Honduras as a Home

A couple weeks ago, shortly after my last post, I came to the realization that I have been living in Honduras longer than I have lived in any other country outside of the states. I feel like this should have come with more of an impact, but it hasn't truly hit me yet that Honduras is a place where I live, not just a place where I'm taking a short trip. I'm in the process of investing a lot of my life here as I aim more on making it a home. I'm transitioning well to living here, and I think I feel comfortable here now, but still feel kind of distant from communities outside of the school. If you think of it, please be praying for opportunities for me to become more involved in the city and with the people of Tegucigalpa.

There hasn't been a lot that has happened in the past couple of weeks, but last weekend I did get to take a trip with other teachers from the community last weekend. We went to Amapala which is an island off the southern coast of Honduras. It took over 6 hours to get there and back, but it was definitely one of my favorite days here so far. On the way to Amapala, I got to spend a lot of time just listening to music and talking to the Father. God really spoke to me throughout the day and gave me much needed restoration in spending time with Him. I also got to hang out with some wonderful people on the beach and simply enjoy the beautiful creation around me.

A view of the mainland from the boat to Amapala

School has been going very well as I've had more IEP meetings and pressing forward into this new intervention program I'm helping create with the other two teachers in the department. My kids are cute, frustrating, exciting, loving, and wonderful. I've definitely had days when I just stand back and wonder what I'll do next with a student who tests my patience, but God always guides me in what to do with my students. My students have had light-bulb moments which just make me so proud to be their teacher. One of my second graders now knows his addition facts of 1 + a number 1-9!! That same second grader can now sound out three letter words which is something he couldn't do at the beginning of the year. I'm just amazed to see the growth they are experiencing in two months of school. Those are moments that affirm my decision to become a teacher.

2nd Grade Reader's Theater: The Three Little Pigs 

2nd Grade Reader's Theater: Turtle the Taxi 

This past week was also Prayer Week at IST. I had the opportunity to sit in the prayer room during lunch for the 1-3 graders. What an amazing experience! It was humbling to see these young students praying with such genuine hearts. I prayed with a couple of them and hearing their prayers brought tears to my eyes. They pray so BIG. My first thought when I heard a few of their prayers was, "Well, that would be nice." Then I was reminded by these little children that our God IS big. He can do the impossible, and we need to be praying for big things to happen. We are called to have the faith of a child, and I got to see what that faith looks like.

I've definitely had struggles throughout this school year with homesickness, frustration with students, and living in an unfamiliar place, but God has shown His faithfulness through it all. He has given me an awesome community to support and encourage me. He lead me to a church that I look forward to attending every Sunday. I'm in a great Bible study that meets once a week. When I look back at everything that has happened so far, I'm amazed at God's provision. Through everything, whether extremely difficult or easy, I've been beyond blessed. Even through the hardships, God has pulled me closer to Himself. I'm loving being able to look back and see how He is truly working in every situation.

Nueva Esperanza

A view from Barbara's office

This past Monday, I had the wonderful opportunity to visit a ministry called Nueva Esperanza, meaning "New Hope", since I didn't have school. This is a ministry run by the Barahona family who came to my church last summer to share about their lives and needs in Honduras. I'd been wanting to visit Nueva Esperanza ever since I accepted the position here, and I was very excited to see their service first hand.

Another view showing Tegucigalpa in the background

Four of my friends here who work at IST and know the Barahonas from our church here went with me to check out the ministry. We met Barbara part way and followed her to a little neighborhood that sat on a hill in the center of Tegucigalpa. We parked in front of a building that appeared at first to blend in with the others. Upon entering, however, this building went back farther than I thought, and I realized that it was three stories high. As we walked past the gate, we started to hear kids and soon we saw about ten of the playing in the area they use for recess. All of them said "Hola!" to as as we passed with a smile lighting up each one of their faces. We then walked up two flights of stairs to Barbara Barahona's office.

The street where Nueva Esperanza is located

Another view of the neighborhood

The music classroom

Behind Nueva Esperanza

Once we got into the office, we listened to Barbara about the ministry and everything that they do. It was amazing to hear about all of the projects and outreaches they have within one organization that Barbara and Carlos, her husband, started about 18 years ago (I think). They run preschool and kindergarten classes (there isn't kindergarten in Honduran public schools) every weekday morning until about noon. Honduran public schools are only half a day, so at noon they also have classes and programs for students in 1-6 grade. These are special classes that they don't receive at school such as music, art, and sewing. For students in 7-12 grade, they don't have specific classes, but they are allowed to choose to come to Nueva Esperanza a few days a week in order to have a table to do homework on, tutors to help with school work, and have a safe place to be.

In addition to all of this, there are youth classes they provide to the older students to teach them more about God and help them grow in their faith. There is also a Bible study for mothers of the children who attend Nueva Esperanza so they can learn as well. Mothers are also taught skills in special classes they provide such as making hats or jewelry so they can sell their products and have another source of income. There are a number of Honduran employees at Nueva Esperanza as well, so not only is the ministry reaching those children and families who are a part of it, but the teachers are also experiencing and sharing the love of the Father in this place.

Barbara gave all five of us a tour of Nueva Esperanza showing us the different classrooms, the cafeteria, the auditorium, and even the garage. It was just amazing to think that God helped them build such a place in 7 years. Every time we went into a place where there were kids in a class, they would stop what they were doing and come give each of us a hug. These children are so so precious, and I'm so glad that God is blessing them through such a wonderful ministry.

This is the teacher's lounge. When the building was first built, it had seven rooms for seven families, and each family would live in one room. This is one of those original rooms.

A few preschoolers playing at recess

Needless to say, I was absolutely blown away by amount of opportunities that God is working through at Nueva Esperanza. I know that God has given a strong passion to Barbara and Carlos to transform families who have less in Honduras, and He is defiintely working through that. They pour so much into their ministry as they have set up sponsorship programs for kids, send out newsletters throughout the year, and really aim to meet the needs of the families they serve. They depend on God to provide them with what they need, and He has been so faithful as they continue to build this ministry. If you would like to know more about their ministry, feel free to visit their website http://www.hopeinhonduras.org/.

To those from Kingsville First Baptist, if you sponsor a child at Nueva Esperanza and would like to tell me the name of your child, I can see about visiting that child personally at the ministry. Thank you for continually supporting and praying for this ministry as God is choosing to use it to transform many families in Tegucigalpa.

A few of the preschool kids we met :)

An Overdue Update

So it's been just about a month since my last post. That is mostly due to the hard drive crashing on my computer and having to get it replaced. Thankfully, a friend in my Bible study had an extra hard drive here that was compatible with my computer, and after 3 weeks I have it back. A lot has happened in the past month, but I'll try to stick to the highlights.

About 3 weeks ago, I had the awesome opportunity to take advantage of a Monday off school and head up the mountain with my housemates and three other wonderful women. On our way up the mountain, we stopped to get pupusas at Valle de Angeles and saw a huge parade forming throughout the town for Honduras' Independence Day. We stayed at a German couple's bed and breakfast even further up the mountain where we enjoyed the view, the food, and some hiking. It was such a great time to relax and marvel at God's creation as we hiked for a few hours, saw a magnificent waterfall, read in hammocks on the side of the mountain, and ate delicious homemade food that Jorge and Monika

One of the views from our hike

 (the German couple) prepared for it. I was literally speechless as I simply stood on the porch of our small cabin looking out at the surrounding mountains and small towns, knowing that God had created it all.

As far as school goes, I think that myself and the other teachers in the CIRA department (providing services for students who have learning disabilities) are making great strides to update the program. We're making a lot of changes this year which can be very stressful, but I think we're finally starting to feel more comfortable doing so. This past week, we really focused on writing IEPs (Individualized Education Plans) for our students and getting those in place. I even had an IEP meeting with a set of parents and it went far better than I ever expected. It definitely helped to boost my confidence in knowing that God has prepared me for this job and will use me in the lives of my students.

I am loving my students more and more each day. Even the kids who aren't technically my students are starting to remember my name and open up to me. I've made a habit of hanging out with Paola (the student in my last post) every day after school when I can. She always makes me laugh and brightens my day because she is never without a smile. I love being able to just spend time with her as she waits for her sister to pick her up. Another student named Fernando (he's not actually my student) shared his stuffed animal with me yesterday during their reading time. I know that's random, but the hearts of these kids is just so neat to see.

Meet Paola!

This is Fernando, myself, and his pug named Whitey.

Although I've been living here for over 7 weeks now, I'm still adjusting to the mindset that I live here. This isn't just a trip I'm taking to visit another country. I'm here to live. That's becoming more of a reality every day with walks down to a pulperia, trips to the grocery store, cab rides to the mall, or even short conversations with the guys who guard the gate to my street. I rode a busito down to the main market downtown today, and that trip was definitely an experience that made me feel more comfortable here. I was surrounded by Hondurans, doing something that is so common for them. It's experiences like that that show me God's intent for me to be more intentional about being present here.

A view of half of my street from the gate to my house

God has deifnitely been working in me through my time here. I struggled with homesickness a lot last month as the new-ness of Honduras had worn off and I really began to crave time with friends and family from back home. It was through that time that God continued to be present and draw me closer to Him. I'm learning about being more and more dependent on the Father, and I feel so blessed to be learning such a wonderful lesson. I would love and appreciate any and all prayers as I continue to see what God has for me here. Thanks again for all of your encouragement and support!