Week One!

     Wow.  I can hardly believe that only last week at this time my mind was most likely in some sort of frantic state as I was trying to stuff as much as I possibly could into my suitcases.  It was a lifetime ago when I stepped into a plane thinking, Oh God, we're really doing this now!  What do you have for the people of Honduras?  What do You want to say to them through me?  Now here I am, finally in Honduras!
     On Saturday morning (early morning, by the way), I boarded a plane from Houston to San Pedro Sula.  Four hours later, as the plane started its descent, the clouds slowly parted and a most beautiful view of lush green fields, wide rivers and mountains peeked through below.  Oh Honduras, you are so beautiful.  Florence, Sonia, and my two lovely sisters Kaitlyn and Cherise were there to pick me up.  We piled in the truck, stopped at Wendy's for some chicken burgers, and drove off to La Ceiba.  The next day after church, we drove to El Cacao where Kaitlyn, Cherise, and myself have been staying all week.  Our room is in the medical clinic.  Our room is in fact, a small operating room.  Above the light switch there is a note that says "REMEMBER TO TURN OFF OXYGEN CYLINDER."  Whatever that means.  As of now it seems it is storing a great deal of operating equipment (I'm assuming that's what it is!!) and strange, large lights that hang from the ceiling.  But there is no place I would rather be right now.  I just love living in the village, teaching extremely hyperactive children their numbers in English, eating Honduran food, and visiting friends and husking corn in front of their house.  I love it when kids talk to me in Spanish like I understand what they are saying. I love the language of laughter, which is not only my favorite because I believe I speak it quite well, but because it involves no sentence structure, proper grammar, spelling or correct enunciation!  
     On Mondays and Wednesdays we teach English in the school.  Please pray that we will have patience with the kids - grade one in particular - and that we will think of more fun, creative ways to teach.  We also teach the highschool kids.  Pray that we will be able to build relationships with the them and see any needs they may have.  It's really exciting for us to have this opportunity!  Tomorrow we have youth group and next Tuesday we are starting a girl's Bible study.  We have been praying these events can be a safe place for the youth that come out; a place they can freely lay down their heavy burdens and grow closer to their Father.  He wants them to know His love is powerful and it is strong.  I'm super excited to see what God has for these people and for us in the next three months!
     Much love,
                  Karlene