45

One more week down in Honduras and it was unlike any other. This past week it has been the coldest that it has been since ive been here. In the morning before the sun comes up and during the night it has been as low as 45. Now this may not seem that cold for everyone from Illinois but you must realize that houses in Honduras do not have insulation or heating so there is not a hhuge temperature difference between inside and out. It has moved me this week to be praying even more for the Honduran people who dont have sufficient blankets and sweatshirts to deal with the cold. I am so thankful for the things in my life that God has provided me that I see as necessities but others would see as luxuries. The rest of the boys schooling for the week went well. They are coming up on end of the semester exams so the house should be a lot quiter in the next week or so. We still managed to get all our workouts in this week even though it was freezing in the mornings and that made me proud as a personal trainer. Thursday I went to Val's english class with some of the younger kids at the ministry and watched/helped out. It was fun because I played a game with them to help them with the english alphabet and they eventually tested me with the spanish alphabet. After the class I played soccer with the men of the community and got an extra workout in for the day. On Saturday we went to the property for the church service. We didn't have enough chairs for all the people that came which was encouraging. Christian of course came running to me and jumped into my arms like he does every week and sat on my lap with his younger brother for a while. When the kids were dismissed I went to one of the rooms to help with the younger kids and there were barely enough chairs to hold all the kids. The kids heard a message for Carolina the daughter of the founder of the ministry and then colored. Christians cousin has also taken a liking to me so I helped him color and we talked a little bit. After they were dismissed we all played soccer in the field until church was over. After the service Val wanted to see where Christian and his family lived so we walked them home. Val found out from Christian's mother that a 15 year old girl that sometimes comes to church with them is living inside the house next to theirs all by herself becuase her mom is in the States and her dad works in Tegucigalpa. I was saddened to hear that because it was just another example of how young kids are so often forced to grow up early and miss out on part of their childhood because of their circumstances. Saturday night we went to a local restraunt as a family which was nice. The food wasnt bad, I found a hair in my water glass but didnt tell anyone cause I didnt want the Schuberts to freak out. On Sunday one of the Schubert's friends who is leaving the country came by to say adios and left two dogs here with us for a few months while he finds permanant housing in the states. Duke was fighting with the male dog so we have had to keep them separated and lock the two dogs up at night. The dogs barked all night making it hard for everyone to sleep. We are hoping that the dogs start getting along or it will be a long couple of months for us all. SUnday night we went to church in the city. It was a great service although we missed a portion of the worhip music, which is my favorite part, becuase we were late. We came home and I spent the night checking e-mail and talking to friends online. I really enjoyed that time but it reminds me how much of my heart is still in the U.S. Although I havent told the Schuberts yet I do not plan on staying another year like they would like me to. I don't feel like God is telling me to stay but has He has already shown me certain things in the States that He has planned for me next year. That about catches everyone up. Thanks for the support. I miss and love you all. God bless.

Lots of Tegucigalpa

The last week or so since I've posted has been pretty good. I am deep into a book about spiritual disciplines and I feel like I am growing a ton in my walk with Christ. The end of last week went well. the boys had school on til Friday. On Thursday I played soccer with some of the young men of the community and I scored two goals although it wasn't the same as playing basketball with Garr Bear with House trying to keep score and failing miserably like at the new years party in Dixon. Me and AJ went up to the property on Thursday because Val forgot her radio and we watched a dance that some of the younger girls are learning and we joined in. AJ also came up when I played soccer at the ministry so I am glad he is open to leaving the house more often. I will keep working on Wes and try to get him out more as well. Saturday is becoming my favorite day because we go to the property for church and I just play with the kids until everyone goes home for dinner. Yanci, Christian's mother, keeps talking to me and helps me with my spanish. I have been doing lessons daily on my computer and I am actually seeing improvement so it has been very encouraging. Sunday Val and I went into the city and went to the day care ministry. She had a parent and teacher meeting so I helped two other ladies watch the kids. It was fun and I had a little girl named Ester in my arms who is absolutely adorable. Afterwords we went to an English church service in the city where I am starting to feel at home. The worship was really great on Sunday and I loved the feeling. Monday was pretty low key: workout, school, reading, breaking the record in inkball and devastating Wes and AJ. Tuesday Val and I went into the city again. She was organizing things and speaking to the teachers and I was just hanging out with the kids again. I love how much they love and all their energy even if they stretched me shirt out by climbing all over me. The kids are mostly for single parent household and crave attention so I am more than willing to step in and give them some. Tuesday night there was a board meeting at the day care so we didnt get back until late. Today Val had her womens Bible study in the house with 4 or 5 other North American missionaries. One of them brought their son who is a 10th grader and I helped him with his algebra homework that was confusing. It was nice to help out another missionary kid even if it is only a small piece of his education. My prayers lately have been focused on my future and what will be coming next. I want to follow God in the next step as faithfully as I followed His will when He called me to Honduras. My family has also been on my mind a lot especially yesterday because it was my grandma's birthday and she is still struggling physically and mentally. I pray that God will watch over my family and keep them all safe and healthy. I also pray that God would bless every single one of my supporters tenfold for what they have blessed me with. Adios

He's back!!!!

Sorry it has been awhile since my last post. The internet has been in and out lately so I have spent limited time online. The last week has been pretty good. I have gotten back into the routine of waking up early. The boys schooling is going well and they recieved their 1st quarter grades of all As and Bs. I also brought down some boxing gloves from home and we have been using them frequently. Val loves boxing becuase she releases all her stress through it and she knows i wont hit her that hard. AJ loves it too so we have been trying to box a couple times a week. During the week we had pretty relaxed days as I got used to my regular schedule. I finished another book last and i started another two. This last weekend was pretty sweet. I got to see all the kids at the local ministry and the community members as well. I gave my "shadow" Christian a bears t-shirt ans a framed picture of him and I. I never posted it before but before i left he gave me a stuffed dog and a bunch of apples becuase I tell them all I have apples in my arms. I also gave a bag to his family that had a few sweatshirts, a bag of rice, a bag of beans, boxes of crayons and colored pencils, a pencil sharpener, coloring books, and cookies. Christian's mother Yanci has four other kids other than Christian and she helps every week at the ministry so I figured some gifts for the family would be nice even though they were a little late for Christmas. On Sunday Ed and I went to the championship soccer game in the town to watch for a while before we went into the city for church. It was awesome to see a lot of the people we knew from the ministry and to feel like part of the community. I sat with Christian and his family and we colored in his new coloring books while his mom tried teaching me some more spanish words. He was wearing the t-shirt I bought him on Sunday and it made me smile. It made my weekend to spend time with him outside of the ministry. We stayed for half of the game and then left for the city. We shopped and went to church and got back fairly late. Then the week started up again with the boys schooling. Well that catches all you up on where I'm at. I'd like to thank all of my supporters once again, my paryers are with all of you and your families. Even though u may not have the beautiful weather like I do down here try to see the beauty of our Creator through His creation in the next couple of days. I think naked trees with snow are beautiful and always appreciated God more when I looked upon them in the winter. Adios all.

Pooped but Happy

OK. So I am pretty darn tired but glad I made it back in one piece to our house in Zambrano. The flights all went well and God blessed me with another safe day of travel. All my bags made it down with me even though they didn't have much time to switch over to our plane in Atlanta. I enjoyed my break a lot and it was great to see family and friends. I also was able to celebrate the new year with many of the people that I love so I couldn't have asked for a better break. It was hard leaving everyone in the States again because I knew how long it would be until I saw them all next but I am excited to continue to work in Honduras and fulfill God's purpose in my life for the rest of this year. I will continue to pray about what God's will is for my future and would appreciate all the prayers of my supporters as well. I hope that everyone had a great holiday season and a merry Christmas with their loved ones. Once again thank you for all your support and I pray that this year will be a blessed one for everyone and that God would move in a strong way in your lives.