Nicaragua

This week was our first week back to school after a week vacation in Nicaragua. It wasn't too difficult to get back into it seeing as I had a test today and all.
But Nicaragua was wonderful. We visited Leon, Managua, Granada, and Masaya.
In Leon we toured the house of Ruben Dario, and many cathedrals in the colonial city.
In Managua we learned more about Nicaraguan history and took a tour of Managua.
On our way to Grenada we stopped at Masaya and climbed up part of Masaya (a volcano) and we also went in a cave. It was beautiful and huge.
In Grenada we toured the city with a tour guide who was quite interesting. We took our tour in horse-drawn buggies. It was definitely the highlight of Granada.
The next day we left early to go to a coffee plantantion and do canapy (zipline) It was amazing! It was beautiful and really scary at the same time. Part of the "adventure" was a Tarzan like swing. And to get down on the very last part we had to do a drop of like 50 feet in 2 seconds. Super scary but totally worth it.
We spent our last day and night in Masaya. We spent the day at a local arts market and the night we ate dinner outside while watching dancers from Nicaragua as well as Argentina.
It was an amazing trip...but now we are back to reality with classes and work.
Hope all is well in the states!

Casi octubre...

It's almost October I can hardly believe it. For one, it feels like summer here (well at least today), and time has just been flying by.

We had a tropical storm warning here in Honduras this past week. Tegucigalpa wasn't affected as much as other parts I am sure, but we have been having a lot of rain lately and it isn't as warm as it used to be. (today is the first day of sun since last week Thursday) We also haven't had any rain yet today so that is a change. Tegucigalpa has had a lot of rain this year. Nothing has happened where I live, but a lot of roads have been damaged as well as houses in and around Tegucigalpa because of all the rain we have been getting.

The good news is that the sun came out today...which means the clothes that I washed (yes, by hand) last week Friday will be able to fully dry...finally. I have sworn to only wear jeans when I have to...they are a pain to wash and they take forever to dry. Things you learn. :)

Classes are going well. I am officially done for the week and looking forward to the weekend. I will be spending Saturday and Sunday in Nueva Suyapa (a small town 10 minutes outside of Teguc) with families from the Christian Reformed church in the town. It should be a wonderful experience.

Got to get going. Enjoy fall for me-eat apples, drink apple cider, and wear jackets and cute scarves...it's weird that I miss the cold...but sometimes I do.

Pictures!

My family in Valle de Angeles
Girls from my neighborhood came to my house one Saturday to make brownies...we were craving chocolate
My family took me to Santa Lucia and Valle de Angeles (2 tourist cities close to Teguc)
My dad came to visit me the same weekend
Valle de Angeles

Mi Universo

I have recently completed my first month here in Honduras. I am definitely in the first month stage.

These are the "stages" (or so I have read)

1. Before leaving: "I can't wait to be there!"

2. After arriving: "Everything is so new and different and wonderful"

3. After the first week: "This language is hard and I can't do this"

4. After 2-3 weeks: "I am more comfortable with living here and I think I can do this. I am learning a lot and loving it"

5. After a month: "I thought I could do this, but now I'm not so sure. I'm not where I wanted to be in my language or relationships with others. I am learning still but it's harder than I thought"

6.After some time: "I love it here and don't want to leave. I have learned a lot and still am continuing to learn but I feel comfortable where I am"

7. A few weeks before leaving: "I can't believe I only have a few weeks left. I don't really want to leave. I don't know how I'm going to adjust again.

8. Back home: "Adjusting all over again"

The good thing is...I know this phase will pass. I have done this before. I also have a wonderful God that is here with me all of the time.

In the states it's really easy to forget God. If I have a problem, I can figure it out on my own or talk with family or friends. Here I don't always have those options. I am forced to rely and depend on God. It's a really good thing. I have known this my whole life...but, I have learned that God is really good at comforting and fixing problems...or if they aren't "fixed" I know that he is always there and always has been there. It's amazing how much reading the Bible and praying helps. It's something I can't forget when I go back home. It's something beautiful that I have learned here.

My first Sunday here I sang a song in church that I knew from my time in Guatemala. I loved it there as well, but when I sang it here I decided to make it my goal and theme for my time here. It's called "Mi Universo"="My Universe" It's beautiful in all languages I'm sure...but really good in Spanish. Enjoy the lyrics below...but youtube it as well...it's great.

Mi Universo

Que seas mi universo
No quiero darte solo un rato de mi tiempo
No quiero separarte un dia solamente
Que seas mi universo
No quiero darte mis palabras como gotas
Quiero un diluvio de alabanzas en mi boca

Que seas mi universo
Que seas todo lo que siento y lo que pienso
Que seas el primer aliento en la manana
Y la luz en mi ventana
Que seas mi universo
Que llenes cada uno de mis pensamientos
Que tu presencia y tu poder sean mi alimento
Oh Jesus es mi deseo... Que seas mi universo

No quiero darte solo parte de mis años
Te quiero dueño de mi tiempo y de mi espacio
Que seas mi universo
No quiero hacer mi voluntad, quiero agradarte
Y cada sueño que hay en mi quiero entregarte

(2x)
Que seas mi universo
Que seas todo lo que siento y lo que pienso
Que seas el primer aliento en la manana
Y la luz en mi ventana
Que seas mi universo
Que llenes cada uno de mis pensamientos
Que tu presencia y tu poder sean mi alimento
Oh Jesus es mi deseo... Que seas mi universo..

(English translation...not as good...because it's a rough translation and fairly literal)

You're my world
I don't want to give you just a little bit of my time
I don't want to be apart from you for even one day
You're my world
I don't want to give you words as droplets (I don't want to talk to you only a little bit)
I want a flood of praise to come from my mouth

You're my world
You're everything I feel and everything I think
You are my first breath in the morning
And the light in my window
You're my world
I want you to be all that I think about
Your presence and your power will be my food
Oh Jesus is my desire ...

You're my world
I don't want to give you only part of my years
I want you to own my time and my space
You're my world
I do not want to do my will, I want to please you
And every dream I have in me I want to give to you

Photo #1 Garifunas in Cusuna

#2 Cusuna

#3 My house

#4 Girls in my neighborhood from Calvin

#5 My wonderful family (missing one of my sisters)

More pictures to come.

Miss it/Love it

After almost three weeks in Honduras I have encountered things that I love...but also things that I miss.

Things I miss:

-My family and friends (of course)

-Being able to drive where I want to go (surprising)

-Carpet

-Showers with warm water

-Being able to eat food from wherever it is sold

-Being able to drink water from the faucet

-Being able to throw toilet paper in the toilet

-Walking somewhere and not getting hit on by various men

-Sweet things-like homemade cookies

-Fall and fresh apples from a tree as well as apple cider

Despite missing many things from home...I LOVE a lot of things here

Things I love:

-My family and friends (of course)

-Not having to drive on these crazy roads and in crazy traffic

-Warm weather

-The rain that cools the hot afternoon air

-The food! all of it! Especially beans and avocados!

-My professors and classes

-Being hit on wherever I go by various men

-When all the traffic in the street stops so that you and your gringa friends can cross safely

-Public transportation

-The dances

Honduras is wonderful. We started classes today and of course it will be a lot of work (not unlike Calvin) but it will be worth it. I'm so glad to be here. So far it has been an incredible experience.

I hope you all are doing well. Pictures and possibly videos to come...

Estoy Aqui!

Hi everyone!
I´m in Honduras and loving it!
My family is wonderful and they have made me feel at home already. I have my own room and bathroom which is very nice.
There are a few other girls in my neighborhood so we walk to the University together everday. We are getting our exercise too because it´s a 30 minute walk one way.
Many professors of Public Universities here are on strike. Unfortunately they have chosen our University to unite at. It was very peaceful until Friday. On Friday they decided to block off a main street. The police didn´t like this. So they threw bombs of tear gas at the professors to make them clear the streets. Unfortunately for us we happened to be walking through the protest. I´ll just say that tear gas is not very fun. But, we are ALL safe.
Other than that we haven´t had ANY problems.
I love it here. I am making friends and learning tons of new words.
I will write more once I have access to internet at the University.
Until then. I hope you are all well.
Things couldn´t be going better here. Thank you ALL for your thoughts and prayers. It has made the transition that much easier.