Feliz Navidad and a Happy New Year!

I wasn't really sure what to expect when it came to spending the Holidays in Honduras.  Not only was I unsure of the customs, but I wasn't sure where I would be and who I would be with!  I ended up staying in Siguatepeque because I didn't have much time off school (I had two four day weekends though, which was nice!).

On the 23rd my church had a special Christmas service with a Christmas message and special presentations from the children.

The 24th is the "big day" of Christmas in Honduras as the women of the house spend the day making food for the midnight feast that is a tradition here.  Along with the midnight feast there are also midnight fireworks!  I spent most of my day at the house, which was nice as it gave me a change to cook, videochat, and relax, however, I also had the opportunity to go to my teacher's house for the afternoon.  She and her family taught me how to make a form of empanadas that are traditional in their family for Christmas.  They are filled with a (sweet) mixture of pork, green plantain, and potatos, and dipped in sugar before baking.  I was, sadly, not very good at getting the edges right, but it was fun to try!

That night I went back to the house and made my grandma's recipe for goulash and talked with my mom online.  I thought about going to bed early, but I decided to stay up and see the fireworks.  We had been hearing/seeing fireworks and firecrackers for weeks, but I was amazed at how many went off at midnight!  It was so cool to see how Hondurans celebrate the birth of the King with fireworks!

The next day was spent at the house of fellow students eating lots of food and playing spoons.  It was fun to spend time speaking English and getting to know everyone better.  

On Saturday I went to Cane, La Paz and to Comayagua with another student, a missionary from my mission, two teachers, and some friends.  We had a lot of fun visiting the new statue of Jesus and touring the cathedral in Comayagua, which is home to the oldest clock in Latin America.

By New Years the lady I live with was back, and most of her children, their spouses, and their children came to spend New Years together.  We ate a very late (10:30pm) dinner and waited for the new year.  One of the special traditions here is "burning the old year", in which a scarecrow like thing is made representing the old year, and it's stuffed with old newspaper and firecrackers.  It is also celebrated with lots of fireworks!

A New Routine

I am getting used to the routine of my life here in Siguatepeque.  While I am not a person who loves structure, I am finding a certain amount of comfort and normalicy in having a weekly routine.

On Sundays I attend both services at my church and this takes most of my day, except for a couple hours in the afternoon which is a great time to rest or talk to family through Google Hangout (it's a lot like Skype).

Monday-Friday I have class for 4 hours in the afternoon.  It's sounds like a long time to sit in the same class but the teachers are great about having a variety of activities and topics.  Sometimes class is not even in the classroom.  One of my vocabulary lessons involved taking a walk around the neighborhood with my teacher so that she could show me various types of building materials and vocabulary associated with giving directions.  This coming week I will have another teacher is going to come and teach me the vocabulary associated with jewelry making and we are going to actually make some jewelry!  In the mornings and evenings I study, work on reports/newsletters/etc, do laundry and hang out with my host family.

 

On Tuesdays I stay at school for a Bible study (in English) and a potluck meal.  Most of the people who come to the study are fellow students, but there are some area missionaries who come as well.  On Wednesdays my church has a service which I try to make it to (although it's more complicated because it starts after dark, but early enough that I am not necessarily done eating supper, so I don't always make it to that service.

On Saturdays I go downtown, poke around little shops, get a few groceries and other things I need and eat lunch out.  Sometimes I go alone, sometimes with friends.  Today I went with two other students from the school and we had a great time running errands, getting things we needed, and finishing up at a favorite outdoor restaurant that serves a very yummy Italian panini.

The lady who I live with is a very good cook and she cooks all three meals for me every day except for Sunday when I cook for myself (or eat leftovers from Saturday's lunch!).   I have a room to myself, and I share the upstairs bathroom with any other student who might be living in the house at the time (there is a second upstairs bedroom).  The living room of the house is also upstairs, and for the most part we are the only ones who use it).

Life here is quite different from my life in the States, and while there are elements of my life in Oklahoma that I miss, I am enjoying my life here as well.  I am so grateful for the way God has provided for me here and for the peace and comfort only He can give in the middle of transition!

Open the Eyes of my Heart Lord

On a Spring Break trip to Mexico in 2008 I learned the words to "Open the Eyes of my Heart, Lord" in Spanish.  It was on this trip that I first began to feel a call to missions.  I was with my college campus group, and it was a memorable time for many reasons- from funny things that happened to the gratitude of the church we helped that week.  However, what I remember most is that I was sitting outside the church, talking with a friend, and suddenly I felt God calling.  I didn't know where, when, or for how long, but I knew that I was being called.

This Sunday, over seven years later I stood in church and sang "Abre los Ojos de mi Alma" (Open the Eyes of my Heart Lord"), and I just about started crying.  So much has happened since then in reguards to my calling to missions and God has taken my life in a direction that I never would have suspected my Junior year of college, and I am so very thankful.

On Tuesday nights there is a Bible study at the school, and we meet for a meal, Bible study, and worship.  One of the songs we sang was "Open the Eyes of my Heart, Lord".  As I sang the song in English, the words sunk in.  I thought of the words in a way I hadn't before.  Open the eyes of my heart, Lord, to see all that you have done and are doing for me.  Open the eyes of my heart to see Your presence is the world.  Open the eyes of my heart, Lord, to the needs around me and how You would have me serve.

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord. I want to see You.

It's Already Been a Month

It's both hard and easy to believe that I have been in Honduras for a month now.  I am settling into life here nicely.  Currently I am living in Siguatepeque and studying Spanish.  I live with a lady named Nary, and her niece, Vanessa, who is about my age.  I spend spend the afternoons taken Spanish classes, and the evenings, mornings, and weekends studying, practicing Spanish (communicating with the people around me!) and going to church.

A couple weeks ago something (I am not sure what) happened to my back and I was laid up for a few days.  It was painful and a little scary, but God was with me and he blessed me in the form of people who were here to help me.  I went to the doctor, got a lot of rest, and my back is much better and feels normal unless I try to do too much.

Siguatepeque is a very nice place to be!  It's pretty quiet and safe and it's up in the mountains so it's cooler than many other places. The past couple of Saturdays I've gone downtown and explored and done some shopping for things that couldn't quite fit in my suitcases.  It's nice to feel like I know my way around a bit.

There is so much more I could say, but a newsletter will be coming shortly, so I will save it for that!

I have had quite the week!  In the last week I arrived in Honduras, went to Ladies' Retreat in Catacamas, and have now started language school in Siguatepeque!  It's a lot to take in and process, but it's good.  I am so excited to be here and see first hand how God is at work!  Someday I will do a longer post, but right now I have a lot of studying and reading, so I will leave you with a panorama of the view from the balcony of the house where I am staying.

Finally!!!

Well, it's been a long two days of travel, but I've made it!  It's hard to believe that I am in Tegucigalpa, ready to start a challenging, but exciting new chapter in my life.  It's hard to take in how much my life is changing with this move.

I won't write much because I am tired and still processing everything, but I am excited to be here and I wanted to let ya'll know I got her alright (and so did my bags, praise God!)

This was taken 5 years ago about a month or two after I first got to Honduras...I was already in love with this beautiful country!

Vocab:

Maleta: Suitcase (noun)

Viajar: Travel (verb)

Viaje:  Trip (noun)

Vuelo: Flight (noun)

Descansar: Rest (verb)

6 Days to Go!

A week from now I will be in Honduras!  Crazy!  Here is an update on how I am doing on my list of 30 things to do before leaving.

1) Drink a cherry limeade.
2) Go for a walk in a park.

3) Eat pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting
4) Watch TV

5) Spend with Alle and Keri.
6) Enjoy the amazing selection at Walmart.
7) Go to Hobby Lobby.
8) Eat at Sonic.
9) Take Pictures with Friends.
10) Have my traditional Christmas morning breakfast- Monkey Bread!
11) Do a craft with my mom.
12) Have coffee with Bev.
13) Girls night with Camille and Stevy.
14) Window Shop in Utica Square.

15) Eat at Arby's.
16) Buy a frozen Pizza.

17) Hold a kitten.

18) Eat at Chick-fil-A.

19) Walk on wall-to-wall carpeting.

20) Enjoy the goodness of Olive Garden.

21) Sleep in air conditioning.

22) Worship at my home church.

23) Make Swedish Meatballs with Lingonberry Jam.

Here is the recipe we use: Almost Famous Swedish Meatballs.  You can find Lingonberry jam at Ikea, World Market, and Sprouts or substitute current jelly (but I didn't like it nearly as well).

24) Enjoy Fall foliage

25) Take a bath

Bathtubs are not common in Honduras.  I will be taking showers unless I happen to stay somewhere that has a bathtub, but that is unlikely. While I usually prefer showers to baths, I do love a nice, hot bath to relax!

26) Eat a donut.

27) Drink root beer.

Root beer is occasionally found in Honduras, but not very often, and is sometimes put in the beer section.  I imagine there have been some confused costumers.

28) Eat biscuits and gravy.

29) Wear fall clothing.

30) Drink hot chocolate.