La primera vez...the first time.
I find myself saying that a lot here in Honduras, especially when I'm telling stories about my first experiences with the ministry. The first time I heard about Betsy, the first time I came to Honduras, the first time I met kids, etc.
Well this weekend held a lot of firsts for me too...
My first weekend off
After 5 weeks at the Villa, it was my turn for a weekend off. Actually it ended up being 5 days which was fantastic! I returned to Betsy's house in Tegus to live with her family of 10! It's the same number as the Villa, but it was a nice change of pace and it was great to see my friends in the city.
My first time taking it to the streets
Jericho Ministries came to be because of evangelism and Betsy makes it a priority to continue going to the streets. On Saturday night I was able to join her. I was a little nervous because we were going to a part of the city known for prostitution and crime. And because I had no idea what to expect. We ended up talking to two prositutes that Betsy has known for years. They are so close to giving their lives to Christ, but no quite there yet. We talked with them, encouraged them, and prayed with them on the streets. I didn't do much talking, but I'm glad that I went and I am looking forward to going back now that they know me!
My first "drough"
Teguigalpa is currently under a drougt right now (because we're in the dry season) because of the lack of water. This means that water only comes every four days. It was quite an experience to have to ration water. Living with Betsy and her family (we were 11 people), we had to be careful about showers because of how much water was left in the tank. Thank God we made it, but we were limited to half a bucket of water each day for our showers. Let's just say that I was greatful to get back to the Villa where I was greeted by a 2-hour rain storm. Whoo-hoo for the mountains!
My first time teaching math...in Spanish
Although I was on a break, I still went to Jericho school each day to help out. One day I worked with the chikis (the little toddlers) and the other two I helped tutor one of the high school students...in math...in Spanish. It was quite an experience but Yoly (pronounced Jolie) was patient with me and we made it through. Now I know all the Spanish words for "add", "subtract", "fraction", etc.
Those are just some of my firsts. It was quite the break, but I am glad to be back out here at the Villa with the clean air, the kids, and water!
**Pictures to come**
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
Hurry Up, Let's Go!
"Hurry up, let's go!"
This is how I was woken up on Saturday morning by 8-year-old Noe. These are two phrases that I use quite often with the younger kids who tend to be a little pokey in the morning but I never thought they'd catch on so fast!
The kids here love using English phrases and being able to speak with English-speakers. I try to use English throughout the day, inter-mixed with Spanish so that the kids catch on faster. And of course, we have 40 minutes of day of English where I teach the basics: numbers, colors, greetings, etc.
My Spanish here is improving too. Living with 9 kids, I'm learning the vocabulary for "tattle-tale, whining, fighting, discipline, punishment, etc". I can't believe they didn't teach these words in school! But honestly, there are some days where I think "I cant' believe I'm living my life in Spanish". I go to church in Spanish, talk on the phone in Spanish, communicate with others, discipline, have heart-to-hearts, etc all in Spanish. It's a great feeling!
This is how I was woken up on Saturday morning by 8-year-old Noe. These are two phrases that I use quite often with the younger kids who tend to be a little pokey in the morning but I never thought they'd catch on so fast!
The kids here love using English phrases and being able to speak with English-speakers. I try to use English throughout the day, inter-mixed with Spanish so that the kids catch on faster. And of course, we have 40 minutes of day of English where I teach the basics: numbers, colors, greetings, etc.
My Spanish here is improving too. Living with 9 kids, I'm learning the vocabulary for "tattle-tale, whining, fighting, discipline, punishment, etc". I can't believe they didn't teach these words in school! But honestly, there are some days where I think "I cant' believe I'm living my life in Spanish". I go to church in Spanish, talk on the phone in Spanish, communicate with others, discipline, have heart-to-hearts, etc all in Spanish. It's a great feeling!
Monday, March 1, 2010
Staff Retreat
On Saturday morning, the Jericho staff from Tegucigalpa braved a tsunami warning (don't worry, nothing ended up happening) and came out to the Villa for a day long staff retreat. This was my first time being part of a "staff" and the day was a much needed rest from the kids.
There are 13 of us on the staff and we were able to hear about the vision of Jericho, pray for each other, laugh, enjoy each other's company, etc. All-in-all a fantastic day.
One thing we really focused on was the vision of Jericho. Why are we here and what are we doing? One of the central themes of the ministry is "setting the captives free" and the main verse behind this is Isaiah 61:1-3.
"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our god,
to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion-
to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor."
It's a beautiful passage that really reflects the heart of the ministry.
There are 13 of us on the staff and we were able to hear about the vision of Jericho, pray for each other, laugh, enjoy each other's company, etc. All-in-all a fantastic day.
One thing we really focused on was the vision of Jericho. Why are we here and what are we doing? One of the central themes of the ministry is "setting the captives free" and the main verse behind this is Isaiah 61:1-3.
"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our god,
to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion-
to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor."
It's a beautiful passage that really reflects the heart of the ministry.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Parable of the Weeds
At the Villa, we have about 10 different gardens filled with all kids of vegetables and beautiful flowers. We love having them, but they require a lot of dedication on our part, especially when it comes to weeding.
I have somewhat taken it upon myself to weed the gardens each day; a job that I have come to enjoy because it gives me a lot of time to pray and think.
Today I decided to tackle the tomato garden. This was no easy task because the garden was filled with tomato plants and beautiful purple flowers. BUT…these flowers were actually weeds and they were taking over. One hour and four buckets-full of weeds later, I finished the task. This little garden had been overrun with weeds that were sucking the water and nutrients from the plants.
It reminded me a lot of the parable of the sower.
"A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.
~Matthew 13:4-8
Now in this case, “thorns” can be replaced with “weeds”. These weeds were choking the plants and taking over the garden. I feel like this is so true in all of our lives.
As Christians, we plant fruitful seeds in our hearts with the best intentions, but so often we allow weeds to grow in our hearts which inhibit growth. And just as in my tomato garden, these weeds are often beautiful and we mistake them as being an “added bonus”.
In my life, these beautiful weeds are my friends. Now don’t get the wrong idea, I love my friends and they have been such an important part in my walk with Christ. But so often, I have put my friends before God. It’s easy to meet with a friend for coffee and spiritual conversation. It is not as easy to take time in solitude to meet with God and gain spiritual insight. Many times, I was guilty of giving my friends priority and justifying it because I was “talking about God” or “gaining wisdom”.
Now I’m not saying that I need to give up my friends, but I need to make sure that they come after my relationship with God. I need to pull those weeds out of my heart so that it is open first and foremost to hearing what God is teaching me.
Here at the Villa, I don’t have the security of my friends. They are three countries and 5 1/2 hours away, going about their lives. And I have my responsibilities here. Here, at the Villa, it is easier to put God first because I don’t have the temptation to save my quiet time for after I see my friends. God is slowly pulling the weeds from my heart so that the relationship between us can grow bigger and stronger.
So what are the weeds in your life? Maybe it’s TV or movies that really aren’t glorifying to God but you justify it as a pastime. Or maybe it’s a boyfriend or girlfriend that isn’t walking with the Lord but you justify the relationship because “they can change”. Whatever it is, we are all walking around with weeds growing in our hearts. They are disguised as something beautiful and enticing, but really they are restricting our relationship with God.
So, maybe it’s time to start the weeding process.
I have somewhat taken it upon myself to weed the gardens each day; a job that I have come to enjoy because it gives me a lot of time to pray and think.
Today I decided to tackle the tomato garden. This was no easy task because the garden was filled with tomato plants and beautiful purple flowers. BUT…these flowers were actually weeds and they were taking over. One hour and four buckets-full of weeds later, I finished the task. This little garden had been overrun with weeds that were sucking the water and nutrients from the plants.
It reminded me a lot of the parable of the sower.
"A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.
~Matthew 13:4-8
Now in this case, “thorns” can be replaced with “weeds”. These weeds were choking the plants and taking over the garden. I feel like this is so true in all of our lives.
As Christians, we plant fruitful seeds in our hearts with the best intentions, but so often we allow weeds to grow in our hearts which inhibit growth. And just as in my tomato garden, these weeds are often beautiful and we mistake them as being an “added bonus”.
In my life, these beautiful weeds are my friends. Now don’t get the wrong idea, I love my friends and they have been such an important part in my walk with Christ. But so often, I have put my friends before God. It’s easy to meet with a friend for coffee and spiritual conversation. It is not as easy to take time in solitude to meet with God and gain spiritual insight. Many times, I was guilty of giving my friends priority and justifying it because I was “talking about God” or “gaining wisdom”.
Now I’m not saying that I need to give up my friends, but I need to make sure that they come after my relationship with God. I need to pull those weeds out of my heart so that it is open first and foremost to hearing what God is teaching me.
Here at the Villa, I don’t have the security of my friends. They are three countries and 5 1/2 hours away, going about their lives. And I have my responsibilities here. Here, at the Villa, it is easier to put God first because I don’t have the temptation to save my quiet time for after I see my friends. God is slowly pulling the weeds from my heart so that the relationship between us can grow bigger and stronger.
So what are the weeds in your life? Maybe it’s TV or movies that really aren’t glorifying to God but you justify it as a pastime. Or maybe it’s a boyfriend or girlfriend that isn’t walking with the Lord but you justify the relationship because “they can change”. Whatever it is, we are all walking around with weeds growing in our hearts. They are disguised as something beautiful and enticing, but really they are restricting our relationship with God.
So, maybe it’s time to start the weeding process.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
A Day at the Villa
I'm here!
I probably should have written some great blog about getting here, but a week has passed, so on to new topics!
I am living out in the country at the Villa. It's beautiful, it's tranquil, and it's full of kids with a TON of energy. I've already been learning so much about patience, and unconditional love (but more on that later).
So, here's a normal day in my life out at the Villa.
5 AM: Wake up, brush my teeth, meet in the salon for praise and prayer.
6 AM Oversee as the kids get ready, clean their rooms, make their beds, etc.
6:45 AM Breakfast
7:30 AM The teacher arrives!
7:30 AM-1 PM I do a variety of jobs: mow the grass (with an old-fashioned push mower), weed the gardens, clean various rooms, help with lunch preparations, do laundry (which is mostly done by hand), etc. I also plan and prepare the lessons for English.
At this time I also manage to get in a work-out, shower, and check my email. And if there's time, I take a quick nap to prep for the afternoon with the kids.
1 PM Lunch/dishes
2 PM English class!
3-6:30 PM What do we do here? We play soccer, water all the gardens (it takes us an hour...there are a lot), the kids wash their clothes, etc.
6:30 PM Dinner/dishes
7:30 PM Free time with the kids. We'll play a game or watch a movie or hang out outside.
8:30 PM Devotions/prayer
9 PM BED! By this time of the day, I'm pretty much exhausted. After 4.5 years of going to be at midnight in college, I'm getting used to going to sleep early and I love getting a full 8 hours of sleep!
I probably should have written some great blog about getting here, but a week has passed, so on to new topics!
I am living out in the country at the Villa. It's beautiful, it's tranquil, and it's full of kids with a TON of energy. I've already been learning so much about patience, and unconditional love (but more on that later).
So, here's a normal day in my life out at the Villa.
5 AM: Wake up, brush my teeth, meet in the salon for praise and prayer.
6 AM Oversee as the kids get ready, clean their rooms, make their beds, etc.
6:45 AM Breakfast
7:30 AM The teacher arrives!
7:30 AM-1 PM I do a variety of jobs: mow the grass (with an old-fashioned push mower), weed the gardens, clean various rooms, help with lunch preparations, do laundry (which is mostly done by hand), etc. I also plan and prepare the lessons for English.
At this time I also manage to get in a work-out, shower, and check my email. And if there's time, I take a quick nap to prep for the afternoon with the kids.
1 PM Lunch/dishes
2 PM English class!
3-6:30 PM What do we do here? We play soccer, water all the gardens (it takes us an hour...there are a lot), the kids wash their clothes, etc.
6:30 PM Dinner/dishes
7:30 PM Free time with the kids. We'll play a game or watch a movie or hang out outside.
8:30 PM Devotions/prayer
9 PM BED! By this time of the day, I'm pretty much exhausted. After 4.5 years of going to be at midnight in college, I'm getting used to going to sleep early and I love getting a full 8 hours of sleep!
Sunday, January 31, 2010
The Art of Goodbyes
Saying "goodbyes" is a tricky thing. There are a couple ways to do it, all of which I've experienced over the last month.
Option 1: Accepting the Inevitable
Everyone involved knows that it's time for goodbyes so we all accept what is coming, celebrate our accomplishments, wish each other well, and go on our own ways.
Option 2: Multiple Goodbyes
You say good-bye, and then run into this person at Starbucks and say goodbye again. After the 3rd or 4th time, you just stop saying goodbye because you've already done it so many times.
Option 3: Avoidance
This option pretty much means that all parties involved act like we're not really saying goodbye. We leave under the assumption that we'll see each other again (no matter how long it may be).
So I have said goodbye to my students, my classmates, my bible study, my friends, my professors, and the city where I spent the majority of the past 4.5 years. It's taken me about a month to do all the goodybes, but I think I'm done (except for my family). And you know how I feel now....
...NUMB
Honestly I didn't cry at all. I just went from one hug to another, from one goodbye to the next without really letting my emotions get ahold of me. If anyone knows me, this is a big feat because I cry about pretty much everything.
But as I thought about it more, I realized that I haven't really felt any emotions. I'm looking forward to Honduras but I haven't really felt that moment of "yay, I'm so excited or nervous" (or anything for that matter. I have been going through the motions the past couple weeks without really feeling anything.
It makes me think back to a sermon I heard the summer after my freshmen year of college. The pastor was talking about leprosy and how symptom of the disease was the loss of "sensation". This meant that lepers couldn't feel pain. If they fell down or cut themselves, they wouldn't feel the pain of the injury. However, they also could not feel the good touches in life: a hug, warm touch, a kiss on the cheek, etc.
How great it would be to not have to feel pain in life. To be completely safe from feeling abandoned, unloved or any kind of physical or emotional pain. But am I really willing to give up the good with that?
Life is a beautiful gift that requires us to balance the good with the bad. And while I wish I could just bypass all the sadness of saying goodbye, it would also mean giving up the wonderful relationships that I've made with people. My last night in Eau Claire included dinner with several people whom I love very deeply. Roommates, co-leaders, shoulders to cry on, people that prayed for me, celebrated with me, laughed with me.
And so I choose sadness for a moment. I choose to let myself cry about being three countries away from my best friends. I cry about not just a phone-call away from my parents. I cry about the things that I may miss out on when I am in Honduras. But I celebrate as well. I celebrate all the memories and lasting friendships I have made. And I look forward to the (many) experiences that are to come!!
What are you going to choose in life? Are you going to choose to shut-down your emotions or to take the good with the bad? I hope you choose the latter because as this same pastor pointed out:
"It is better to feel pain, than to feel nothing at all."
Option 1: Accepting the Inevitable
Everyone involved knows that it's time for goodbyes so we all accept what is coming, celebrate our accomplishments, wish each other well, and go on our own ways.
Option 2: Multiple Goodbyes
You say good-bye, and then run into this person at Starbucks and say goodbye again. After the 3rd or 4th time, you just stop saying goodbye because you've already done it so many times.
Option 3: Avoidance
This option pretty much means that all parties involved act like we're not really saying goodbye. We leave under the assumption that we'll see each other again (no matter how long it may be).
So I have said goodbye to my students, my classmates, my bible study, my friends, my professors, and the city where I spent the majority of the past 4.5 years. It's taken me about a month to do all the goodybes, but I think I'm done (except for my family). And you know how I feel now....
...NUMB
Honestly I didn't cry at all. I just went from one hug to another, from one goodbye to the next without really letting my emotions get ahold of me. If anyone knows me, this is a big feat because I cry about pretty much everything.
But as I thought about it more, I realized that I haven't really felt any emotions. I'm looking forward to Honduras but I haven't really felt that moment of "yay, I'm so excited or nervous" (or anything for that matter. I have been going through the motions the past couple weeks without really feeling anything.
It makes me think back to a sermon I heard the summer after my freshmen year of college. The pastor was talking about leprosy and how symptom of the disease was the loss of "sensation". This meant that lepers couldn't feel pain. If they fell down or cut themselves, they wouldn't feel the pain of the injury. However, they also could not feel the good touches in life: a hug, warm touch, a kiss on the cheek, etc.
How great it would be to not have to feel pain in life. To be completely safe from feeling abandoned, unloved or any kind of physical or emotional pain. But am I really willing to give up the good with that?
Life is a beautiful gift that requires us to balance the good with the bad. And while I wish I could just bypass all the sadness of saying goodbye, it would also mean giving up the wonderful relationships that I've made with people. My last night in Eau Claire included dinner with several people whom I love very deeply. Roommates, co-leaders, shoulders to cry on, people that prayed for me, celebrated with me, laughed with me.
And so I choose sadness for a moment. I choose to let myself cry about being three countries away from my best friends. I cry about not just a phone-call away from my parents. I cry about the things that I may miss out on when I am in Honduras. But I celebrate as well. I celebrate all the memories and lasting friendships I have made. And I look forward to the (many) experiences that are to come!!
What are you going to choose in life? Are you going to choose to shut-down your emotions or to take the good with the bad? I hope you choose the latter because as this same pastor pointed out:
"It is better to feel pain, than to feel nothing at all."
Sunday, January 17, 2010
The Great Provider
So much has happened since I posted last!
1. I now officially have health insurance which was one of the major concerns of my parents when I told them that I was moving down to Honduras.
2. I have a plane ticket to Honduras (February 4th) and back to the US (Ma 24th)
3. I have currently raised 79% of my support (about $15,800).
4. I have 5 days left of student teaching and then I will have completed my degree at UW-Eau Claire.
Things are reall wrapping up in my life here. It's a little sad to think that in six days I will be leaving Eau Claire without knowing when I'll be returning. For 4.5 years, Eau Claire was my home. I guess I truly am closing a chapter in my life.
But I am also so excited for what is to come. I know that the Lord has something great in store for me in Honduras and I am eager to see how He will use me down there.
I am so thankful and blessed to see my "team" of supporters come together. Throughout the course of the last four months, the Lord has truly taught me that He is the Great Provider and that He will meet all of my needs.
It started out in November when my roommate and I couldn't find subleasers. The Lord provided sub-leasers but they wanted to move in on December 1st instead of February 1st (when I finished student teaching). So the Lord provided a wonderful family who took us into their house for two months and has become a second family to the two of us.
And of course there is the monetary aspect. I worried at first that I would never be able to rais $20,000 in four months. But once again, the Lord blew my expectations out of the water! About mid-December I realized that I was only at about 24% for support and I started to wonder if perhaps I needed more time to raise the funds. But through very gracious and generous donors, the Lord has provided $11,000 in the last four weeks! That is an average of almost $3000 a week! It has been incredible and humbling to see the Lord provide when I finally gave total control to Him!
Thank you again for joining on this journey with me. I have been blessed to have many wonderful conversations with friends, family, and even complete strangers about Honduras and Jericho Ministries.
1. I now officially have health insurance which was one of the major concerns of my parents when I told them that I was moving down to Honduras.
2. I have a plane ticket to Honduras (February 4th) and back to the US (Ma 24th)
3. I have currently raised 79% of my support (about $15,800).
4. I have 5 days left of student teaching and then I will have completed my degree at UW-Eau Claire.
Things are reall wrapping up in my life here. It's a little sad to think that in six days I will be leaving Eau Claire without knowing when I'll be returning. For 4.5 years, Eau Claire was my home. I guess I truly am closing a chapter in my life.
But I am also so excited for what is to come. I know that the Lord has something great in store for me in Honduras and I am eager to see how He will use me down there.
I am so thankful and blessed to see my "team" of supporters come together. Throughout the course of the last four months, the Lord has truly taught me that He is the Great Provider and that He will meet all of my needs.
It started out in November when my roommate and I couldn't find subleasers. The Lord provided sub-leasers but they wanted to move in on December 1st instead of February 1st (when I finished student teaching). So the Lord provided a wonderful family who took us into their house for two months and has become a second family to the two of us.
And of course there is the monetary aspect. I worried at first that I would never be able to rais $20,000 in four months. But once again, the Lord blew my expectations out of the water! About mid-December I realized that I was only at about 24% for support and I started to wonder if perhaps I needed more time to raise the funds. But through very gracious and generous donors, the Lord has provided $11,000 in the last four weeks! That is an average of almost $3000 a week! It has been incredible and humbling to see the Lord provide when I finally gave total control to Him!
Thank you again for joining on this journey with me. I have been blessed to have many wonderful conversations with friends, family, and even complete strangers about Honduras and Jericho Ministries.
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