Friday, July 15, 2011

Although I’m already back in the States, I’m going to write one last blog on my Honduran experience. I’ll admit that it’s been hard to comeback, and so writing this has graciously allowed me to revert back in my mind to those dusty streets, rainy afternoons, and smiling children. As opposed to writing about what I was learning while there, I’m going to tell a little about what I actually did during my time at La Providencia. As an intern, my role was to teach English. Starting at 7:30 in the morning when I hopped off the school bus with the children at Academia La Providencia, I was attempting to instruct our difficult language to several eager students. My first “class” was with one set of house parents. Despite the four children playing noisily on the porch, stacks of dirty clothes to be cleaned, dishes piled, beds unmade and a to-do list a mile long, these two servants gathered excitedly every morning with me. We memorized flash cards, practiced greetings, and laughed about pronunciations. After playing and hugging goodbye to each child, I walked across the path to the other orphan home to work with that precious mother. She’s taking an English class right now and so we muddled through her homework and attempted to understand past tense, positive and negative commands, and how to ask proper questions. It was comical as we navigated the ins and outs of English grammar. With both these sessions, inevitably our mornings turned to Spanish conversations about our lives and the faithfulness of the Lord. These were precious times for me as I got a glimpse into the hearts of beautiful friends who are seeking to serve the Lord daily. I’m not sure how much better they will be at speaking English. I’m not even sure if they’ll remember the English words for “sink,” “shovel,” and “welcome,” but I do know that I am a better person because of the mornings I got to spend with those three special people, and I am very grateful!

After a little work in the library at school and a quick lunch with the Academia La Providencia students, I piled on the bus with the little ones at noon and headed back to the Agua del Padre neighborhood. My next class consisted of youth and adults that were some way connected to La Providencia. Whether the mother or sibling of a student at ALP, a neighbor or a friend, each of the 8 committed students came every day eager to learn. We had a great time together. The good thing was that they all came with the same level of English…zero. The hard thing was that with that level of English, the amount to learn is almost daunting! We took it little by little learning numbers, colors, verbs, adjectives, and a lot of vocabulary. By the end of four intensive weeks, the students could say basic English phrases with confidence, which was such a success! The relationships that were built along the way are priceless. While playing games and taking notes, we broke down language and cultural barriers to form true friendships. On the day of our last class, I surprised them with certificates for their accomplishments in English. In turn, they surprised me with wonderful gifts and notes to remember them and their native country. It was a very unique and awesome group of students and I miss them every day! After those students filed out to pick up their kids off the ALP bus, I spent time tutoring a couple of those students one-on-one. For some students a bilingual education is amazing, for others, it provides such confusion that mastery in either language is very difficult. Therefore, I worked with a couple of those students to help them with the alphabet, phonics, and grammar of English. It was both rewarding and frustrating, and I pray that the Lord will guide them in their educational endeavors. My day ended with the administrator from La Providencia and his wife. Inevitably, it was also the time when a big storm usually rolled in, so we spent our late afternoons huddled under the roof of the church trying to practice English without electricity. Gratefully this couple, especially the wife, is very good at English. We learned a few basic word structure tricks, but mostly we practiced listening and speaking. I would transcribe songs from my iPod, leaving blanks for certain words. Then, while listening to the song over and over, the couple would proudly fill in the blanks of the song. We loved this activity and ended up singing American songs to each other all month long. Just as with the other classes that I taught, this time was more relationship building than anything else. I loved hearing their stories and learning about the Christian Honduran culture through their experiences.

They are both dear believers and now very dear friends of mine!

It’s hard to describe what a privilege it was to teach each one of these students. I loved the adventures that each day held and am so grateful for the time that I was able to spend in Honduras. Those friendships will forever be a part of my life and I have no doubt that I will be united with them as soon as I can get back down there!












Friday, July 01, 2011

My Adoption Learning!!





I’ve been thinking a lot about adoption since I’ve been here in Honduras. It seems that it has come to my mind in three main ways. Primarily, because I have been spending so much time with the families here at La Providencia, I have experienced the reality of adopting orphans first hand. Each family here has six children in the home, at least four of whom are adopted. It is amazing to watch how the families work. The parents have a set schedule for the kids and they discipline them in a Godly way to train them to be respectful and obedient. The kids are fed, bathed, clothed, and provided for in every way physically. They are also loved unconditionally and encouraged according to each of their needs. Both sets of parents are Honduran and have committed to serve here at La Providencia for the next sixteen years. Not only have they adopted these children to be a part of their families, they have also adopted a new way of life and have made many sacrifices. Adoption requires a heart that is willing to put others before self and a willingness to change in order to love and accommodate others.

Not only have they adopted these children to be a part of their families, they have also adopted a new way of life and have made many sacrifices. Adoption requires a heart that is willing to put others before self and a willingness to change in order to love and accommodate others. adopting orphans first hand. Each family here has six children in the home, at least four of whom are adopted. It is amazing to watch how the families work. The parents have a set schedule for the kids and they discipline them in a Godly way to train them to be respectful and obedient. The kids are fed, bathed, clothed, and provided for in every way physically. They are also loved unconditionally and encouraged according to each of their needs. Both sets of parents are Honduran and have committed to serve here at La Providencia for the next sixteen years.

Secondly, although I’ve only been here for a couple of weeks, I’ve been adopted here in Honduras! In my last blog I wrote about how slow the pace of life is here. That still holds true except for in one area: relationships. After being here less than a week, I was called to the front of the church where the whole church sang to me for my birthday and prayed for my life. They threw a surprise birthday dinner and have made me feel so loved. Everyone has embraced me with open arms and it has been amazing. The couple that I’m living with call me their “American daughter” because they have “adopted” me and take care of me as if I’m their own child. Even the director of the ministry told the groups that his church has “adopted” me for the month and that is exactly what has happened. The truth is that I know they treat every person this way who comes to serve here for an extended amount of time. It is in their nature to encourage and embrace others before themselves. I can’t explain how blessed I am to be on the receiving end of this “adoption.” Although I’m miles away from my own, I know that I have family here in Honduras—even in less than two weeks!

I think that the most important thing that I’ve learned about adoption is that it’s not humanly. The reason that these friends are able to adopt people into their lives and hearts is because they know that they have been adopted by our Heavenly Father. Ephesians 1:4-6 says: For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. We’ve all been adopted because of the sacrifice that Jesus made for us. That’s why the people I’ve encountered here can adopt and love so freely. They understand that they are so freely loved, forgiven, and that we are all children of God.

Adoption is now synonymous with the word “sacrifice” in my mind now because of what I’ve experienced here. I will never forget my adoption here in Honduras because I know that these new friends will always be a part of my family.