7 years!

Happy 7 years to me!!!!!
It has been 7 1/2 years ago that this country stole my heart. Little did I know that 6 months later I would be living in that country. The 29th of October is the day I waited with all my luggage to board a plane with many unknowns awaiting me.
Seven years later here I am still. Happily married and with an 11 month old little boy, Korbin. God sure does have his way about things. It has had it's ups and downs but I am so blessed to be here serving. Who knows how much longer I will be here serving. Possibly seven more years or maybe twenty more years or maybe not even a year. May God continue to direct my thoughts and steps and may I continue to be passionate and loving to those that I encounter every day.

Tortillas

 Ana with the maseca. Mixing and adding water til she gets the right consistency to start making the tortillas. Elvia was very patient at showing Ana what to do.

 Ana's first try at trying to make a tortilla.

 I even got in on the tortilla making. 

 The finished tortillas

On our new wood burning stove cooking the tortillas. 

Most of the kids are pretty excited to get to make tortillas. We shall see how long that lasts. Hopefully while they are on summer break we will get a good start with learning to make the tortillas.

Fire Wood

Bryan and Antonio are very anxious to go help look for wood for the new outside wood burning stove.

Dorian, Elvia, Denis has all showed them how to cut the wood but they are still trying to get the hang of it. Terri went to town today and got a new machete, hatchet, and axe. Bryan was so excited and anxious to get to try them out. The mother in me does not like them even with a machete or cutting wood but hey they have to learn sooner or later. They are 14 years old.
Even some of the girls are pretty anxious to soon learn how to cut wood.

Cooking

The ladies have one of the kids daily help them cook in the kitchen. They all take turns in the kitchen and some days they all fight over who is going to help cook. Some of the kids have finally learned to cook without the help of the adults. The last month or so there has been days when we do not have any staff here to cook or clean and the kids really are learning to step up and take more responsibility. Antonio has been great at cooking the rice. He does a great job!!! This past Friday we needed to make lunch and was in charge of making lunch. He choose Sisi to come to the kitchen to help him. They both did a great job. They made me a little nervous as they were cooking french fries and had to boil grease. Every time I would go into the kitchen to check on them Antonio would tell me to get out the kitchen because I made him nervous.
 Although they were careful and made a delicious lunch. It feels so good to see them growing up and learning to do things on their own and putting in practice what they have been taught.

Expelled

We are having to deal with one of the kids being expelled from school this week. Not what we wanted to hear. Cindy has always had a defiant side to her. Although she has come a long way she still has that streak in her at times. Although we have not had problems with her in school til this year. Her teacher she has this year is pretty tough herself and does not put up with anything. I thought it would be good for Cindy actually since last year she failed 4th grade due to lack of interest. Never wanted to study or do homework. It was like pulling teeth to get her to do her homework. Although this year she has improved in the homework area but her attitude that is very defiant at times her at home she has showed to the teacher this year. So she was expelled for coverings her ears, sticking out her tongue and ignoring the teacher.
Really hoping we can get her some help as I feel there are some deeper issues going on with her.

Stove

 Today we got to try out our new stove. This past week we had an outdoor stove made. It is even the new eco~stove. It uses less wood to burn. Excited about this as this is important the kids learn to cook on one of these and as a plus it will help us save money. As many people here in Honduras only use a wood burning stove to cook. I am hoping that during summer break we can start making our own tortillas. The kids will learn to make them and learn how to use the stove. Today Elvia was excited about getting to use the new stove. She was making the kids lunch on it this morning.  Hopefully we can build ourselves an outdoor oven too.
Fernando has a debt for money he has taken from people at school to he is in charge of collecting the wood for the fire every day to pay off his debt. Not too happy about it but he has to do something to pay off the money he owes the teacher. Yesterday after about 5 trips of hauling wood he came to me sweaty, hot, and tired and wanted to know if it was enough. This morning he was at it again looking for more wood.

Elvia making lunch

4th graders

Cindy, Fernando, Jose, Daniela, and Ana

This past month the 4th graders have been working really hard cross stitching. It is something they make all of the kids learn to do in school. They have had to practice doing different types f stitches and write their name and the school's name.
Well for some of them this was easy and they even liked doing it, and then for others it was torture. First of all 4 out of the 5 of the kids could never find their needle. They always seemed to misplace their needle. Jose came home from school one day and said, "I know my needle is here some where". He had just put it in his book bag loose with all of his books and pencils. He emptied his whole book bag and shook every notebook but to no avail no needle. It was a struggle the whole month they worked on this. They even lost their thread at times.
Although they finally have turned them in to their teachers and got graded. Some got 100% and others 80% and 90%. Now they are all wanting to sell theirs in our casa store to make a little money.

Games

This past month the kids have spent a lot of their time playing hop scotch. They go from month to month with different things they like to do. Sometimes its soccer, sometimes its jump rope and well this past month it has been hop scotch. It is so good they find things to occupy their mind and I love when I get to see all of the kids playing together and getting along.
We will wait and see if this month brings a new game or they stick with hop scotch.

Sisters!

Rosy and Sisi usually don't get along very well. Well they are sisters. Although recently things have changed. They are starting to share, play together and even hug each other. Hopefully they are growing out of their fighting stage and are finally growing to love and accept each other as sisters.

Also friday was Sisi's birthday! Happy happy birthday Sisi!

Jackson

Yesterday I got a call from the school that Jackson had fallen playing soccer and that I needed to come get him to take him to be seen. It was a little after 12 and I knew that I could not get back in time to get all of the kids at 12:40. So on my way to get Jackson I called the school to tell them I needed to pick up all of the kids. There was no one else here at the house that could pick them up and I didn't know how long we would be in the hospital and if I could get back in time to get the kids.
When I got to the school all of the kids were outside waiting on me. Jackson seemed to be very calm. He had to get seven stitches. He is doing great. He has to hobble around because where he cut up his knee is right where is bends and he has to keep his leg straight.

Exams

Our school agers have exams this week. Exam week is always a little stressful for the staff and kids. Just getting some of them to study period is a task. Others don't even bring home their study guide to study. They accidentally forgot it some how, how convienent! All week there is no movie time after super instead they get to study. Extra prayers this week as we get through exam week.

CDE

Denis does a great job taking care of the grounds here at Casa. Last week he decided to do some yard art work with the weed-eater. He made a little CDE logo and then outlined it in rocks!!!!

happy birthday!

Brayan turned 14 years old Saturday! 

He spent the morning marching in the local parade here in Santa Ana for Independence Day. Hard to believe he has grown into a young man. As we are in the teenage years I pray things get easier instead of harder with his anger and control issues. God please give us the patience to guide and mentor him.

Independence Day

This week in September always brings lots of excitement to the kids. The 10th is kids day and the 15th Independence Day! There is lots of extra activities going for the kids around these dates.
The kids had there Independence Day parade today. We have been working for weeks to make sure the kids all had their costumes and uniforms all ready to a T. We got up at normal hour this morning and actually things went very smooth this morning. Between Dilicia, Christina and me we got the kids ready and out the door in time.

Above ~ Cindy and Nohemy representing the 18 departments of Honduras

 Maryuri ~ butterfly

 Jose and Fernando

 Red Cross ~ Daniela, Jackson and Ana were busy making sure everyone had water to drink

 Nature ~ 1st graders Lupe and Maryuri

 Antonio, Jose, and Fernando

 Katy ~ This little one has quite a stubborn little personality. She was suppose to be one of the Indians representing the 18 departments. Well she got mad and sad she would just go in her uniform. Her along with a handful more marched through the parade holding the letters spelling out HONDURAS!/

 Our big 6th grader Antonio

 After the parade was done the mayors office had a sandwich and drink for each one of the kids.
Lupe, Cindy and Maryuri were happy as their mom's also were there to see them march in the parade.
After getting home all of the kids from big to little fell asleep after chores were done. I think they were all tired from marching out in the hot sun! I think they will even sleep better tonight!

Happy Independence Day Honduras!!!

Babies

 The twins are growing and getting bigger every day. This month they will turn 10 months old. Hard to believe that their 1st birthday will be here before we know it.

Jouse (above) Olman (below)

 Josue (above)

Below Olman, Korbin, and Josue. Although Korbin and Josue were not happy about getting their pictures taken.

Feliz Dia del Nino

Today is a huge celebration here in Honduras! Pinatas, candy, cake, fried chicken, and no homework! Those were just part of the things that the kids got to do today for children's day! Most of them came home with lots of candy!
Today is a day to celebrate them!!! They loved every minute of it. The celebration will continue throught out the week as this weekend will they celebrate at church.
I got all of the kids together this afternoon and told them I needed a group pic. Everyone is here in the pic except (baby Josue, he was sleeping).
I know we all have something to learn from children. May we all have a child like spirit!!!
Happy Kid's Day!!!!!

Rosy

Rosy all ready to go celebrate ethnic day at her school today.

The kids were all divided up and had a certain ethnic groups that they had to do research on, bring a typical food to share with her classmates, and come dressed representing the ethnic group.

This will be a fun day for Rosy and I am sure she will learn a lot too.

Update finally...

It has been a long time since I have got an update out or just any news out period. Looked at my blog and saw that it has been a little over a month since I have even blogged.
Not much new here with the kids. The are in school and busy with their homework when they have class. There is still problems with strikes and lack of classes. Right now the kids are only receiving classes from 8 to 10 in the morning and then the rest of the time has been spend practicing for the big Independence parade next week. The kids are all pretty excited. We started getting their uniforms ready a few weeks ago as we wanted to make sure we had all that we needed for all for all of the kids before the big day. A few things were missing. We have purchased what we needed and a few people are letting us borrow things too.
I will try my best to get lots of pics and an update out after the parade next week.
We were struggling to keep everyone well and out of the hospital but it seems that we are finally well and doing well. Baby Josue was the last to be sick and was in the hospital for a week but seems to be doing much better now. It has been almost and month without him getting sick!
Adonis has ran away. This is just one of the many times that he has ran away. Although this time he did not come back. It breaks my heart. We have tried and tried but there must be something deeper going on. He is now back in the children's services IHNFA and waiting to be placed at another children's home which I hope will be able to help out and minister to his needs. He still weighs heavy on my heart.
The rains still continue which means we have had days that are cool.

I will promise to be a little better at updates and this whole blogging.

Benches

There have been lots of groups in and out of Casa this summer playing and loving on the kids and doing work projects here at Casa. Last Saturday a bench got built by the soccer field. Well because of time they only got on built. Monday the kids didn't have school and Bryan and Fernando wanted to get busy doing something. We thought of building another bench with the extra wood. So Denis was glad to jump in and help them build a bench. They were so proud of themselves when they were finished. We has planned on eating outside on the two new benches with all of the kids for lunch. Although the ladies made soup for lunch and that would make it a little hard for us to eat outside. Bryan and Fernando got upset. I told them since they had worked hard on the benches just the two of them could eat their lunch outside on the bench.

These two boys were so proud of their work that they had to try to them out. 

Lempira

 Every year July 20th marks the birthday of one of the heroes here in Honduras. He is Indian Lempira. The kids all celebrate by dressing up as Indians and doing culture stuff. We scrabbled around at the last minute this year and tried to find enough stuff for the kids. Here are a few pics of them dressed up as Indians.

above ~ Nohemy and Maryuri

 Reina, Maryuri, and Sisi

 Daniela

Daniela, Reina, Sisi, Jose, Katy, and Maryuri