Christmas Eve - one of my favorite days!  This was one of the best years ever!  At the end of the day we knew we had been a part of something put together by God!  I will try to tell you about the day, but words really can't describe ...

We had 4 cars loaded with toys, baby toys, dolls, barbies, trucks, hot wheels, games, stuffed animals, footballs, puzzles...we were ready!  We all felt like this was a new year, a time for a new thing, not Christmas Eve as usual.  We wanted to do more than just drop off toys, we wanted to pray for whatever needs they had, we wanted to be a listening ear, bring encouragement, bring hope and life that Jesus can give.  So we loaded up and headed out, believing that  God would lead us to the right houses.  And He did!

Some of the toys..... 

 

 

 

The first house we stopped at held two families, both with children.  As some talked with the men of the families and prayed with them for provision, for a job, and one praising God for healing, others were gathering up toys for their children.  Sweet children who weren't sure what to do when we gave them more than one toy, who were thankful and precious and humble as we blessed them.

As we drove away I said to Joshua if that was the only house we went to today, it would be ok.  But God had more for us!

We continued to drive around through neighborhoods, when Deanna stopped in front of another house.  A house that was not pretty, not well groomed, but a house that was alive and full of love!  We met the lady of the house, (I am so bad remember names!), she was sweet and friendly and had opened her home up to relatives and friends and their children, who otherwise would have no place to live.  There were 13 people living in this small house, with the youngest being 5 years old.  This little girl was sweet with the most beautiful big brown eyes and sweet smile.  The night before the lady of the house and her daughter had been crying and praying for a miracle.  They knew that they would not have any gifts for the children in the home.   Then we showed up on Christmas Eve and were able to give  - bless the kids, teenagers and young men and women in the home with gifts and gift cards. 

There were so many special people that we met at that home.  People who touched each of us  - they had needs, great needs, but they also had joy, they had family, they had each other, they had faith.  We prayed for each person in this house and for their needs, provision, jobs, healing, food to multiply, and homes for the guests staying there.

A neat story that happened at this house ....

As Joshua and some of the kids were gathering up some gifts from the car, Joshua said - hey, grab that book to give to them.  The book was Where the Wild Things Are .  Albert, who is 18 years old, got the book and began reading it.  He was so excited!  He said I have been wanting this book.  I had this book as a child and I loved it, I read it every day, I love this book and I have been wanting it!

Please pray for this family, for her husband, Jose, who had a stroke 8 months ago and needs healing, for jobs for young Jose and Albert, for safety and good repair of the vehicles and the home, for Hope! 

There were other neighbors who received gifts as we ministered to this family.   

We stopped to get a snack and some drinks and one of the ladies with us shared that she had felt that morning that we should go to a mobile home park.  As we continued on we were thinking about where the mobile home park might be.

We went to a friend's home who is a single mom and I was thrilled that we could bless her with many toys, dolls and a giant stuffed white tiger for her daughters!

After leaving her home we stopped at an apartment complex.  One of the doors we knocked on was of a family with several children.  They came out to the cars to select some gifts.  One of the girls was 12 years old, and Joshua handed her a big teddy bear, which she hugged so tightly.  This really effected Joshua - he told me that she had tears in her eyes as she was hugging this bear, like it was the only one she had ever had.  She was so happy to have this stuffed animal!

After leaving the apartment complex Joshua thought of a mobile home park near where he had gone to highschool, so we headed that way.

We got there and knocked on some doors and walked around when we saw some kids playing outside.  We talked to that family and they gathered several other families to come down to our cars for some toys. 

While these families were getting together, I saw a car pull up to trailer so I went over to talk with them.   Mom, Dad and a young girl got out of the car.  When I asked if they had any children in their home, the young girl turned around and said ....no, but I'm pregnant.  So I told her we had some baby toys and I would love to give some to her for her baby.  As we were walking to the cars she was talking to me about the pregnancy, she is expecting a boy, and told me about her concerns of being a single parent.  I told her that I understood, I was a single parent.  I pointed out Joshua to her - the big guy in the santa hat, he's my son, he is 24 and I raised him by myself.  I was happy to be able to talk with her and encourage her and pray with her for this challenge that she is facing.  After we prayed, she pulled out a small new testament Bible from her jacket pocket and told me that she carries that with her because she knows that is the only way she can make it. 

I knew that it was not an accident that I was the one who had gone to her home.  I will continue to pray for her and for her baby.

As my family celebrated Christmas,  I couldn't help but think about some of the people we met on Christmas Eve.  The family with 13 people living in the house - I prayed that they had all the food they needed.  I am thankful that we were ablet to provide everyone in that home with something for Christmas!

It was such a special time this year, a tradition that continues. This year was so special because I know we went to the homes that God chose for us.  I know that we touched people He wanted to bless.   

Merry Christmas! 

Yesterday I was shopping online for graduation gifts for the seniors...while shopping I came across some art work with verses that really touched me.  I jotted down the scriptures and so this morning as I sat down to read my Bible I went to read those scriptures.

The first one was Psalm 62:5  "Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him."  Rest...that was what caught my eye, I have been extremely tired, Lauren has been extremely tired and our Seniors are exhausted!  Rest, we all need some real true rest!  I wake up during the night counting the Paces or counting Jose's saxon math tests he has to complete.  I pray for Jose every time I wake during the night because I know many times he is up early (meaning 3 or 4 a.m.) to get some of his math lessons done so he can take a test. 

Psalm 62:1 "My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him."

I think God is trying to tell me something!  He is where we can find true rest for our souls.  I had a glorious day of resting in Him today!  We had no power from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ....I read my Bible, journaled, made a trip to the store early in the morning, did my laundry, and spent the rest of the day reading and napping and RESTING!  It was glorious!  Even my time at the pila was different today.  Normally while I am washing I am praying...going through my list with God, the kids and their troubles, the things I need wisdom about the problems at school, etc...but today I just enjoyed Him. 

The second verse that struck me was Isaiah 60:1.  Actually what caught my attention first was the awesome rooster.  The colors in the art work were magnificent and, living in Honduras has made me aware of roosters.  Here they crow all night... but I am used to them and while they are annoying to visitors, they are comforting to me.  The name of this piece is Rise and Shine which made me think of what I always sang to Joshua in the morning (he HATED it! ) and what I sing to my girls to wake them when we are at convention... Good morning good morning good morning it's time to rise and shine.... now I don't know the real words to this song but my version continues with ....Wake up you sleepy head it's time to get up out of bed ....good morning good morning good morning it's time to rise and shine!

Isaiah 60:1 "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you."

Actually I had already underlined in my bible Isaiah 60:1-3....but today when I read it, it took on different meaning. 

I don't believe in coincedence, I think there was a reason that God took me first to the verses about Rest and then to the verse telling me to Arise and Shine.  Sometimes I don't always get it or I miss what He has for me, but today I heard Him and I enjoyed my day of rest and I am ready for this week, ready to Arise and Shine and I know that the glory of the Lord will be with us in the High School this week. 

This is a hard week because Friday at noon we have to turn in the grades for the seniors.  So if they have not completed all their Paces, their average is still figured with what is done and they may have a low grade.  They will still need to complete their Paces, but that grade will be in their permanent file with the Department of Education and will be what the University sees when they apply for admission.  These are smart kids and I want their final grade to reflect their true knowledge and ability...so we will find the Rest for our souls in God because He alone can provide and then we will Arise and Shine and know that the Lord is with us every step of the way!

We are coming up on the end of another school year.  This is an exciting time, a stressful time as the kids work to complete their goals for the year, and also an emotional time.  I get very sentimental when I think about the seniors who will be graduating and moving on.

Some of these kids have gone to Ruach nearly their entire school career.   The class that is graduating this year, were in the 6th grade when I moved here and I taught them English conversation class.  I can't imagine coming to school next year and these guys not being here.  It just doesn't seem possible, it doesn't seem right!  How can we be at school and not have Jose David there?  Or Celeste?  It just is not possible!

Today was our monthly  pizza party for the highschool kids who have filled their punch card.  This was the last time the seniors would participate in this pizza party.  They realized it today as they sat at lunch time eating their pizza.  I heard them talking about it during lunch and I agreed that it just seems weird, and something I am not ready to think about!

Today as I was collecting their punch cards, I was touched by what I read on the card belonging to one of my seniors, David Alejandro.  I took a photo and then I decided I would also keep it...put it in my Bible as a reminder of the lives that I am honored to be a part of, and blessed to be able to touch!

As I watch their slide show of photos from their school days at Ruach and share their final school days as Ruach seniors, I know I am blessed to be a partof their lives! 

A lot has happened since my last post....many long days at school helping kids to be able to graduate, many hard disciplines handed out, a lot of fun times and laughs too!  Even a trip to the beach in Tela with friends!  It was great to have a weekend to get away and relax and have fun.  I am glad I was able to take Lauren for a fun weekend before asking her to put in so many extra hours at school. 

 

 

 

 

What a huge blessing she has been to me and to the students!  She is great explaining Chemistry and Physics and helping out with Math.   She has been putting in a lot of extra hours after school and long days on the weekends with the seniors.  I am so thankful to have her helping us!

We are coming upon the end of the year, and this time is always hard  on the kids and the teachers.  We are all tired, and I can get very discouraged!  All year we push and reward and punish the kids hoping they will complete their goals, do their homework, study for their tests...and still at the end of the year there are kids who I fear will not pass, and kids that I wonder did they learn anything this year, and kids that I am praying will have time to complete their work for graduation.  And I always find myself thinking did I do anything?  Did I make any difference?  Do I have any student who learned anything at all! 

Last week one of my students had to write some paragraphs in her English Pace and when I read this I got my answer!  If I have one student who learns something, one student who grows closer in her relationship with God, one student who can make a difference, then yes I did something, something worth being away from my family, something worth all the lonely days, something worth all the frustration and tears....

I was touched by her words.  She was a part of the girls' Bible study I did earlier in the year and we talked a lot about helping other people, about loving our neighbor and what that means,.  And my vision for the High School this year was teaching them to be a Light, being a Light in the school and in their barrio and in their city.... and when one of my kids gets it - WOO HOO!!!  That makes me excited!

Here is what she wrote...

Little Things are Important

By:  Krissia

Sometimes in our lives we have “material special things”.  For me the most important thing that I love and take care of is my ring.  It has an important value to me because my grandma gave it to me.  Other people have more special things.  If we start thinking in little things that God gave us there are a lot of things; for example my home.  We don’t pay attention, we only go home and we say “this is my home.”  But many people do not have a house, they don’t have food, a bed to sleep in.  Sometimes we say “I don’t like this” or “I don’t want this food”.  That is incorrect.  We always have to say “Thanks God for these little and special things that you give me.”  I ask myself why many people are in this situation that they don’t have food, a house, etc.  I know that God has a purpose for them and for us.  We have to help those people like God commands us to do.  We are the new generation that will change the world. We are light so we have to start acting, and the recompense will be huge!

AMY!  On my calendar today it says Amy Day!  It is a great day to celebrate a beautiful life!  It was 14 years ago that she met Jesus face to face and danced in a field of heavenly daisies!

My niece brought life everywhere she went.  If you ever met her you loved her!  That is just who she was!  Today I want to remember all the fun times - all the laughter she brought to all of us!  I loved her leaving silly messages on the home answer machine that would sound like she was an English maid so that when people would call the house they would get a little surprise!  She loved to laugh and bring that joy to everyone around her.

She loved to watch Saturday Night Live and then re-enact her favorite skits.  And she could come up with some of the funniest voices!  Oh I miss sitting around and watching her entertain us.  "I'm feeling a little verclempt! "  And Mr. Bean and his Christmas Socks....days in the hospital watching Mr.Bean and laughing with her!

So today I am so glad that I have friends coming to my house to spend the day after a long and tiring week for all of us and we are celebrating love and friendship in Honduras.  It is fitting that this celebration fell on "Amy Day"! 

Amy I love you always, my little niece!  Always you will be in my heart and be an inspiration to me! 

This morning I was going to go to Tegucigalpa to pick up Lauren, who is coming to the school to be a teacher in High School.  We have all been very excited about her coming!  This morning I felt a little nervous about driving to Tegucigalpa by myself.  This is not normal for me to feel this way.  I have made the trip many times by myself, so I didn't know why I was feeling that way.

This morning when I asked for a volunteer to pray for our day, I asked her to also pray for me and the drive and for Lauren to not have any problems in her trip here.  And then before I left to head to the airport I asked Paty to please pray for me as I was concerned about driving by myself.  Again, I didn't know why I felt this apprehension about the trip.

I headed out, and once I got through all the crazy construction and the road opened up I turned on some worship music and was singing and worshiping and enjoying the beautiful scenery and then I heard God say....You are not alone on this trip, I am with you!  WOW!

I guess I needed to feel alone, and feel concerned about driving alone in order to be totally blown away by His word!

So God and I made a great trip to Tegus, and picked up Lauren and got her back to Comayagua safely.

God is Awesome!

Dia de Lempira...this is one of my favorite celebrations of the year!  It is so much fun and we get to eat all kinds of great Honduran food. 

This is where we sold our fried fish....the whole fish... this is very typical here.  One of my kids asked me why we don't eat them this way in the United States...he was explaining to me that there is something inside the head of the fish that is very good for you....I did eat one of our fish but I did not eat any part of his head....

Here Katherine is peeling the green bananas to make platinos....yum!  I learned to do this and was available for many people's viewing pleasure.   I had many people coming to watch me and give me some tips...it is HARD work, turns your hands brown for days, and stains your clothes...yep I learned the hard way!  But I was happy to learn!

Here is one of our tables that the girls decorated for our restaurant in the Department of Colon.

This was created by the 10th graders along with Miss Kathy.  They were the Bay Islands

I loved the centerpieces they created for their tables!

Ana is grilling some chuleta (pork chops)

Here is Comayagua

Mrs. MaryCruz and one of her students are preparing some yummy food

Fernando and Gordon were grilling some beef - their Department made a typical plate with beef, a slice of cheese, some tortillas, beans, avacado...I was told it was very good.

Miss Rosi making papusas!

For those of you who have been here and know Miss Merlynn, this is her daughter.  She is a Mini-Merlynn! 

Here is our plate of food....I had to take mine to go because I was still sick and on a jello and water diet still....but my plate came home and in my fridge until I was able to eat it....I had to not think about what this little fishy looked like a few days ago!  But he was very good!  He was served with encurtido (cabbage in vinegar and the color comes from beets) and platinos which are the green bananas I cut that you fry, sort of like making french fries,,,,only way better!

Mr Jonathan and Miss Rosi

I love hanging out with these kids!  We were preparing for Dia de Lempira and 9th grade was going to be representing Colon, so we were going to be selling fish since it is on the coast.  Francklin's family raises talapia, so we went fishing at his house :)

The boys caught the fish with nets....and put them in a bucket.  I was initially freaked out when they told me we needed to catch the fish and clean the fish....oh my gosh!  And we were planning to do 50 fish!

FIFTY !!!

It is beautiful at Francklin's house!

We started putting the fish into buckets as the boys caught them....

And some of the boys played with them....GABRIEL!

After they were caught it was time for the cleaning....Now I have NEVER cleaned a fish or even seen someone clean a fish but these guys were excited to teach me! 

I did it....most of it....I got pretty good at removing scales and would pass it off to the boys to cut it open and pull out the middle....

But I touched and saw some pretty gross stuff - they made sure of it!

Francklin found a sac containing fish eggs in one of the fish. 

I did learn that if you squeeze them too hard things from inside come out a hole in the bottom of the fish...oh my!

Fernanda got a little help from Gabriel....we didn't want anyone to miss out on the fun of cleaning fish! 

 Sandy is hitting it with a rock to be sure he is dead....but she doesn't want to touch it.

Katherine Paola, this girl isn't afraid of anything! 

Look at this giant fish!  She was showing him some love right before she scraped off his scales, sliced him open and removed all the yuckies!

It was a lot of fun with these kids....and when we had finished, Francklin's precious mom took over.  She and Francklin got up early the next morning and fried all the fish  and this is what we got...

Here is why I think we have the best P.E. teacher!  We don't have much equipment for P.E., we have soccer balls and goals, and volleyball net and balls....But no equipment has not stopped Mr. Heber!

One day the boys were practicing ball control....all it takes is some broken chairs (Restoration church does that chair look familiar?) and "ladder" and some traffic cones!

The little kids practice many skills with hula hoops - hula hooping, as well as jumping and twirling it with their feet and jumping (sort of like our lemon-twist toys)....he is amazingly creative!

He made a "balance beam" out of an old peice of wood that most people would have thrown away. 

I see this creativity in so many of the people here!  Where there is a will, there is a way!

A few more pieces of art that the kids brought to school today:

Here is a great Pen and Ink by Maria Celeste.  Unfortunately, we forgot the rule that you are not permitted to draw the face of  Jesus so her drawing was not judged.  She is very talented!

This is one of my all time favorites!  David Guillen did this sketch.  She looks so soft and so real!  This reminds me of the year Sara drew a little boy and I was ready for him to jump off the paper he looked so real.  That is how I feel about this drawing.

Some of my students brought their art work with them today.  I am hoping more will bring them tomorrow.  All the students have enjoyed seeing what their classmates created, and tomorrow we will invite the other grades to come to the Learning Center and see how talented these students are.

Here are some of their entries

Pastels by AiLing - won 3rd Place

Pen and Ink by Ai Ling

Sketching by Ai Ling

Sketching by Celeste MaryCruz - 3rd Place

Pastels by Delia Maria - 2nd Place

Pen and Ink by Esmeralda - 6th Place

Clay Sculpture by Andrea Maria - 3rd Place

Last week I was reading a Bible study I have been doing called When Women Say Yes to God.  Luke 5:1-11....you know the story - Simon Peter and friends had been fishing all night, Jesus told him to cast the net again, but on the other side of the boat and they caught so many fish they filled both boats full of fish.  These were fishermen, which means that is what they did for a living, fish and then sell their catch each day.  Can you imagine!  This day would have been like winning the lottery!  They could have bought a bigger boat, or new sandles or a new dress, well maybe not a dress but a new pair of jeans and a t-shirt with sparkles - oh yea it's Simon Peter maybe not sparkles - but what did they do??

Verse 11 - So they pulled their boats up on the shore, left everything and followed him.

This really got me as I thought about what that meant.  They left two boats full of fish, and their boats, and their nets, and equipment.  They left it ALL!  EVERYTHING  And they followed Jesus.  No questions asked! 

I live in Honduras - yes I left things behind, I sold my house, gave away a lot of possessions, left my country, my family, my friends, all things familiar - but in my heart God made it possible.  It wasn't always easy...some of it was was easier than others.  The house - easy!  Family - not easy!  Things - well here is where it gets a little cloudy....I could say yea, it wasn't hard, I had so much it was easy and fun to give things away.  Which is true.  BUT I also have boxes and boxes of things that have been stored at Restoration Church all these years.  Boxes and furniture that I thought would eventually get here.  It has become easier to live without those things, I've adjusted and gotten used to living differently, but they are still there, I have still been hanging onto them.

That story and particularly verse 11 really got into my spirit last week and made me pause.

Now today, it is time to make decisions...some of my things will be coming here this month.  But not everything.  What does not come will be given away.   So I began thinking about things I have...dishes, --I love dishes - fun colors and designs and fun serving bowls and trays-- so I am getting exciting...but I am also aware that only a small amount of things can come...and maybe none of my furniture.  So as I am thinking about what to keep in the boxes and what to take out I was reminded of this story.

What if God had said to me....leave everything and follow my plan for you?  What would I have done?

Just thinking.....

I wanted to share some photos of some of the artwork the kids took to convention with them this year.  I was able to grab a few photos when they returned to the school before they were wisked away by their parents...

Andrea made this Bible from clay....even the raised words are created from clay.  She did a fabulous job.  She received 3rd place for her sculpture.

Delia made this beautiful giraffe using pastels.  She received 2nd place for this piece.  It is so beautiful!  She told me she was surprised when she won 2nd place because "Miss, there were so many beautiful pastels entered."  She couldn't imagine that hers was seen as beautiful by all of us!  So much talent!

This Zebra was done with a black pen.  Esmeralda did a great job!  She won 6th place for this entry in Pen and Ink.  I watched her as she worked on this during some free time in the Learning Center the week before going to convention.  She drew him first, then carefully began filling in the black lines. 

It is beautifully done!

Home from Convention

Usually when I get home from convention I am downloading all  my pictures on Facebook and typing up a list of all the awards the kids won, and posting stories of our week on my blog.....

Well this year it will be a little bit different....I don't have hundreds of photos, and I don't have a list of what each student won this week, and I don't have fun stories to tell of my week with the kids, because I didn't get to go with them this year, instead I was home resting with deep vein thrombosis....

I went to the school today to meet them as they returned on the bus.  My heart was so blessed as many came to me to give me hugs and words of love and concern.  After I hugged as many as I could the real excitement started....

They all wanted to tell me what awards they had won and show me the trophies that came home and pulling out the medals so I could see them.

I was blessed beyond words!  I felt like a MOM who just picked up her kids from camp and listening to all the excitement and stories they wanted to share.  This blessed my heart so much.  I love each of my students, love them with the love of a mom, and to see that returned just blesses me so much!

I can't remember all they told me....there was so much and so many awards and medals and kids and events.....and they were all so excited....and all I could think of was how happy it made me that they wanted to share their special moment with me!

Our kids did great in competitions!  They came home with SEVEN trophies! 

1st Place Boys Soccer

1st Place Basketball

2nd Place Boys Volleyball

1st Place Girls Soccer

3rd Place Girls Volleyball

1st Place Small Ensemble

3rd Place Bible Bowl

The kids all won medals for different events...some were pulling out 7 or 8 medals to show me!  They did incredibly well in competition!

The most exciting thing is hearing about what God did at the convention!  I heard some stories and saw a few pictures from the teachers who were there....but then today I got to here from some of my students.  Ana was so excited to share with me and tell that exciting things had happened at the ralleys each evening with kids coming forward after the service.  She said "Miss, it was amazing!"  WOW!  Another student said Miss this was the best convention, not just because of the trophies, but it was really the best convention we have ever had! 

Ana was sharing with me about the Ralley the first night that when Mr. Peter gave the alter call, it was Ruach students who came forward first, then others followed.  Just like the lighthouse and the scripture we have in our Learning Center - the Ruach students were being a light there, leading the way for those that maybe wouldn't have had the courage to go forward.  I am so happy for each student who received from God this week!  What an incredible experience they must have had!

I am proud of all the students and excited to see them after vacation, so we can visit and share about the week and they can show off all their creations they made for convention!

So this week wasn't as I had planned, but God's plan was received by the students! 

Feeling like a happy and loved mom with a bus-load of kids!  What could be better!!

God Answered A Question Today!

This morning as I was praying for my kids at convention and asking God again "why now?"....he showed me why now....as hard as it is for me to not be with the kids, I know the physical exertion of being there, the walking and up and down the hill and not much rest ... and as much as my heart wants to go my head knows I couldn't and shouldn't do it with the blood clot in my leg.  He reminded me how I felt Saturday, being at the medical brigade with the kids and just on my feet for 4 hours and what that did to me. 

So, why now?  Because they are at convention, they are being well taken care of.  And I know that physically I could not do it right now.  I want to be there to see them perform and compete in their games and events, and want to be there to worship with them and be able to experience their incredible week.....just like a mom.  But just like sending your kids off to camp, mom stays home and gets to hear about all the adventures when they get back. 

And next week is vacation, Semana Santa, so no class next week.  So basically, God worked it out for me to have these two weeks to rest, take my medicine, not stand up in the classroom and run around like a crazy person....it would be hard for me to not be at school if all the kids were in class - I would feel the responsibility to be there.

So, God showed me "why now?" - because now is the only time He knew He could make me be still and take care of myself. 

Today is the first day of the Central America Student Convention.  This is one of the most exciting weeks of the school year!  I love this week, the kids love this week, I love being with my students and seeing them succeed and learn and grow in their talents and in their relationship with God.
So, the question is, why am I sitting at my kitchen table while my highschool students are on a bus headed to Villa Olympica in Tegucigalpa?

My leg started to hurt last week and I thought I had pulled a muscle exercising, or walking home from school one day, but as the week went on the pain got worse and by Friday my leg had started to swell.  Saturday I spent the day with our seniors at a medical brigade.  Being on my feet all day just about did me in.  I could hardly walk by the time I got home the pain was so bad and the swelling had really increased.

Sunday to the doctor, pain is better, still swollen....Monday blood tests and a sonogram and back to the doctor...The sonogram made me so nervous, the tech kept telling me respirar (breathe)....

Before the doctor ordered me to stay home, I admitted that I was not physically able. Being on my feet 10 minutes I could feel the pressure of the swelling increase and the pain in my leg...so while waiting on the sonogram we began making calls and arrangements for Miss Candy to take my place as a sponsor.

Good News!  The results of the sonogram were normal... a few things showed up in my blood work but nothing really explained the swelling...no infection... it all seemed good....except that my leg looked like it belonged to another person.  After seeing my tests the doctor was shocked when I showed her how swollen my leg/ankle/foot were! 

Diagnosis???  Don't ask....it only brings more questions.... 

So this morning I loaded my car with all the gatorade, coolers, first aid supplies, paperwork for the students, snacks....got in my car to deliver all to the bus and see the kids off and I turn the key and click click click...dead battery!  Really?  Now?  Thanks to God, Paty was able to come pick me and all the stuff up to get it to the school and allowed me to hug all my kids and see their artwork and photographs and all that they have been working on.

I stood with Henry and watched them loading on their suitcases and I just cried.  I can't believe I'm not going with them.  My heart is broken.  I want to be with them so bad!  But I know that I need to take care of myself...I know that physically I could not do all that I need to do for them this week....and I want to get better and not worse!  My head says all that, but my heart says something different.

So Why?

Sunday before I went to bed I was feeling really down, worried about my leg, worried if there was something serious wrong with my body, and I went to my bag of cards that my sister gives to me every year to open when I need one.  So I found an envelope that said "When you need a hug"....Well I sure needed a hug, especially one from my sister!  So I opened that envelope and here is what was inside....  A small message card that says...

"Today ....Let there be peace within me, trusting that God has planted me right where I am meant to be.     The Lord will work out his plans for my life, for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever.  Psalm 138:8"

I know God has control.  I know God has a plan.  I know I don't always understand His plan.  I know that my plan is not always His plan.  But I still keep asking why??

Right now I feel like I am in one of those snowballs....first my physical, then the disappointment of not being able to go to convention, now the car....wondering when my snowball is going to finally reach the end of the mountain. 

I am praying and believing that with the medicines and drinking a lot of water and resting today that I will be able to go tomorrow to see their performances and get to spend some special time with them.

I am still asking God "why?" ....but thankful that He is in control!  Thankful for the people around me who help me.  Thankful for friends who I call at 3:45 a.m. and say my car won't start and who come get me.  Thankful for the support check that came this month that was more than my budget, thankful I have the money to pay for all the doctor visits and tests and medications and now car repairs.  I am thankful!  Thankful for my students!  Thankful that they are a part of my life.  Thankful!

Worship Time at the Pila!

I love my Sunday mornings!  My church meets on Sunday evenings and Wednesday evenings, so I spend Sunday morning doing some of my wash at the Pila and listening to praise music and talking to God.  Honestly, it is one of my favorite times!  Being outside, enjoying life, I am not distracted by anything, it's just me, God and a bar of pila soap :)  Every once in a while Samson gives me a nudge and drops a tennis ball at my feet, but that just adds to my God conversation. 

So this morning while I was "pila-ing", No Sweeter Name began to play ....as I was singing the words and praying about Honduras and all that has gone on here the past few days.... 

.... Prison Fire here in Comayagua where hundreds died ( I have heard reports as high as 382 dead).  ....100ish escaped from the prison.... the fire in the market in Comayaguela yesterday - 500 stalls destroyed ...fire in an apt. in El Progresso...retaliation by gangs? 

Loss of life, loss of support for families ...So much going on around us here...so much darkness, so much that could cause fear, despair, hopelessness....

So this morning as I was singing this song  - No Sweeter Name than the name of Jesus! God really spoke to me through this song-

"...You are a light to my heart and my soul, you are the light to the darkness around me,

you are the hope to the hopeless and broken - you are the only truth and the way!"

This made me think of the lighthouse decoration that God showed me for the Learning Center and the verses he put in my mind.

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said,

"I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."  John 8:12

When we walk with Jesus we will never walk in darkness....as I read that verse this morning that jumped out at me....NEVER WALK IN DARKNESS....No matter what is going on around us, if we follow Jesus we will never walk in darkness.  That isn't something I am saying or that I thought up, it is what Jesus says!

So today I am walking with Jesus, and I will not walk in darkness, and the Light of Life will be with me everywhere I go and I pray that I will be able to share that light with those around me!

God Bless Honduras!!!

Student Convention

Today my highschool students began to think about what events they want to compete in at Convention. 

The fee for each student to attend is $125. This is difficult for many of our families, especiall right after paying tuition and registration for school. Some families are paying off their tuition payments carried over from last year so they can get their kids in school.

These kids look forward to Convention every year! It is a great experience and I don't want any of them to miss the opportunity to attend. At convention they get to make new friends from other schools and other Central American countries. They compete in athletics, singing, artwork, photography, checkers, chess, creative writing, preaching, and more! Last year I saw many of my students standing making a commitment to follow Jesus and grow in their relationship with Him. It is an awesome week both socially, academically and spiritually!

We are working on some fundraisers we can do at school to raise money to help with some of their expenses.

If you would like to make a donation to help with registration fees for convention, please contact me. Checks can be made payable to Restoration Church and mailed to my sister, Elaine Pack, 3524 Creekside Court, Bedford, Texas 76021.

Please put a note with your check that it is for CONVENTION REGISTRATION. This will insure that your money is used as your have designated.

Thank you so much for helping my kids!

Monday's the Day!!! 
Tomorrow is our first day of class at Ruach!  I am so excited to receive all our highschool students.  Some I haven't seen since the last day of class in November...some I just saw last week...some I have not met yet.... I am excited about each of them!

About a month ago, while in the Learning Center with vacation school students, I was looking around at the walls, painted an eggshell color, and praying about how to decorate the walls.  I wanted something bright and fresh and new for this year.  I am not creative like some of our teachers.  So I sat in that large room with dirty blank walls and just prayed....and God began to show me what to put on the walls! 

First was COLOR!  Oh and it is beautiful!  Three walls are now a light sky blue color and the fourth wall I wanted yellow.  I love yellow,, it's bright, it's happy, it's alive!  Patty and I went to pick the paint and we got Ripe Banana...oh baby it is YELLOW!!!  I LOVE it!!!

God showed me a Lighthouse .....we have students who are already a light, in the city, in their homes, in this school.  Teach the kids to be a light everywhere they go.   Let Your Light Shine!!!

Next God talked to me about how our kids are worshippers.  We have kids who love to sing, kids who play instruments, kids who love to worship...I love to hear them singing during devotions each week.  God reminded me of the verse in Psalm 150:3-6

3Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,
⁴ praise him with timbrel and dancing,
praise him with the strings and pipe,
⁵ praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals.

⁶ Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.

Praise the LORD.

He began to show me instruments, all the instruments the kids love to play in worshipping Him.  I saw people with hands raised and worshipping on their knees!

I shared these visions with my teaching team and they were as excited as me!

Patty fell in love with the Lighthouse....and Suyapa helped us design it and create it on the wall.

Katherine, being a worshipper and Music Teacher fell in love with the vision I had for the wall about worshipping.  She ran with the idea and created some awesome decorations!

We made instruments and all pitched in painting and creating!  Even teachers from other classes helped us, Suyapa and Suleyda helped put the vision on paper and draw some of it out for us!

In the end we have the most incredible Learning Center!  I love it, I can't wait for my students to see it tomorrow! 

I will post photos tomorrow...but I want them to be the first ones to see it. 

There is more to share....so check back later in the week and hear all the new news about High School!

Get Ready - Get Set - GO!!!!

We have been working to get ready for school to start.  I have some students who always volunteer to help.  I have never said to them, "will you come help?"... they just volunteer!   I love these guys!  Actually, you already know them, if you keep up with my blog or on Facebook...they are my boys, Gabriel and David Fernando!

So, as always, they said Miss you call us when it is time to put the high school together.  They, along with David's younger brother, Andres, have been at the school with us since Tuesday.  They have carried desks, chairs, cabinets, boxes, painted desks, put together chairs....

These boys have worked so hard!  We couldn't do it without them!  And when I tell them how much it means to me that they are there helping us, they just say "Miss, we like to help!" 

David, painting a desk...

   Andres!

 Gabriel, carrying desks...

 ...and moving desks!

Both boys worked hard, along with Mr. Freddy to put the chairs back together!

I have one tired boy!!!

These kids are amazing to me!  When I was in the 9th grade, you would not have gotten me to go to school and help my teachers do anything!  Certainly not manual labor!  But these boys just have this heart that says "Miss, we like to help!" 

I love my boys! 

You can help support these boys by making a contribution, one-time or monthly, to their scholarship.  Gabriel and David each have a half-scholarship.  It was the only way their moms could continue to send them to Ruach...I offered this believing that God has a plan for these boys and will provide the funds that are needed for their tuition.

Here is some information about these boys and their scholarship and how you can help....

Gabriel Lagos

Gabriel will be in the 9^th grade this year.  Most evenings you can find Gabriel in my living room doing homework.  Gabriel is a very intelligent boy.   His favorite subject is Science.  After high school, he hopes to study to be a doctor.   Last year at the Regional Student Convention, he was awarded first place for his Science Exhibit.   Gabriel also enjoys music and playing guitar.  He and his cousin, David Fernando, performed “How Great is Our God“ as a guitar duet at the Regional Student Convention.  They also performed in Ruach’s talent night. 

Partial Scholarship $92 per month for 10 months

David Fernando Lagos

David Fernando will be in the 9^th grade this year.  Most days after school he is in my living room doing homework.    After high school, he hopes to study to be a doctor.  David is a talented musician.  He enjoys playing guitar.  This year we even convinced him to sing at Ruach’s talent night.  He was a big hit!  He and his cousin played a duet of “How Great is Our God” at the Regional Student Convention. 

David also enjoys sports and has caught onto American Football.  Some Monday nights we watch football and do homework!  He is also a big Texas Rangers fan. 

Partial Scholarship $92 per month for 10 months

Make checks payable to:      Ruach Ministries

Mail to:   

Elaine Pack

Director, Ruach Ministries 501(c)(3)

3524 Creekside Court

Bedford, Texas 76021