Buuuut otherwise, this has been a good week. I am starting to get ready for my time in the US. Making lists of things I need to pick up while I'm there. Nature Made vitamins (the cheapest grocery store brand in the US) are $35 for a bottle of 30 multivitamins in Honduras. I can find them in the US for $7.99.
Things are going to be different for me when I return to Honduras after visiting the US. I am going to teach English and help out with different aspects of the church. I am not sure of the details yet, but I am excited and ready for a change.
One of the coolest things about this whole change is that I know it was completely from God. On Wednesday there was a church leadership meeting. The same day I also had a meeting concerning the Breakfast Program. When I left my meeting we had come to the consensus that I should pray about whether God wants me to continue working with the preschoolers or focus more on teaching English.
The logical path seemed to be teaching English. The kids have no clue how to do their homework. They fill in the blanks but they have no idea what anything means. There are many people who are interested in taking an English class whom I don't currently tutor, so there was the possibility that it could be a full time thing. But I also knew I had to follow God's will for me, and I had no idea what that might be.
I prayed and prayed. I only slept a few hours. I didn't feel anxious, I just felt the need to pray. The only response I kept getting was that the decision would not be made by me. I kept feeling that my ideas and my thoughts really didn't matter because it was all in God's hands. That gave me a lot of peace. I didn't have to weigh out the positives and negatives. I didn't even have to think about my options. I only had to pray to God and ask what He wanted me to do.
I reached out to a very few people and asked for support in prayer. That was very helpful. Prayer was my only recourse, but I was not alone.
I talked to my landlord and she prayed with me on Wednesday night. She also advised me to speak with Walter, who is in charge of Buen Provecho. It was a wise idea, because it was possible that he might not want an English class in the church. So the next day I met with Walter.
I explained to Walter that I met with the ladies the day before and we came up with the idea that maybe I should teach English. I told him that I was praying about it and really had no idea what I should do. I started to ask him to join us in prayer, but he stopped me. He said in the leadership meeting the day before they decided I will be teaching English and helping the church in other ways too as soon as I get back from the US. He hadn't had a chance to tell me yet and the details are not finalized.
The fact that the leadership came to the same conclusion we reached in our little meeting gave me a lot of peace and made me realize that God was guiding us all in the same direction. I am excited to see how it is all going to turn out. It feels like I am about to enter a new phase of my life in Honduras.
Today I was reminding all of the kids to be at the church tomorrow morning at 7:15 for swimming. Last week was a little chilly and was also the first time the instructors had some of them swim without the flotadors. It was the biggest challenge they have faced so far. A few of them came to me over the course of the week and said they would not be able to swim this Saturday. I doubted their excused but never said a word
Today we all sat down and had a talk. It wasn't planned, we just happened to be together. We said that some weeks will be cold, and sometimes the teachers will teach things that feel scary at first. But if they miss a week of swimming they will fall farther and farther behind. So if they really want to learn to swim they need to come every Saturday unless they are in school. I know they all really want to learn to swim. I told them I am going to pray that their other obligations disappear, so they can swim tomorrow. Suddenly they all agreed that they wanted to pray the same. I have a strong feeling that most of them will be there tomorrow. I don't think they really had obligations. I think they were at a scary place and needed a little pep talk to move forward.
In the middle of our talk Maria Angelica leaned forward and whispered in my ear that she loves me. THAT is why I am serving in Honduras. I know she doesn't get a lot of attention at home so I have been consciously trying to spend time with Angelica and give her positive attention. Today we looked at photos on Facebook of her and the others swimming. She also was adjusting my earring. Some of her friends told her not to touch my earrings, but I told her that it was fine. So she adjusted the other side too. And told me my dress was pretty. It sounds like nothing - that she adjusted my earring. But for Angelica, any form of touch and positive interaction is important and precious.
I notice since she started swimming her personal hygiene has changed dramatically. In order to swim the kids have to bathe before they go to the pool. Today we were talking to 3 new girls who want to join the swimming program. I was going over the rules and she told them they have to bathe at home before class. Since swim classes began, Angelica comes to the Breakfast Program clean every day AND with her hair combed. (Let me tell you, that is a big deal.) Today she looked absolutely beautiful in her school uniform. I am constantly surprised and amazed to see the way that swimming effects so many other aspects of the kids' lives.
Last week when it was so cold several kids were shivering as soon as they got in the pool. I asked them individually and subtly if they had breakfast. Each of them said no, they had not eaten. I asked if there was food in the house. They said no. I told them if they don't have food in the house they need to tell me on Friday and I will bring food for them on Saturday morning. Tomorrow I am bringing breakfast for Angelica at her quiet request. I am going to make a bagel with egg and cheese. I hope she likes it and knows it was made with love.
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| Maria Angelica in a bathing suit for the first time. |
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| Taking the leap and leading the less brave So proud of this girl! |
Last week on Friday we had a salon day. We will have Pilates every Tuesday and Thursday. Today we had another salon day (that means we paint each other's finger nails after the Breakfast Program). We also had a birthday party for Jacky. I made a cake and we had a nice prayer before painting nails. I really enjoy sharing my nail polish and my knowledge of how to be healthy with the ladies who want to learn. It is fun to have lady time!
I am happy and blessed and very much looking forward to the future!
