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Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Mountain Top

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9 NIV)



After a few days of meetings with the ESL teachers in Honduras, I was finally able to site see. 

Yesterday morning Glenys took me along with another friend who lives across the street to climb to the Coca-Cola sign half way up a mountain. The start was great, but half way up I started to not feel too well. The heat, humidity and altitude was not agreeing with my body. There was a point when I would have wanted to just turn around and go back to the car. 



Glenys was with me the whole way and she kept stopping with me. Once we had passed the halfway mark the road was not as steap and it was actually a lot easier. 

As we looked at the city from above it was quite refreshing to have been able to accomplish what we had set forth to do. We found an area to sit and we all prayed together. As I was praying I was reminded of the very first time I attended church. The sermon was about a mountain top and how it's sometimes difficult living life as a Christian. We climb our mountain and we fall, hurt ourselves and sometimes it's difficult to continue. I remember the minister saying that we need to dust ourselves off and continue the walk because we will team a harvest if we do not give up. I will admit, it was a beautiful view from above. 

I have days that I want to give up and go home. Especially when there are problems, even when it doesn't involve me. I have always ran away from problems rather than facing them. 

Being in Honduras I have learned a lot regarding teaching ESL, but I also have learned a lot about myself. I'm excited to go back home, see the children and continue in the path that God has put in front of me. 


Saturday, April 11, 2015

adventure: Honduras


Boarder of Guatemala and Honduras
I am currently in San Pedro Sula, Honduras for a training. The main ESL instructor is here and I decided to come and be able to get some advice as well as observe the classes that are being offered at church here to better my abilities in my class.  I will admit, I miss my girls at the hogar and the younger children.

I got on a 8am bus from the capital in Guatemala thanks to my good friend Karla. About an hour before arriving to San Pedro Sula the bus broke down and we had to wait for a smaller bus to come get us and take us to our final destination. After arriving I waited for Jeannette to pick me up (The main ESL instructor). Her and her husband along with their 2 children took me to the church service. I probably knew about 2 people and it was nice to see some familiar faces. I met my host, Glenys and after service she took me to her home. I met her husband and two young children.

Honduras is a very warm country, but I do not feel uncomfortable since I have been in air conditioned rooms. Glenys has been an amazing host and she always is offering me food or water.
(Left to right) Glenys, Jeannette, Fernanado and me

Yesterday was an adventure. Glenys is an ESL student and her English is very good. So good that she is now assisting the teacher. Glenys went with me to the meeting I had with Jeannette and after the meeting we didn't had a ride back home so we took a mini-bus back to her house. I was a little apprehensive, but I obviously did not have a choice. Honduras a very dangerous country as well.

We were able to get in the front seat and enjoyed the ride. There was a lot of traffic and the driver was swerving through traffic and at one point he got on the sidewalk to cut through traffic. I held on to Glenys for dear life! I was in disbelief, that it was happening. I told Glenys that what the driver did is called "off roading." We laughed and she kept saying that it was an Indiana Jones adventure.
Tuk tuk
Once we got in the neighborhood we took a motor bike to her house. In Guatemala the motor bikes are called tuk tuk's. It fits only 3 people in the back, but I have seen 5 people riding one before.
Glenys and I in the tuk tuk after dark

What have I learned? Gosh, so many things. I have been praying so much for God to guide me through the path that I am on. What does the future hold? Where is He calling me to be? Am I still walking on the correct path and with the right people?

The conversations I have been having, I have come up with something big about myself; I sometimes do not trust and most of the time it's God whom I do not trust. Why? Because I'm afraid, afraid of the future, of what I cannot see or control.

The things that I have questioned like my relationship, where I am currently living and many more things are because I allow the fear of the unknown to shake my inner core. People might look at my life and not think that about me. I mean who in their right mind sells it all, moves to a different country, travels by themselves to another dangerous country and says they have fear???? Well, me hahaha

I am doing new things at the hogar. I started a mommy and me group with the teens and their children. I want to give more of me. I think part of it was a step towards not fearing on stepping over toes. I want to teach, but I also need to learn. I am super thankful for the opportunity to share my knowledge with them. In return, they are teaching me so many more things about life.

I want to trust, I want to be secure and allow myself to walk the path that God has set forth before me. I guess for now all I can do is continue to pray, fill myself up with His word and walk this journey. 
Somewhere before San Pedro Sula, Honduras

pajama party

It's 6:30 am and I have been awake since 5:30 with very minimal sleep these past two days. Don't get me wrong, it has been quite an adventure because I have been having fun with the four boys in the house. There has been many concerns for them and one thing that I have noticed is that they are being left out and that's why they act out. These past 2 night I have slept in the room with them since we currently do not have a nanny assigned for that room. We had a "pajama" party and they had a great time. I told them stories, sang some songs and prayed together. They are super rambunctious boys, they kick each other, fight and yell, but they are the reason the home is alive.

Quality time is what they want. They desire it because the ratio of child to adult is a big gap. I have been so occupied with the teens that God has been turning my head to see the 4 brothers. I pray so much for guidance on how to love them and God has shown me that it's through special times like last night. I want to be able to do things like this more often and come up with other fun activities with them. I once heard by a professional that it's more traumatic for a child after a traumatic even than it is for an adult. This is because the child has not fully developed their frontal cortex of the brain and they have poor coping skills. I see these boys and I see it. I see how they don't know how to properly cope with what they have lived prior to coming to us. Please be praying for them.