I'm learning...

Learning how to live with brothers.

[Carlos, Herman, & Fernando]

I grew up with two sisters and, well, girls just deal with things differently than boys do. Not to mention the cultural differences here. I have lived so much of my life to please others and keep the peace. However, I'm learning that it's often better to confront tough situations even if it is difficult at the time. In the end, the relationships are strengthened and a deeper level of love and trust are built.

[Rony & Ariel]

 Learning how to lead others into a deeper relationship with Christ. 

[Thursday morning Bible study]

The last month on the World Race in India, God asked me to start a Bible study with the girls in the community as a part of the church plant we were doing. I was scared and had no idea what I was doing, but I knew it was God's plan, and that He would be with me! I have attended many Bible studies in the past, but have never been a leader before. God sure knew what He was doing--calling me to grow in the area of leadership as part of His plan for me in Honduras was to come back and start Bible studies with the girls here.

[Saturday night Bible study]

 Learning how to be a mom through the good...and the hard times.

[with my boy]

Being a mom is awesome and rewarding, but it is also difficult and trying at times. God has given me a love for Luis like I have never loved anyone else. The more of his story I hear and see and experience, the deeper and more love I feel for him. He is only 14 years old and he has already experienced so much pain and hurt from the ones who should love him most. The hardest part for me is finding a balance because I want to give him the whole world, but I also want to teach him responsibility and respect.

[bike problems]

Learning how to cook many new things...and sometimes failing.

[failed attempt at cutting tomatoes]

Tony and Nidia have been so patient with me in the kitchen. I used to be the pickiest eater and only knew how to cook the few things that I liked to eat. (Think 5-year old diet--mac n cheese, PB&J, spaghetti, etc.) Last year on the World Race, I'm convinced that God began radically changing my taste buds. Now, I eat just about anything that is put in front of me! Tony and Nidia are teaching me how to cook--which is quite the task--but I'm learning!!

[the right way to slice tomatoes]

 Learning to love others even when it is difficult.

[Luis with his mom and cousin]

This past week, I have started spending more time with Nicole at her house. For those of you who don't know, Nicole's mom is also Luis & Fanny's mom. She lives right down the hill from them but never makes the effort to see them because she does not claim them as her children. Luis went there with me the other day there and he said something to his mom jokingly and she smacked him across the face. I know she was somewhat joking but it hurt me so much to see that, because I have seen it in the past when she wasn't joking. It is DIFFICULT for me to love this woman. But God is teaching me how to extend love and grace to people who don't deserve it, because I definitely don't deserve it.

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Please pray that God will continue to open up my heart to the things He is trying to teach me. That I will be obedient to listen to His voice. That I will continue to learn more about His heart  for me and for the people we are ministering to. 

back to school

As the month of February is fast approaching, we are looking for monthly supporters for 13 kids to attend school starting in the next few weeks. Most of them will be attending public schools which are free, but we will still need to buy their books, supplies, uniforms, etc. We will also be paying for them to take the public bus to and from school daily. 

[Steven, Ariel, Rony, Luis, Carlos]

Amalia, Sandra, Nicole, Steven, Carlos, and Fernando will be in grade school this year. For each of them, we will need $100 up front to buy books, supplies, and uniforms before school starts. Then, it will be a $20/month commitment to pay for them to take the bus daily, and for occasional treats and surprises to continue to encourage them in their studies.  Rony and Herman will be returning to high school this year, after dropping out of school in 6th grade. The cost will be $150 up front and $25/month.

[Fanny, Dania, Amalia, Sandra, Nicole]

We would like to send Ariel, Dania, Jennifer, Fanny, and Luis to a private Christian school this year. [If you haven't already, please read an opportunity for private education.] The school focuses not only on providing the students with high-level education, but also on building good Christian character and values. The cost will be $120/month per teen.

[Carlos, Fernando, & Herman with their friend Mario]

Please prayerfully consider sponsoring one of these teens. If you are interested in making either a one-time donation or monthly commitment please let us know!! We would also like to encourage sponsors to build relationships with the kids they are sponsoring through sending pictures and emails. We truly cannot do this without your prayers and support! 

Extreme Home Makeover: Herman's house

[If you haven't already, please read Herman. and Herman: becoming a leader.]

We have decided to start doing some house renovations in Los Pinos. We are beginning with Herman's family. Herman currently lives with us and works on the property, but we want his family to know that we have not forgotten about them. A few weeks ago, we went to visit the family and sat down to tell them our idea. Herman took the lead in explaining the idea for house renovations and asked his mom what needs to be done.

Week 1: Replace the support beams on the corners of the house. This community is situated on the side of a very steep hill, and the problem is that many of the homes in Los Pinos are beginning to collapse when the dirt falls out from the foundation. Replacing the support beams will make this home more sturdy and safe for the family.

Week 2: Paint the outside of the house. We want the community to not only see the physical changes of the house, but more importantly the changes in Herman's life and family.

Week 3: Build an outhouse. Their current outhouse is constructed out of a few boards and plastic trash bags. Our plan is to construct an outhouse much like the one pictured below.

In a few weeks, we will be hosting a World Race squad for a month on the property and they will be helping us accomplish these projects. Please pray that the Lord will use these projects to bless this family and that His name would be glorified through it. Pray that the community wouldn't see a bunch of "gringos" working, but that they would see the hands and feet of Jesus. I truly believe the Lord has bigger plans for this project than what we can physically see!!

a JOYFUL heart.

Meet Amalia. She is the youngest of six children in the Rodriguez family. She beautiful and sweet, and the most JOYFUL person I know!! Every time I see her, she runs up and gives me a hug with a HUGE smile on her face! She has a heart for service, and loves helping with anything and everything that needs to be done. She just jumps right in whenever she recognizes a need, without ever being asked.

[with Amalia]

On Saturday, Amalia was here with her mom. We were hanging out in my room as she browsed through my pictures and pointed out all the friends she recognized. Next thing I knew, she left the room and came back with a piece of tissue to dust off all my pictures. Later, she came in with a broom to sweep the floor. 

As we cooked dinner that night, I found out that Amalia also loves to cook. She was running all around the kitchen helping with preparations as we made tacos. In between tasks, she washed all the dirty dishes that were in the sink. She was constantly asking what else she could do to help.  And she did all this with a JOYFUL heart. 

This precious daughter truly reflects the heart of her Father in heaven.

The next morning, I was in my room listening to Spanish worship music and reading my Bible. She came right in, jumped up on my bed with me and started singing to Jesus. It was such a sweet time we had together! The time I spent with Amalia this weekend was a great reminder for me to be thankful always and to serve the Lord with a JOYFUL heart.

faith like a child

[Anderson, Herman, & Asmin on our first visit]

I have really enjoyed spending time with Herman's family--and especially with his sweet niece, Asmin. At first she was super shy and didn't really know what to think about us. Now, she gets super excited whenever we come over to visit. She always wants me to hold her and play with her. Every time we visit she is filthy, wearing the same outfit, no shoes, and dragging around a dirty little stuffed animal. Asmin lives in extreme poverty, but is so content and she has the most precious smile I have ever seen.

[playing with Herman's puppy, Cuatro on our second visit]

I love picking her up, holding her, telling her she's beautiful, and praying that she will grow up to know the Lord. I pray that she will one day come to know the love of her Father in heaven. That she will begin to grasp the love that He has for her. And that she will live her life to please Him above all else.

[our third visit...love this sweet girl]

As I think about my life, I am rich in the eyes of the world. But am I even half as content as precious little Asmin, who has nothing? I guess this is why the Bible says we ought to have faith like a child. They have so little, know so little, and are so eager to learn. I love that God is teaching me more about Him through the beautiful people and especially the sweet children here.

flossing my teeth...

...I don't do it very often so when I do, it hurts and my gums usually bleed. I don't like flossing my teeth. It's uncomfortable. It's easier to just leave them. To forget about it until I go to the dentist and he tells me I really should floss more often. It's healthy. It will prevent other problems in the future. But still, I choose to take the easy and comfortable route.

Tonight, as I was flossing my teeth (for the first time since my last visit to the dentist), God began revealing something deeper to me. He whispered into my heart that I do this in my relationships with others and with Him. 

WHAT, GOD?!

I often avoid confronting the things in my life that are hard or uncomfortable. Things that bring up pain or hurt from the past. But the truth is--God wants me to come to Him every day with these things. He wants me to open up my heart to Him and allow His truth and love to pour into the depths of my heart to HEAL it.

...Jesus, I want more of you. Help me to open my heart so you can bring healing...

TRUST. 

Because of my past, I don't trust guys. I have been hurt SO much in the past. 

I say I trust God, but do my actions and the way I live my life truly reflect that?
Or am I trying to be in control of everything I do?
I need to TRUST God and others, instead of trying to do it all myself.

LOVE.

My view of love has been skewed my whole life.

I have been believing that I have to do something to be loved.

Truth: Jesus loved me first and HE died for ME. 

Nothing I do will ever make Him love me more...OR less.

my beautiful girls

As many of you know, one of my roles here in Honduras is to start up our girls' ministry. Every Saturday afternoon, Dania, Fanny, and Jennifer will come out to the property to hang out, cook, have Bible studies, time on the internet, etc. and spend the night. Last Saturday night was our first meeting together and it was AMAZING!! We began with worship, prayer, and shared parts of our testimonies to get to know each other better. I can already sense that the Lord is going to bring a lot of truth and healing into these girls' lives and I can't wait to see the plans He has for them!

[hanging out before our meeting]

This week, we hope to buy three blankets and mats for the girls to sleep on. We will also be working on cleaning an area in the big building on the property so that we can have our own space to have our meetings and sleepovers. Eventually, we would love to get a TV and stereo to watch movies and have dance parties! We would also like to go on some kind of outing one Saturday each month--to the beach, park, museum, movies, etc. If you would like to help sponsor this ministry in any way, please let me know!

[Jennifer, Fanny, & Dania at our first meeting]

We also discussed many ideas with the girls for the future. They came up with a list of about 20 things that they would like to do. Nidia and I are going to put together a calendar so that the girls will know the plans for the following week. Some of their ideas include: exercise, go to the mall (shopping & movies), community projects (plant trees, trash clean-up, etc.), beauty night (paint nails, do hair, etc.). I love that the girls are so excited and have already begun to take ownership of this group and make it their own!

[with Fanny, Dania, Amalia, Sandra, & Nicole]

This Thursday, I will start meeting with the three younger girls (Amalia, Sandra, & Nicole) for about an hour at the church while the boys are having a discipleship meeting with Tony and Pastor Nicolas. I will be staying the night in Los Pinos every Wednesday night with Luis' family and will pick the girls up every Thursday morning to walk to the church. We will have a short Bible story/devotional time and we would like to provide the girls with a drink and snack every week ($1/person each Thursday). $15/month would fully support our young girls' ministry!! If you would like to help out financially, please let me know!

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Please pray that the Lord will continue to open up the girls' hearts to know Him more. Pray that they will desire a real, deep relationship with Him and that through that He will begin to transform their lives. Pray that they will begin to understand the true love of their Father, since none of them have a good earthly example of a father in their lives.

the beginning of transformation

About 3 weeks ago when I was still in the States, I was talking to Luis on Skype one night for about an hour. He told me that morning his dad had showed up at his house--Luis lives with his abuela and his dad lives in another city (for more info on his family situation, read I'm going to be a mom!!). He was sobbing as he told me his dad wanted him to quit school to come and work for him sanding and painting cars. Luis told him he wants to stay in school and graduate. His dad also told him that he couldn't return to the property. They got in a fight and Luis walked out, telling his dad he was going to church. Well, he went to church but then he took a bus out to the property without telling his dad. 

I had to have a serious conversation with him that night, telling him that God calls us to obey and respect our parents. I selfishly wanted to tell him to stay at the property where I knew he would receive 3 meals a day and be in a Christian environment, instead of going to his dad's where he may not eat and he may be beaten for leaving that day. But we both knew what was right, and he reluctantly agreed to leave the next day. I had no idea when I would be able to see or talk to him again. And as hard as it was to tell him that he needed to return home the next morning, I continued to pray and trust God with his precious life. This was the beginning of a transformation in his relationship with his dad.

[New Years Eve]

Luis has now been working with his dad for 3 weeks, and when I asked him how it's going, he said it's going well and he's been learning a lot. His dad now wants Luis to attend a technical high school, where he will learn a trade such as painting cars or installing electricity, plumbing, etc. His dad also invited me to spend New Years Eve with his family! I wasn't able to go, but he allowed Luis to come back after work and spend the night with us at the property! This is a HUGE step! Their relationship has never been good, but now they are beginning to build trust. 

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Please continue to pray for their relationship, and for my role in Luis' life and family. Pray that they will see the love of Christ through Luis, and that the transformation in his life would be evident. Even if my role here is just to bring this one family to know Christ, it will be enough. Because Christ is more than enough.