multiplication

My co-worker Oscar often shares with the women's groups how God is God of multiplication--not division or subtraction. He references the parable of the talents and how we are called to multiply what God has given us.

As an organization, we were able to take part in this multiplication by taking a blessing that was generously given to us and through it, bless others. And isn't that what God is all about? Blessing us, to make us a blessing, to be able to bless others, so that others bless him?

Since the beginning of the project through MCC, the women's group in Vertientes has expressed interest in having a sewing business. Their community is the most remote, and they would like to be able to make school uniforms and other basic clothing items for a small profit. We wanted to support the women in this, since it was their own idea, but for a long time thought the initial investment beyond our capacity. How would we be able to get more than a few machines for the group of 16?

Through talking with other colleagues and making some connections, I found out Proyecto MAMA (another MCC supported project of the Honduran Mennonite Church) had 6 sewing machines that were unused and collecting dust. A few phone calls later and we found out they wanted $250 for 5 treadle machines and 1 electric machine. It seemed feasible, but we didn't really have extra funds outside of the project budget.

Then (seemingly) out of nowhere a good friend said her sewing ladies at church wanted to donate the money for the machines, and she wanted to put up some extra for the repairs. What a generous gift! We were very excited and planned a trip to check out the machines and see what condition they were in.

They turned out to be very good machines, only missing a few parts that we hope will be easy to replace. When we paid the amount to the women who work for Proyecto MAMA they told us they were so excited because they never thought anyone would ever want to buy these machines and now, with this cash we gave them, they will be able to buy an industrial-size gas stove to serve bigger groups at the retreat center which generates more income for their projects in children's health and education.

It was such a joyful moment! We took a monetary blessing that was given to ACDIM and invested in something to bless the women's group and their future business while tangentially blessing Proyecto MAMA with funds to buy something that serves their needs and generates income for the children and families they work with. I couldn't have dreamed up a better chain of multiplication, but I guess God knew he had it all covered.

heart-filled worship

Church has had its ups and downs for me throughout my time in Honduras. When I lived with my host family I felt obligated to attend a certain church and its ridiculously intensive weekly schedule of services.

Then there is the infamous church retreat that I posted about a few months ago that was very stressful in its own right, and left me pretty bitter about the way people are coerced into church attendance and spiritual experiences.

I often drag myself to services, without having my heart in the right place. Sometimes, if I humble myself enough to let go all of the distractions, frustrations and "different" ways of doing things, I am able to free myself to worship and learn something.

When I was home a few weeks ago, it was rejuvenating for me to attend my church in PA and worship in English, even sing songs that were new to me but had words projected so I could sing along. I felt at home in my pew, soaking it all in and even sharing in communion with my church community (something I rarely experience here in Santa Rosa).

But what I have slowly come to learn through all of these struggles--to find church community, find moments of worship and refreshment when sometimes all I want to do is run out of the church doors and crawl into my bed--is that it all depends on my attitude and my willingness to lay those frustrations and criticisms aside. I have to allow myself to be moved into a place where I can worship and appreciate the community I am part of for what it is.

A few months ago I was talked into practicing with and joining the worship team at my church in Santa Rosa. I had been resisting for awhile, but finally realized that not being involved in anything musical was a real void in my life here in Honduras, and maybe reason for feeling a void in my spiritual life. I have always loved music and find myself most connected to worship experiences through music.

It has not been easy, and I still wonder some days what I am doing, but I am enjoying the new challenge of it, and a new perspective on the church--literally (from the front platform) and figuratively. Leading others in worship has challenged me to consider where my heart is and how my own state of mind affects the ministry I am apart of. I am hopeful that this change will help me to have a more healthy perspective on the church and continue to teach me about a heart of worship.

the retreat to end all retreats

A few weeks I was invited to attend my church's women's reatreat. Growing up in the church, I had my share of "church retreat" experiences. From camps and conferences to youth and women's gatherings, I thought I had pretty much seen it all. Even since living in Honduras, I have had several youth retreat experiences and was pretty sure a women's retreat with the mennonite church in Santa Rosa was nothing I couldn't handle.

I can't actually imagine that I could have been more wrong.

It was...out of control. It was frustrating. It was moving. It was an intense 3 days, like nothing else I have experienced in my Honduran experience thus far.

First of all, I thought a women's retreat was for all the women of the church. What I learned is that women attend the retreat once and are good for life...once you have had your "retreat" experience you only go back to serve instead of receive. It is a chance to invite your un-churched, heathen friends to help them get their lives back on track.

So we started around 5:30 pm on Friday evening with 4 plenary sessions. By the time those were over, we were divided into 2 groups, had to come up with a "chant" for our group, and were forced to turn in our cell-phones. I was not a happy camper.

Then we got on a bus and headed to the chuch retreat center about 30 minutes outside of Santa Rosa. Once there, we had another plenary session or 2 (they all run together) and finally ate dinner around 9:30. We had more sessions after dinner with intense prayer times where most women were prayed over and slain in the spirit.

Late nights...early mornings...didn't even have a clock to know what time it was, which maybe helped. We had more plenaries in the morning, including a very long one from my boss, Ruth. After another time of prayer, tears, and much fainting, we had a time of worship where we were all required to dance around and sing about how free we were.

The afternoon included a session on dating, saving sex for marriage, and even a wedding! Little did I know things were just getting started. We had more sessions, more singing and dancing, all leading up to the evening dinner which was meant to be like a honduran quinceanera or what we would think of as a Sweet 16 party. All the women were honored, those who did celebrate their special birthday, and those who did not. We even danced with the birthay court, rocked in the rocking chair, and received our wedding rings to remind us of our purity covenant with God.

Then, on Sunday morning I was rudely awoken by the loudest music I have heard in very very long time, vey close to my head. I am not a morning person, and this did not amuse me in the least. What I thought was a prank from the youth group boys on night-watch turned out to be an intentional 4 am serenade to make us "feel like princesses." Let's just say that message was lost on me. In my kingdom, no one should wake me up before 7am.

So, that got my day off to a pretty bad start. Add to that not being able to go anywhere alone (yes, even accompanied to the bathroom), no down time from start to finish, continual bombardment with worship practices that are not familiar or comfortable to me and by Sunday afternoon I was done with this retreat. But, I still had to get through the last sessions on prophetic words for our lives, a bus ride back to town, singing most of the way, a rowdy welcome back to the church with a human tunnel, much dancing and balloon-popping, and being forced to share a testimony.

It is hard for me to adequately express how I felt after this whole weekend...I did enjoy some parts of it, and there were some good moments. The other women at the retreat were unique and interesting and we did develop friendships. Moreover, it is good to take time out of the normal routine to spend time with God, talking to Him and listening for his direction.

But I was frustrated by so very many things. For one, I do not like being followed around and forced to be with people 24-7. I am an extrovert, but I need my alone time (especially in the bathroom).

Secondly, I have adjusted to deep immersion in Honduran culture since I arrived, but I always need time to process what I'm learning/seeing/doing. Whether it is time alone to journal, a convo with my fellow ex-pats, or a sarcastic text to my BFF in Teguc...I need it! It keeps me sane. And most Hondurans do not understand this or know how to deal with my sharp tongue (I prefer sarcastic wit, but I digress).

Through it all, it is necessary to step back and look at this experience with a broader perspective. Church traditions are as complex as the culture they are wrapped up in, creating the diverse flavors of Christianity we find the world over. I am confident that my own church traditions would be equally intimidating/uncomfortable/puzzling for many of my Honduran friends.

And so I have to appreciate these experiences for what they are, taking advantage of the chance to get to know another culture more intimately, to learn more about myself, and to explore how I see God working in the not-so-familiar. While I don't relish the thought of another church retreat, I have to add it to my growing list of stretching experiences as I learn to appreciate the positive moments in spite of others that may drive me crazy!

blessed are...

[my blog post was featured on the MCC Latin American Advocacy blog! Same post, but with some fancy artwork. Interesting blog too]

Blessed are those who mourn,
   for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
   for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
   for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
   for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
   for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
   for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
   for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Sometimes there are no other words to express all the feelings that well up inside me. And even at times, these words that have been passed down to generation after generation of believers still feel insufficient.

It has been a long week...and one with a lot of questions. Why does God allow terrible things to happen? Why do God-fearing, God-following people suffer and those who don't follow Christ not seem to suffer at all? How can I provide comfort to people who understand the reality of injustice much more than I ever can?

How can we as Christians who talk and talk and talk about justice make any kind of change in a dangerous and violent society where people are too afraid to speak out?

This week took a shocking turn for my church family in Santa Rosa when one of our brothers was brutally killed after preaching at another church a few minutes outside of town. This man was a well-respected member of our church, always humble and caring, always with a smile and a joking word. He was also a mentor within the youth group and will be greatly missed as a father-figure for many kids, not just his own.

Although it has not been easy, it has been a privilege to be part of this church community and share in their pain this week. To walk along side them and share in the grieving process has taught me a lot already and continues to stretch me in my relationships with friends and in my faith.

When faced with situations of injustice and pain, my first reaction is often one of anger and frustration. Then I think, "ok, but what are we going to DO about it?" Taking action feels like the only correct response, and if I'm not actively pursuing something, then I'm not doing enough. But perhaps we need a change in our thinking. To allow ourselves the freedom to be still for a moment (or two), to mourn, weep, question, beat our chest and dwell in the tragedy and pain. 

It was only in reading the thoughts of others that I was able to allow myself this space for lament and mourning:

The antiquated notion of lamentation points us in a direction opposite to our contemporary impulses. We are conditioned to respond to a problem...by identifying a course of action and mustering as much resolve as possible in an effort to make a positive difference. The standard operating principles – which have their place – include effort, productive change and hope. Lamentation derails that. It provides a sacred space in which to expose our shadiest feelings. 

I need this. I can’t carry all [of this] with me. 

Lamentation is a space in which we do not need to hide or minimize these normally frowned-upon sentiments...In lament, we walk straight into the darkness, the valley of shadows, and stay there as long as necessary. 

Nancy Duff, a professor at Princeton Theological Seminary and an advocate of reviving lamentation, writes that usually “we are taught that true faith in God mitigates such intense feelings” as the ones we might express in lament. Similarly, theologian Walter Brueggemann notes the common and, in his view, unfortunate belief that good Christians do not “acknowledge and embrace negativity.” 

But the biblical lamenters – who wrote a full third of the Psalms – make an art out of our impropriety. They express desire for harsh vengeance (“Happy shall they be who take [the Babylonians’] little ones and dash them against the rock.” Ps 137:9); they make brazen accusations against God (“You [God] have renounced the covenant with your servant.” Ps 89:39); and they cry out in utter despair (“How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?” Ps 13:1). This is not how I was taught to pray in Sunday School. 

Lamentation even allows us to give up. Duff says it “allows us to rely on God and the community to carry forth hope on our behalf when we ourselves have no hope in us.”

 I know that my community here is NOT without hope and have already seen a vibrant strength in the midst of tragedy...but I am asking my broader community to carry forth the hope on our behalf, because sometimes even our most resilient faith can be hard to find.

[quoted text from Will Braun. full article here]

advent

Advent is one of my favorite times of year. I always enjoy the traditions we celebrate in church, relishing a time of anticipation and taking time to think about what expectant waiting really means.

Unfortunately, I have not yet found an evangelical church in Honduras that really embraces these traditions of advent that are so dear to me. I tried to explain it to my coworker and fellow church member and his eyes glazed over a little bit as I tried to explain an advent wreath. Oh well...at least I tried.

So this year and last I tried to make time in my own prayer life to focus on some advent reflections. My mom sent me a cool advent booklet of reflections by Henry Nouwen which I have been enjoying. I just wanted to share one passage in particular that really spoke to me.

 In the last days
   the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established
   as the highest of the mountains;
it will be exalted above the hills,
   and all nations will stream to it.
 Many peoples will come and say,
   “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,
   to the temple of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
   so that we may walk in his paths.” Isaiah 2:2-3 

"As prayer leads us into the house of God and God's people, so action leads us back into the world to work there for reconciliation, unity and peace. Once we have come to know the truth we want to act truthfully and reveal to the world its true nature. All Christian action--whether it is visiting the sick, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, or working for a more just and peaceful society--is a manifestation of the human solidarity revealed to us in the house of God.

It is not an anxious human effort to create a better world.
It is a confident expression of the truth that in Christ, death, evil, and destruction have been overcome.
It is not a fearful attempt to restore a broken order.
It is a joyful assertion that in Christ all order has already been restored.
It is not a nervous effort to bring divided people together,
but a celebration of an already established unity.

This action is not activism. An activist wants to heal, restore, redeem, and re-create, but those acting within the house of God point through their action to the healing, restoring, redeeming, and re-creating presence of God."

Good food for thought. May you be filled with a sense of joyful anticipation of the second coming of Jesus as we remember the first time the world witnessed Emmanuel in the flesh.

Feliz Navidad and Merry Christmas :)

church

Church is a big part of the weekly rhythm of my host family. Especially for my host mom, Lucia. A faithful attendee of services, she is also leader of our home group and teaches in CDI. CDI is the Compassion Int'l program the church runs for children in the community who have Compassion sponsors. So…her week looks like this:

• Monday:  Prayer meeting 6pm
• Tuesday:  CDI teaching 1pm-4pm    
• Grupo de crecimiento (small group/cell group) 6:30-8pm at our house
• Wednesday: CDI teaching 1pm-4pm
• Regular service 6:30pm-8pm
• Thursday: women's meeting 2 weeks per month 6:30-8pm
• Friday: Leaders of cell groups meetings 6pm
• Sunday: Regular service 8:30am to 10:30am

This does not include weeks where she might help with church fundraisers (making and selling tamales, pupusas, or hot dogs) to support the new building project, nor the weeks she is in charge of communion (buying bread & grape soda, preparing the glasses, cleaning everything after). All in all, she is a busy church member. Not unlike the rest of the women of the church, who seem to be involved in 30 different things each week. Sometimes it wears me out just talking about all that she does.

I will admit, my church involvement looks a bit different. Usually I am home on Tuesday evenings for small group…attend Wednesday services frequently (2 or 3 per month) and also attend Sundays. I occasionally go to women’s services on Thursdays, which are enjoyable. The problem is, some days another service is just too much and I can’t make myself go. Full disclosure: I have been known to make other plans, just so I’m not in the house on Tuesday for small group. It’s bad…I know…and they know I’m a pastor’s daughter, which probably makes matters worse. But you know…even in my days as a PK, I don’t think I ever went to this many services in 1 week.

This week, I not only set a new Honduras-experience record, but a new personal record.  4 services + 1 small group meeting + 1 young adult event in 6 days. That is…a bit ridiculous by my count. But this was a special week. Our church, Iglesia Evangelica Santidad de Renovacion Integral (or, you can just call it La Santidad) was having an weekend of Evangelism services (revival meetings for the older crowd). There were special guest pastors from El Salvador who came for 3 nights of the ‘campaña’ or campaign.

All in all, I enjoyed the services and did not find them to be dull. There was plenty of loud music, liturgical dance from the 2 dance groups at the church, and the preaching definitely kept your attention. Although the services were outside in the patio area of the church, there was plenty sweat, spit and yelling (from the preachers, that is). A special stage was constructed outside for the worship team and the pulpit; we had special lighting, decorations, and of course the whole worship team was color-coordinated (very Honduran!).  The great part was there were a lot of people from the neighborhood who are not regular church attenders (the whole ideal of the campaign). I guess all the radio ads and posters really worked to get people to come.

A few things that are still a challenge for me about church (not just the special evangelism services): 

1. Social pressure: There is a ton of social pressure involved with going to church. At least, it seems this way for my family and within their congregation. You go to church 5 times a week because there are services, and people will notice who is there and who is not. There is a definite sense of duty. Much less than what I feel in the U.S. (especially among people my age).
2.  Ushers: Ushers at our church take their job very seriously. And you do not mess with them. They wear matching outfits every week (some weeks its blue, some weeks white) and they are on continual alert. The church can be packed, and the 85 year old usher lady (that I always watch work the crowd) will find you a seat in the middle of the third row, smashed between an excited worshipper and 2 small children sharing 1 seat. If the church is not packed, she will physically cajole people into moving from the back rows (of sloth and distraction) to the (more sanctified) seats up front. My 14 year old host brother has his personal experiences with this, and does not appreciate said usher  :)
3. Evangelize: I don’t really know how to describe this properly, but it feels like every sermon I hear has something to do with sin and salvation. Obviously, important topics to the Christian walk, but sometimes I get antsy to be back in my home church and find some sermons with a little more meat, or depth to them.  Usually services wrap up with an alter call, related to repentance or recommitting your life to Christ. And, there is much (perceived) social pressure to go up front for these moments.

There are other nuances of my Honduran church experiences that are just hard to put down in words.

I am grateful to be living with a Christian family, and a host mom who takes her faith very seriously. I know she prays for all of her children (including me) and regularly intercedes for us. Even though there are days where I feel like I can’t take another church service, I usually am surprised to find God speaking to me or teaching me things in new and different ways. And I guess that’s what I like most about my new church here in Suyapa. Sometimes I am only available to receive something new or different when I am uncomfortable or in a different place. It’s unfortunate that it has to be that way, but it is cool to see the ways God moves us when we are out of our comfort zone.

advent

Here we are on the 1st day of December 2010. I can't even believe its the end of the year already!
I've just started my advent readings that I got from MCC...here are some excerpts I'd like to share:

According to an ancient Jewish midrash, someone asked Rabbi Joshua, “Why did God speak to Moses from a bush?” Rabbi Joshua replied, “God spoke from a bush to teach that there is no place where the Divine is not present, not even in a lowly bush.”


A Hasidic story tells of a rabbi’s son who used to wander in the woods. The rabbi asked his son, “I wonder why each day you walk in the woods?” 
The boy replied, “I go there to find God.” 
“That’s very good, son. But, don’t you know that God is the same everywhere?” 
“Yes,” the boy answered, “but I’m not.”


And so it is with us. We need tangible signs of God’s presence. When we enter the emotional, spiritual and physical winters of our lives, no matter the reason, let us eagerly anticipate that day when a new branch will burst forth from the leafless icicled branch we have become. In this Advent season, may all trees be for us Christ-mas trees, signs of hope, worthy of our decorating and celebrating – Christ, the Righteous Branch, has come into our lives, Christ will come again.

Jeremiah 33:14-16 (NRSV)
The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’

I found this imagery of new branches really helpful. Even in the winters of life, we retain a hope for the future; for the inevitable spring that will arrive because of the hope we have in Christ Jesus.

I know that God is the same every place I go, but I am not. And so as I grow, adapt, and change in a new environment, my prayer is that I would continue to seek God and appreciate the new and different ways his unchangeable character is being revealed to me each and every day.

My prayer for all of my friends and loved ones this advent season is that you would find places where you cannot remain the same, and in those places, appreciate God for who He is, and how he might look different from your new vantage point.

Even though my images of advent include lots of cold and snow and cozy memories, I am learning to appreciate the anticipation of Christmas even in 75 degree weather :) Hope you are warm (sitting inside or outside) wherever this finds you.

post-thanksgiving post

While the climate here does not tell me it is Thanksgiving, nor is there any kind of black Friday here in Honduras, I am reminded of how much I have to be thankful for in this wonderful season of life. Yesterday was a pretty ordinary day, no turkey, no football, no family get together [ :( ] but it was still good...and I think its a great thing to reflect on how much I have to be thankful for each day.

As I write this post, I'm sitting in a hammock, looking out over the rolling green mountains of Copan (I know, its a little ridiculous, and yes I wanted to make you a tad bit jealous as you are eating your leftover turkey and stuffing!!)

So lets start with the most immediate things I'm thankful for... (in no particular order :)

-- a relaxing few day of vacation with one of my best friends who took the time and energy to come and visit me right here in Honduras! You don't find friends like Harmony just any day of the year, and I'm so grateful God put her in my life 4 years ago when I really needed her :)
-- a great host family in Nueva Suyapa and the richness they bring to my Honduran life.
--for friends who are celebrating birthdays today, and another year of life, both near (Johanna, MCC friend) and far (Becky B. in Colorado who I miss dearly!)
--for a wonderful family who loves me so much and will even bend over backwards to do special things for me...like send care packages and buy expensive plane tickets to make sure their daughter isn't too homesick over Christmas. I couldn't ask for better parents. love you so much.
-- for 2 sisters and a brother-in-law who mean more to me than most anything in the world :)
-- for health and safety thus far in the journey
-- for 2 great gringa friends who are always willing to share in the most ridiculous of Honduran moments and the tough ones too. I could not make it through the week without knowing they are only a text or call away!
--for the guy who takes the time to get to know me, across the miles, despite the terrible internet fiascos and my work-in-progress espanol
--for a network of MCCers in Honduras who are so fun to be with and truly care for me and my well-being.
--for a little computer that keeps me connected to the important people in my life

As I sat in a roof-top cafe last night with Harmony we were reflecting how different life was only 1 year ago at this time...at Thanksgiving last year there were so many things different about my life...so many friends who weren't even engaged and are now planning weddings, others who weren't even pregnant and now have a new little person in their family...it blows me away to think of how many people in my life I didn't even know a year ago...nor did I have any inkling I would be spending Thankgiving and Christmas of 2010 in Honduras! Its so fun to think back on what I didn't know then...and it makes me so excited to think about what I don't even know will be in my life next year at this time.

Thankful for a God who holds it all together in his hands, the good and the bad...the beautiful and the imperfect, the knowable and the unknown...what a great blessing to be one little person in his giant picture.
Happy Thankfulness reflecting to all of you.
Love and hugs!

stretchy stuff

Living in a new culture is a continual learning process. This may seem obvious, but humor me for a minute. Just when you get lulled into a false sense of comfort like...

"hey, I kind of know what I'm doing" or 

"hey, I can actually carry on an intelligent conversation," or 

"hey, I recognize where this bus is going" 

...well that's when you have to be really on your guard. For it is in these moments--these fleeting fragments of life that boost your confidence and give you a sense of joy--that you must prepare yourself for what is next. It is a rule of the cross-cultural learning-time continuum, that just as your self-esteem is soaring for even the briefest of moments, you are undoubtedly due for a humility-check.

Honduras has made me very humble.

This was good practice for my trip to Guatemala.

Some of you know that I had the chance to attend a conference in Guatemala, related to microfinance and training small business owners in business principles. It was through the Chalmers Center in the US, and every so often they have international conferences for church workers, NGO workers and other missionary-types. I must give a grateful shout-out to Thrive, my favorite youth group of Dillsburg BIC Church, without whom this trip would not have been possible. Their generosity enabled me and my boss here at MCM to both attend this conference. I am forever humbled by hearts of these awesome high school & middle schoolers! (<3 you guys!)

The conference was a really great experience. I had hours upon hours to practice my Spanish with people from all over central America. We would talk for hours around the dinner table and share about our work and lives in our respective places. For me, being the socialite that I am, this was probably the best part of the conference :) It also did not hurt that everyone kept telling me how good my Spanish was. This of course was very encouraging and made me very happy. Many could not believe I had only been in Honduras for 3 months.

But of course, this could not last for long. Part of the focus of the class was how to teach adults...so of course, we had to practice our techniques for teaching other adults. On the 2nd day I had to prepare a lesson with a partner (who was amazingly sweet and patient) and together we taught about 12 other people (mostly native speakers, mostly middle-aged men) a lesson about business in Spanish! I was terrified! I thought I might throw up! I didn't think I could do it. 

But--it turned out ok! I led a "dinamica" or game at the beginning of our lesson...was able to talk through most of what I wanted to say with ease and even confidently fielded some spontaneous commentary from the audience. It was terrifying...but I made it through. I wasn't sure if I could do it successfully, but I know now my Spanish is better for it. During the feedback time, one man did feel the need to suggest that I work on my Spanish...so you know, the victories are short-lived :) But I did have many friends at the conference reaffirm how well I did and that this man was out of line for saying that to me.

I have learned a lot about humility and not taking my Spanish-self too seriously. But the good thing is, through all of these experiences I am stretched...

...Stretched to get outside myself and just do what needs to be done, without taking time to worry about what might happen

...Stretched to try new things and meet new people who I might otherwise never have encountered

...Stretched to discover what happens when I stop trying to get it all right and just see what God does with what I have to offer.

It's kind of like when you sit in a bus for 15 hours and your muscles are so tight...it feels so refreshing to stretch and move around.  I'm still in the stretching process...still learning to allow myself to be stretched frequently...and still trying to be thankful for the opportunity to stretch every now and then...or maybe every day in my case!

I am thankful for the learning I was able to participate in at the conference in Guatemala; thankful for safety on the long trip there and back; and thankful for a God who gives me the stuff, whatever that stuff is, that makes it possible to stretch.

wow. its october!

Some days it feels like I have been away from home for a really long time...then other days (like today) I stop to reflect and realize A) its already Oct. 7! and B) I have been 'away' for almost 8 weeks....that's crazy! 8 weeks ago I did not know anything about what my new home would look like, who I would meet at work, and how I would get around. It's crazy to think that 8 weeks ago there are so many cool people that weren't in my life :) Each day I am more and more thankful for the way God has been answering so many of my prayers, and the hundreds of prayers that so many other people have offered on my behalf. I am really at peace about living and working in this little spot God had in mind for me. Not everything is perfect...there is good and bad stuff...but I am really content with where I am at the moment--and for me, thats a rare, but cool feeling.

Some times I feel like I don't have anything to blog about because I haven't been doing anything majorly interesting, or gone on many adventures. But--most days I'm glad there is nothing too earth-shattering to report...that's just fine with me!

Over the weekend my family took me out for dinner, which is the first we've done that since I've been here. We went to Pupusas Miraflores which was fun and delicious. Pupusas are really from El Salvador, but Hondurans like them too. A little hard to describe, but they are kind of like round pita bread filled with cheesy goodness. You should all come and try them :)

Also in family life, my 13 year old brother does not like to study! (Shocking, I know!). They all give him a pretty rough time because he's always into sports and never wants to do homework. Now that I am here, they have given me the great privilege of being his English tutor. He really hates English...and really doesn't know much...so...its a struggle. Also--I do not feel called to be a teacher. Thankfully, I've had enough Spanish grammar training that I can kind of convert it into English lessons. So, last night I spent a couple hours with him, crafting fill in the blank sentences and examples for him to practice. [To all my Messiah education friends, I think you would be proud of me]. I have another friend who wants English help too, so I might just borrow Axel's notes and teach her the same stuff.
*By the way...who the heck uses the passive voice in English? I was always taught to avoid that like the plague when writing essays...apparently teenagers learning a 2nd language need to understand this unfortunate grammatical construction. Just in case you cared.


Here are some photos of the family:

me and my host sister, Kati 

Josue & Axel

The only other news that I have right now is Monday is Canadian Thanksgiving! Since there is one other gringo in my neighborhood who is from the Great White North, his wife is throwing us a little Canadian Thanksgiving party :) I think we might even have turkey. I'm pretty stoked.

Oh, and in parting...Today is October 7. One month away from November 7. This should be plenty of time for a package to make it to my hot little hands ;) If you don't know why November 7th is important...well... check facebook.