Hi, folks.
I started a new thing in Nicaragua and then promptly procrastinated posting it for Honduras, and for that, I apologize. I’m now writing you from Malawi, which has been all sorts of everything (catch my next blog to find out what that sentence really means!)
But since I’m sure you are still curious to know what life looked like in month four of the World Race, here is the Big Picture for Honduras.
WHO:
This month was the first month for only Kintsugi! We were all a little anxious to see what our first month by ourselves would be like, but it could not have been a more incredible family bonding month. We also bonded with the family who hosted us: Pastors Gregorio and Francisca, and their children and grandchildren who we also lived with. We were also partnering with Compassion International and Hands For Honduras, two child sponsorship programs run from the States.
WHAT:
Our ministry this month focused on caring mainly for the children and ancianos (the ancients) of our neighborhood through feeding programs and home visits. Every day, we shared Bible stories, played games, sang songs, and helped serve food to the children who came to the programs. It was incredible to love them and be loved by them – truly an exchange of unconditional agape love.
WHEN:
We arrived in Nicaragua on October 8th, and stayed until December 5th. We had ministry Monday through Friday, adventure on Saturday and Sabbath on Sunday. We also had an Awakening (a gathering of squads) over Thanksgiving – November 22-25.
WHERE:
Our time in Honduras was spent in Choloma, which is outside of San Pedro Sula. We were in the northeast region of the country and it was HOT. There was hardly a day we didn’t sweat. We did all of our ministry in our neighborhood, specifically in three buildings on two streets. We lived with the Medinas’, their children and grandchildren, in their home. The six of us Racers shared one bedroom, and we shared the living/dining room/kitchen with the other 6 people in the house. It was cramped, but it was so incredible (see my One Thing to find out more!).
WHY:
I never got a formal mission statement from the Medinas’ about their ministry, but here’s the ‘why’ from my persepective: in this neighborhood, there are so many kids who need so much and are handed so little. There are many days when the kids we work with eat only when food is provided to them through these programs. The beautiful thing is that we not only provide them with food to live in this world, but could teach them about the Bread of Life, which will sustain them for eternity.
FUN NUGS:
Some fun things that happened this month:
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a trip to an old fort and a beautiful beach
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seeing Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them with our hermanito (little brother)
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celebrating Thanksgiving with two other squads
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throwing a princess party for all the girls in the neighborhood
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an overnight trip to see Mayan Ruins and another World Race team
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learning to cook from the ancianas (older womenin the community)
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a ‘spontaneous’ picnic with the kiddos in the neighborhood
I hope this gives you a better understanding of what my November looked like! Thank you always for your support through prayer, and through blog comments and emails. It (literally) means the world to me. 🙂
