copan ruinas

I am writing to you from the hot humid land of honduras. it rains every day, at least once, and rarely does that eliminate the heat or humidity. apparently they like to call this "invierno" or winter...i do not know any winter like this in my country. it really makes me feel like i might have descended from eskimos. oooohhh...a klondike bar sounds soo delicious right now!

anyway...back to the point. we are almost at the end of our language training. 2 more days of class to go!! My teacher, Iris is very cool, calm and collected, and very patient with my grammar. You would think after years of study that I would be whipping it out like nobody's business...too bad I dont even know what subjunctive is in English, so memorizing it in spanish is super annoying. But--we have fun times too.

My teacher invited me to her house on friday to make tortilla de espana together. We had read about it during one of our lessons, and i told her how much I loved it...so she wanted me to teach her how to make it. Another student and her teacher came along, and we had a great time cooking together. So much fun, in fact, she invited me over again this evening to have another dinner of spanish dishes. yum.

So...on Thursday we will head back to San Pedro Sula to travel with all the other MCCers to a weekend retreat. We are excited to get back to the city where the rest of our luggage is and be reunited with the few clothes we brought along (right now we are living out of our backpacks).

Next Monday at this time (Lord willing) I should be in Tegucigalpa!! I am getting excited and anxious to be with my new family there and get to know life in Nueva Suyapa (my neighborhood). It will also be a busy time as I get to know lots of people in my new job and learn what I will be doing.

I am thankful for this time I've had in Copan to get to know my other team members better and also have some good chunks of quiet time. I have been doing a lot of reading and journaling...rereading Blue Like Jazz and spending some time reflecting on other passages of scripture from orientation. It is good to get spiritually charged before the inundation of "newness" that is about to happen. or re-happen...well, basically, its just a continual process of adapting, learning and growing. so far so good :)

finalmente estoy in Honduras

Hey friends!
I am finally in Honduras...well, I have been for about 5 days, but this is the first chance I`ve had to blog.

August 12-19 I was in Akron for training with MCC and everyone else in the SALT, YAMEN & IVEP programs. We had a lot of fun getting to know each other and helping each other learn about new cultures. I had lots of opportunities to start using my spanish as the latin american group always hung out together. The only thing that was frustrating was that I had just said goodbye to all of my other friends, then spent 1 week trying to make new friends, only to leave all of them for a year too!

However, there are 5 of us that traveled together from Akron to Honduras. 3 of us will be in Tegucigalpa and the other 2 will be in different cities. Noel is from Bolivia, Johanna is from Colombia, Elise is from the US and Alison is from Canada. They are all wonderful friends and we are getting to know each other very well. They all enjoy Dutch Blitz A LOT so its a good thing I brought my cards along (Johanna says "blips" instead of "blitz" when she wins, cuz its a tricky word...so we are petitioning to change the name of the game!).

When our first plane took off from Harrisburg at 6am on Thursday, I was just glad to be in the air. I did not start to get nervous until we could see the city of San Pedro Sula about 10 hours later :) However, all went well, and Amy and Andres (MCC Honduras Reps) were waiting for us at the airport, with a beautiful welcome sign designed by their daughters. They have been taking good care of us, and we have enjoyed their leadership immensely.


After 1 day in San Pedro, we went to the countryside to the Finca Diakonia (a farm) where another MCC family lives. This is where we had most of our orientation meetings, as well as some recreational activities...like...climbing a tree with a harness and hanging in a hammock 60ish feet above ground...only a few scrapes and bruises to show for it too ;)


On Sunday we returned to San Pedro Sula for church, then took a bus to Copan Ruinas about 3 hours away. We are now here in Copan for about 10 days of language school. Each of us lives with a different host family, but we come to school every morning at 8 for 1 on 1 tutoring. It is intense, and makes me very tired, but I know its good for me. To get even more practice, I´m trying to read books in Spanish too...really tough ones, like Nancy Drew!
We are excited to do some touristy things here in Copan. Today is a museum and possible bird park excursion...tomorrow is hot springs...saturday is the Mayan ruins. Yep, we are working hard :)


Thanks for all the emails, fb posts and prayers. I wish I had time to write each one of you, but computer time is limited. Continue to pray for safety as we travel a lot, and because the bigger cities can be dangerous.
I am anxious to be in my new home so i can unpack a bit, but I also want to fully enjoy the time I have with my friends. Espero que todo vaya bien con ustedes. Hasta luego!

the countdown!

The past few weeks have been a blur with lots of stuff happening as I prepare to leave the country for a year.

First, I took a crazy road trip with 2 great friends and saw the grand canyon, LA, the pacific ocean and Vegas. When I returned to PA, I hit the ground running trying to pack up, clean up and close up the apartment in New Cumberland. It was a lot of work but Tori and I managed to get everything out and have the carpets cleaned by Friday, July 30. Our reward was a trip to the beach with our favorite friends :)

From Jersey, to Pennsylvania, then Ohio--all in one day (Sunday, August 1st). Since then I have been organizing all my belongings in my parents basement (thanks mom and dad ;) and have been packing all that I can take into 1 suitcase + 1 carry-on for the year ahead. My dad already left the country for a few weeks, so the official goodbyes have begun. There are only a few more days left to soak up family time with my mom and sisters.

Through all of this I have tried to keep looking forward...the end of the to-do list is in sight, and in 12 days I will be flying south to start my year in Honduras :) Over the past few days I received several encouraging emails from future coworkers in Honduras that have made me very excited. One contained details about my host family--and I can't wait to meet them. They are only a block away from my office, very involved in the church, and they are excited to host me. My host mom has a son who is 22, a daughter who is 19, another son who is 13 and a grandson who is 3--and they all live with her. I am looking forward to meeting my family and joining their lively household!

Please keep praying for peace and safety as I head to training in Akron, PA this Thursday. Also pray that my dad is safe as he travels in Kenya for the next few weeks. Thanks <3

why lempira?

just a few short weeks til I'm leaving the city, county & country for my new adventure. Thanks for all the prayers and support you've given me so far. I feel so loved :)

Just wanted to give a little insight into the meaning of my chosen blog name.
As some of you know, a lempira is a unit of Honduran currency. You might be thinking...'oh yeah, she's doing microfinance so, a money related title...that makes sense." And you would be right...almost.

 The currency was named to honor the 16th century ruler of the Lenca people. In Honduran folklore, Lempira is held in high esteem for his heroic efforts in resisting the Spanish conquistador forces as they tried to invade Honduran territory.

So the meaning is two-fold: first to relate to the work I'm anticipating with MCM in Tegucigalpa. The second refers to my desire to learn more about the culture and history of Honduas. It's not just about small things I might do through economic work, but the relationships I hope to build and the cultural immersion that will be an important part of this endeavor.

So that was your brief history lesson for the day. And now you know why I chose a weird name for the blog. Just hoping it would be more clever and memorable than "charissa goes to Honduras"...

*and thanks to my good friend DM for his input with the title ;)

giving update

Got some great news today...
First giving update from MCC--and I am very much on target to meet my goal for support!

I cannot say enough thanks to those of you who have given to MCC in support of me and my work ahead in Tegucigalpa. I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful network of friends and family. I know others of you are unable to give financially but have been lifiting me up in prayer--and that is so wonderful! Please don't stop any time soon :)

slightly out of context, but fitting anyway...a word from the word:

 ¹³ Now, our God, we give you thanks,
       and praise your glorious name.
 ¹⁴ "But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.
                                                                ~1 Chronicles 29:13-14

Muchas gracias por todo hasta aqui :) No hay bastante palabras para decir...thanks!
<3
C :)

Dear friends and family...

Some of you already got this info from me, but it's on the blog so people who I forgot to tell, or those who stumble on my blog in a few months, or stalkers on facebook know what's going on (:


So...I'm leaving my job and the country for a year! Want to know why? Read on:

I have worked for over 2 years in the Admissions office at Messiah College. While I have enjoyed my time there, I’ve had a deep sense of God’s call to do other things with my passions for economic development, cross-cultural ministry and language study. I have been in prayer about the next step and have felt God’s leading to service with MCC (Mennonite Central Committee) in the SALT (Serving and Learning Together) program.

I am excited to share with you that I accepted a 1-year service term in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. The dates of service are August 12, 2010 to July 25, 2011, so I will be working at my current job into July. There are several reasons I am so excited about this opportunity. For one, I am very eager to live in a Spanish speaking country to better hone my Spanish skills. The position is “Income Generation Program Assistant,” which involves oversight of a microfinance program in the outskirts of Tegucigalpa. MCM provides small loans to groups of women to help them with any needs they may have—sending kids to school, starting a business to generate income, or paying for life-cycle needs in their community. This work, known as microfinance, is something I have been interested in for many years, and I am excited to have the opportunity to work directly with an organization that provides Honduran women and their families a chance to improve their economic viability.  It is likely I will have a chance to do other tasks as part of this assignment, such as helping to start a small scale insurance program, offer business workshops, provide training to the loan officers, and even start a business mentoring program with local high school kids. I am sure there will always be “other duties as assigned,” but look forward to trying some new things and expanding my knowledge and skills in this field.

So, as people who are important in my life, I wanted you to know what I’m up to and have you share in my experience. You have already made it to "the blog," which will record my thoughts/experiences as I prepare for Honduras and throughout my time of service. I will try to send some email updates regularly too. If you are interested in either of these, email me and I will add you to the list.

One big thing I need is PRAYER! I would greatly appreciate your prayers as I continue through this door God has opened for me. A few things you can pray for right now: focus to finish out my time out Messiah well; that all the details of leaving for 1 year (car, bank, apartment, etc.) would come together; that God would begin preparing me for my time of service, and for whatever lies ahead in terms of work, host family situation and safety. Your support in this way is greatly appreciated.

Another way you can support me in this endeavor is financially.  One requirement of the SALT program is that I raise a one-time amount of $4500 to cover part of my living expenses for the year. I am grateful that MCC heavily subsidizes this program, but would appreciate help if you feel led to partner with me in this way. 

Donations can be made online @ https://donate.mcc.org/salt. Make sure to check the box that reads, “I would like to make this donation in Memory, in Honor, or in Support.” Choose “In Support of -- SALT” and where it asks for "Full Name:" enter "Charissa Zehr ID# 617916."

**If you prefer to send a check to MCC, let me know and I can give/send you a donation form with the instructions and address.

Thank you in advance for your prayers and support. I could not do this without knowing each one of you is standing behind me. I look forward to sharing more with you in the coming months.