Home from Honduras

Monday morning found me at the airport getting ready to leave the wonderful country of Honduras. After checking in and paying airport taxes, I had my last Honduran meal - a baleada - with the Conovers before heading out through security. 

My first flight was delayed, so I missed my second flight and then had several more delays on the new flight they put me on. However, I finally landed in Dulles at 2 A.M. Tuesday and made it home safely early afternoon, Gracias a Dios. 

Although I've finished my internship (other than an 8 page paper due in 1 1/2 weeks!), life's not back to normal. In some ways it is. I'm back at home and working again. But in other ways, I've been shaped by my time in Honduras. I left some of my heart in Honduras. I want to go back. I've learned a lot of things during my 9 weeks living in Honduras. And right now, I guess I'm sorting through all that. How is all that I've learned (about God, ministry, and more) going to change my daily life? How does it influence my future? This post might be ending now because I've run out of time, but somehow, I don't believe I've finished...

Boda y last Sunday

I'm very thankful for the chance to be able to stay and play piano for Hector y Paola's wedding. What a lovely ceremony and a lovely couple!

 My last Sunday at Faro de Luz. I'm so thankful for the chance to serve here and be a part of this church family for two months. Tonight I'm giving my testimony and also sharing about my experience here in Honduras. I still don't know what I'm going to say about my time here. How can I put into words and sum up all that is in my heart from my time here these last few months in just a couple minutes? And in Spanish?

I'm flying home tomorrow! Bittersweet... I want to be home again, but saying goodbye is always hard.

Last week in Honduras

Our next few days will be filled with practicing music for the wedding, wedding rehearsal, and the actual wedding. And that means that I have only a few days left here in Honduras. And as much as I'm looking forward to being home again, I'm really gonna miss this place... And these special people. 

 My 9-11 year olds sang in church last Sunday morning. I was supposed to accompany them on the piano (teclado), but the power went out 15-20 minutes before the service, so we practiced and sang without accompaniment. They sounded great too. It was wonderful to hear them singing the hymn and see them serving in the church through special music. I'm going to miss all these wonderful kiddos.

Siguatepeque trip

Wednesday we left San Pedro to go for a short trip to Siguatepeque. During our time there, I got to stay with another missionary couple. It has been interesting to meet several other missionaries here in Honduras and learn how God has been using them and different lessons they have learned through life. I think one of the many blessings I've had here is getting to listen to so many first-hand accounts and insights from different people about different life-lessons, ministry, living in a different country, and much more. On Thursday, I got to go to the Open Market and learn about buying produce and the skill of trying to get things for lower prices. 

 This is Siguatepeque. It's up in the mountains and a lot cooler than San Pedro Sula. Wednesday evening in the rain it got down to 66 degrees. COLD! For the first time during my internship, I put on a sweater. A lot different than the 100-115 degrees in San Pedro...

 Friday we went to La Esperanza, a town higher in the mountains. We visited Baptist missionaries up there and had a wonderful time talking with them. We also got to ride their horses a little bit. My first time ever!

 This is their church up in La Esperanza. Beautiful place and wonderful missionary couple.

 A Catholic shrine at the top of La Esperanza. They have all this outward beauty but lack the true beauty of a place where the Gospel is preached.

Copán

Hermano Carlos and his family took me to Copán to learn more about the wonderful country called Honduras. We saw the beautiful Mayan ruins on Monday and then Tuesday went to Macaw Mountain before heading back to San Pedro.

 

 They had some macaws and parrots flying free that we were able to hold.

EBV (VBS)

Whew! We finished VBS tonight! After a crazy morning of running errands and eating lunch in the car to get to the church on time for our worker's meeting before VBS, we made it right at 1 and set to work on final details for today. We had VBS as normal, but afterwards, we brought all the kids in and practiced for the Parents' Program. During the Progama del Padres tonight, the kids sang the songs they learned this week and shared some of what they learned during teaching time. There was also a short time where Pastor Sam shared the Gospel with all the parents. Afterwards we gave out gift boxes to pretty much every child that came, giving priority to those that had received diplomas for attending all 5 days. 

This is Carmen and Marjorie. They were in the class I taught and helped with. During their snack time towards the end of VBS the last two days they have been constantly by my side talking to me and asking questions. Such sweet girls. I can tell my Spanish is improving by the fact I can hold decent conversations with so many of the kids. And also, I'm thankful because I was able to teach the lesson all in Spanish one day this week and have been leading the class in learning verses, reviewing the lessons and such on my own.  

 A picture of all of the kids practicing for our Parent's Program. What a blessing to be a part of this VBS here and seeing so many kids here the Gospel several times. The seeds have been planted in many hearts this week.

Honduras Happenings

Lots going on here the last few days...

Friday was our youth rally - we had about 168 youth from 5 different churches in attendance! I helped with running some of the games and then the group from Florida had some special music and their youth pastor preached. They are here until this Friday and have done a couple puppet shows for the kids at VBS and are helping wherever is needed.   

 Sunday, one boy was baptized.

 We had about 103 kids Monday at VBS and today were at 130 or so. I counted 51 in the oldest class where I am helping. We said kids could come up to 11 years old, but the class also has some that at 12-15 years old and have come. Today after Hermana Maria taught the lesson, I worked on reviewing the songs with them - both singing and then asking them what the one song meant when it said we will win  victory with Christ. We had a good talk then about Christ and how we are sinners and need Him as our Savior. That was a stretch to my Spanish skills - all on the spot. I hadn't planned ahead of time what songs we would do or that I would be asking what the song meant.

Tomorrow I will be teaching the lesson - wouldn't you know it's on Naomi and Ruth! Pray for me to have the words (I know it well in English, but teaching in Spanish is another story) and for the children here to be learning from the lessons.

 This is Angie and I. She is Mrs. Conover's niece.