Home For The Holidays

This blog post about Christmas and New Years is clearly long overdue, but obviously y’all have figured out by now that this blogging stuff, not really my cup of tea. But, I promise I am trying. Honestly, I’m more of a snail blogger (for those of you that don’t know that would be writing by hand in a journal). Now, back to Christmas and New Years.

I think the holidays are wonderful. I love to spend time with my family and friends. I love to give and receive presents. I love to be at Tallowood for Christmas Eve.  I love Christmas music and Christmas trees and Poinsettias. But, these things and these people do not make Christmas. These things are in no way bad; in fact they’re all wonderful, but for me they’re often a distraction of the real celebration of Christmas. Jesus. Christmas is about the fact that God gave us Jesus. If I were stranded on a desert island on December 25^th (let’s hope that never actually happens though), it would still be Christmas. This year, although not on a dessert island, I wasn’t home in Houston with my friends and family, but in spite of that it was still Christmas.

My prayer for my girls and for myself at Christmas was that we would recognize this beautiful truth. Christmas is about the birth of Jesus and the most wonderful gift to ever be given, finding joy in Him was what this Christmas was about. Here, celebrating this gift I prayed that we would all know that because God gave us Jesus we have the opportunity to be children of God and a part of His family. So, even though I was not celebrating Christmas or New Years with my parents and sisters, I was celebrating Christmas with my sisters in Christ.

That is not to say that I wasn’t sad at times and that I didn’t miss my family and friends, but not being with them in no way diminished the fact that God gave me Jesus. And that is a reason to celebrate. This Christmas and New Years, although very different, were fun and are times to be treasured.  We went shopping, had secret Santa’s, had a sister sleepover, ate Honduran tamales (frankly, not quite as good as my family’s Mexican tamales), danced, went to a carnival, watched movies, and made new friends.

God has given these girls to me, to love, to celebrate, to inspire, and to ultimately be an example of a Christian. Finding joy and peace in Christ in the midst of really missing Texas at Christmas was hard, but through Him and because of His birth we were all reminded of His love for us. Jesus’ love transcends any country’s boundaries and any language imaginable. Christmas is about Jesus’ birth, a celebration, a gift, and a joyous occasion! So merry (late) Christmas and New Years from all of us here in San Pedro Sula, Honduras!

Thanks and gig 'em.

Peace, love, and pursue Jesus.

Kellie

Yours

I’ve been meaning to write this blog for several weeks now but kept putting it off because I didn’t and honestly still don’t know how to adequately put into words what I am seeing and experiencing and learning while at Casitas everyday. I’m praying right now as I write this that God would graciously give me the words I need.

For those of you that don’t know, Casitas is a government run orphanage for girls age 12-18. On average 90 girls live at Casitas. They have lived there for varying amounts of time and for varying reasons. One girl arrived at Casitas two days ago and another has lived at Casitas for a year and ten months. A few of the girls have no families that they can go to and will likely live at Casitas until they are eighteen years old. Others have families but their families cannot care for them, sent them to Casitas as a punishment, or are very bad environments for the girls. In addition to the difficulties that come with living in an orphanage these girls have experienced extraordinary amounts of suffering and hardships in their short lives.

I have been going to Casitas for several weeks now, but every time I walk back in there and see the way they live and spend their time and smell the awfulness and hear a new story of one of the girls my heart breaks a little bit more for them. At times my heart literally aches for these sweet girls. I am saddened and overwhelmed and angry by the things I see and hear each day.

I often find myself questioning why these girls have to live here and saying its not fair and wondering who loves these girls like they need to be loved instead of trusting God with their lives. But fact is life isn’t fair and we deserve nothing, but God in His grace chooses to give us beautiful gifts. Why some of us are blessed in some ways and others aren’t I can’t answer that question. But, I do know that God is sovereign and all knowing and I don’t have to or need to understand the “whys”. He knew before these girls were ever born that they would spend a portion of their lives living at Casitas and He knew that I would be there getting to love them and hear some of their stories.

When I question who loves the girls like they need to be loved God graciously reminds me that He does. He is the only one that loves perfectly. Even if they were living with their biological families or if they were in a foster home or transition home no one but God would be loving them the way they need to be loved. Our families don’t even love us the way we “need” to be loved. We’re human. We’re imperfect. Therefore, our love is imperfect. But, God, His love is perfect. I constantly remind the girls of the perfect love of our Heavenly Father, but I’m only able to do that because God is constantly reminding me of His perfect love for us.

Earlier today I heard the song “Yours” by Steven Curtis Chapman for the first time in a long time, but seriously, what perfect timing. Here are the lyrics. It’s kind of long, but I would encourage you to read them all anyway, because they’re so beautiful. He never says San Pedro Sula or Honduras or Latin America, but in my head I substitute my city and country for the places he says.

I walk the streets of London
And notice in the faces passing by
Something that makes me stop and listen
My heart grows heavy with the cry

Where is the hope for London?
You whisper and my heart begins to soar
As I'm reminded
That every street in London in Yours
Oh, yes it is

I walk the dirt roads of Uganda
I see the scars that war has left behind
Hope like the sun is fading
They're waiting for a cure no one can find

And I hear children's voices singing
Of a God who heals and rescues and restores
And I'm reminded
That every child in Africa is Yours

And its all Yours, God, Yours, God
Everything is Yours
From the stars in the sky
To the depths of the ocean floor
And its all Yours, God, Yours, God
Everything is Yours
You're the Maker and Keeper, Father and Ruler of everything
It's all Yours

And I walk the sidewalks of Nashville
Like Singapore, Manila and Shanghai
I rush by the beggar's hand and the wealthy man
And everywhere I look I realize

That just like the streets of London
For every man and woman, boy and girl
All of creation
This is our Father's world

And its all Yours, God, Yours, God
Everything is Yours
From the stars in the sky
To the depths of the ocean floor
And its all Yours, God, Yours, God
Everything is Yours
You're the Maker and Keeper, Father and Ruler of everything

It's all Yours, God
It's all Yours, God
It's all Yours, God
It's all Yours, God

The glory is Yours, God
All the honor is Yours, God
The power is Yours, God
The glory is Yours, God

You're the King of Kings
And Lord of Lords

And its all Yours, God, Yours, God
Everything is Yours
From the stars in the sky
To the depths of the ocean floor
And its all Yours, God, Yours, God
Everything is Yours
All the greatness and power, the glory and splendor and majesty
Everything is Yours
Yeah, it's all Yours
We are Yours
The glory and honor is Yours, everything is Yours

It's all Yours, God
My life is Yours, my heart is Yours
My hands and my feet are Yours
Every song that I sing
It's all Yours, all is Yours
All belongs to You
Our gifts are Yours, God
All our dreams are Yours, God
All our plans are Yours, God
The whole earth is Yours, God
Everything is Yours

-Kellie

I Want To Be Like You

This past week was absolutely crazy and very out of the norm. We had so many visitors in town from the U.S. I might as well have been in Texas… but I wasn't.

On Saturday our lovely friends and mentors, Robyn and Stephanie, from Texas and Oklahoma were in town for four days. We had a wonderful time celebrating Christmas together! Christmas number one – check.

Saturday evening commenced our Christmas festivities. It involved decorating a brand new Christmas tree with new lights, ribbon, and ornaments (donated to us by a friend) while taking numerous breaks to stuff our faces with tons of chips, dips, crackers, cheeses, meats, fruit, and of course sweets and choreograph dances to “Call Me Maybe” (videos to come soon, promise).  Sunday was Christmas day! To open presents first and then have breakfast, or to eat first and then open presents? A tough call, for sure. But, we wound eating a huge, yummy breakfast and then making our way to our presents. Breakfast included homemade pancakes (however syrup appears to be very unpopular here in Honduras), bacon (made my yours truly), eggs, fresh pineapple, juice, milk, and coffee (my new favorite!). Afterwards we made our way to the living room for present opening time. I had the privilege of playing Santa and passing out presents to all the girls, Tia Julieta, and myself. We dumped open our stockings and found lots of fun goodies from Robyn and Stephanie, my favorite – a toss up between matching pajamas for all 7 girls in the house and my Texas A&M mug (that’s how I know Robyn loves me). After changing into our new Christmas pajamas we watched a Christmas movie favorite, Elf, but in Spanish of course. After pizza for dinner and a long and wild game of spoons we decided it was time for bed. And, by time for bed I mean the girls went to bed and Robyn, Stephanie, and I stayed up talking for a few hours. Sleep, who needs it?

During all of the cooking we did in the kitchen Sunday morning, Robyn and Stephanie (who cooks for a living) realized our kitchen was not very well equipped for cooking efficiently. They decided to generously outfit us with a new kitchen! So, they spent the morning shopping for us. I was convinced they bought basically the whole store until I went there yesterday and saw for myself there were still items on the shelf. Because of a great sale at the store they went to they were able to buy all kinds of new appliances, plates, Tupperware, baking necessities, and pots and pans for the house. After lunch and some really great conversation we put the girls to work cleaning out the cabinets and then it was time for organizing the kitchen, my favorite! After dinner, we finished organizing the entire kitchen and explained how to use everything in the kitchen. You can’t begin to understand my excitement to be able to cook in a well equipped once again and how incredibly overwhelmed I am by the generosity of my friends Robyn and Stephanie to do this for us!

I spent a lot of the four days with them overwhelmed, and not in a bad way. They are so wonderful; you really have to meet them to understand how incredible they are. But, seriously, they are full of wisdom, encouragement, and love for us. I want to be like them when I grow up (because 22 is not really adult like, right?) and by that I mean that in their lives I see the Lord reflected constantly and I pray that my life looks like that now and in the future.

The same day Robyn and Stephanie left several people from the Buckner offices in Dallas, TX came to town. It was great to be able to meet some of my bosses and put names to faces. It was even better to get to sit down and have long conversations with them and share my heart with them and hear their hearts and wisdom. And, it was so fun to see them love on these girls that I live with in the transition home. It was easy for me to see that for them Buckner is more than just a job for, it is a place they have all been called to and they truly do all their work as if working for the Lord.

Please pray for us in the house! A few days ago two of the girls that were here moved out and three new girls moved in. Pray for the transition, so far it has been smooth, but of course we’re still learning and adjusting. Please pray for us that we would feel be a family, which prays, laughs, and talks together. Pray that our time together would be fruitful and that God would use it. Pray that God would give me wisdom and discernment in conversations with these sweet girls. Pray that I would take advantage of every opportunity to love them.

Thanks and gig ‘em.

Peace, love, and pursue Jesus.

Kellie

Everybody Praise the Lord

In light of Thanksgiving (one of my favorite holidays) I thought this blog would be very appropriate.

1.     I am thankful for the gift of salvation. Without Jesus I am nothing and I have absolutely nothing.

2.     I am thankful for parents – the way they’ve raised me and support me, and for the example they are to me.

3.     I am thankful for my baby sisters, Lydia, Alisan, Jamie – they are my best friends. I can’t imagine doing and walking through life without them (even on their most annoying and obnoxious days).

4.     I am thankful for the rest of my family – Grammie, Grandma Alice, Aunt Betty, Uncle Russell, Justin, Stephanie, Brandon, Aunt Alicia, David, and Ashlie. I am thankful for your love, support, and friendship and the way you care for me.

5.     I am thankful for my best friends. Regardless of whether we’ve been friends since kindergarten or we’re fairly new friends, know that you are special to me and I treasure our friendship.

6.     I am thankful for a church family in Tallowood Baptist Church, which is completely committed to teaching the truth of the gospel and to missions.

7.     I am thankful for the numerous adults and mentors I have in my life. I am thankful for your commitment to Christ and the way it manifests in your life. As a result many of you have shaped and influenced my life in ways you didn’t even know.

8.     I am thankful that God has given me the opportunity to serve Him in another country.

9.     I am thankful that while I am here God has constantly provided for me – financially, emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually.

10. I am thankful for hospitals, doctors, and nurses that figure out what’s wrong with my dad and who take care of him when he is sick. I am thankful for God’s hand of healing on my dad’s body.

11. I am thankful for the Tango app. Seriously, this is my new favorite app. I can text and talk on my phone to people anywhere for FREE as long as I am connected to wifi.

12. I am thankful for food. Even though I am not eating yummy thanksgiving food with my family I am thankful that there is food on my table for me to eat. So many people, including some of my kids don’t get enough to eat on a daily basis.

13. I am thankful for water. It’s such a basic necessity that we all too often take for granted.

14. I am thankful for the opportunity to have received an education from a great university and for the opportunity to continue that education when I return to Texas.

15. I am thankful for my pets. I miss my cats and my dogs (yes, even the two little bratty ones). They’re so great to snuggle with especially my black lab/dalmatian; she’s a lap dog right??

16. I am thankful for my Bible. Being able to have the word of God in my hand, to hold and read is such a treasure and blessing.

17. I am thankful for music. Need I say more?

18. I am thankful for sports. If you know me at all you know that I love sports. I can’t explain it, but I love them and I love my teams. For those of you wondering, yes I got to see Texas A&M beat Alabama while in Honduras!

19. I am thankful for cameras and pictures that capture and preserve memories.

20. I am thankful for all of the kids I babysit for in the US. I love the time I’ve spent with them. And, I love to look back at pictures and videos of us and remember and laugh.

21. I am thankful for the ability to drive. I (for obvious reasons) am not allowed to drive in Honduras and sometimes it makes me crazy, especially when I have to wait for half an hour for a taxi. I’m so blessed to know how to drive and to have a car so I can go wherever I want or need, whenever I want, something I have definitely taken for granted for at home.

22. I am thankful for the beautiful world God created. The view outside my bedroom is absolutely stunning. The mountains – incredible. Good job God, you’re a great artist.

23. I am thankful for shoes and socks that are not falling apart, that I can wear to keep my feet safe and dry. So many of my kids are not that lucky.

24. I am thankful for Buckner International and the work they’re doing in the US and around the world – specifically in Honduras through Buckner Honduras and the staff here.

25. I am thankful for nail polish. I know that sounds silly. But, sometimes its fun for me to sit down and paint my nails with my girls and feel kind of girly.

26. I am thankful for how much fun God has made it to learn and improve on my Spanish speaking. I truly enjoy going to Spanish class three times a week and practicing with my girls and with my students.

27. I am thankful that I have a house that I can call a home.

28. I am thankful that I have a bed to sleep in, here and in Texas. I recently learned that at the orphanage some of the teenage girls don’t have beds to sleep in at night and that breaks my heart.

29. I am thankful for Tallowood and Breakaway podcasts. They’re a little bit of home from afar.

30. I am thankful for the protection of the Buckner staff while living in another country. I know they always have my safety in mind. 

And now for a few birthday shout outs.

Happy birthday to my friend Drew, my cousins Brandon & Justin, and my lovely friend Amber. I hope yall all have great times celebrating your birthdays this week!

Thanks & gig 'em.
Peace, love, and pursue Jesus.

Kellie