Hello! Jim arrived safely Thursday. We all spent Friday evening at the ministry school, where Jim is staying until the team arrives, playing games.. . actually the men went in one room and played hearts and the ladies stayed in another room talking and laughing! It was a fun time. We had Paula and Mark and the kids with us yesterday evening, because they had to make a trip into Teguc with Annette to do some residency stuff.

Friday morning I woke with some stomach problems, but I am feeling better today. Although I have not eaten anything, so I am still playing it safe.

I left the school during lunch yesterday to come home and get some medicine then headed back to the school for the rest of the afternoon. I didn't think anything about traveling by myself, it was a good feeling to know that I was confident enough to do that. I am good at pointing. :)

Thursday evening we met Glenda at Villa Real for dinner. I had not had a chance to see her yet since I arrived, so we had a fun ladies night laughing and cutting up. Jim Pack took her kids to Wendy's so I haven't seem them yet, but I am sure it was a welcome break for Glenda.

We are preparing for the team's arrival, preparing for the team's arrival tomorrow, making preparations for Parents' Night at the school next week, and all the fun activities for the kids at the school.

Helen has been working with a group of girls at Restoration Church in Barrio Bokeem this week, so we are heading there this afternoon for their dance practice, then Helen and I are going to go downtown to do some shopping.

One of my second graders is having a birthday party at the school next Tuesday. His mom, Mary Cruz, made sweet invitations for all the children, and his teachers (me included!) so I have a birthday gift to shop for today.

I hear we have some who are coming on the trip who are having health issues, Michael Carrigan and Lydia Grady, please pray for them. Lance is still having back pain, please continue to pray for him. There is so much burning trash here that the air can really be bad, I just yesterday started having some congestion and headache so please pray that this will not turn into anything.

Joshua can you bring me some sudafed for nose and sinus congestion? I brought everything under the sun but that! But Thank God I remembered the Immodium and Tums! :)

Thank you everyone for your comments, I love staying in touch with everyone this way!

I was really sad at school yesterday, knowing that this was the end of the "school as usual" because when the team is here next week it is constant excitement. . . I enjoyed the day to day living and teaching at the school. But I am so excited to see Joshua tomorrow! Once I get him here, it will be hard for me to come home!

Thank you for your prayers, please continue to pray as the team travels here tomorrow, one team from Restoration and the team coming with Corey from Colorado. And pray for the people here in Honduras that we have come to love on and tell about Jesus!

Love you all!

Wednesday evening. . . this evening was spent sitting in the backyard, Lance on the guitar, Lance, Chelsea and Annette singing, playing with Redman and Gracie (doggies), and enjoying the cool evening.

Thank you everyone for your comments. I look forward to reading from each of you each evening. Graham and Gabe - I wish I could smuggle Faith in my suitcase and bring her back to the states for a while, but I had a hard time getting through security with a suitcase full of crayons, I do not know how I would explain a little girl!

Elaine - yes Faith and Hannah did their dance for me, and I have pictures :) They were so sweet performing my last night there. Before we went out for a night with Faith. Paula, Chelsea, Faith and I. . . a trip into town to Wendy's for a frosty.

Nancy - thank you so much for your prayers and your notes on my blog. I do not need Tommy to bring anything for me, but thank you so much for asking.

I started today to feel sad as I was thinking about how the days I have left. Only a few more days and the team arrives, and that is good, and I am so excited to see Joshua, but at the same time that means that only a week left once the team gets here. And next week will be so much different, and I have so enjoyed being with the kids in class each day. I came wanting to experience the day to day life of living in Honduras, and helping at the school, that is what I have experienced and have loved it! I am trying not to think about the going home part, but just enjoy the days I am here.

I have been trying to make a plan to see Glenda, right now the plan is for me to get together with her sometime Thursday, I pray that works out. I am excited to see her and Daniel and Gabriella. I have not even been to that side of Comayagua, which seems odd... but with Pastor Felix no longer at Restoration in Bokeem, it is different.

It is 11:00 and 6:30 will be here soon, and the roosters begin their morning talks back and forth way before my clock goes off, so I should head to my room.

Goodnight from Honduras!

Good evening all. I love reading everyone's comments on the blog. Today was a typical day at school. I just so enjoy being there with them, the day just flies by. Helen has been teaching the children a dance and a mime which they will perform on Parents' Night next week. The children are so excited and eager to learn. We had second graders doing hip hop all around the room after they came back from practicing today. They are all too cute!

This evening we went to Bible study. Several missionaries here in Comayagua meet on Tuesday night for Bible study. . . the most important is everything is in English! Lance leads the praise and worship and as always it was fantastic!

Please pray for Lance, he is having back pain and we all gathered around him tonight to pray for healing of his back pain.

God is moving in many people who are on this trip and I know it will be an incredible time when the team arrives here on Sunday. I believe we are all growing closer in our relationship with the Lord and desiring more of Him. Tonight at Bible study we read from John 6:35 - 53 and discussed this passage and then took communion as we focused on Jesus. It is always amazing how you can look at different things and see the how God ties so many things together. Just like our discussion at Bible study and the growing that is happening all around, and myself included, as we focus on him, read His Word, desire for more of Him and receive all He has for us.

Thank you for continuing to pray for all that is going on in Comayagua and the orphanage in.. . I couldn't spell it if I tried, so I won't try. . . please remember Annette and Lance, as well as Helen and Chelsea who are are here.

Love you all!
Steph

I am back! I don't even know where to begin in telling you about my weekend adventure. I was picked up by the Colbath family and Chelsea at school Friday afternoon. The drive up the mountain is beautiful! The trees and the plants and flowers, everything is so green and beautiful! The boys are preciousos! I absolutely feel in love with them all. From baby Carlitos, to Ely who never stops talking or moving or eating, to the oldest, Roman, they are all so precious! I sat tonight and wrote about 8 pages in my journal, trying to take in everything I experienced over the weekend. The trauma these boys have suffered in their lives, and the love they are now experiencing, you can see how much they love Mark and Paula, and what a huge work the Colbath family is doing there. They are doing so much more than running an orphanage, they are giving these boys a new chance at life, they are raising them up to know the Lord, and the know the Love of their Heavenly Father. It is no wonder the devil keeps throwing things their way.

There is so much to tell you, I am honestly overwhelmed and not sure where to begin. . .

The boys all gathered around me Friday evening to pray for me. After Bible time Mark and Paula asked the kids to all get around me and lay hands on me and pray for me. WOW!!! There is nothing more precious to me than to hear a child's prayers. This truly was a highlight for me!

The weekend was filled with activity, crafts, painting pictures, playing outside on the swing, a trip into town to see a movie, lots of plates of food, and lots of fun!

A doctor from Comayagua came Sunday, with his family and another family from his church. (It was Dr. Herson, who stitched Joshua's head last year). They checked out all of the children, provided all the medicines, each child has several meds, vitamins, calcium, etc. His church has offered to pay for some further testing for the kids. This was such a blessing to Mark and Paula. While the kids were taking turns to be seen by the doctor, his wife was leading the children in praise songs. They brought each child a bag with snacks, fruit, coloring book, and crayons. The kids were all blessed by the day.

Please pray for the orphanage, for the kids and the Colbath family. They needs many prayers for the health of everyone there. If you could see all the bags of medicine for each of the children.

This morning I got up early to see the boys off to school before I came back to Comayagua. It was sad saying good bye to them, but I will see them again in a few weeks, so I have that to look forward to.

I was happy to be back at the school today. Rosie said when I wasn't in class this morning all the kids asked where I was. I got a lot of hugs when I finally got there today.

I know I have skipped over a lot. But I am still taking it all in.

Helen Jackson arrived safely in Comayagua yesterday. Chelsea has come to Annette's with me, and will stay until Thursday before returning to the orphanage. Please continue to pray for the work we are doing at Ruach, and for the orphanage.

Steph

I was sitting at Wendy´s eating dinner when I thought of something I should have posted about my day at the school... I was coming back over to the mall to send out a few other emails and as I am walking through the mall I hear "Miss . . . Miss". . . I forget that if I hear a child saying that it might be for me. . . there is one of my 2nd graders from the school running to give me a hug!

What I had forgotten was . . . I wanted to share with you about our special food we had today at the celebration. . . tamales, but not your normal tamale, it was just the corn breading, and then they sprinkle montekea ( I am spelling it like it sounds . . . surely not correct), it is the Honduran equivalent to sourcream. It was good but interesting. I also had their traditional drink, which when they were pouring it into the cooler looked like liquid mud. It actually was good. It is made with rice, seeds from some fruit, and cinnamon and pepper. Yea, doesn´t sound great does it. . . but if you can get over the looks and the feel of it, it is very good. It is a special treat because it takes a long time to get all the seeds, dry them out, roast them, crush them, and then make the drink.

Well the sun is begin to go down a bit, if I think I want to venture to Central Park for ice cream I better head out.

I will post again about the fun with the Colbaths!

Hola from the Internet Cafe in Honduras!

I am on my adventure tonight. Came to the mall. . . also known as the "small" . I am on the computer at the internet cafe. My plan is to go across the street to Wendy´s and then if I am still feeling adventerous I will take a taxi to the Central Park before I head back to Annette´s. They have a shop with the best ice cream in the Central Park! Sorry Cristy. . . I will take ice cream over coffee any day! But I do remember your coffee place, you and Patty!

Today at the school was a celebration day for the kids. They celebrated the Day of the Lempera. . . I didn´t understand all about it, but it is a special day, something about Indians. The month of July is a special history month for Honduras. Many of the children dressed in traditional Honduran dress. I got many sweet pictures. The girls loved being in their twirly dresses, big earrings and lipstick!

Tomorrow morning Paula will be picking me up at the school and I will spend the weekend at the orphanage. I am looking forward to seeing all of them, and passing out all the hugs and gifts that have been sent with me from the States.

The weather here has been wonderful. Nice and cool. It has rained every evening, which cools it down. I was telling Rosie today in class that it has been over 100 degrees in Texas since I left, we decided we would keep this weather we are having here! Sorry!

I love all of you and love reading your comments! Thank you for your prayers!

Steph

Well I have had 2 wonderful days helping in the 2nd grade class. Rosie needs help with the number of kids and the amount of time needed to listen to them read and help with their word pronunciation and learning English. It is a ton of fun! I was so excited to help in her class, because you all know how much I love my 2nd graders at home! These kids are no different. Just speak a different language. :)

Last night I went with Annette and Lance to Bible study they have weekly with some other missionaries here in Comayagua. Lance led praise and worship, it was a wonderful time. Everything that people had on their hearts to share last night all blended together. It was a wonderfully blessed time for all!

I took a step out of my comfort zone today. It may not sound like much, but those who know me well will know this was a step for me. I told Annette I need to push myself to go out on my own. Today after school I took a taxi to her house by myself. She wrote on a paper the barrio I needed to go to, she sent me with her cell phone in case I had any problems, and considering I could have walked home it was not far, but for me it was definitely a step of faith. I made it with no problem! Tomorrow Annette and Lance have worship team practice at the base so I am planning an outing on my own after school tomorrow. Some easy places that will not require much explanation to the taxi driver... the Mall . . . Wendy's... maybe I will even get some icecream. Then back to Annette's house in Barrio San Miguel numero uno.

Paula is picking me up at the school Friday morning and I will spend the weekend with them at the orphanage and return to the school on Monday.

I am having a wonderful time. I love the school, the kids, the teachers. Today I sat with the teachers during lunch as they all spoke Spanish, I was able to get the idea from the few words I picked up and the gestures and facial expressions. . . but even though there was a communication gap I felt comfortable and happy being there with them.

Love you all! Thank you for all your comments and prayers. They are certainly felt and much needed. Sorry this post is so long, I am just excited about being here!

Love you!

Hola from Honduras! I arrived safe and tired yesterday afternoon. But so happy to be here!
Annette was patiently waiting for me as I was one of the last people to get off the plane, and there was a huge mission team there, so getting through customs and getting my luggage was an ordeal. But I made it! I helped at the Ruach today, I was in the learning center today. So I saw many of the kids that I have known from years past. That is always fun!

I think tomorrow I will be helping Rosie with the 2nd graders. Made me think of my 2nd graders at home! It will be fun to work with that age group here. I have not done that before.

All my luggage arrived safely. Although I was searched going through security in Dallas. My carryon which was full of boxes of crayons set off alarms. The lady who searched my bag had to open each box of crayons. She said that someone had attempted to come through with explosives disguised in a crayon box, so now they have to search all boxes of crayons. That was an interested start to my day, when I am carrying about 50 boxes of crayons in my bag. But I made it through!

I loved seeing everyone's comments on my blog page. Thank you all for your prayers during this time!

My suitcases are packed, my desk at the office is cleaned off, and I am ready to go. I am excited to see the kids at Ruach Christian school, and to see my sweet Faith Colbath! I am carrying peanut butter, chocolate chips, crayons, pencils, erasers, scissors, dryer sheets, Bath & Body smell goods, bracelets, loads of birthday cards, and gifts... oh yea and I did find room to pack myself some clothes. :) The most fun is taking things to give away. I have had fun picking up things from Annette's and Paula's needs list. Thank you to all of you who have helped me get to this point whether it was financial support or prayers. I could not have gotten to this point without all of you! Check back during my trip, I will try to post updates about my days whenever I can get to an internet cafe. Thank you for your prayers for me, for my family, and for those I will meet in Honduras.