

So last night after Gotitas we went to their church service and I lead worship and sang songs in SPANISH! It was amazing!! And we lead the service too – I was a tree in a mime skit and Maddai was a snake – it was fun and Father’s day themed. And Eddy learned how to say “Your eyes are beautiful” in English for me and then later asked me if I had a boyfriend, haha!! I that kid. He is pretty wonderful and has a wonderful heart. He wants to be a missionary when he grows up. I love their church and Gotitas de Amor – it’s such a wonderful blessing. I can see God here; the language barrier doesn’t even exist, the love of Christ surpasses such earthly things. Thank the Lord. I am so thankful for the experience He is putting in my life.

June 21st
We worked at Gotitas de Amor. We were split into three groups, one for games with the kids, another for maintenance and another for literacy workshop. I was in the literacy workshop one with Catherine and Lindsey. It was really amazing; I went from at one point helping a 50 something year old woman to a 9 year old learn how to read and write. It was amazing to be able to help but my heart broke at the same time for them. A lot of the women couldn’t see very well and so it made it really hard to the workshop. They can’t afford glasses – I assume.
I also learned how to make corn tortillas today with the women of the neighborhood.

On the roof of a hotel in Honduras- Myself, Claudia, Lindsey, Catherine, and Wes
Lindsey and I before Antigua
Wes, myself, Catherine and Mehir painting the walls at Gotitas de Amor
A service in a small town in Honduras - performing songs for kids
In Honduras: how things are carted around and people rode around on mainly horses. SO AMAZING!!

June 8th-18th

June 18th –

Today we had a semi day off and got to sleep. So for me that meant I woke up at 8 instead of 7…it was kind of weird for me that I couldn’t sleep in any longer. We had our devotional at 2 and then met with Scott and then Carlos and then Emily about the different things we had planned for this next week. We get to go to the zoo with Gotitas de Amor!! I’m so excited!!!! Then Emily talked to us about health things for the next couple of weeks, she is still a certified nurse in the states so that’s really helpful and nice to have here. The rest of the day we just worked on planning for different things going on and hanging out with one another.
We also danced in the thunderstorm rain, it was amazing!! Then Catherine, Lindsey and I started choreographing a dance to a song that we will make a video of soon.
Anyways it’s getting late and I’m exhausted.

Hope you enjoy the very long update from the past couple of days that have been a wonderful mix of experiences.

This is what I’m thankful for:
Clean water and lots of it
A roof over my head
A bed or sleeping bag to sleep in
A shower – hot or cold
Sturdy shoes
My Bible
Pen and Paper
The Small things…

If praying is your thing, here are some prayer requests:

These will always be prayer requests:
Team unity
Language barrier
Family situations
God will continue to work in our lives and transform our hearts

June 17th –

We started off the morning with the usual devotional that I lead – it was about the direction of your attitude, mainly about even just saying to yourself I get to do this instead of I have to, because there are many things we don’t want to do but we need to have a better attitude about it.
We traveled all day!! I sat shotgun the whole way and talked with Scott and watched best of youtube videos on his computer. We stopped at a place called Bongos for breakfast, it was a buffet and then for a late lunch we stopped at a random restaurant about 5 hours from Guatemala City. Once we finally got into the city it was raining cats and dogs and it took about an hour to actually get back to the School of Missions when it should’ve taken about 15 minutes. When we finally made it back home it was still pouring and the power was out and all of our stuff was on the top of the micro-bus (covered with a tarp of course) but still pretty wet. At that point, I was excited that I bought a nice backpack from REI and everything was dry, whereas my teammates stuff was all wet. Though we were all really excited to be home and be able to rest and play more Uno ☺.

June 16th-

Today we got up early and had breakfast at the church. We traded vans for the day, so that our van could get fixed (it needed a new clutch…or something). We drove around for a while getting the part for the microbus and picking up people and dropping them off. Then we realized we didn’t have any purified water for the day, so we drove around for another half hour looking for places with purified water- I was in amazement.
After that we drove an hour to the village of Santa Ana, it was out in the middle of nowhere. Most of us (Juan, Lindsey, Esther, Kendra, Claudia, Julio, Leslie, and myself) went to the school while the others (Mehir, Catherine, Wes and Maddai) went to a house about 20 minutes away and taught a service about the Nazarene doctrine – one person came to Christ during that service. We stayed at the school and did Remi and played games with the kids afterward. A bit after that Juan, Leslie, Esther and Claudia and I got out Wes’ guitar and played songs and had a nice reflection time.

After some time the other team that had been teaching the doctrine showed up and we left and walked to a pastor’s house close by. We ate rice and tortillas there and then had a church service where another person came to Christ. We also performed a couple songs for the people in the church – as a Juevenes de Mision (Youth in Mission) group.
Then we got to go to another pastors house and learn about some of the needs in the community. We got to try green mangoes right off the tree- they were amazing!! Although mangoes are possibly my favorite fruit, so I got lucky. It was like natures natural dental floss that takes some effort getting out of your teeth. Now that I think of it…I have one in my bag now…AMAZING!!

In the evening we went to a local restaurant – one of the pastor’s who church we visited owned- and had the Honduras national food called baleadas. They were pretty tasty. It was the first time we had flour tortillas since we’ve been in Central America. They aren’t serviced as much as corn tortillas because they are more expensive. Then we got milkshakes and I got a mango, it was outstanding!! After we went back to the seminary and packed up our stuff and played lots of Uno and then went to bed.

June 15th –

Happy Fathers Day!! I love you Dad and Grandpa!!!!

Today we went to church and taught Sunday School to the youth and played games with them and Leslie and I, both shared our stories of how we had made it to this point, in terms of being on Youth In Mission. Then we went to church and Scott preached. One person came to Christ during that service.
I heard music today at church that I feel like I’ll hear when I’m in heaven, it was so beautiful. It’s almost as if at that point the language barrier doesn’t even exist; love diminishes all barriers. There was an undoubtedly love and confidence in that room, something I feel you never see in The States. People were kneeling on their knees and no one cares what anyone else thinks, its like the Spirit just pushes out these judgmental thoughts and gives you a new sense of being, that you’re solely with Him and maybe with His angels or this community that’s behind you no matter what.

June 14th –

So on Saturday we were up and out at 7:30 AM on the way to the church for food. After that we had a crazy bumpy trip to a church – I thought our old Igelsia del Nazareno microbus wouldn’t make it. Though it did. We got there and were dropped off without any adults or leaders – only the first group. The second group was dropped off at an alternative location. We had about an hour to invite kids to the Remi show and evangelize as well. We split ourselves into two teams – Esther, Wes and myself and then Mehir, Catherine and Lindsey so we could cover more ground. Our group spent most of the time sharing the evangecube. It was really amazing; a lot of the time Wes and I were hanging out for moral support as Esther rapidly spoke Spanish. We could understand what was going on, she just has this wonderful gift. We also prayed for some people too. Our group went and talked with this woman that had said that Jesus is in her heart but she just has a problem with the people in the church and had been hurt a lot in the past. Through all the tears and pain we experienced while in her house we prayed for her and her family and she made a commitment to start going to church again. We prayed over several people that day. A lot of people seemed to be non practicing Christians in the area that seemed like they just wanted some love and were very willing to try and put their faith out there.
After that we did Remi in church for the kids and then played soccer with the kids while we waited a couple of hours for Scott to pick us back up in the microbus.

We then had lunch and went as a big group and did Remi and some evangelized. Scott did a game after that is was hilarious – he sang Boom Chicka Boom!! The kids absolutely loved it.
Then we went back to the church and gave the Sex, Lies and the Truth workshop it was awkward because we were in a church and it came on really strong.

It’s really interesting how it seems that futbol in the only sport that exists in Central America. You’ll see basketball courts that have been turned into futbol fields everywhere, its really funny.

My heart has really been smiling since I’ve been here. I feel such a strong call to this area. Most of you might not know that I have felt a strong call towards Honduras – especially working with orphanages, though that’s not something I will be able to experience while here this summer, I’m still so thankful and assured. I’ve had a lot of different persons throughout the more recent years ask me and tell me that I should work in orphanages and even leave school to do so. Although, I don’t feel the call to leave school to do so. I know that by the end of this summer and these trips to Honduras I will have left a piece of my heart here in Honduras. Even if I don’t get an opportunity to visit the country again – I know it was right for the time that I was there and I will have it documented forever in my journal of how God allowed my being to be stretched that summer. How He let my heart smile and break so much I could cry. I experienced more heartache and pain for the people there than I have in a long time. It may have been part of my culture shock, but it was a kind of confirmation that I wasn’t expecting. I had no idea what a strong pull God was going to put on my heart in such a short trip to Honduras. I couldn’t let myself in my heart complain about the food, the smog, or any of the worldly things, I was and am still in everything I do, like it says in Matthew 25:35-40 excited “…to serve the least of these.”

June 13th, 2008

We woke at 4:45 AM – having to be ready and everything by 5:15 AM and then we were on our way to Honduras. It was a 10-hour drive that took 14 hours because of traffic. I ended up feeling sick during the trip and spent the remainder of the car trip in the front seat exchanging stories with Scott.
Something I didn’t mention is that I absolutely feel in love with Antigua – they have several upon several language schools there and I’d love to attend one someday. I want to learn the in’s and out’s of Spanish- like the back of my hand.
Once we got to Honduras we had dinner the Church of the Nazarene there. A nice lady is cooking our meals here and we’re staying at the Nazarene Theological Seminary here. Most of the guys in my group say that they think that God is calling them here – mostly because of all the beautiful women.

June 12th, 2008

In the morning Danielle taught us about a literacy program at Gotitas de Amor. It was so fun learning about it, I would love to be involved in the program, it would be a wonderful way to improve my Spanish.
After that we went to Antigua, Guatemala – which is a beautiful ancient city about an hour or so away from San Cristobal (where we live). We got to go to this look out which was for the Guatemalans to see when the Spaniards were invading. And there is a giant stone cross up there, it was so beautiful, you could see the whole city. We got to by a couple cathedrals and then go to this beautiful fountain. At that point we split into groups and went shopping. I was with Wes, Juan, Catherine and Lindsey. Juan helped us and introduced deeper into the world of bartering. He said that there are markers a couple of hours from his hours like the ones we were at – so he didn’t buy much- I’m going to need another suitcase. Then we drove back, had an hour break – I slept.
Then we went to Gotitas de Amor where we had been the day before and played games with the kids there and then Carlos (the leader) spoke and then we played more games. We then came home and packed for Honduras and then went to bed.

June 11th

Scott has us write out what God has been doing in our life and then translate it into Spanish – so Juan helped me A LOT. And then it goes into a BlogSpot of Scott and Emily’s. I finished mine last night. The last couple of days we have been back from Jovente we haven’t done a whole lot. During church on Sunday the Pastor talked about The Great Commission and then had us come up and the church prayed for us. Scott and Emily individually laid hands on us and prayed for us. It was really amazing. He was using us for an example of The Great Commission. I was astonished. Then we went to Sunday School and they talked about what I feel has been a continuing theme in my life lately: Love your neighbor as yourself. I have really been learning to love every part of myself. God has been ever present and transforming my heart.

June 11th, 2008

Today we went to Gotitas de Amor and did maintenance work. We washed and painted the walls a peach color on top and a brown color on the bottom. At the end of the painting day – I had so much paint all over me – it was kind of ridiculous. His wife made us lunch and then Carlos made us dinner. It was so nice of them. Then we went to a service at his church with the kids involved in Gotitas de Amor. I think I should donate money to them. Then as we –the second group (our YIM group)- first group (all the kids) – anyways, as we were leaving the church, we had to go in one of the later car rides because the kids took up the first one and as we were waiting with Julio (he works with Gotitas de Amor and in the school of missions) at the corner of a street where there is a Christian convenience store and all of sudden BAM!! a soda bottle smacks down on the ground and a dog from a balcony begins to bark. The bottle was filled with urine. A lady from the church came up and said that the couple that lives up there are mentally ill and threw it because it was a big group and they hate Christians. There is no way they could’ve known we were Christians except for the fact that we were standing in front of the store. Our first hateful at performed against us. I don’t understand where that much hatred comes from – it made me want to cry.

Tuesday June 10th-

Today we learned more about Gotitas de Amor (Droplets of Love). The ministry’s passage is Luke 18:16. The ministry is in the Red Zone, which is one of the poorest parts of Guatemala-the houses are built on an old park. There are 3-8 kids in a family; 6-12 years old and once they finish 6th grade they can be volunteers and help the other kids. On Monday afternoon’s and evening’s they help the kids with their homework-if materials are needed for art projects for school the ministry provides it. The kids that aren’t in school, they have crafts for them to do. On Saturdays/Sundays they provide breakfast or dinner for the kids.
This guy named Carlos started the ministry because kids started wanting to go to church with him and his family; and the ministry is in his house.
Their finance is provided by a man with an interesting story-
A man and his wife have twins and one of them had a heart problem and because of doctor negligence the kid died. The man sued the doctor and has used all the money for children’s ministries and absolutely none for himself. The ministry started with 65 ninos. It’s a wonderful thing to get a chance to be a part of.

After learning about Gotitas de Amor, we were filmed for the How to of Remi. It was really exhausting but of course fun. We are going to be the people other people will make fun of in 10 years. It will be awesome. A LOT –over 150,000 -of people will see and use this film. We did it twice!! Then hung out the rest of the day and I got to talk to my mum.

Monday June 9th-

We worked on Sub-Commission things for when we go back to Jovente. I am in the Work and Witness section, we’re building a fence – barbed wire on the top and metal fencing and then barbed wire on the bottom – around the health center and then doing a concrete slab possible. I’m also on the commission that is in charge of the ending service. We will be in Jovente for 5 days and we will be really busy while we’re there; we have so many wonderful things planned. After we did that we worked on the revised schedule for the summer. At night as we were about to practice for Remi, we played around with the puppets and made movies. They’re hilarious!! Our group is really like a family.

June 8th – Evening

So during church the service was about The Great Commission and the pastor was basically saying that you don’t have to be out of the ordinary or particular spectacular to fulfill God’s commandments. You can do it and then the pastor used us as an example and he had us (YIM group) get up and go to the front and pray for us. Scott and Emily walked behind and prayed for each of us individually. It was amazing that we’re actually doing it, HE USED US AS AN EXAMPLE. I was like WHAT?!! ME?!? Then we went to Sunday School and the leader continued with the same message and said that he really admired us for what we are doing, it was so sweet. He also talked about how we need to be released from our material things and be able to give it away if needed. Then he talked about what I feel has been a continuing theme recently- love others as yourself- which I have been learning so much from recently. It’s so key to living as a human – loving yourself in totality takes a completely different kind of courage than loving others. I have been learning how to love every part of me lately and see myself through the eyes of Christ. Still learning every day. All the people in Sunday School wanted pictures with us, part of me wonders why me.
After church we went out to lunch for a couple hours- they had Pizza Hut restaurant – it was GREAT!! We were also taking care of Elijah and Sydney, they are such fun kids. Then we walked around the mall trying to kill time and Catherine and I totally saw a girl shoplift and no one even flinched as we watched her book it across the mall.
After that Scott and Emily picked us back up we went to the Seminary and played duck duck goose, I raced Elijah and we played soccer as we were waiting for Scott and Emily to pick stuff up from their friends.
So much for a day of resting but we ended up being able to skip church because we’re all exhausted and we’re going to have a service at Scott and Emily’s house, which will be fun. Time for a half hour nap.
Adios.

June 8th – During church

Today I woke up at 4 am and missed my alarm to call Matt. But I got up and wrote him an email and called and talked to him for a bit. I’m wondering and trying not to put too much into this because I don’t want to get hurt of course and I really want to focus on the amazing experiences going on here. I wonder if we all didn’t have significant others back at home if we would be putting more into this experience. Ad I don’t want to regret not giving this time in my life my all.
Right now we’re at church and it is purely Spanish speaking. Lindsey will turn to me every once in a while and tell me what’s going on.
I’m not feeling super well and neither is Wes, Catherine, or Kendra. I think we’re all getting the Guatemalan sickness. I guess its good it’s happening now rather than later.
The church is really amazing. It started (the service) with a few people in it and grew immensely and basically filled the entire sanctuary. The people here are very loving and beautiful. They all greet you with a kiss on the cheek. I am continually surprised and thankful. I have a wonderful Father.
The rest of the day we’re just resting and hanging out and then we have another service in the evening. I’ve mostly been using this time in church to pray and reflect –not necessarily on everything I’ve encountered- but how wonderful the love of Christ is. Thank you.
Peace.

Just some pictures

MORE to come:
Lupe (Juan's clown name) playing rabbit in the cage game
Beautiful Guatemala, this is almost everywhere in the country
Mehir and I
MacBook fun, Lindsey and I as clowns with the kids
Having fun with the kids and my computer

June 5th -7th

My Guatemalan family
From left to right: (Skipping the first puppet) Catherine, Leslie and Remi
Eating beans and eggs and tortillas



Beautiful children here

June 5th

Luke 5:1-11- We’re going to be used as God’s tools to further the Kingdom- I feel unworthy!!
Today we learned about Maxima Mision!! We will be leading two groups – one from Chicago and one from Kansas City. We will be going to Honduras once before we go with the group from either Chicago or Kansas City, so we can see the need in Tegusegalpa. Then when we go back we can meet the need. We are leaving on Friday and it’s a 10 hour drive. We already know we will be building a fence, playing games , being with the kids in the school, teaching Sex, Lies, and the Truth seminar.

June 7th
Yesterday was amazing and fascinating in so many ways. Well on Thursday we drove 5 hours from the city to Puerto Buarres and spend the night at the DS’ (district superintendent) house. And for dinner we went to this restaurant and I ordered fish and it came out like a fish, eye ball and everything-it was good but I ended up trading with Emily.
Then drove another 3 hours and went to the house of man who is building/planting the new church in Juevente, which is a town of about 600 people and its said to be a very indigenous culture/place. Some of them speak Catchee which is one of the few Mayan languages left. We worked at the school in Juevente and had a house down the hill that we would eat our meals at. So for breakfast we had eggs and beans and lots and lots of tortillas and for lunch we had chicken is some type of broth and lots and lots of tortillas.

At the school we did Remi (the puppet show) while another group did Sex, Lies and the Truth seminar in the morning. Every child who was present at Remi excepted Christ in their life. Its amazing to think that God is using ME as His tool. God is so good.
I definitely experienced a lot of culture shock while in Juvente – garbage lining the streets, girls with razor cell phones – yet they don’t have running water or even a solid flood and they don’t sweat or not even near as much as we do.

So after the show (Remi) we played games with the kids – all the children crowded around me, hanging off me, almost every single girl was holding my arm or rather Bubuhas’ arm (I’m a clown and that’s my name, its Bubbles in Spanish) – I’ve never felt so loved. It was so fun playing with all of them as well as even just sitting with them. They kept saying me name – Bubuhas!! I had a couple of girls that would just continually hang on to me. They were so sweet.

Then we had lunch at the house at the bottom of the hill and then went back up to the school where we did another workshop and then played soccer with the kids while Dr. Rene did a seminar on AIDS for the parents. Oh my lanta, playing soccer was so much fun, I did get called a chicken from one of the girls because of my pants that were rolled up, it was really funny and then another girl walked up to Juan and said you’re too big/tall and another girl called Wes a trampoline and Leslie clumsy. So we all have alternative nicknames now. After soccer all the kids took us down to this river and man was it a hike but they were all running- the whole time was a blast.
Then on the way back to PB last night we stopped at a restaurant and ate dinner and I got quizzed on my Spanish. I’m learning so much Spanish and when I was talking to my parents on the phone, I was speaking Spanglish. One of my team mates said that it makes her heart smile when I speak Spanish. So its getting a lot better than I expected and we’re all getting so close and our family is continually getting bigger. There are wonderful people here, who have blessed my heart emensely; I am so thankful to finally be here. I feel like I have known these people for so much longer than two weeks (for the North Americans) or 6 days (for the Mexicans).

We got back from PB in the late afternoon and were all really happy to be back. We will be taking our first trip to Honduras on Friday, the drive in 10 hours. I think it will be a fun experience. We are just going to see the need and then when we go back later in the month we will meet the need.

Well the eleventh member of our team just got here- she seems really nice thus far. Please if you might pray for team unity, because the rest of us have already had a week or two to bond and she is coming in late and that might be hard for all of us. And that we will be safe and I will continue to learn more and more Spanish as this adventure continues.

I really want to say thank you to everyone who has been such a big role in my life – chances are if you’re reading this, that’s you. I can’t believe my dream has actually happening. At times it has seemed surreal but I’m just trying to soak up as much of it as I can and love this life I am able to live.

Have a wonderful day everyone. I’ll keep sharing my stories when I get the chance.

Love you all!!

More pictures to come

June 3rd and June 4th

Some of the girl clowns doing Remi; Top left: Catherine, Claudia, Lindsey, Bottom: Kendra and Me
This is the place we are living while in Guatemala
The open door is the girls room-8 girls 2 showers ITS AWESOME!!
Catherine, Lindsey and I after we read Scott and Emily's vows, so sweet.
Wes and I - our first day as clowns!! So fun, I'm notorious for the orange wig.

We got here on our 3rd try to Guatemala, the airport opened back up and we were able to land.

June 3rd
Today was a busy day! We had to get up, be ready and have our breakfast eaten by 7:30 am.
We had a devotional this morning by Scott with Juan translating in English. Juan is one of the Mexicans on our team who is studying English, so he knows both languages quite well. The other Mexicans are Claudia, Mehir and Esther (and Maddai is coming on Friday).
We learned about "Remi" today. Remi is a puppet show, it is a Vacation Bible School like "show" for los ninos with clowns (payosos) and puppets! We get to dance A LOT and sing A LOT of songs in spanish.
Today we went to the store-split up into groups-mine was Leslie, Juan, Julio, and were given 40Q (7.3Q to $1.00) to buy cleaning supplies to clean bathrooms in Carlos' neighborhood- same place they have a ministry called Gotitas de Amor. We only got to clean 3 bathrooms, we got to wash dishes at the first house. The 2nd house we went to we cleaned the toilet and swept the floor. The 3rd house we went to we prayed over someone with muscular dystrophy and swept the floor. The church will continue to keep that family in their prayers. Also a lot of the persons whose bathrooms or casas we got to clean were from the church. A lot of the children's parents are alcoholics and have no sense of a future or what they want to be when they grow up. They don't think they can get out of the area, but a big part of the ministry is giving them a hope for the future.
It was surprising that so many people said no but thank you. They lived in a place that used to be a park and just built homes there- some had tvs, but it was a very poor area. Juan and I talked about where other persons priorities lie as far as what they put their money into- very interesting how that worked. He said that a lot of people in his neighborhood many homes were made out of mud- something and they don't had floors but really nice sound systems, tvs, etc. Juan said that thats not where his lie. We were in an area where a lot of children saw their parents die from violence, gangs, etc. There was a bullet hole in the door of the ministry. It has mostly died down about 3-4 years ago but its still happening a little.
I was surprised how left out you can feel when you have 6 other people on your team that speak fluent english and choose to strictly speak spanish. Every once in a while after talked to them they'd remember I don't know what's going on. It's kind of draining and hurt my feelings because I don't really feel like an active part of the group. It's really hard when Scott and Emily (our site coordinators) do it too and don't translate even though they say they'll say everything in both languages but it hasn't been that way I will continue trying even though its been tough. I've been trying to learn new things too, its getting better day by day.


June 4th
Today we Carlos taught us a new workshop that we will be teaching to the youth this summer. Particularly the youth in Jovente which is where we are traveling to this weekend. The presentation is called "Sexo, Las Mentiras y Verdad" ("Sex, Lies and the Truth"). The powerpoint was very good, but some of the images were even hard for me to see. The effects of the STI's and some of the mental things are just hard to think about. The youth in places near here are actually dealing with so many pressures which definitely plays into my culture shock, its a totally different world down here.
By the time he was done giving us a taste of the presentation it was lunch time. We sat around and chatted. Around one we met with Emily for our next activity. She split us into two groups telling us that when we deal with children we need to always have games to play as ice breakers as well as to fill the time if need be. We came up with games like link tag and red rover also a few games that the Mexicans taught us that the Americans didn't know. Then Emily brought Elijah and Sydney (her children) to play the games with us to make sure they were good for that age. We got to pull out the soccer ball and play with it for a while!!
Then around 3 we got the rest of the afternoon and evening to work on our presentations of "Remi" and Sex, Lies and the Truth. Around 6 we started to make dinner. I helped out with dinner a lot..I don't cook often, but I cooked the steak and chicken, it was pretty fun (but often I mean never). We made quesadillas with either chicken or steak and a special sauce known here as pico de gallo with orange juice. It was good! Emily's birthday was yesterday so we made her a cake. We got Scott to help us surprise her and sang a special version of Happy Birthday to her.
Happy Happy Birthday
From all of us to you
We wish it was our birthday so we could party too
Happy Happy Birthday
From our Guatemalan Team to you!!

Then we got them to tell us how they met-which was through YIM and at Olivet-and how Scott proposed to Emily!! It was a cute story!! I like them a lot and am really excited to spend the remainder of summer here!!
We were given permission to get online tonight for a bit, but tomorrow we leave for Jovente which is quite a ways away so I have to hit the hay pretty soon here. We were practicing for Remi for most of the day, which involved lots of dancing and singing in Spanish and its a workout.
Time for sleep. Hope to write again sometime soon!!
Also..pray that we're all healthy and that language would soon cease to be a barrier. Gracias.

Peace.

June 1st and now June 2nd

We departed late (by only 15 minutes) from El Paso, TX and arrived in Houston with plenty of time to spare, we had a layover that lasted a couple hours and then off we went to Guatemala City, Guatemala...only we didn't make it there.
We are currently in San Salvador, El Salvador for the second time in two days.
There were really bad storms in Guatemala City and the cloud ceiling was too low to land so they detained us for several hours on Sunday (June 1st) and then finally let us off the plane and put us up in a really nice hotel called the Sheraton about 45 minutes away from the airport. It was such a nice hotel but we crashed as soon as the five of us got a room.
Then this morning at 6:30 am we left the hotel and drove back to the airport and waited in the airplane about an hour more then made an attempt to fly the 24 minute flight back to Guatemala City. They couldn't even see the runway!! So I'm in San Salvador for the second time.
I did get a pretty sweet stamp in my passport as well as some fun times. And let me just say customs wasn't at all what I thought; I was so nervous and there was nothing to be nervous about whatsoever. We are all pretty exhausted though. We have been taking breaks sleeping and we're all working really well together. At this point, I can't wait to get to Guatemala and just sleep, recover and have fun.

I had my first culture shocks last night as well as this morning, even with the little part of San Salvador we saw. Everywhere, buildings, homes, stores had gates, fences and barb wire surrounding them. I found that interesting because you hear how genuinely friendly the people here are in comparison to Americans yet they have gates around their homes.
Also, its different (which is ok) to see the armed guards EVERYWHERE!! They have giant guns in their hands with helmets that say PM (police martial).

Well I'm hungry, we're getting ready to board the plane for the 3rd time so time to peace out.

Today I'm actually excited and feel more ready.

Though i reached why I feel was breaking point and just broke down from exhaustion and being sick and everything in between. It was good to break down though and get everything out.

I now feel more ready and as excited as I was when I got my acceptance letter in January and made the decision to go this summer.

Time to regain some of my strength. More later.

Though Wes and Leslie told me I had a great smile and they loved it - that made my heart smile.

other blog and May 27th, 2008

Sorry for the confusion my other blog got messed up somehow. I'm still trying to figure out what went wrong.

So here is my posting from May 27, 2008 :

I left Oregon today, off to El Paso, TX for training camp. Sarah and Matt took me to the airport and it was really nice of them to do so. Though it was sad saying goodbye to the both of them- I’m really going to miss them this summer as well as all of my wonderful friends.
I’m reaching a point of excitement…as most of you know I wasn’t excited. I was more like yeah I’m going but I’m trying not to expect anything and with that absence of expectation, I lost excitement and more thought of this trip as an experience or rather an adventure that I had no idea where it was going to take me. I am most nervous for customs and doing the traveling into the country. I have already done training in that area through a class I had to take but I’m still somewhat nervous about that.
Though I’m ready for this adventure, I’m not wishing away any of my time, I’m living in the now and enjoying the present. I did hear myself actually saying I didn’t want to leave Oregon OUT LOUD!! I really hope for my trip that I can live in the now and to my full capacity and be the most help and most effective possible.
Well over and out…I’m on the plane and skittles are flying everywhere from a crazy group of highschoolers.

May 29, 2008

May 29, 2008

Today was really fun and eye opening. We have been doing these workshop/lectures on our top 5 strengths (a test we had to take previous to coming to training); mine are positivity, achiever, connectedness, includer, and belief. I learned a lot more about them today from others who I have strengths in common with and struggles regarding that particular characteristic. For instance that positivity can be annoying and taken as sarcasm or joking (specially when sarcasm is something you use quite a bit) when that really isn’t your intention. Belief is something I didn’t necessarily know what it was but when I found out I was like OH THAT’S ME!! Belief is when you know what you believe and you live your life by that and when you don’t you feel really guilty and I totally was like yeah…but I try to stay open minded when others present there ideas whereas others that I talked to said that they had a hard time doing such.

As a group, my group is Wesley, Leslie, Lindsey, and Catherine –they are all really sweet and fun people by the way, I think this summer will be a really great one in that sense. I honestly don’t sense any problems- I know there will be frustrations and issues but I think we can tackle them. Anyways, so as a group today we went over our different strengths and how we think each of our different strengths could help us out. We also talked about something I wasn’t that familiar with birth order – which was interesting how that played into our different characteristics. We definitely work really well together and I think that it will be interesting to see all our strengths at work on the field.

We have been split into a little bit bigger groups called I think life groups, in which we do our ropes course and other activities, we’re with the groups Canada and Trinidad & Tribago. The ropes course was so fun today, I think also because I got to be in the center of the action and it was really great being able to work together and not get frustrated and all be patient with one another. Which has been a great quality of even our small little Guatemala team, we have a lot of patience with one another. Which I hope that God will continue to bless us with this summer.

Tessa came today and that was wonderful to get to see her for the first time in a very long time. Tessa is a fellow Portland First Church of the Nazarene-er, who began to work for some relating ministry teams. She explained to us some of the groups we will be working with and she has been to Guatemala, so many of the mannerisms and just wonderful things that I will share with you as and if I experience them in the country. Also talked with us about door-to-door evangelism, which to be honest and I was with her- I just don’t know that that something I feel comfortable with, it’s really invasive and I’m not that type of person – everything will be an experience.

So I’m needing to go to bed-there is probably much, much more I could write- but it’s really late and I have to wake up at 7:30 AM. I think I will be going to the doctor tomorrow though, please try and keep that in your prayers in you can. They’ve –so Catherine and some new friends here- have found white pus in my throat and my glands on my right side are really swollen. So I just hopefully need some medicine.

Also pray that God will keep my heart open to the things He is doing and I will allow Him to guide my life.

Love you all.

Kaitlin