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.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
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.
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.
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.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
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…
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.
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…
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.
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.
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