Day 63

Hello Everyone, I hope that this blog finds you well. I am doing really great. This week we did not have school on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. This only meant that I had more time to be in the clinic. Monday was independence day for Honduras. There was a really big parade with kids from all of the schools in Guamacia. Some of the kids from the orphanage were in the parade and the teachers went to walked with them. It was very hot and I was sunburned by the time we go back to the orphanage. On Tuesday I was in the clinic for the morning which was long, but after I was able to go and help the little boys build a garden. I went with another volunteer and we dug up lots of dirt and they planted some vegetables like: beans, peppers, yuka, and onion. I hope that is grows and produces lots of crops. God has really been working in my life. I am learning so much about myself that I would have never know had I not come here. I am very thankful to everyone that made this opportunity possible for me. I am still in the school right now. There is a couple that is coming next week for a year. I think that at least one of them is a teacher, and will be taking my place in the school. Once they come I will start working in the clinic everyday. The volunteer that has been in the clinic is leaving in October, so I am learning a lot from her. On Wednesday I pulled pieces of a torsalo out of a boys leg. It was really disgusting, but I was so proud of myself. I am doing things here that I would never been able to do or want to do anywhere else. I am still teaching tennis, which is discouraging because the kids are not very good, but I can't be to serious about the tennis. When I think about it I am a little sad that one-third of my trip is over. Thanks for all of the love and support, I really appreciate it!!!! God Bless you all, Oh sorry about the video, I could not get it to flip upright!

Lindsey (:

Day 56

Today I went to Tegucigalpa for the day. I was supposed to do some much needed grocery shopping, we had to take a trip to the doctors office and did not have much time to shop. I think that I have a parasite in my body. I took medicine for it so hopefully it will go away soon. This week has been a pretty long week for me. I had to give the students that failed their exam a retake. It is a bit discouraging when my students are unable to tell me that banana in Spanish is also banana is English. I just have to keep doing my best and remember that I am not here for myself, but for God. We are still in the clinic 24/7, which is hard because there are only 4 volunteers here. I believe that a team is coming to Emmanuel soon which will be nice. The children enjoy it when teams come, it gives them a chance for a change of pace. It has been raining consistently everyday, which is great because it is so hot during the day. I hope that everyone is doing well, and I miss you all. Thanks for the prayers and support! God Bless, Lindsey

Day 49

This morning I woke up around 5 AM to the sound of gunshots. I was truly concerned that someone was in the complex. I later found out that this month is some type of holiday and I will be hearing a lot more gunshots. This week at school we are having exams in all of the classes. I had to come up with all the test, and give them to all of my classes. Majority of all the kids have a very low self-esteem and don't believe that they can do anything that may be difficult to them. I am trying to help them with their confidence. We are still constantly in the clinic 24/7. Since we only have 4 volunteers here right now we spend lots of time there. This week at tennis we played with real tennis balls for the first time. I hope that the boys and girls will begin to pick it up a little better now. My mom sent me a Hannah Montana video and all of the girls went crazy over it. She is very popular here, as well as High School Musical 1 and 2. I have both of these movies memorized. Last night we had the Lord's Supper in church. It was a good fun experience. My Spanish is improving pretty well. I am learning new words everyday. It has been raining majority of the day today, which is really great because it cools everything down. Thanks for the Prayers and support. God Bless, Lindsey

Hot Honduras

Today is August 30 and it has been a very hot day! The container came last night and I was the happiest girl at the orphanage. Haha I am still working at the school, passing out medicine, tennis, and helping out in the clinic. There is a girl in the clinic with hepatitis C or A. So there constantly has to be someone in the clinic with her. There are only 4 volunteers here so we are constantly rotating. I will be sleeping there tonight. I am beginning to enjoy my time here. It is getting better because I know more of the kids and spanish. Since I have been teaching I am learning lots of the words. This week we learned different foods, so I am definitely getting better. Thanks for all the support and prayer. I really appreciate it! God Bless, Lindsey

Day 40

Today is Wednesday the 27 of August. The internet has been down for the past week and a half. We are hoping for it to be back up in 2 weeks. I have been working in the school on week days except for wednesdays. I am also beginning to work in the clinic. The kids come to the clinic if they are sick or hurt theirselves. I drove the truck into town on monday, we had to go to the hospital. It is very different driving here because there are no driving laws. I was nervous about being pulled over because I am white, but thankfully I made it back safely. My days are becoming more routine here, and I think that I am growing. Hopefully the internet will be back up soon. Thanks for your prayers and love, they are much needed! God Bless, Lindsey

Day 31

I have been teaching English in the Primary school this past week. It is not easy by any means. I did not expect this experience to be easy, but right now I can say I know that I would not want to be a teacher. Today was a really hard day for me. I was asked to teach, but was given any instructions. After having a mental breakdown, I learned that I do not have to give tests or even go by the book I was given. I hope that this will make class more fun, and the students will be able to learn more. I can teach whatever I want and I will be giving them a grade on their participation in class. Please pray that God will give me strength everyday to show God’s love and be encouraged. On a lighter note I had a good weekend. I went to the toddler’s kitchen and helped make lunch. I also was able to learn how to make tortillas. I can’t wait to come home and make them for my family. We have a group here from California that has been nice. Please continue to pray for me, and that God will be able to use me in the best possible way. Thanks for the continuous support for my while I am here in Honduras. It has not been easy and I would love to come home, but this is where I am needed the most. I will continue to do God’s will, and pray for confidence within myself. Thanks again. God Bless, Lindsey

Day 24

Hello~ I think that I am beginning to feel more encouraged. I have been home sick much of this past week, but I am beginning to feel more encouraged. I will start teaching thr Primary school English classes. This includes students in 1st through 6th grade. Majority of these students do not know any English. I have a really large challange before me, but I know that God would not require something of me that I would be uncapable of doing. Someone recently told me that I need to have my heart guarded from the mean comments and gestures that some of the children may say to me, but on the other hand I need to have an open and loving heart. As humans we are the same way to God, we say or do things that hurt him, but he still loves us and would never turn him back on us. I had a great afternoon on Sunday. I was able to take on of my friends Angie to lunch up at the store. She is an older girl that has always been a good friend, and has such a big heart. I was so happy that I could do something special for her, because I know she has had a rough life. On Sunday night one of the girls killed a tarantula outside of our house. I had never seen one before sunday night, and they are not cute. I hope I never come into contact with anymore tarantulas. The rest of this week will be interesting. Please pray that I will have lots of patients with these students and also that they will have patients with me! God Bless! Lindsey