Oh, what to say…I always sit down to type a blog and think the same thing…what to say…what is important enough, insightful enough, entertaining enough, emotional enough to write?
Dear Senior Forbes.
I should have paid better attention in Spanish in High School. I should have retained what I did learn. Life would be much more productive in Central America if I could say more than “Where is the bathroom?”
Sincerely, Jessica.
How frustrating it is. Last month we were never in one place for more than a few hours, so you could get by with the basics.
Como se llama? (What is your name?)
Cuantos años tiene? (How old are you?) and
Como estas? (How are you?). Of course, it’s also dangerous to ask those questions because the person then assumes you’re quite fluent in the language, and will continue to talk to you as if you understand every single thing they’re saying. In Honduras, however, we have been with relatively the same people, and will continue to be with them for the duration of November. For example, we see the boys almost daily, all day most weekends. We’ve built the friendships and trust quickly because the last teams here did a great job of building that up for us. But how do you take it deeper? How do you talk to them about how important Christ is when you can’t put a sentence together? I know…you love them. But even that just gives them our love, not necessarily Christ’s unconditional, eternal love. You want to sit down with them, explain Jesus and having a relationship with him, and the transforming power of HIS love, and how it’s so much deeper and better than anything they could imagine. I suppose I should figure it out while I can at least somewhat communicate. Once we hit Asia and Africa, it’s a whole new world of mass confusion on the communication front. I’ll take ideas. I’ll take prayers. Bring ’em on.
The verse I painted on the wall.
Other than that, Honduras is incredible. God’s definitely moving despite the fact that we can’t speak the language well. He’s bringing people from El Horno to our events, and opening up opportunities to get to know them and build relationships with them. Ginger from Team Lionheart has begun a business plan to vastly improve El Horno, while building relationships. He brings us peace in Los Pinos, while bringing in kids off the streets, even for a few hours of games and stories. He’s moving. And He’s allowing us to be a part of it!
Stephani and I painted the red wall behind us. it splattered all over our hands…which is what we’re showng off here.I get to meet my Compassion kids on Tuesday, November 23, 2010!!! I’ve been sponsoring Keny for 6 years. She was 4 when I first started sponsoring her, she’s 10 now. I just began sponsoring Gerson last November (when the World Race wasn’t even a thought in my head). I can’t even tell you how excited I am that it’s going to work out for me to meet them! I can credit it to God that they both just happened to be on the same side of the country as me, also that no one else had already booked a trip on the same day since I gave them much less notice. Next blog posted will include an exerpt on our day out! 🙂
