Wanderlust...Guatemala.

Coming to Honduras, one of the things I knew we would "haaave" to do is take visa trips, which is basically taking an out of country trip to renew our Honduras visas. I wasn't excited about this. At all. (Can you sense the sarcasm?)

Anyway, as our trip date was approaching, we were still trying to decide where to go, what hotels we were going to stay at, what buses we were going to take. And there wasn't much I could do to help because, let's be honest, I'm just dumb in that area seeing as my only experience with international travel has been someone else doing the arrangements. A couple weeks before the trip, Rhonda came and told us she found a ride for us with a friend of hers she trusted. Such peace flooded through me knowing we weren't going to have to take any buses! Now it was left for us to decide, Guatemala or Belize. Belize would have been pretty but more expensive and longer to travel. On top of it all, we had sooo many fellow missionaries telling us how the laws had changed and we had to go two countries over and were telling us horror stories. After it all, we just decided to trust God and go to Guatemala. There were a ton of variables and worst case scenarios. All of which went through my head at rapid paces. 

The worst thing that happened was I received a faaabulous sun burn which has peeled and I'm now white as ever. 

Day 1. We left from Destino in the back of a pick up, arrived in Guatemala. We ate lunch (we found some awesome tacos mexicanos). Then we hopped in the pool. THE POOL. That was the best part out of the whole trip for me haha! Then we found a coffee shop with Guatemalan coffee (not as strong as Honduran but it was still good) and some yummy pastries. After that we did a bit of exploring and found that we like Guatemala. 

Day 2. We did some shopping in the morning and then went to a theme park outside of town. It wasn't like Schlitterbahn or Sea World or Six Flags. And I enjoyed it haha! That night, I was praying my heart out asking God to give us favor the next day. There were absolutely too many variables for a best case scenario to happen. 

Day 3. Best case scenario happens. We had absolutely no trouble at the border. Our visas were renewed the full 90 days we needed. And the exit fee was a whopping 3 bucks. I'm still trying to convince myself it happened. But, like someone once told me, "Why are we so surprised when God pulls through and protects and provides for us?" Still trying to figure out the answer to that question. 

Anyway, enjoy the photos! Wish you were all there with me! 

                            

  

Of course, a trip wouldn't be complete without a Chaco shot. Right?

I don't even remember taking this picture or what was happening. It's just funny for some reason haha!

There are far better things ahead than any we've left behind. ~C.S. Lewis

Snacking it up! 

One of the snacks we packed was some fruit that I still don't remember how to pronounce (sorry Bethany!). They went bad. And they stunk. So I started to poor the bag of the little orange fruits out and the guys in this van started waving their arms and telling us they wanted some. Tori and Jenna both tried throwing them but uh...couldn't get anywhere close...

I grew up tossing baseballs with my family in the back yard. And...well...got closer than anyone else. Not that it matters but...the fruit did bounce off the one guy's hand. He just didn't close his fist at the right time. Not that it matters that I threw the most accurate tosses. Haha! 

First meal in Guatemala and we ate Mexican food. Yep! 

This guy was across the street from us and was playing his guitar. I thought I would be clever and take a creeper shot and he saw me. The result was him making the most epic face I think I've ever seen. 

I tried to take a picture of this fake flower booth. The booth was real, the flowers were fake, just to clarify. 

I'm just not good at taking creeper shots because the booth worker saw me and made me take another picture with him holding his flowers. And yes, I bought some. 

This is the Basilica. It's the main attraction in Esquipulas, Guatemala, where we were staying. It's the origination of the "black Christ," and it has mass at 6 am every morning. We discovered this Friday morning when the bells, all the bells, not just one, not just two, but probably about 20, sounded off. There was no rhyme or reason, it was just a bunch of clanging bells. I'm glad I'm a Baptist. I'll just say that. 

Does ANYONE know what kind of flower this is? It looks like something out of a Dr. Seuss book! 

That awkward moment you get photobombed by your own roommate. 

There, that's better. 

Our hotel was ready to Sic 'Em! 

 Guatemalan sno-cone machine! 

This had shaved ice, 5 different flavors, jelly, sprinkles, and bananas. And it was yummy. 

Bought a head band from this lovely lady! The headband ACTUALLY fits my head. 

Kathy thought the head bands were so cool that she bought two! 

This little girl was a gem! Everywhere we went, vendors would push their way and interrupt simply to try and sell us something. I understand, that's their way of survival and I've gotten used to it. But this little girl, sat patient and quiet as we completed our transactions for the headbands. As soon as we were done she shyly approached me and asked if I'd like to buy anything she had. I'm a sucker for sweet faces and walked away with the CUTEST little doll. Well, second cutest. She was the cutest doll I think I've ever seen. And then I asked if I could take a picture with her. So sweet! 

I'm actually pretty proud of this picture. 

Jumping shot take...234...

Love. These. Women. 

Just for you dad! 

The hot dog had avocado on the bun. That makes it healthy right? 

Kathy and the GIANT bamboo. 

 Mom! Why isn't our bamboo this big???

This style will be seen on the streets of Manhattan in a couple years. 

I was trying to take a picture of this adorable little patch of sunlight...

and ended up with the picture below. Loved it! And I won't be able to do that again in a million years. 

And now I can proudly say that I climbed a 40 foot rock wall in a third world country. You'll notice all the rocks are spaced pretty sparingly. Ya, I noticed that too as I was climbing. 

And at this moment, I was simply trying to remember how to stand. 

 

All the pictures of Bethany climbing the wall are on her camera, but she was a BEAST. And this guy in between saved our lives on multiple occasions. And still smelled good after it all. 

Such a hipster! 

And yes, I have an obsession with Chacos. You're point? 

Discovering more of Honduras!

The day before we left for Guatemala, we had an extra vacation day. So Tori, Jenna and I decided to head half an hour away to Comayagua while Bethany hung out with her family while they were in Honduras. Needless to say, we had a blast! 

This is me in front of the Catholic church in Comayagua. Please note the Common Grounds bro-tank! It was a gorgeous building! Every time I see a gorgeous church building, I'm blown away by the intricacy and the beauty of the building. This time, I was given a thought, what if, the church, like the actual church known as "us" were as spiritually intricate and awe inspiring as this building. Buildings like this often point people's eyes towards the church. What if, we, as the church, pointed people's eyes towards Jesus Christ? What if the unity among believers, which we often have to fight for, was so beautiful, people couldn't help but look and wonder at the beauty that is the Church of Jesus Christ. Just food for thought! 

And here's Jenna and I. I am so blessed by the friendship I have with this girl! She's been an encouragement to me even before I considered coming down here to teach! 

Nice view right? 

And here's Teeny Tori!

The builders made the stones on the ground in the shape of the shadow cast by the church building. Pretty cool right? I thought so too! 

I do love panoramas. Take a look at those beautiful mountains!

And on our way down, we saw a bat! I told my dad that as soon as I took the picture, I realized the flash might scare him and make him go crazy and I would get rabies from bat bites. His reply? "I don't think the flash bothered him. Ever heard the term, blind as a bat?" Hmm...

Here's me in the teeny-tiny stair case! Any of my friends from Alpine remember Fat Man's Misery? This kind of reminded me of that!

Tour buddies! We stopped at a coffee shop and got a cookie! 

And that was our trip to Comayagua! 

My 4th grade class!

Took me long enough to get these pictures up. Oh well. Better late than never?

This is 4th grade class. I've discovered that assisting in this class is my element. I think I enjoy being an assistant much more than being a teacher, though I still enjoy my first graders. But, when I'm assisting, I have the ability to get on the same level as these kids and just be their friend and be an encouragement when I can. This class is also at the age that I just love. They're old enough that you can be silly with and play with maybe even a little sarcastic, but they're also young enough that they haven't hit the rude and crazy age of the teenagers. 

These are some of my Fourth Grade girls getting ready to get their "cereal." The cereal they have at school only comes on Mondays and it has oats and rice and sugar (I think). It's supposed to stick to their ribs a little bit longer to keep them from getting too hungry. 

This is my Recess assistant and awesome roommate, Teacher Bethany with some of the girls. I can't get over how sweet this picture is!

And then, we have my boys. I thank God so much for these sweet boys and continuously pray that they will grow into the men that God desires for them to be. Pray with me that they would break the chains of alcoholism and adultery that has entangled Honduras into a life of poverty. I pray that one day, these boys would become the spiritual leaders of this country, pointing all towards Jesus Christ.

This girl...is a character! Her name is Jasmine. Just look at her! Does she not make your heart melt?

Aaaaaand, this is Milton. We're not saying this out loud...but uh...anyone ever heard the term, "teacher's pet?" Don't know why that term came into my mind. Nope. Not at all. 

Jasmine, Isis (pronounced ee-sees) and Kenssi drinking their cereal!

Dilver, is such a sweet kid! One day we were on our way home from school and it started raining. The windows in the bus were down as always. I was getting sprayed with rain but it didn't bother me too much. But Dilver decided I didn't need to get wet so he reached up and closed the window and then patted his chest like, "I've gotcha teacher!" So adorable! The other day, Teacher Kathy (4th grade teacher) asked him if he would like to pray. It was such a sweet prayer that I had to blink back tears. Nothing but thankfulness in this kid's heart! 

And here's Milton and Jonathan. Jonathan is so stinking funny. His desk is closest to the teacher's desk where I sometimes sit to grade papers or organize folders or other such fun things. A couple Friday's ago, the kids had a vocabulary and spelling test (in which they all did AMAZING). I was putting their test results in their folders (which go home every Friday) and Jonathan, poor boy, was so nervous about his test score he couldn't concentrate on anything Teacher Kathy was saying. He peaked and saw his folder was on the top of the stack. He looked at me and grabbed his head in anxiety and scrunched his little face. So, being the pushover that I am with this class, I gently and discreetly held up his test score, 100%!!! He almost jumped out of his chair and then did this little quite dance and smiled the biggest smile I've ever seen. 

And here's some of the kids with Solomon, the husky dog that belongs to Rhonda's kids but just kind of wanders everywhere...especially where there's food!

And here's some more of the girls! The one posing is Claire. That is all her personality right there!

And Ingrid on the swing with David not looking at me haha!

I love this picture. Enough said. 

And last, but not least, here's my boys playing some form of Football Americano...I think. Either way, there's usually at least one band-aid after recess. 

Gozo

For the first time since I've been here in Honduras, I'm actually starting to REALLY enjoy life. 

Life has been the hardest I've ever experienced in this first month of living here. Not only was I dealing with living on my own for the first time, but I was dealing with living on my own in a third world country. There was so much to get used to: Shower heads that tried to kill you. Bugs that decided your shower was their shower (I have a love hate relationship with slugs). A grocery store that really has no rhyme or reason to it's organization (they have sugar on the baking aisle, the snack aisle, and the...um...female aisle). The lack of hot water. The vinegar washing of vegetables. The public transportation. The walking everywhere. Not knowing the language. New food (some good, some bad). It's just been extremely difficult. 

But now, for whatever reason, I am finally starting to feel comfortable in my surroundings. In church this morning, I finally gave up my last battle to God. It was a weight lifted off my shoulders. 

And to celebrate my freedom from current anxieties, I sat on the hammock in our backyard and saw these wonderful clouds! God is good! Dios le bendiga!  

Week 3 of school and some photo evidence showing I survived!

Here's to Friday! I love the kids that I work with, but yes, by Friday, I am exhausted! 

I won't lie, teaching First Grade has been one of the most frustrating things ever. They are sweet kids but there's always the few who can be a pain. We have the talkers, the tattlers, the kid that everyone tattles on, the whiners, etc.. I still love them SO much though! My biggest battle has been lunch duty. 1) I've never done anything close to lunch duty. 2) The kids don't understand me and I don't understand them. Their English is still very minimal and my Spanish is very minimal. 3) I have 27 kids, and there are two stalls for their bathroom. 4) They also have to brush their teeth during the time allotted for lunch. 

So, for 1) I'm clueless. 2) Major language barrier. 3) The bathroom situation ALMOST made me cry, we were starting 15 minutes later than we were supposed to, which is valuable teaching time with the kids. 4) Yes, there are the few who like to spit on each other. 

Thankfully, after week 3 of this, we're working things out. Yay!!! We actually started 10 minutes earlier today which was an AWESOME feeling! 

And here's some pictures!

I sat on the bus with these two girls for a couple days in a row. They kept asking me to make the sound of a "cat" or a "dog" or a "duck." From the picture I'm sure you can tell I made them do the sound of a pig!

 

 This is Kayra. She's one of my first graders and is SUPER smart. She's also incredibly sweet AND accepted Jesus into her heart at church on Sunday! Such an awesome thing! And She likes to make faces. 

 This is Elkin, one of my fourth graders. I had to take a picture of him today because the band-aid on his eyebrow was just too cute. He was playing "Football Americano" and that should explain it. I think I put a band-aid or clean off blood from at least one boy every other day. God is gracious and has strengthened my stomach so that the sight of blood doesn't make me queasy (And to anyone who is wondering, I do wash my hands afterwards!). 

And this picture is for my dad! This is Claire! She is another one of my fourth graders and is also Kayra's older sister! Please notice how my skin is getting darker! Please, please, please notice ;)
Also, the two teeth, one nostril, and one eye that you see at the bottom left-hand corner, that is Roger.