My Journey In Helene,Honduras

The group that was here last week were big on doing Kids Clubs. They had a whole song and dance routine planed and everything. They really did a great job with it. I traveled with them to Bentley Bay one day to help them and to snap some pictures. Enjoy.

(Note: Because of our limited Internet connection, I have to put up low quality pictures, so wait to download any you like. After I get home I will put up the high quality ones.)

A nice view approaching Bentley Bay.

Me with the Kids.

Simon and I. I met Simon last year on the North Side and helped him swim for the better part of an hour.

The kids dancing along.

Kids focusing.

Making a bracelet.

Calburt and I. We had lots of fun tossing that ball earlier.

Lots of kids having fun.

Everyone Smile.

I have been working in the school all week. I love it. Something inside of me is saying, maybe look into teaching. We’ll see. We have been learning our times tables this week. My group has been getting much better.

Now some of you probably wonder what the most beat up part of my body is. Am I sun-burnt, are my hands beat up? Well no and no. I have been putting sunscreen on as Camas said “religiously.” The most beat up part of my body are my feet. Between bug-bites and blisters, it hurts to put my feet into flip flops. And they look gross as well. So there ya go.

God Bless,

Paul

Each day here I think I have learned something new. Last week was the first time I experienced having a large team here while I have been on staff.  I now understand why and how team Helene gets so wiped out while teams are here.  The daily activities and events that go on while teams are not here are enough to wear you out fast.  Add on a team of people and coordinating and serving them becomes almost exhausting.  After experiencing that myself, I have so much respect for Team Helene last year when they 4-5 teams back to back. Crazy.

Yesterday I was able to work in the school again. Yay. I really do enjoy being in there. It was not the easiest day thou as it was almost a sauna in there. Not only does it make the teachers feel more tired it wears down the kids as well.  Creating a vicious circle. All things considered it was a pretty good afternoon of school.

We had a major thunder and lighting storm last night. Simply spectacular. I love storms.  At one point we must have had a strike pretty dang close to us as you could hear the air crack from static electricity and the thunder that followed shook the building.

God Bless,
Paul

Whew. It has been raining for three hours now. It started right as we were walking to church. It began as a light drizzle. While we were sitting in church, you could feel the skys opening up as the pitter patter on the metal church roof soon grew into a roar. Poor Sister Sherryl was having a hard time getting her voice out over the noise. Todays church was great. I think it was a combonation of the rain cooling things off and the fact that the Church of God got there generator fixed and worship had more then one person involved today.

It was quite cool watching the dirt path transform into a gushing mud flow. As church let out the rain still was coming down. So they started singing “Rain rain all around….we’re going to get wet,wet, wet.” We stayed there singing for awhile and then made a run for it.

Thanks for all the prayers for rain. They really have been answered. Praise God. I am also so happy to hear that Julie Reid has been cleared for coming home. Keep praying that their journey will be safe and hassle free.

Last night it was also raining and the frogs were out singing their little hearts out. I snapped some pictures, to get enough light I held the camera in one hand and my mag light in the other. Check them out……

Chilling on the FULL water tanks.

A frog getting ready to croak. They are quite loud. A loud echo comes from the brave who have jumped in for a swim.

Pose for the camera little frog. Creepy red eyes.

Hope everyone is doing well. Sorry I have not posted for a few days.

God Bless,

Paul

I really don’t know what I am going to write for this post yet so we’ll see what happens. I am a little bit in shock that I only have 18 days left.  Not that I am counting, but people keep asking me how much longer I am here for, almost on a daily basis so I know. I really have enjoyed my time here and am excited to see what God does with my next 18 days.

Being here for a longer period of time has given me a much greater perspective on what life looks like here.  Really I only got a glimpse of it while I was here on a Short Term Team. The amount of work and planning that goes on behind the scenes is amazing.  I have great respect for all of the full time staff here.  It has been great getting knowing each of them during my time here. They are all unique which makes it so much more fun, all of them have a great personality.

I have really enjoyed getting to know the people on the island. I have a hard time remembering all the names, but there is defiantly a growing group of people that I have a relationship with. I have been able to go out and lead groups for visitations. I have really enjoyed this as it has given me a chance to meet people who do not come by the clinic often.

I am starting to see how living here can be such a drain on your body. I got a good full 9 hours of sleep last night, but I still feel like I could use 9 more.

I really love the island of Helene and the people here I hope God calls me back here again.

God Bless,
Paul

 I have not posted pictures in awhile so I thought I would put some up for people to look at. I took these two weeks ago when Andrew was leaving.  They showcase the school. The kids we’re working on an art project that day and were doing a great job of staying foucsed.

For more information about the English school checkout this link. Helene English School. The school has almost 100 students enrolled and offers pre-K through 6th grade.  The kids really enjoy coming to school.  Partly because there is not alot for children to do on the island and school offers a positive and interactive place to learn. Enjoy the pictures!

Some boys just chilling.

Enjoying a snack. Kids  around here often do not get enough to eat and they really look forward to this snack.

Girls Being Shy

Working on art

View of the class.

God Bless,

Paul

Rain. Rain. Rain. It started raining last night and has been raining off and on ever since. Our tanks are almost completely full. Thanks to everyone who has been praying. While this is great news, we still have to conserve water as we can go though it all in a matter of days with a team here.

The group here has been good and it has been fun getting to know them.

We now have a new maintenance prayer request. Out boat has been having difficulties lately and on Friday the tilt control broke completely. We are not sure what is wrong. Please pray for wisdom and for a quick fix. I have not been able to do much, besides to offer an hand in pulling things and getting tools.

God Bless,

Paul

Today was the first day of work for the team here. They are a fun group. They are mixed highschool ages. From kids entering there freshman year to going off to college next year.

I lead a group in the morning and afternoon to go into the community and visit, or as the islanders say wist. They pronouce v as “wee”. I love this ascept of the Helene culture. They are so open and friendy when it comes to there home. You just walk up and ask if it is a good time for a visit and most of the time it is so they just invite you in. I got to meet alot of people I did not know, also I would meet parents of alot of the kids and teens I know. That was cool to know where they live.

In the morning we visted the point and part of the bite. In the afternoon we made the hike over to the northside. It felt pretty empty today, so we were back to the clinic by 3. Which was just in time for me to help in school after recess. Sheila can manage the class without extra help, but an extra person in there really helps with keeping the class fouced and working with the people who dont get it.

While our tutoring class only runs monday-wednesday I inivted Issiah to come and be read to today if he wanted. He took me up on the offer. I read him four books and then it was time for dinner.

Still no rain. However we have been really good with conserving water, so we are streching what we have. Please keep praying.

God bless,

Paul

A team came into today. They seem like a nice bunch and I am excited to get to know them and watch them serve. They had a little luggage problem and we are still waiting on 12 pieces so hopefully they will get here around noon tomorrow.

Now that we have 25 people here our water situation has become more serious. We got amount a minute of rain today. We need a couple of hours of good solid rain. Please pray for rain.

Pray for the team as they enter there first full day tomorrow. And pray for Team Helene to have the energy we need.

Kenree and Issiah showed up today. It was interesting working with both of them. But Kenree was acting poorly and did not really want to be there. I have grown sick of babying him and if he does not want to take advantage of this opportunity I am not going to force it on him, or let it hold Issiah back when he is so eager and willing to learn.

God Bless,

Paul