It's Hard To Believe

Today, I got to sleep in until 7:30. I had a nice breakfast at the team house. The pineapple is so fresh here and tastes so much better than the pineapple you get in the states. We had a pizza party for the younger boys this morning. They had a blast and ate a lot of food, but got quite rambunctious towards the end. I hung out with some of the middle-aged boys before lunch, and had lunch with them. We had vegetables and rice, and it was actually very good. Of course, it rained all day today, on and off. The kids are getting tired of it, but they are used to it. We had a great lunch that Dunia, Marisol, and Osiris prepared. They are such great cooks. Some of the church people who have sponsored children, had them eat lunch with us. After lunch, we had a pizza party for the younger girls. Afterwards, I hung out with the middle-aged boys some more. They are probably my favorite age group. I pass out a few gifts this afternoon to some of the kids that I had bonded with. It is so hard to say good bye. It is hard to believe that I have already been here for five weeks, and I am in no way ready to go home. I definitely think this is where God is calling me to be, and hopefully in the future I will live here and be on staff. Before dinner, we had a pizza party for the older boys. They are a very fun group. One boy, Erik, made an adorable bracelet for me. Some of the boys last year made them for me, too, but thus one is so much cuter. We had a great dinner of barbecue chicken, rice, mashed potatoes, tortillas, carrots, pudding, and my favorite, sweet bread. It was probably the best meal I have had since I have been here, and I was so stuffed after eating. Every time I leave, I tell myself I am not going to cry, but it gets harder and harder every time I am here, because of the bonds with certain kids that get closer and closer. I do not want to leave. I am having a very hard time with it. I am planning on coming back for Christmas, and hopefully staying for at least three months, but hopefully from Christmas through the whole summer. This is my home-away-from-home, and definitely the place I need to be. I love it here. Orphanage Emmanuel is definitely my favorite place on earth. Tomorrow, I am leaving around one or two, and heading the long journey to San Pedro Sula. I will spend the might there, and leave Monday around one in the afternoon. So, two long days of travelling. I love and miss you all!

Some more pictures:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=42377&l=68858&id=508170298

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=42504&l=39d5f&id=508170298

Pizza, Pizza, Pizza

Today, I woke up around 7:00, and headed over to the team house for breakfast. I had some great pancakes. I do not think Dunia can make a bad meal. I had toddler duty this morning. We walked them to the team house and played with toys and ate some snacks. They were so excited. We got a new toddler, today. His name is Oscar, and he is four. He is a little scared to be here so far and is crying alot, but it is understandable coming to a new home, and it will take him some time to get used to. I do not know his full background yet, but I know he has already had to testify in court against his father, and is only four. It is very sad, but a great thing that he got to come to Orphanage Emmanuel. I went to town today and bought a passion fruit charamusca from Glenda's. She only had one left, and I was so sad. She is making passion fruit tomorrow, and I can't wait to get one. The hammock guy came today, and sold hammocks and some other handmade stuff to the team here. Everyone bought something, and he definitely made some money. He is a very good guy, and he needs the money. I got to take a short nap before lunch. I ate dinner and went to afternoon devotional with some of the middle aged boys. It was a lot of fun. One kid needed a new pair of shoes, and got a pair from the warehouse with skates in them. I don't think he had ever seen them before and was so excited. We had a pizza party for the middle aged girls and the special needs girls tonight. They had a lot of fun and enjoyed the skit, the team performed. We also had a group game for them. Esperanza gave me lessons on how to hit a soccer ball with my head. Let's just say, I am not too good at soccer. Especially not compared to the kids down here, who are amazing soccer players. One of the older boys, Fernando, had a birthday last week, so some of the volunteers gave him a birthday party tonight for some of his best friends and his siblings here. Everyone at the party had a great time. We taught some of the kids how to do the Thriller dance. They think it is so funny. The eight, younger girls who are in the choir sang for us at dinner and ate dinner with us. They are so cute. I gave Yesi some presents I have gotten together for here and she loved them. It is so great to see these kids smile. Katja and Max shared their testimony with the group tonight. Everyone on staff here has a great testimony. Hopefully, one day, I will be on staff, too. It rained pretty much all day today. Thanks for everyones prayers. I love and miss you all!

Some more pictures:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=41957&l=1d476&id=508170298

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=42377&l=68858&id=508170298

More Rain

Today, I woke up at 5:45, and started the day. I went to the middle aged boys' circle and the younger girls' circle. I ate a great breakfast with the team, and then was off for toddler duty. We took the toddlers on a long walk all the way around the orphanage and went to the farm. They loved it, but we definitely tired them out for a good, long nap. I went to the store after lunch and got a few charamuscas, and talked to some of the people who work at the store. It has been pouring rain on and off all day. I am getting quite tired of it, I feel like I am wet all of the time. I played with the special need children for a little while before lunch. Lunch was fabulous. I am getting to eat really good since the team is here. After lunch, a few ladies from town came and sold us some of their handmade baskets. After lunch, I worked in the craft house and helped pass out gifts to sponsored children, making sure they write a letter back, if it is from their direct sponsor and not just a friend. This evening, for the middle aged boys, we had a pizza party, with chips, drinks, fruit snacks, and of course pizza. We had a short skit, and then hung out and played with the children and took lots of pictures. We had a fabulous dinner, and I think I am fuller than I have been since I have been here. Wade shared his testimony with the group tonight. It is always nice to hear it and is always very inspiring. The Tegucigalpa Airport will not open this week, and might open next week, so the group will be flying out of San Pedro Sula. Tomorrow, we are expecting a new toddler, a boy who is three years old. It is always nice to get new kids and exciting to meet them. It is also sad at the same time, because every kid here is sent from the government, which means their situation before the orphanage was not so pleasant. Sorry this is short, but once again, I am exhausted. I will try to post pictures tomorrow.

The Group Has Arrived

My morning started at the usual hour, and I went to the younger girls' circle. My family and Bonnie made it in last night at around 10:30. They were tired, but glad they finally made it here. I had toddler duty this morning. We walked to the store and got suckers and drinks, watch the cows, watched Luis make bricks, and played on one of the playgrounds. It was quite an adventure today, but they had a great time, and were definitely tired out from all of the walking. I played with the special need children after that, and had a great time. My three favorites are probably Noehmy, Pedro, and Marie, although, I love them all. The Covenant group arrived at about 11:30, they were all so happy to finally be on orphanage grounds. Dunia, Marisol, and Osiris, are cooking for the team, and as always, it is wonderful. I ate lunch and dinner with some of the older boys. They are so funny, and like to practice their English, and I like to practice my Spanish. I went to the hospital in town today to drop off some medical supplies. I also had to run to the store and get cheese to make pizza for all of the children here. I got six pounds, after much hassle, and will most like have to get more tomorrow. I had a fabulous, passion fruit charamusca from Glenda's, and I like passion fruit now. I have never had passion fruit before, and it kind of tastes like grapefruit. Sorry, this blog is so short, but I am super exhausted. I will try to post some more pictures tomorrow. I love and miss you all!

Lots of Rain

Today, started at the usual time, 6:15. I really don't even need my alarm anymore, because I wake up around 6:00, without it. I had a granola bar for breakfast. I eat them all the time, and need another type when I get home. I love these, but I can pretty much taste them without even eating them. The toddlers this morning were interesting. We played with them at their house and wen for a walk around the back of the orphanage. We picked orange and yellow flowers(weeds), and kicked over a bunch of ant hills. No accidents today. Daniel and Erika told me everytime they had to go to the bathroom, and I reminded them frequently. Erika threw one fit because she didn't want to hold Erlon's hand, and Erlon threw a fit because he didn't want to take a nap. What a life it must be to be a toddler! Eat, Sleep, and Play! It must be nice. I hung-out at the store with Dunia, Marisol, and Cinthia. We had great talks about all sorts of things. Cinthia is studying at a very expensive, university in Tegucigalpa. She is very smart and is studying to be a doctor. Dunia still wants to study in the states, and we are working on that. We just have to get a visa, which can be very difficult here because of the government. It poured for about an hour around lunch. It was so nice. Around two, there was supposed to be a soccer game from some of the middle-aged boys in Jordan's yard, however it got rained out. It started pouring, non-stop, for about an hour. We desperately needed the rain here, and it cools everything off and brings a nice breeze. Dunia is coming to our house tonight to make tortillas with us. I have the recipe, but they never turn out like Dunia's. They are heavenly. The Covenant Presbyterian Group will all be in San Pedro Sula tonight. They will spend a few hours tonight at a hotel in San Pedro Sula. They will head this way for the orphanage around 5 a.m. My family has decided to get a private taxi, and go ahead and come to the orphanage tonight. Everyone from The Covenant Presbyterian Group should be here by lunchtime tomorrow. Please pray for everyones safe travel to the orphanage. I love and miss you all!

Some More Pictures:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=41957&l=1d476&id=508170298

Los Ninos

I woke up around 6:15 a.m.. I went to one of the younger girls' circle. My usual morning routine. I had a granola bar and peanut butter crackers for breakfast. Toddlers this morning was quite an adventure. We took them to the craft house and made quite the mess. They had just about every box of toys spilled out and mixed together on the ground. They don't really understand pick up as you go. I made a bracelet for Jessica. She had a huge smile on her face. We tried to build a puzzle with a few of them, and they don't get the concept of building it and keeping it together. They just think it is fun to take it apart. Three of the toddlers threw tantrums when we had to leave. I ate two fabulous, tortillas for lunch at the store today with a diet pepsi. I played with the special needs kids for a little while this afternoon. It was very cloudy and windy out. I got to take a nap this afternoon while all of the kids were in school. This afternoon, I watch a movie with some of the older girls. We made them cake and popcorn. We watched a bootleg copy of Step Up 2. They have seen that movie so many times, but it is still their favorite. It sprinkled for a little while, and then there were two beautiful rainbows at the same time. As soon as I got my camera out, they were gone. I played with the toddlers this evening and watched the older boys play some crazy, soccer-type game. The toddlers loved to watch them. The children here are so good at soccer. It is like second-nature to them. The crate finally got unloaded this afternoon. The two customs people who came were really nice and actually looked over a bunch of "expired" food. The only thing we had to get rid of was the rice and some drinks. However, the drinks were bad, so it was not that much of an issue. Dunia and Osiris are busy getting stuff ready for the group coming in tomorrow. I love those two girls. They are so sweet and strong in their faith and are great role-models for the younger girls, and they are both fantastic cooks. American Airlines overbooked the flight today by thirty people for my church group that is coming down here, and about eight people made it to San Pedro Sula tonight, and the rest of the group is in a hotel in Miami. Hopefully, they will be here around eight tomorrow evening. It is sad because they will miss another day at the orphanage with these amazing children. Tomorrow some of the middle-school age boys have a soccer game, that I am going to watch in the afternoon. They are amazing, and it is so fun to watch. I love and miss you all!

Some more pictures (the new ones are at the end of the album):
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=41072&l=c8df1&id=508170298

Yummy In My Tummy

Today, I woke up at 7:30, and started getting ready for church. Church is always fabulous. Pastor Herman is great preacher and his sermons are always good. The had great songs today. Jordan does a great job leading worship. It was a beautiful day today, very breezy. It felt great. Around lunch it poured for about fifteen minutes. It was great. I was walking to the store for lunch, and was so relieved to finally have some rain. It has been over two weeks with no rain here, and that is very rare, especially since it is the rainy season. Lunch at the store was great, always. Rice, corn tortillas, fried yucca, and potatoes. I didn't get any meat today. The chicken is my favorite, but I had that yesterday, and there wasn't any today. This afternoon, we had a wonderful thunderstorm. It rained alot, and the thunder sounded great. It made my Sunday nap, super good. About a month ago, a man here found a coral snake here, while hiking. He picked it up and held it by its head. He brought it back to the clinic and put it in a jar of alcohol to kill and preserve it. Coral snakes are one of the top ten most dangerous snakes in the world. I am just glad I haven't seen one. I don't think I would have been scared of it, until I found out how poisonous it was. It is now dead and preserved in a jar in the clinic. Since it rained almost this whole afternoon, the kids were all in their houses. We have taught a few of the toddlers to say "yummy in my tummy". It is so cute. I don't think they all know what it means, but they love saying it. Tomorrow morning I have toddler duty, eating with the older boys for lunch, hanging out with the special need children in the afternoon, and having a movie party with some of the older girls. My church is coming tomorrow evening, so it will be good to see everyone from back home. I love and miss you all!