Thank-full

This was our second time to host a Thanksgiving meal in Honduras, and I must say it was definitely easier this time around!  We, again, decided that our guests would be Baxter students, which meant that several countries were represented this year: Cuba, Peru and Honduras.  While Bart and I have always been intrigued by international people, after living here, I think we're moving beyond intrigue to commitment.  

When moving here, we knew we would feel committed to the people of Honduras, but I think 2 things have broadened that commitment to all international people.  First, we are international people as we live here in Tegucigalpa.  We are the aliens in a foreign land, and we now know what it's like to try to adjust and adapt to a new culture, to want to share your own culture with others, and to wonder where "home" really is.  So we also understand how meaningful it is when others are patient with us, when they openly extend their lives to us, when they make us feel part of their 'family.'  

Second, through the travel to several other countries that God has allowed us to enjoy this year, and through all the nations that are brought to us (through the Baxter students), we have come to appreciate the varied food, music, architecture, terrain, traditions, people and personalities of many unique countries.  And while no nation is perfect, I believe there is something we can learn from people in every single corner of the world.

So, this year we are truly thankful...For the welcoming spirit of our host countries, for the opportunity to experience new aspects of God through the world's cultures, and for our newfound commitment to serve the 'stranger'...which we hope will be lifelong mission, no matter where we live.

md

Top Ten Things I'm (Pretty Much) Accustomed To Now:

Although my 'journey of adjustment' in our new culture has taken longer and been more difficult than I'd imagined, I'm finally feeling more comfortable and able to re-define what "normal" is in everyday life.  So - here it is - after almost 13 months in Honduras, the Top Ten list of things I'm (pretty much) accustomed to now:


#10 - Geckos in the house.


#9 - Seeing women breastfeeding as they walk around the mall.


#8 - (Let's be honest), seeing women breastfeeding everywhere!


#7 - Delicious avocado - for pennies on the dollar - throughout the year.


#6 - Pulling up to an intersection beside a family of 4 on a motorcycle.  (If you're wondering how that goes, it's: younger child in front, followed by Dad, then older kid, and finally Mom in the back.)


#5 - Being the only female with light skin, light hair, and light eyes as far as the eye can see.


#4 - Buying cartons of eggs off the regular grocery store shelves...not from the refrigerated section!


#3 - Getting home and finding those eggs still 'embellished' with feathers & chicken poop.


#2 - Living with the windows open year-round.  (The climate here really is amazing.)


#1 - Almost-daily getting the chance to observe different aspects of God's character through the people of this culture!


md 

My Super Sweet 15

Yesterday we had the pleasure to experience our first 'quinceañera.' In Latin America, when a girl turns 15, there a many traditions that surround the celebration.  Sometimes there's a shoe ritual, where the birthday girl changes from flats to high-heels.  And at times there are formal dances with dozens of family and friends.  Yesterday's festivities included a sit-down lunch in the front yard of the family's home, and - honestly - it reminded us more of a wedding than a birthday!
And, of course, something to add to our very-Honduran experience was the pouring rain and the fact that there are no roads to this family's home.  So arriving at the party meant a mile trek down a mountain 'trail,' which had quickly become a small river.  The party-throwers tied tarps onto all the tree limbs (hence the blue glow in the photo below) in an effort to keep the rain off the tables, and were continually wiping rain drops off the guests' chairs.  Despite this, everyone was giving thanks for the downpour, because "it's God's will," and "will be good for the fruit in the valley."  Again, very Honduran.  And one more thing we'll never forget about this place.     

md

Picture Honduras

We pass by this mural almost every day.  "Paz" means 'peace,' and "Guerra" means 'war.'  I just love the symbolism.

md

El Encuentro

'El Encuentro' means 'the encounter,' and that's exactly what some of our youth recently got to experience: encountering God in new ways...and encountering numerous other young people from all over Central America!  Twenty-two of the oldest boys from Jovenes en Camino and 18 of the kids from our youth group in Mateo were able to attend a fantastic camp last week, thanks to generous sponsorships from many of our Facebook friends.  The camp, called El Encuentro, was put on by the students of the Baxter Institute, whose hard work was evident to everyone involved.  From breakfast to bedtime, the youth were involved in devotionals, ice-breakers, excellent classes, sports, social time, and a talent night.  It was so exciting to see the young people we've grown to love being able to interact with so many other neat teenagers.  
Note: Be sure to ask Bart about the basketball tournament!

The photo quality on the picture above is horrible, because the windshield on our truck interfered...But hopefully you can see how our JEC boys are packed into the back of that pickup.  How many people (plus all their luggage) were crammed into the two trucks??  27!!

Two of our boys sporting their JEC shirts, as they participate in 

a daily devotional with 500 of their newest friends!

We were really impressed with how our boys volunteered to participate in a number of different activities.  Here, Erick (in the grey t-shirt) and Luis (in the black jacket) are pulling their hardest in a game of tug-of-war.

Although they unfortunately didn't win a trophy for their efforts in fútbol, they did bring home first place in the basketball tournament.  

Basketball?!?  In soccer-dominated Honduras?!?  I didn't say it was pretty. :)

md

The Heart

Here’s some news that I’m certainly the last to hear:  Being a missionary doesn’t make you a good person.

   

Before moving here, somewhere deep in my subconscious, I think I believed that just through the act of getting on a plane and settling down on the mission field, I’d somehow become a way better version of myself.  I’d grow some wings and a halo, I’d naturally be nicer to people, it would become really easy to talk to others about Jesus, and the temptations that once plagued my life would naturally disappear.

It didn’t take long for me to realize that Melissa-in-Honduras is still Melissa, with all the shortcomings, weaknesses, and attitude problems that I had in the States.  Only here they probably started creeping out more often, simply due to the stresses of cross-cultural adjustment.

Darn!  You mean I’m still self-centered?  And at times kinda lazy?  And (gasp!) even in this ‘developing nation,’ I still struggle with materialism?  Yep, yep, and yep.  Unfortunately.

It has brought to mind so many devotional talks I heard as a kid by former missionaries or missionaries-on-furlough, when they’d say things like, “It doesn’t matter where you are in the world, you can serve God,” or, “You don’t have to be a missionary in another country to be sold-out for the Lord.”  Back then, it seemed like they were selling their cool, overseas lives way too short.  But now, I get it.  I really doesn’t matter where you are in the world.  All that matters is your heart.

I can live in the middle-of-nowhere, Africa, as a “missionary,” but if my heart’s not right, it’s pointless.  Likewise, I can live in Anytown, USA, working a “secular” job, with a right-heart, and that’s everything!  A right-heart might look different from person to person, but for me, it means a heart that’s filled with God’s love for me & mine for Him, overflowing onto those around me; my motives are centered on Him, and my attitude reflects that, so that my service is joyful, instead of some resentment-filled duty I’m fulfilling.  And living in Honduras day-to-day, I’ve really had to check myself: that it’s not just the actions I’m doing that look right, but that my heart really is right.

I’m so glad that God has put me in Honduras at this point in my life.  And it’s so comforting to know that - no matter where in the world I might live in the future - what matters to God is my heart...that’s it’s close to His heart and seeking to be ever-closer.

md   

Picture Honduras

Rainy season has had dramatic effects on the scenery down here!  This picture was taken at the agricultural school in Zamorano, Honduras, just down the street from the boys' home.

md