Kinder Graduation

Maryuri and Nohemy

Nohemy with Denis her godfather for graduation

Maryuri with Dorian her godfather for graduation

Nohemy and Maryuri with their teacher Ivett

Fish Face!!! Being Silly!!!!!

Miss Maryuri all ready for graduation

Cast Off

swollen and dry foot after getting the cast off

The day has finally came, the day I get my cast off. Thursday talked to my Dr. and he scheduled me to get my cast off Friday morning. I was estactic! Little did I know how much having this cast on my foot for the past 6 weeks would change things. Still not all the way recovered but getting there! Am just having to use a brace for the next month to help stablize my foot. But I am one happy girl!!!

Reina

Reina being the (horse) and pulling her wagon along

Josue and Rosy

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!
We have so much to be thankful for!

Katy

Josue

Pamela and Daniela(one of our staffs daughters)

Jose and Cindy!! Jose was on a mission. He said he was going to eat corn, cookies, cake, and coke!!! I think he had seconds and thirds on all four of these things. What a combination!!!

Nohemy

The kids worked hard all morning cooking, cleaning and just getting things ready of the BIG meal. They swept outside, picked up trashed, organized their toys, and carried chairs for the church building.
About 11:15 we all sat down and had a p-butter sandwich to hold them over til 2 when we would feast!!! They were all getting a little antsy and were so excited and they were not doing such a good job at listening. I sent all of them to their beds to read or sleep after snack. Then they got up at 1:30 and lunch was ready shortly before 2.
Most of the kids got to load their plates all they wanted. I just asked that the first time thru they only get a little until everyone else had went thru line and they had to eat first then deserts.
I think some of the kids had 5 or 6 plates full.

The kids all lined up before we ate saying what they were thankful for!!!!

Our Thanksgiving feast was wonderful. Terri did an excellent job along with Jen A. and all of our ladies getting ready the food!!!!!

Thanksgiving prep....

The kids were all super excited today as they knew today started Thanksgiving prep!!! I think all of them helped in some way or another today.

Reina did a good job washing the potatoes off and Rosy helped peel the potatoes.

Rosy peeling

Ana helping cut up celery for the dressing

Fernando grating cheese for the bread

Cindy peeling potatoes

Jackson cutting up celery for the dressing

Maryuri washing potatoes

Jose grating cheese for the bread

Terri was the brave one to oversee all of these kids in the kitchen. While I was over seeing the potato washing and peeling outside.

Sisi grating cheese for the bread.

There are high excitement levels for sure here at CASA. The kids just told me this afternoon they really think this will be the best Thanksgiving yet, but I think it is because they are helping more and they are more excited about the Thanksgiving dinner.

thanksgiving!

I am a bit down this year as I am unable to help a lot with Casa Thanksgiving. I usually help out where ever needed. This whole having my foot broken has been hard on me. God has been teaching me to be humble for sure. I hate to ask for help at times. I would rather just do things myself. Well with my foot being broken I am learning to ask for help and not feel so bad about it.

Inspite of being down I am beyond thankful for all of the blessings in my life! God has blessed me beyond what I can fathom or imagine. I just continue to stand in awe of HIM and what HE has done for me.

Thank you to each one of you who encourages me, loves me and most importantly prays for our ministry here in Honduras.

Blessings on each of you this Thanksgiving!!!! Remember inspite of all the junk going on around you there is something always to be thankful for.

Christmas!!!!

Our tree is up and the stocking are hung! Nov. 1st the tree was up thanks to the help from Joyce.

The kids now keep asking when Christmas will be here and how many more days!!!!

"Summer Break"

So the kids are all offically out of school for "summer break". They start classes back up in mid Feb. We are trying to get a schedule together for the time the kids are out of school. This Friday they go back to school for their end of the school year party! And then the 25th to pick up their grades and certificates. It sometimes is hard having the kids here each and every day but hey with 17 kids it is always an adventure.

Antonio

I am asking that you guys would say a prayer for Jose Antonio (Fito). He is really having a rough time just in general right now. He needs your prayers!!!!!

Oct. Update 2010

October 2010

We are finally starting to see the end of the rain. Things here have gotten a bit colder in the last month. Lots of strong winds at times. We will not see the rainy season again until around May. When May gets here things will be pretty dry and we will be ready for rain, but for now we will enjoy this time without rain.
The kids are finishing up the school year. They are preparing for their final exams and then will be on "summer break". We are still trying to think of new ideas and things we can do with the kids while they are out of school.
The parents had a mandatory work day in the school. The parents have to go and paint, cut grass, rake, move rocks etc. Well while working at the school I twisted my ankle. I now have a cast on for 4 to 6wks. When twisting my ankle it tore the ligaments loose and the ligaments took part of the bone with it. It has been quite difficult keeping my head up in this time. As there are many things I am not able to do. So lots of resting but still working with the kids when needed.
It was such a delight to have some awesome people from back home here the last weekend in October. They came to put on a Women of Purpose conference for all of the american missionaries. It was a great way to connect to other ministries and be uplifted. It was so good to worship in my native lanuage. It was for sure a refreashing and relaxing weekend!

Dorian continues in his studies and working in the church.

Please continue to keep us in your prayers!!!

Blessings~

Dorian and Karen Guido

Retreat!

This past weekend I was blessed to get to spend the weekend with a bunch of ladies who love the Lord. A group from home OH/WV came did a small conference for all of us american missionaries. It was a HUGE blessings to all of us missionaries. To be able to worship in my navtive language was amazing! I miss all of my sisters for sure! It was so great to meet so many new people and network and connect with them in their ministries.

Already exciting and looking foward to next year!!!!!!

unexpected

This week has turned out to be quite different than what I expected.

Last Sunday in the school there was a mandatory work day for the parents. Everyone was busy moving rocks, cutting grass, raking grass, sweeping, burning trash, to painting. Well I was not there more than 15 mins and was carrying rocks down over the hill when I twisted my foot in a hole. I heard a big snap but was able to get back up. There was a little pain at first but as I continued to walk the pain got worse. I roughed it out and continued to work another hour. Although someone saw I was hurt and offered me their paint brush so that I would not have to be up and down a lot.

Getting here to the house I went straight to church. So I still had not really talked to anyone or told anyone what had happened.After church I took off my shoe to see it was bruised and swollen. My shoe must have been given my some support because putting on flip flops I could not walk. After church and talking with Dorian we headed to town to have my foot checked out. They took lots of x-rays and such and said it looked fractured at first but then they said it was just a rare case of torn ligaments. So they decided to put a cast on it to stablize it for the time being. I go back tomorrow and they are taking off the cast and going to do more x-rays to see how it is healing. Possibly depending on how things turn out tomorrow I might have to have surgery.

So it has been a slow week for me. Lots of rest and with my foot up. I am not doing so good having to depend on everyone to help me but I am learning.

The frustrating part about all of this is some people I love dearly are here right now and I was looking foward to spening the week with them some this week. Well those plans have fallen thru.:( Although I am hoping to see all of them this weekend!!!!

Please keep me in your prayers as this is hard for me to slow down and ask for help. Hoping to learn a lot from this. Already it is humbling me. Also pray for the healing and that I do not have to have surgery.

Antonio and Cindy

September 2010

September 2010

September started off with a surprise visit from my mom! There is nothing like having your momma around. It had been way too long since her last visit. The rains continued and roads were being washed away and schools were canceled most days. Something about the soil here just makes it turn to "goop" when wet. Some of the roads here in Santa Ana are even washing away and having to have repairs. So most of September was spent with our home full of wet laundry hanging everywhere and children bored from being inside so much. But when I felt bad about all of this I was reminded of those without homes and dry clothes.
Dorian began another quarter of college and is doing well. He has struggled with trying to minister to the community and attend class so he asked a friend that was his room mate at Baxter to come help him with the church. Ivan has been such a help. We have all been praying at 8pm each evening for the church here at Santa Ana. We are praying that those that have been here, will return and that God will add to our number. This has paid off with 2 baptisms. Dorian and Ivan are working hard to keep newly baptized brothers and sisters in the fellowship so they can grow spiritually.
We celebrated two holidays in September; Children's Day and Independence Day. Our children love holidays and always ready to celebrate. Schools and churches go all out to celebrate on holidays.
We had our IHNFA inspection of our home in September and passed with flying colors. IHNFA is the bureau of Honduras that licenses children's homes and also care for children. Sorta of like children's services but on a national level. One man inspects all 400 some children's homes in Honduras. The staff here does an excellent job of always making sure our facility looks awesome.
We received a scare with tropical storm Matthew, but it passed over us with less rain than we had already seen with just regular rain. The country here is ill prepared to deal with any magnitude of storms. Even major roads are sometimes fixed by individuals who then ask for donations from motorists.
We continue to covet your prayers on our behalf. For even more updates please check out Karen's blog www.kdvaughan.blogspot.com and Santa Ana church blog www.santaanaministryhn.blogspot.com.

Blessings~
Dorian and Karen Guido

Kiddos

Brayan

Ana

Happy Birthday Sisi

Today is Sisi's birthday! She has been counting down for quite a while now as to when Oct. 5th would get here so we could celebrate her birthday! She is one happy girl today!

HAPPY 9th BIRTHDAY SISI!!!!!

Katy and Josue

laundry

Antonio and Cindy bringing the laundry in off of the line

Nohemy

tropical storm Matthew

So the rains are starting this evening. Honduras is suppose to get hit today by Tropical Storm Matthew. There has already been so much damage with all of the rain we have had. Teguc is fragile right now and more rain being emptied on Teguc. possibly tonight. So say a prayer for those who are being effected.
We will probably loose elec, phone service, and internet service. As soon as the storm has passed I will be sure to let everyone know we are ok.

Maryuri

Prayers

This week the kids have exams!!!!! They are finishing up the third period and next week they will be entering into the forth period and then out of school for the year come November.

It is a lot to do to study with so many kids. Things get a little stressful and chaotic at times with this many kids. I know hard to believe. Just pray that they can retain all that they have studied and be well rested to go to school each day.

We also have been praying for sometime now for a physcologist. We got inspected two weeks ago by IHNFA (children's services) and they gave us a reference. We have interviewed her and she starts this week.

Praying God blessed your week!!!!

Aug Update 2010

August 2010

By mid August, things have finally slowed down from summer with groups visiting. The children love the new soccer field here at Casa and enjoy it every day. They are training and working on becoming the "Casa de Esperanza" All Star soccer team. Almost all of the bicycles have been repaired, thanks to Josue. So when they are not playing soccer, they are riding their bikes on the field. The children have not had much school. And when they do have classes they are not very consistent. Most weeks they attend maybe three days a week and then get out of class early. Towards the end of the month the teachers finally resolved their problem with the government for the time being and classes are back to normal.
We have suffered through lots of fevers and sickness the first weeks of aug, We had the first kids becoming ill, tested for dengue just to make sure they did not have this dreaded fever. Thank you Lord, it was nothing serious and the tests came back fine. It was just a virus that went through most of the children.
Dorian has been on break from school, which has been a huge blessing to me. He has been able to help out with lots and lots of Casa errands and transportation. Homework continues to be one of the hardest parts of the day. Please pray that these precious children will have the desire to learn and do homework and that we that assist them are patient and wise.
Continue to pray for us and our ministry here in Honduras!

Blessings~
Dorian and Karen Guido

Cooking

Most of the kids love to have their turn in the kitchen and help out Dilcia or Elvia. Right now we just have the kids 10 and up on cooking duty. The other day one of the kids was unable to do their cooking day so Ana got to help out in the kitchen. Now she is asking often when she gets to help out again. Soon enough she will be 10 and get to help all that she wants.

Baptisms

This morning two had given their lives to Christ!!!

One of Dorian's good friends Ivan, recently came here to Santa Ana to help in the church. Great things are happening here in Santa Ana!! Dorian loves having someone here with him to share his plans, dreams, and time with in the church. Ivan and Dorian met about 5 years ago at Baxter when they were both studying there. They were both from Nicaragua and their second year decided to become roommates and became good friends. Since they have kept in contact with one another and recently Dorian asked Ivan if he would come and work with him in the church here in Santa Ana. Ivan has a great passion for lost souls and working with the church.
Dorian and Ivan recently put a challenge out there for everyone. Every night at 8pm everyone in the church is praying for three things: 1) the church in general 2) those who have left the church 3) that the spirit is alive and working in each person. No matter where you are at 8pm take the time and join praying for the church in Santa Ana.
God is already moving and changing hearts! I am excited to see what God has in store for us as a body of believers.

Feliz dia del nino

FELIZ DIA DEL NINO
This past week was children's day. It was full of celebrations in the school for the kids. Although the celebrations did not stop in the schools. Sunday morning during church the kids during bible class had their own little party and put on a small program for the church.

Singing

Jose

Katy

Josue

All of the children from the Santa Ana church

Bible class

mom

So my mom surprised me last week!! It was a good week with her but today we had to take her to the airport! :( Until next time......

Good Byes

Why, oh why are good byes never easy???

I just wish my family and Honduras were a little closer! It is so hard at times being away from them. There is not much from the states that I miss other than family and friends! God continues to give me the strength to be here right where in Honduras and leads and guides me. I just need to remember at times when it is so hard to be away from those I love that God has placed me right where I am for a reason!

Kids Days

Rosy dressed up for culture day at school this week

This week has been full of celebrations in the school. Today is children's day! It is a huge thing here and they celebrate with all of the kids. There have been celebrations all week and will continue through out the weekend. The kids love the pinatas, candy, cake, food, and just plain old fun being kids. Today when I picked them up from school they all came to the car with their toys, candy and were covered in mud! I think they had the pinata in a muddy field. The kids had rolled around in the mud. Let's just say there was a lot of washing in the pila when they got home from school today.

Happy Kids Day!!!!!!

visitation

Maryuri, Cindy and their mom at visitation

Everyone singing to Cindy!

Cindy's birthday was the last week in July. Cindy's mom was hoping to bring a cake and celebrate at visitation but she became sick and had dengue and was unable to come to visitation. Cindy and Maryuri were pretty upset about not getting to see their mom at visitation in July. Well Cindy's mom had not forgotten about Cindy. Even though it was late she was sure to bring a cake to visitation in Aug to celebrate Cindy's birthday!!!!

brother and sister love!

Josue and Nohemy

Nohemy sure does love to watch out for her brother and take care of him.