Here’s a joke to start your day:
Q: What’s the difference between a cat and a complex sentence?
A: A cat has claws at the end of its paws and a complex sentence has a pause at the end of its clause.
Sooooo that joke has absolutely nothing to do with this blog. I just was looking for a way to start. Maybe you laughed, but you probably didn’t. Hopefully you enjoyed it! Either way, now that the ice has been broken, let me begin.
I want to give you a few of my first reactions of the beautiful country of Honduras. I won’t go into much detail with these yet, but I want to give you a peek into life here (with a few photos!)
- Pine Trees – While I have loved the lush rain-forests we have experienced during our first two months, seeing evergreens is a nice reminder the Pennsylvania woods that I grew up exploring. Fun fact: the Pine Tree is the national tree of Honduras, and it’s a federal offense to cut one down.
- It’s cold – We are located in the city of Valle de Angeles which translated means: Valley of Angels. Ironically though, we aren’t actually in much of a valley. We are over a mile about sea level, making the air temperature here is significantly chillier than when you get off the mountain. Considering how we are used to hot temperatures from the first two months, this is quite a shock. But have no fear! We have taken drastic measures to fight off frostbite. We have all invested in stylish $4 flannel shirts to fight off the 60° nightly temps!
- Pancakes – This month, our wonderful hosts buy all our food for us. We have two options for breakfast: Corn Flakes or pancakes. I really like pancakes! So I say, why not try to eat them every day this month? I was well on my way to successfully accomplishing this mission until the power was out one morning and I couldn’t use the stove.
- Who doesn’t love over 50 hugs a day? – Every day we go to two elementary schools and share a message from the Bible with about 60 children and play some games. These kids wait eagerly at the gate for us to arrive. Once we come in we are greeted with a hug from each and every one of them. Then after our time with them, we aren’t allowed to leave with another hug goodbye. It’s so precious, and it’s always the highlight of my day.
- The Views – I know photos will never do this place justice. On our way to the schools every morning, we get to see God’s handiwork on display. He is quite the artist.
Now, I want to leave you with a few things you can be praying over the next few weeks while we finish up our time in Honduras:
- Pray for the kids from the schools. It’s been truly a blessing to be with them. And I know the Lord is making an impact of them through us. One of the girls from class saw me in town today and yelled my name because she was excited to see me. It was so cool to hear my name in the middle of a country where barely know anyone!
- Pray for Santo: a homeless man that we have met and have been talking to over the course of the month. He is an alcoholic and will be entering a rehab program in a few days. Pray that the Lord shows him that he is not condemned because of his drinking, and that he is already loved and accepted by Jesus. And pray that he is delivered from his addiction to alcohol once and for all.
- And pray for me. I have felt a little discouraged lately. Doing ministry in countries where you don’t speak the language is difficult. I always think I could be doing more. “If I only knew more Spanish, I could share with them God’s love more effectively.” These are the lies that I tell myself. I know they aren’t true. I know my presence is enough to point people to Jesus. I know that the joy people experience when I walk into the room is evidence that the Holy Spirit is present and moving in their lives. But know that doesn’t help me feel any less awkward when I sit there trying making funny faces at kids because the only way I can communicate with them is by being goofy. It doesn’t make me feel any better when I see someone in a coffee shop and want to engage them in conversation but the conversation stalls after “Hola, como estas?” It’s been really challenging for me to build relationships these first couple months with anyone who doesn’t speak English. So pray that the Lord teaches me how I can effectively love all the people I come in contact with. And pray that even though I can’t use words, I have confidence in what Jesus is doing through me – that I know in my heart that I am making an impact, even if I can’t see it.
