Holy cow, its
MARCH! This is pure craziness how fast time has flown by. Only three months
until Texas with my baby sisters, best friends, driving myself where I need to
go, and eating some really wonderful food that I’ve missed. But at the same
time only three months here in Honduras, a country that I love very much with
people I love more than I can even try to put into words. Only three more
months with my girls and their laughter, their good food, and our dance
parties. Three months, that blows my mind. Seriously. I read an email from a
friend a few days ago challenging me to stay focused on where I am and to live
in the moment that I am in instead of the moments to come regardless of how
exciting they may be. I pray that God would focus my mind and my heart on
Honduras and my girls here and that He would continue to give me the strength,
love, and patience to live in the moment, truly savoring and cherishing my life
here.
A quick update
about my last two weeks:
Two weeks ago
there was a group in town from Pennsylvania (some of whom were here in
October). I had the opportunity to spend quite a bit of time with them and
their translators this time at Casitas and the CTC. It was beautiful to see the
way they love this country and the way they love the people here. On Saturday,
I got to go to Nueva Esperanza (the orphanage with younger kids) with the
Pennsylvania group. I hadn’t been there since my first visit to San Pedro Sula
in June 2011. I was so happy to be able to spend a few hours playing with a few
of the 2, 3, and 4 year olds. They were precious (of course!) and I recognized
a few of them from my last visit. It was also really wonderful to be with this
group and to feel a sense of community with people I could call my friends.
This past week
has been equally wonderful but very normal. Lots of time spent with my girls at
Casitas teaching science, teaching what it means to serve people and why, and
making friendship bracelets. And, even more time spent with my girls at the
transition house – cooking, celebrating my birthday, doing Pilates, learning
about nutrition, playing UNO, and taking hundreds of silly pictures. A couple
of things stand out to me from this past week.
1.
Anyone,
anywhere can help and serve other people. It’s what we as Christians are called
to do. So serve, regardless of who or where you are.
2.
I
have a new friend. Her name is Maurgarita. She is special needs and absolutely
precious. Normally it’s my little sister Lydia and best friend Katie that love
kids with special needs and I sit back and watch them and admire them and their
big hearts. I don’t have the patience; I don’t know what to do or say when I’m
with kids that have special needs. And I know that sounds awful, but it’s true.
But Maurgarita, this sweet girl has captured my heart.
3.
It
is really hard to watch my girls at Casitas leave. Believe me I know we do not
want them to stay here forever. Casitas is not a place that anyone would ever
want to live or a place anyone should have to live. When the girls leave some
of them go back to their families if it is a good situation for them or they go
to another center where there is a school for them to attend. Alejandra, Susan,
Claudia, Chelsy, and several others that I have gotten to know since November
have left Casitas. And at least 4 or 5 more will leave soon to go to another
center. How wonderful it is to see them leave but how sad at the same time, I
want to be able to hug them and talk to them and just be with them each day.
But God continues to remind me that his ways and thoughts and plans are
infinitely better than mine. How comforting and challenging is that? God knows
exactly where each of us is each moment of every day and He knows exactly where
each of my girls are when I obviously don’t. I feel privileged just to have the
opportunity to get to know these girls and pour into them and love them each
day while I’m with them at Casitas.
Pray for us!
Continue to pray that God would keep me focused here and that I would treasure
this time here with my girls. Pray that God would give me the words to say in
the correct moments. Pray for my girls at Casitas as many of them are going
through difficult situations. Pray also for my girls at the house as they
continue to learn and prepare themselves for adulthood and work hard at school,
which just started a few weeks ago. Pray that God would fill us with the Holy
Spirit and guide each of us each day as we walk through our days together
desiring to share God’s love with this city.
Kellie
