They're here.....por fin

Oh to see the sweet bond in brothers hand in hand helping one another. That is my prayer as a family of brothers and sisters that we may walk hand in hand and be there for one another. I love ya all! Thank you so much to all of you have cheerleaded along the paths and have helped us get to where we are. Here are a few pictures from today. ENJOY!
Marvin, a little worn out....
Weeeee....oh how sweet the older one helping his little brother,
Francisco, Jose, Mario, Marvin
Dilcia and little Jose eatting lunch.
Timo playing with Francisco with ELMO
Marvin, I think he found a monster truck!

The boys stepping out of the van with their little bags and ready to go see their new home.

Ok so 5 little boys tonight have a new place to call home. We went to INFA today to pick up the kiddos. Although one thing we were not expecting is to see the boys momma there. As soon as we walked in she lost is and covered her face as she sobbed into her hands. She did not want to let her boys go and let them go with someone she knows nothing at all about. We tried to reassure her that this was what was best for her and the boys. So as we sat there and embraced her and told her that it would be ok and that God was in control. Let me tell ya seeing that mommas heart hurt immediatly brought tears to these eyes. The sad thing is it did not even phase the boys that they were packing up and moving on. They had their bags in their hands and were ready to get in the van and go.

So after getting all of the paper work and all squared away we were on our way to Santa Ana. The boys soaked up the moments there in the car and thought that it was one of the best things ever. One of the boys even said how awesome the car was. As for any of you who have seen our car it is not so great but it sure does get us to and from. It was just sweet to see the things they appreciated that I would not even think twice about. The rest of the day consisted of them just playing and just soaking everything in, here at their new home.

As we were playing outside today one of the boys came up to me and asked if he was going to get to play again tomorrow. I answered him with well of course. He wanted to know how long he would be here and so on . He then said you even mean at night time we are here, and he said we get to play all of the time then. Then I responded with well at night you have to sleep and he was not too sure about that he just had so much to take in that he just wanted to play, play, play!

Ok well today was a exhausting day but oh such a good one at the same time. It is exciting for me to think what God is going to do in these little boys hearts. Pray that they come to be warriors for HIM.

Please continue to bring these sweet little boys before our great big daddy!
Marvin- 7 years old
Mario - 5 years old
Jose - 1 year old
Jose Yovani - 8 years old
Fransico - 2 years old

Ok I will try to keep you all updated on pics and stories! But ya know being a momma is a full time job so who knows if I will have time.......don't worry I will make time. Can't wait for so many of you to be here and get to love on these kiddos with us.

Ok it is time.....

These are the kiddos.......
Here in a few days we will we offering HOPE to some kiddos, finally! The House of Hope will be sheltering some sweet kiddos. The time has finally come! What we have all waited for. It sure hasn't been easy to get to where we are, but here we are!! Satan you will not win this one, we will kick your butt!!!!!

Please continue to pray that this ministry is HIS! Pray for abudance of wisdom to be poured out on us.

The small things.....

A little boy who is sweet and dear to my heart just had himself his eighth birthday......Saul.

We try to have little fiestas for the kiddos here in Santa Ana on the property. Well we are finding we can not do it for everyone. Even though oh so badly we would love too it just will not work out that way. Most of them have never had a party in their life.

For Saul's bday he and his mother had talked about this day forever. And finally the day came. A few weeks earlier he had recieved a new outfit and he had been waiting in wear this outfit for the special day. Well him and his mom show up here at the house on Saturday and he is not wearing his new outift. So I get to talking to them and ask them what they are doing for the day and so on, and of course nothing special. We'll we had nothing at all planned for his bday, so the best I could think of was to take him to the pulperia. He looks at his mom with a huge grin on his face and says, "Ok mom can I go put on my special outfit now."
So away him and his mom went to go change, just to get ready to go to the pulperia. So shortly they return here to the house and are ready to go. He tells me to make sure the I get my camera b/c he wants to get lots of pictures of him on his bday and in his new outfit and make sure that we send them to Bryan, the guy that gave him his new outfit. So now it was time for picture taking time, and then off to the pulperia. So off we go to the pulperia. Saul is pretty shy so he was not jumping all around asking for this and that, but he was content just with ice cream. Then I began to ask him well what about chips?, coke?, and he just sat there with a grin on his face and shruged his shoulders. Well he ended up with a few little goodies and he thuoght that it was one of the best things ever.
We take way too many things for granted......just seeing the joy he had instilled joy in me.

Ok, so I hear that some of you need my email address, so here it is karendvaughan@gmail.com

We are seeing light at the end of the tunnel. We should have kiddos soon!

The beauty of it all....

Even in the midist of all of the poverty here in Honduras, there is beauty. You just have to be aware of His creation. Whether it is a beautiful little child with little brown eyes gazing into your yours. Or as you are driving down the road you spot a breath taking country side. God is all over this country just like anywhere else. It is neat that I can still find His beauty in the midist of the muck and yuck of Honduras. This past week we got to travel to a few new places here on Honduras. We are loving that we are getting to see all of Honduras while we are here. Hopefully there is still a lot more to see and experience.

Alot of these sights were sort of a comfort to me b/c they reminded me of good ole WV.

Passed with flying colors...YAHOO

As some of you might have heard, today we finally had our inspection that has been talked about for a long time but finally came to be today. So we headed to town bright and early this morning to go pick this gentleman up at the INFA(sort of like children services) building to come out for the inspection. Once arriving here at Casa he proceeded with his inspection.......checking in the toliets, in the trashcans, in the refridge, and under the rugs and the such for cleaniness. After checking all of those things he said all was wonderful but he made a few suggestions for changes to improve the facility. So really that is all that was required of him but then he proceeded to sit down with us and talk step by step the process of everything in getting kiddos and running a childrens home. He was a HUGE help! He has worked here with INFA for 15 plus years so he had lots of experience and lots of advice to offer. We were more than apprecative for the extra like 4 hours he took to talk to us and explain the ins and outs of a childrens home. He says now that he has done his inspection that there are still a few more things with papers that need to be finished. So we will continue to wait. I was thinking I am going to know what it is like for the waiting process of having a child, it will soon be 9 months that we have been here. We have already waited 7 months and before this is all said and done it might be 9 months. But Gods timing is always perfect! I must keep reminding myself of this.
But anyways thank you all for your continually prayers and the prayers offered for this inspection. It is such a relief to know we passed with flyin colors and are another step closer to providing a home for some kiddo sleeping on the street tonight or maybe some kiddo who has been without food for days. I thank you Lord once again for this privilage.....may you continue to use me to and for your glory!!! May I be your dau. who brings a smile to your heart.

How will you choose to respond.....

"You can't always choose what happens to you, but you can choose how you respond to it."

My prayer is that I am daily choosing HIM in the midist of whatever may be going on. Whether joys, heartaches or whatever may come my way. And that I may always choose LOVE, despite the circumstances around me!!

Romans 8:28 - That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.

My momma

What a blessing that we got to spend Mothers Day with our mommas! God that was a good one when you made mommas.....
After a day out with the boys....
House Building.....working on putting in the floor
The "Poop Mud Adventure" Oh how she loves the children.......
My Momma and Raquel.....she is the one the pulled my moms heart strings
Oh what a blessing the past week and half has been. My mom along with Jen's mom, and a friend got to spend some time with us. And oh what a privilage and a blessing it was to have them hear with us. There is nothing like your momma. Your momma always has the right touch, words, and embrace. When God created our mommas it was a thank you Lord moment. I am a lot of who I am today b/c of my mom and her loving me, mentoring, and encouraging me along the way. It was neat for her to be here and get to experience Honduras and see what I fell in love with. I don't know if she would admit it or not but I am sure of it that her heart strings got pulled by some kiddos. One in particular, Raquel. This sweet girl came to love on my momma and my momma loved her back not knowing it was going to hurt and pull her heart so much. She has no mom or dad and lives with her aunt along with six others, her cousins. She is so concerned about the poverty her aunt lives in, and she has stressed to us how important it is to her that she goes to school and trys to get a good education. She doesn't want herself to live the life that her aunt is . Which is wonderful that her eyes are open and she wants to get out of the poverty and she is trying to do something about it. Never once did Raquel ask for anything, even though she has little to nothing, she just wants someone to love her. One night my mom lay awake for awhile here in my bedroom and every few seconds she would ask well how will Racquel turn out? How will she get a job, and so on. She had grabbed a hold of my mommas heart and she couldn't get her off of her mind.
While my mom was here she also got to experience all of Honduras from the crazy driving to the wonderful food even down to the last day when we had to work our way around the strike going on to get the airport. Now that was a crazy moment. At that moment in time I think my mom was wishing I would go back with her where she knows I am safe with her, but thank you Lord that she is understanding and supportive and knows that this is Gods plan for me at this time in my life.
We are also experiencing problems with the rain while my mom was here she got to "play" in the poop mud with Jen, Mike, and Pablo. And we can not forget the killer beattles, and by the way tonight we saw our first rino beattle, thought that you would like to know that Naomi. Oh the memories she has made that she will get to tuck away! She told me she could easily live here for 6 to 8wks, so you know me I am already waiting on her to come again.
After spending time with the mommas if just makes me wonder what kind of momma I will be. I am just praying that God makes me the momma that I need to be. I know that is what He has me here for right now to be a momma to those who have no momma. So my prayer is that He continues to regin down His wisdom so that I may raise these children up in Him. I thank you Lord for my momma and all of the mommas out there, I pray that you make me daily into the momma that you want me to be. A momma sold out for you!!!

Norma and Lionel from Didasko......this pic is for you Rick and Rebecca.
Mary, oh what a blessing it was to have her here with us.
Oh the joy of seeing familar faces and getting to love on them over and over again. These are some kiddos from Good Shepherd, and the one in the red, Bessie is one that I made a connection with last year.
Dad playing on the teeter totter at Didasko, oh was it so good to have my dad and bro here.
Oh how humbling, washing those dry, dirty, calloused feet.
Sherman loving a kiddo!
Debbie, Brian, and McKain putting in a floor.


Ok as most of you know I just got done spending some good time with some people from home.
The Belpre group was here for two weeks, and let me tell ya it was two amazing weeks. Just to watch each and everyone of them give it there all. Whether it was someone coming back for the second year and making those connections with those they had met the previous year or whether it was someone who just set foot in this country for the first time. Each one of them gave so much of themselves. Thank you to each and everyone of you for being the servants and examples you are.

Lean on me

In the time that I have been here in Honduras it has been hard not being able to worship with others and share that same pasion with others and etc. At times I get so dry and am in need of a good kick in the butt to wake me up. So in the past two weeks having so many here who are sold out for God has done a lot of good for my heart. I know that there at home I have been blessed with an awesome church family, but I don't think I realized how much i took them for granted. So to each and everyone of you thank you for being the encouragement you were and are continually to my heart. And my prayer is that I never take for granted again the people that He has surrounded me with. What an awesome thing when God created His family. Now that I am here in Honduras I realize how much I miss "my family". As I am away from my Belpre family I pray that God will surround me with other people to bless my life and encourage me. I realize more and more each and every day that our bodies were made for each other, we can't do this alone. We all need somebody to lean on! So it is time as a family that we rise up and are there for one another and, do as we are commanded over and over again "to encourage and love one another".

In the next couple of days I will be sure to share some pics and stories of the past two weeks when the Belpre team was here.

We're Gonna Make It

There have been some hard time here in the past couple of months. It has just got me to thinking about this and that and why things happen the way they do, and is this really God's plan in the whole scheme of things. I wonder sometime why God has put me where He has for this time in my life. I know that it was more than clear that this is where God wanted me here in Honduras. He has ordained each and everyone of my days and i know that in being here in Honduras is part of His plan for my life at this point and time. Whether it is just for now or for the next 5 years I do not know I am just trusting in Him to show me when it is time for the next phase in which He is going to use me somewhere else. I know that this is where He is using me for now. One thing that I can look to thru the uncertain and confusing times is that I have a God who loves me so much and would never put me some where that I couldn't handle it. He never said that it would be easy but the one thing that He has promised me is that He will never give me more than I can bear. So at times when I think ok God I am not too sure what you are thinking or what your whole purpose is in this moment, I continue to look to His word and the seek the promises He has given me.
May you also soak in His promises and draw strength from them in the times that are rough. As one of my friends tells me when times get rough or are uncertain remember "I love you buddy we're gonna make it". As God looks down on each of us He tells us all "I LOVE YOU BUDDY, WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT."

They are here...

Hey just wanted to let you all know I am enjoying time with those from home who have came to work here. It is so good to have their hearts here. They are some amazing people with awesome hearts for serving others. You can check out what is all going on while they are here if you go to heartsandhandsforhonduras.blogspot

One year ago.....

It is hard for me to believe that a year ago I was just coming to this country for the first time. And now a year later, here I am living. I mean in the 10days that I was here my heart was changed. There was such a calling for me to come here, but I wasn't sure why or what for. So here I am running a childrens home waiting for children. In 2 weeks a lot of my sweet friends and family will get to come here some for the first time and some for the second time or so, but I pray that there hearts will be changed and softened. Thank you for all of you who love me and support me when I am far away from home, I know that it is not easy on any of you for me to be away from you but thanks for being selfless and sharing me and loving me no matter what.

Back in Honduras

I made it back here to Honduras Thursday evening. It is good to be back! Although I did get very sick that night and the next day. Was down and out for a little while but feeling better now. We are still waiting on things with the paper work for the childrens home. Nothing too new. Cross out fingers that we get kids soon. As for now there is nothing more to really to update you on but I will keep you all updated as more things come about.

This is gonna be soooo good!

I am at home right now spending some time with some people with whom I love and miss a lot. My mom just had her 50th bday and i tried to come home and suprise her but that didn't work out so well, but at least I was here for her bday. As I have told everyone it is not so much that i miss "here" but i miss the people here. There are times when i wish the people could be there in Honduras with me. Being in Honduras is good but a lot of time it takes a lot out of you and it drains you emotionally, physically, and spiritually. So being here with so many who encourage me and love me is filling me up and good for my heart and soul. Hopefully it is good for their hearts also to see me.
I am home for the rest of next week and then i head back to Honduras on the 9th. Looking foward to my time left here to spend with so many and also looking foward to getting back to Honduras and seeing those sweet kiddos. Looking foward to when we have out first kids. It gets frustrating at times but this is a start of a ministry. Something huge and good and if it takes all of this time to get it started then so be it, it will be something that is around for years to come and change so many lifes. Not too sure why God works things out the way he does but it will come together. I am learning more and more patiences. Good things come to those who wait. So I continue to wait and trust and know that God is in control even when it seems that there are times that he is not. I just need to remember to daily put self aside and let God be in control in my life. So many times it is about me, me, me, me..... I just ask that i daily die to self.
Continue to bring this ministry before God. I know that he has blessed it in so many ways already and that he is going to continue to bless it. But he will only bless it if we let him, we need to get self out of the way. I wil keep you all updated and let ya know when we get our first kiddos. This is gonna be good!!!!!

and school starts.....

Jump Roping.....how many can we get in here?
In Dennis's goodie bag he got a monkey that he loved!
Kids enjoying there lunch!
Fabiola and Maria Carmen passing out the goodie bags for the kiddos.
The little one getting her turn at the girls pinata.....too cute.
The boys and there turn at the pinata........candy!
Our buddy Carlos, he was headed in the wrong direction when he moved to Santa Ana but he is coming around.
The four of us (me, Fabiola, Maria Carmen, and Jen)
The kiddos eating their lunch.
Daisy and Lucy along with their kiddos sitting around visiting. Not too sure what kind of pose Lucy is striking?
More kiddos waiting on their food!
Fabiola, me, and Maria Carmen trying to get food on plates for everyone. The all anxiously wait for there plate.
So it is time for school to start. Here in Honduras the schedule they are on for school is different from there in the states. They have been off school since Nov. and they are starting back to school now. So all summer long they go to school because they have had time off the from Nov-Feb. Around here latley there has been a lot of hustle and bustle of getting things ready for school and getting their uniforms and supplies for school. Althouhgh the sad thing is they have to buy a uniform in order to go to school and lots of the kids do not have the means to buy a uniform so that means that they are unable to go to school. So sad. I wish I could help them all. Actually the Kluges along with Joe have set up a program in Los Pinos to help the kids go to school. They have received help from others to help make is possible for the kids to get to go to school.

So today we had a back to school kick off in Santa Ana. For the older kids school started last week but for the younger ones tomorrow is the BIG day. Yesterday I was visiting one of the houses there in Santa Ana and the kids in excitement had out there backpacks showing me all of there goodies for school. It was too cute to see the excitment in their faces! So back to today, me and Jen along with Maria Carmen(the lawyer), and Fabiloa had a back to school kick off. We had bought some hot dogs, chips, and drinks for lunch. Maria Carmen had bought two pinatas and had some goodies to pass out to the kiddos that live there in the houses on the property at Santa Ana. I think we fed about 75 people today, mostly kiddos. The had such a good time. There is a little park there on the front of the property where we had the fiesta. The kids mostly played soccer and jump roped. It was a good afternoon and a fun way to get the kids excited about school. Hope that you enjoy the pictures from today!

Thank you for my brothers and sisters....

Have you ever went thru a time and you were not too sure why you were where you were at? And why God choose you for such a time and not so and so? Well the past couple of days I have been feeling that way. It seems that satan is trying his hardest to bring me down. And today has been tough but thanks to so many who sent me lots of love and b-day wishes and reminded me who I am and that I have so many who love me even if you are not here with me. I want to thank each one of you from the bottom of my heart for letting God use you to pick me up. They were good reminders that there are so many at home who love and support me. There are times when we forget those things. Today was one of those days that I needed those reminders. So thanks to all of you who sent me a word of encouragement and lots of lov'in on my special day. I am so thankful that God has given us each other so we can help one another out. May each of you today be seeking to rely on Him. As you will find out you can't make on your own but with the help of each other and Him we are surviviors! Continue to encourage and uplift one another, you never know who might need it!?!?!

The container is here....

My room below and Jens room above
Our kitchen
Our living room
The office.....this is where the paper work and all of the fun stuff will get done.
Where poopy diapers will be changed
This is where the babies will rest there head and get rocked to sleep.Block area.....and boy toys!
This is the playarea.....lots of toys....do you think the kids will be a bit overstimulated???

This is the dinning room...the little tables where the kids will fill their bellies If you haven't heard already the container has arrived! Yippee!!! So we are sorting and unpacking and getting things organized. It is taking time but things are coming along. Kiddos will be there soon. Yeah! Me and Jen are moving in out there this week. So it will be good to have some space and have my own bed.....oh my bed sounds so good. I will keep you all updated as things come along and let you know when we get kiddos. Thank you all for all that you have given time and money for this home. As you can see it is all coming together continue to keep the home in your prayers. God is going to continue to do great things and already is.