hope de l@s jovenes

I looked around the table at 6 eager faces, all with bright eyes and genuine smiles. Discussing "honduran-isms," regional dialects, and unique foods, the conversation was animated and lively.  We were sharing a meal together at what is quickly becoming my favorite restaurant in San Pedro and getting to know each other better.

4 of us are young people serving with MCC in Honduras; the other 3 are young Hondurans who will be sent out from the Mennonite church to serve in the IVEP and YAMEN programs of MCC. It was fun to talk about what they eagerly anticipate and what scares them about leaving home. Mostly...the food (read: lack of beans and tortillas) weighs heavily on their minds. Will Canadians be nice to them? Will they only eat bread? Will Bolivia be too cold? Will they make new friends?

We had a great time together that afternoon at a "pre-orientation" before their staggered departures to the great unknown. I laughed a lot and appreciated the thoughtfulness and sense of humor they have brought along with them for their adventure.

When I think of what gives me hope for Honduras, their faces come to mind. The spirit of curiosity, "disponibilidad" (availability?), gentleness and humor that they exude while talking freely of their love for God and commitment to their church makes me so proud. Proud that they will represent MCC Honduras and the Honduran Mennonite Church. Proud that people will be able to put a kind face with the stories they have heard about Honduras. With so much negative press, skepticism and high crime statistics from Honduras, it is exciting to meet young people that know they can play a part in making their country better. I know they will be great ambassadors for Honduras and make contributions in each of their respective assignments.

Please pray for these young people (2 going to Bolivia with YAMEN, 2 going to Canada with IVEP) and all the other participants (SALTers too*) around the world who are taking a huge step of faith this week, leaving their comfort zone to try something different. May they be richly blessed by their endeavors and return to bless their families, churches and community with what they will receive from others.

*shout out to my cousin who is taking off for Burkina Faso soon with the SALT program! much love and many prayers A.Z!

copaneca de corazon

^ it means: "in my heart, I'm Copaneca" or from Copan.

Yesterday we wrapped up the project with ACDIM in two of my favorite communities. It was a bittersweet day, but filled with so much happiness, so much of the "normal" ridiculousity of my co-workers, and SO. MUCH. FOOD.

In good Honduran fashion, we all shared palabras (words) reflecting on our 2 years with the women, encouraging them to keep moving forward and continue working towards their goal of having a small business. In return, they shared beautiful words of how much they appreciated our friendship, the time we spent with them every month, and the things they learned.

you know how i feel about soup. but this really was delicious.

the soup wasn't enough.
she had to buy her own chickens to take home.

one of my favorite vistas in Honduras

My heart was so full (as was my stomach). We were offered the same hospitality we have always received in these places and shared a fun day with our friends. It is hard to know I won't be going back for awhile.

And I couldn't help but think...no matter where I live in Honduras--I am Copaneca in my heart.

here and there and back again

Sorry for the month long absence in my blogging! The last month included a lot of travel, a wonderful visit with my family in Ohio and a few weeks of training in Pennsylvania with MCC. I was very thankful to be in PA so I could connect with my relatives there and a few friends that I haven't seen for awhile.

The training was long and exhausting, but I met some really great people. I got some more tools to help me in my new job that I hope will see me through the next few months. I am looking forward to the arrival of 4 new team members in the month of August and getting to be part of their in-country orientation. It is also the start of a very busy time at MCC in Aug/Sept with lots of comings and goings--and as always--lots of reports!




On the home front, I had a great time with my niece and nephew (as you will see below). We had lots of quality time together and I got to know them both a lot better. My family also carved out a lot of time to spend with me, which was very special.

I came back to Honduras on Saturday and the outgoing reps left on Tuesday--it was a fast transfer, let me tell you! But, I was grateful for the time we put in back in June to cover a lot of important stuff. It's scary flying solo...but at least we are starting off easy with only 2 other workers in-country at the moment :)

Will continue to keep you updated on new discoveries and fun moments in San Pedro. Oh, and I will be going to Santa Rosa next weekend for the last meeting with our women's groups!! It will be bittersweet, but I am looking forward to having a good goodbye with them.

hello san pedro

It has been a week and a half since I packed up all my stuff and moved to San Pedro. I am getting settled in, slowly putting up pictures, learning my way around the neighborhood, and figuring out how to get where I need to go.

In Santa Rosa I could walk everywhere and had a lot of independence. Here I have to be more careful, and can't just walk wherever I want (or, I would die of heat exhaustion if I tried!). So the rapiditos (pronounced: rap-ee-dee-tos) have become a new twist on daily life, and I pay 8 Lps (about $0.40) to get to and from the MCC office.

I finally took some pictures of my place (didn't want you to see it when it was too naked :)

the living room (front door to the L and patio doors on R)

from living, into dining area, kitchen is beyond in the corner

view of kitchen from the bar

other angle of the kitchen (so many cupboards!!)

my bedroom w/ built-in closets (on the 2nd floor)

other angle of bedroom, a patio door, and the bathroom

taken from the 2nd flor, its open to the first floor! so much light...i love it.

the garden!

Its hard to capture in photos, but its a good little spot (even with mice incidents, heat, and some cucarachas). I have 2 other bedrooms and a storage room--soon to be filled by the out-going reps! Trying to make it feel like home even though it's not...yet.

goodbye Santa Rosa

It's my last week living in Santa Rosa so I've been trying to visit all my favorite spots and savor life in the pueblo before I move to the big city. I will be back for frequent visits...but at least for now I wanted to visit all my favorite spots before I left. Its been a crazy two years, but I really feel at home here.

In the midst of all my packing and cleaning and running around town, we made time for some sno cones...

 And dinner at Lenca Maya, my favorite restaurant in SRC.

...I had lunch with Ruth and Oscar at Weekend's Pizza...



...and the most crazy and hilarious goodbye party with the worship team and youth from my church at Pollo Bunny. "If it's not Bunny, its not chicken" (I kid you not, the actual slogan...)

I got a little teary on Sunday when I made the announcement at church that it would be my last Sunday singing with my friends on the worship team. Everyone is very supportive and I know they will welcome me with open arms when I make it back for a visit.


It's never easy to say goodbye to a place that feels like home...but you never know what's around the corner!

of moto rides and hospitality

May has slipped away from me and I find myself less than a week away from leaving my cozy home in Santa Rosa to take on the new challenges of a big city and a big job. Of course, this means a lot of packing, goodbyes, and "lasts" as I wrap up here.

For a variety of reasons, the project I have been part of in Santa Rosa with ACDIM will not continue receiving support from MCC. Since we have no other funding at this time, we must leave the women's groups at the end of July and see if they can really manage on their own.

It has been an emotional roller coaster, and it is not easy to think about how the women will manage without some outside encouragement and support. As I sat on the back of the moto on Wednesday for what may be the last time for a long time, I soaked in the fresh air and the beautiful views that I have come to know and love en route to a remote community nestled among the coffee plantations. I sat in the meeting with my favorite group of women and enjoyed the chance to laugh and talk with them as friends, sharing last bits of advice and encouragement as they forge ahead. Then, as we were ready to leave, we were invited to someone's house for some rice and fresh tortillas over the fire. I was struck again by how generous these women have been to me, even with the little they have to give. I ate 5 delicious tortillas, relishing their taste, and hoping it won't be the last time I can sit in the kitchen and shoot the breeze with these friends.

I am trying to be positive and look ahead to all the good things this transition will bring...but these are the things that bring me to tears...the hospitality and friendships I have found in this place; in my community in Santa Rosa and my work in rural Copan. Warm tortillas and warm smiles are the best stuff in life. Moto rides (even when the chain almost breaks!) and fresh air on scenic mountain trails are priceless perks of my job.

I came across some helpful insight as I was wrapping up my online Perspectives course this week:

Ralph Winter writes: "The fact is that when we walk in the little light we have and keep going on and on taking steps in faith, the ways in which He leads us are almost always, as we look back, something we could have never been told in advance! Untold marvels lie beyond each step of faith. You don't really have to know what is beyond the next step, and you can't find out without taking the next step."

This reminder gives me peace. I could have never known that applying for SALT was going to lead me to Nueva Suyapa and the wonderful community I found there. And if I hadn't taken that step, I would have never been in a place to take the step of faith to move to Santa Rosa. If I hadn't taken that step, I would have never learned all that I have or built the relationships that enrich my life here. I can't know what is coming in this step that takes me to San Pedro, but I know there are great things waiting me there. And it gives me confidence for the unknown steps to come.