Hola!

I have so much that I desire to share with you all, but limited time to do so. Therefore, I have compiled this list of "firsts," to give you a glimpse of what life is like as a missionary in Honduras.

Friday, January 11:
First wonderfully delicious Honduran meal prepared by Nidia (wife of the President at Zion's Gate), called pupusas.
First prayer and worship as a squad.
 
Saturday, January 12:
First cold shower of the Race, and definitely not the last.
First time seeing a wild monkey at Parque Naciones Unidas El Picacho.
First time peeing in the woods because they charged for bathrooms and I didn’t have small enough change.
 
Sunday, January 13:
First attempt to de-oil my hair using baby powder, although not super successful.
First visit to a pulpería (grocer’s shop) with Carlos (14 yr. old) and some of the other Honduran boys. I bought a 1.25 liter of Coke with real sugar and 2 Mamots (Carlos’s favorite).
First church service in Honduras, completely in Spanish.
First time listening to a testimony from a teammate (Chaney) taking a shower.
First experience teaching someone who didn’t speak English (Henry) how to play “B.S.”
 
Monday, January 14:
First time exercising in a foreign country, doing yoga atop a wall with Emily P.
First bonfire of the World Race.
First time all 7 of my teammates huddled in a 2-person tent (listening to Jonathan’s testimony).
 
Tuesday, January 15:
First day of ministry, sorting donated toys and clothes from the U.S. with my team and two of the Honduran boys, Henry and Luiz.
First time eating American food in a foreign country. Pancakes at Denny’s and french-fries with Coke at Burger King!
First time drinking water out of a bag. It tasted sort of… stale. I heard it was bleached?
First attempt to help a child that didn’t speak English (7 yr. old Anderson) do his homework. Thankfully, I was pretty successful!
First experience taking public buses in Honduras. Bus #1 was super nice with individual seats and a flat screen TV. Bus #2 was super crowded, with standing room only. As Honduras would have it, we had to ride bus #2 for a longer period of time.
 
Wednesday, January 16:  
First time visiting a ministry for women and their babies who were victims of rape or incest.
First time holding a 2 yr. old Honduran boy as he napped in my arms.
 
Thursday, January 17:
First (and hopefully last) eye infection of the World Race. I slept in my contacts the night before…
First experience praying for someone that doesn’t speak English, a woman and her baby that has two tumors in her head.
 
Friday, January 18:
First items lost on the World Race: my water bottle and prescription eye-drops.
First day with Internet!
 

I have decided that in addition to my blog, I will be sending out a monthly or bi-monthly email. This will share more details of my experiences here than what I will typically share on my blog, along with prayer requests. Please send me your email address or post it below if you'd like to be included on this list!

PS. ROAR stands for Rivers Of Abundant Reconcilation. 🙂