on Canadian soil again!

After 11 months...I'm back in Ontario again...and it feels strange to think that I'm here "to stay" for a while rather than just being on a visit. It's been good to start catching up with family...!

I already miss the Spanish around me :(, and I guess I'll have to start reviewing my French. ;) Hopefully now that I'm here, my hair will stop falling out! (I didn't feel stressed, but my body sure acting stressed! Yikes.)

My comfort right now is that the Lord is faithful and that he has an incredible purpose for his people. I'm excited to see what that looks like this coming year for me and for those around me.

A Reflection of Beauty

hasta luego, miqueas

Hoy fue mi ultima dia con los muchachos de Proyeto Miqueas. Estoy un poco triste (ya - muy triste)...pero tambien muy contenta que yo pude conocerlos. Espero que su amor por Dios y por la gente de Tegucigalpa va a crecer cada dia.

For those not Spanish inclined....(although I know my Spanish above isn't perfect)....

Today was my last day with the Micah Project guys. I am a little sad (okay, a lot sad)...but also very happy that I could know them. I hope that their love for God and for the people of Tegucigalpa will continue to grow each day.

photos compliments of the Micah Project http://www.micahcentral.org/

**SURPRISE**

For all of you who know me well, it is relatively hard to successfully surprise me. But my great buddies here pulled it off - very well! Sarah A., the expert, "emocionada" theme-party planner, and Sarah L., the second-in-command, threw me a surprise TEA-birthday-party! :) I love tea and I really love socializing with my friends, so they brought the two together for a lovely evening. Surprise to me! I truly was blown away!!!

My close girlfriends were ready, the tea cups were gathered, the tea pots steeping, the finger food was lovingly prepared, and the distraction plan (Sarah L. worked wonderfully) was in place. Little to my knowledge, I "almost ruined" the surprise numerous times, but it all worked out beautifully! We had fun laughing, sharing, and even crying a little together.

I am so thankful for the way God has placed special people in my life every step of the way! The friendships that are rooted in Him are definitely to be cherished.

Thank you, dear friends, for showing me love! Thank you, Sarah x2, for being amazing!!!

Deep Breath of Sabbath

Whatever is forseen in joy
Must be lived out from day to day.
Vision held open in the dark
By our ten thousand days of work.
Harvest will fill the barn; for that
The hand must ache, the face must sweat.

And yet no leaf or grain is filled
By work of ours; the field is tilled
And left to grace. That we may reap,
Great work is done while we're asleep.

When we work well, a Sabbath mood
Rests on our day, and finds it good.

Wendell Berry, A Timbered Choir, The Sabbath Poems 1979-1997,
Washington DC: Counterpoint, 1998, 18

one long good-bye

It is hard to explain how I've felt lately; there are so many emotions as my time wraps up in Honduras! It would be incomplete to do it without using the word "sad," though.

Sad...

...that my time here is quickly ending...

...that I am saying good-bye to so many people here whom I love and who love me...

...that all that is familiar here and all that challenges me will be gone...

But with that sadness comes an incredible gratitude. I'm sooo thankful that I have had the opportunity to be here, to experience these things, to be drawn closer to the Lord, and to build relationships with these people.

Friday was my last day with my students. We had a beautiful time, and at the end of the day I started to thank them for the great year. I don't know who broke down first, them or I, but all but two students were all crying pretty hard. Their words to me were more than encouraging, and they emphasized my mission here: to be more than just a teacher, but to be a mentor, a friend, and a channel of God's love. Thankfully I have a few more opportunities to interact with them (promotion, a birthday party they're throwing me, etc).

I cherish my time here in Honduras and will always remember the unique ways that students and their families interact with teachers. I've attended birthday parties, gone for dinner, and slept over at my students' houses. Super special! The students really give their hearts to you, and it is both challenging and rewarding to "hold so many hearts." God is amazing in how He provides!!!

Yesterday I also said good-bye to my dear friend, Erin Sheehy. I didn't think I had any more tears to cry after saying bye to my students...little did I know....I guess I'll just have to get used to wearing waterproof mascara! ;) Erin is my good friend from church and the one who always goes to the Micah project with me. She is an inspiration to me and a model of true servanthood.

Wow - God is so good in how he places all of these people in my path to challenge and to encourage me!

So....what am I doing now that I don't teach?!

Ha! If only you knew.....all the preparation for promotion, hosting a good-bye reunion for all the students I ever taught (happened today - so precious and encouraging!), report cards and all sorts of other end-of-the-year paperwork, cleaning out my classroom and going through my stuff at home, writing good-bye and thank you cards, visiting the dentist way too many times, attending potlucks, and trying to sleep in a regular schedule, to name a few things!

:) Sorry for the long blog silence.

Hopefully it won't be quite so long next time, but when so much is happening it's hard to find the time to blog and to know what to choose to write about!!

Thanks for your continued prayers for my transition!

Victor Moises Salgado Zuniga

This fine young gentleman is very special to me! Victor is my sponsor child and is in the kindergarten class at Nueva Esperanza, a Christian school and day-care program here in Tegucigalpa. The program provides food, safety, and education to children from the community who are from needy families.

Since I live relatively closeby, I have the privilege of visiting Victor. His face totally lit up when I surprised him with a visit this past Monday! :) Precious! We had fun chatting (in Spanish), coloring, reading, and playing with a fire engine. :)

Last year I went to visit with his entire family. It was very eye-opening to see their living conditions - a small, three-sided house built of metal and wood with a dirt floor and a tin roof. Fortunately they have a house! They are even fortunate enough to have a small stove and a bed that is shared by his Mom and his three older siblings. It is very humbling to interact with this family and those in the community.

I am reminded again of the many needs in this world, which are so overwhelming. However, I'm also reminded of the importance of reaching out and doing what we can where we are.

I'm so thankful for Victor in my life! :)