just a lovely update

Do not conform to the ways of this world but transform your mind by renewal of the soul.

Today we went to the village of Toscoa, it was incredible! We had over fifty hearing kids and 7 deaf. They loved hitting Ian, Shane, and Ethan with the balls and of course we played a lot of soccer. They understood the skits and laughed a lot. Kyle did an amazing job teaching them "los Diez Mandamientos" and had them all memorized and learned before they left! It was really awesome to watch them pay such close attention and be so eager to learn. Tomorrow we have one more village, and I'm excited to get to do it all over again! Thursday we're going to the special needs school and I haven't been able to keep my mind off that. I'm so so so incredibly excited- my heart is SO already there! 

The people here are so amazing- the parents invite us in with huge hugs and the kids are so excited to play and are so grateful for the small things we give them- a coloring sheet, two crayons, and a pipe cleaner. The things they make the most are crosses, "corazones," and "estrellas." I'm having a blast, but I'm missing home. The last day will definitely be bittersweet. I wish deaf camp would be here already! But I'm enjoying the time to learn more sign language before I get there. Thanks for the continuous prayers everybody! God is so good. 

day 1, language immersion

today was language immersion. we met at the mission house at 8:30 to have breakfast, and then went out into the city with Nancy, our deaf friend, who showed us around and taught us the signs for all the things we were seeing. it was truly humbling to step outside of my self and see how someone else lives. she was such a joy to be around, and so very patient with us! i feel like a lesho pro now ;) but I still have SO much to learn before camp. our devo time this morning was great, with Mark on the guitar and leading worship, and Joy leading the devotional. tomorrow is deaf church, and Monday we start going into villages. this is the last free time we have, so i'm gonna use it wisely- nap and a shower! thank you to everyone who has been praying for safe travels. love y'all.

3 days, wait.... WHAT?!

in 3 days, we'll be arriving in Honduras. UNBELIEVABLE. i feel like just yesterday it was still three months away. but nope, here we are. i should probably start packing today. keep drinking all the water i can. start taking cold showers to prepare for the next two weeks. make sure i don't need to buy anything else. hopefully my choco's come in today! (i've been waiting for them.)

song: Take My Hand, Shawn McDonald
scripture: Joshua 1:9

our team is absolutely amazing. so supportive and reaching already, and we haven't even got on the bus to go to the Houston airport yet. i feel so blessed to get to go back to Honduras. it is life changing, really. can't wait to be there! please be praying for us. i'm praying that the Honduran people will open their hearts to new people, and be susceptible to both our team and God's word and love. i pray that the double language barrier won't matter and that God's love will be our language while we're over there. i pray that our travels go smoothly, and i pray for good health for each team member. i pray we leave everything in God's hands and we do not get overwhelmed or anxious. we've done our preparing, and He will do the rest! i have faith and comfort in that.

COUNTDOWN: 5 DAYS!

5 days out, and it's time to start taking in water and electrolytes until my body can't take any more!


song on my heart: I Will Go, by Starfield
scripture on my heart: 1 Timothy 4:12


last year, i went with the Honduras medical mission team as a recreation team member. my job was to love on kids and people who came to the villages to recieve medical attention. this year, my job hasn't changed too much. except instead of only the English-Spanish language barrier, we have the language barrier of lesho, Honduran sign language. i am so excited to see how God's love acts as a mediator of language! our team is incredibly spiritual and strong this year, and i am extremely blessed to have the opportunity to spend 10 days with them in Honduras. our team members include Kyle and Jade Pierce, Jackie and Alec Ramba, Haden Seely, Wesley Bailey, Rachel Lewis, Ethan Ward, Mark Durham, Nancy Pfanner, and I! please be praying for us as we travel to Honduras, act as God's hands and feet to further His kingdom, and travel back home.