Week #1 Down (Karen W)

"We also rejoice in our sufferings,
because we know that suffering produces perseverance..."

This is the verse of the week, contributed by Andy. I know it doesn't fill you with the fluffy mushy gushy feelings that you might get once in a while knowing the affectionate presence of our Heavenly Father. However, these words have been a bit of a reality for us this week. It all started when we moved in with our host families last Saturday (December 1). It hasn't been easy. We have been stripped of everything we know and are familiar with and have been placed in completely new surroundings. We now have to do things in ways we aren't used to and can't insist on doing them our own way. We aren't able to ask simple questions, tell jokes, or communicate what we want or don't want. We have even been, in part, stripped of our own personalities since it is impossible to fully express our style of communication to the Honduran families and friends we are with. And so because of all these trials we have come to realize how much we appreciate every other member of our team and the precious time we get to spend with them turning our tears to laughter and being able to speak English.

Despite it just being hard most of the time, each day has been an easier step and God has been showing Himself faithful to us in very simple and basic ways. It is a huge blessing to have another team member just come over and visit one evening. It's a huge accomplishment to successfully have a five minute conversation with your host mother or brother. It is an answer to prayer when our host younger host sister isn't forcing us to sit through her own Spanish lesson. It is wonderful to know we are wanted by the kids in the family who are excited to have us in their home. It is so helpful to have family members who do know some English. So join us in praising the Lord for his faithfulness and for desiring us to know Him better through perseverance through struggles.

...perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." Romans 5:3-5

A Few Random Facts about Honduras:

1. There is no flushing toilet paper. Instead we have to throw it away in a trash can. Some of us have already had to fish it out after forgetting.
2. Driving rules seem to be nonexistent. If they are, it's not obvious. To put it bluntly, the drivers here are crazy. And using the horn is not offensive here so they use it all the time.
   
3. Hondurans point with their lips. Not all the time of course, but when it's just easier or necessary.
4. All Hondurans who lives in Tegucigalpa are either Olimpia or Motagua. These are the two futbol (soccer) teams in Honduras and they are pretty hard core about it.
   
5. There are girls selling tortillas up and down the small alleys/streets where our houses are so every now and then you hear someone who is carrying a basket on their head yelling "Tortillas!...Tortillas!"

(and hopefully more to come)



This is the team at a concert one of the first nights. Accompanying us are some of the locals: Ronal, Anita, Bessy, and Allan