Well…working with the kids has been as expected, a kind of joyful frustreation. LOL. Some are really sweet and obedient and some not so much. I have always felt like somewhat of a grinch when with children. Unlike the rest of my team, my initial reaction was not to pick up children and swing them around. I had absolutely no desire to pick up kids when we arrived. At first naturally I thought there was something wrong with me. Like “what’s the deal Kim? You are in Honduras at an orphanage. You came here to serve, just pick up a kid!”. However as the days went by I started to learn that it was ok to not pick up children. That every child did not need to be picked up or swung around. That sometimes kids need discipline and structure and that is what I bring to the team. I didn’t have to feel like a grinch. My discipline and structure is just as important as the fun and games. I’m not saying that I am all rules and no fun. I for sure play with them as well.
Interestingly, these kids are teaching me a thing or 2 about Spanish. I appearantly am out of touch with my spanish. It’s been great talking to them and brushing up on my Spanish. They just want to be loved on and given attention. So far our days have consisted of playing with them, going on hikes or walks into town, doing worship with them and going to church and small groups with them, doing sleepovers, watching movies(which is quite the treat for them), getting a soccer game going, helping with meals, teaching sunday school and just loving on them. The first couple of days were really about getting to know them and investing in them. Next week we’ll start doing English lessons. Most of them know quite a bit of English. Especially the older ones. They can communicate in English quite well.
There is no WiFi here which means no connection with the outside world. It’s pretty fantastic. We are out in the mountains in Jalanca. It’s beautiful here. It reminds me a lot of home, Costa Rica home not America. I do have to say, we are pretty spoiled here as far as World Race teams are concerned. Ususally there isn’t plumbing and if there is, the showers are cold. Not so for us. We have beds to sleep in so no tenting this month. We have warm showers and great plumbing. We have a kitchen where we can cook our meals and a place to do laundry. We are seriously living like kings and queens. It is such an incredible blessing to start the race with such great living arrangements. GOD IS SOOO GOOD! And our host is just the best. She has such a heart for these kids, its beautiful to watch. So thankful for her and the ministry she provides to these kids.
Stay Blassed 🙂
Kim
