Down to business

So this past week was my first full week of work.  I'm starting to regret the sarcastic ""'s around the word "job" in my last post.  In my first full week in Honduras, I was still getting settled in.  I moved to the city, did a bit a shopping, found the internet, visited a clinic, got a cell phone, ect.  With so many things going on, I didn't make it through a full day of school at all.  Well, this last week was different.  Five full days of school with my group of 7 to 11 girls.  Ok, so I think this is going to be a real job after all.  My schedule for a work day is as follows.... 5 am: wake up and get ready; 5:30 am: leave for the farm; 6:30 am: arrive at the farm for breakfast; 7 am: devotion; 8-1: school; 1-2: lunch; 2-4: more school; 5 pm: head home; 6 pm: home.  I don't believe I've ever had days as full as the ones in this last week.  Although, I'm not complaining in the least bit.  I think every single day I've come home with a smile on my face that I can't seem to shake off.  God certainly has a way of taking care of me. 

School itself has been very interesting for me as well as my girls.  For my first week or two, I was able to play games, joke around, and laugh with the girls.  Yet, my time as a "friend" shifted into my time as a "teacher" this week.  Responsibilty is not the greatest thing in the world.  On Wednesday or so, the girls thought it be cute to lock me out of the classroom.  I almost had to murder a few of them.  Ok, maybe murder is a bit strong (and potentially not a word the board wants me to use in reference to the girls), but teacher Ben was not happy.  A bit of yelling and hurt feelings later, I think we all understood our roles a bit better.  Although I'm still not exactly sure what is going all of the time at the school, I feel like I'm a bit closer to finding my groove after this week. 

The weekend was wonderful and rejuvenating.  I was able to meet my friends Morgan and Clayton in La Esperanze for lunch and then hang out with them at the farm.  It was nice to have a relaxing and greatly slowed down weekend with the girls, friends, and a little protein.  We were able to end the trip off with chasing down a bus in a truck.  Fairly exciting if I say so myself.

A few random notes to make as well.  It is taking me FOREVER to upload photos.  I'm not complaining, but I really have a ton a pictures that I would love to post here.  Yet, in the future, if there are not many pictures, its because I didn't have an hour so sit and wait.  And this week, I'm not sure why they are so incredibly large.  Hope thats ok though.

A second note, I found on my computer that somebody had downloaded some music and left it.  I think it was Josh and Allison.  It was amazing this last week to find some Counting Crows and Jack Johnson to listen to.  Big thanks to Josh and Al or whoever it was who downloaded the music.  Its real nice to have a taste of home.

And finally, we need a bit of prayer down here.  We are getting the rain from a tropical depression right now as I type.  On the mountain we are fine, but please pray for the Hondurans that live in the lower places of the country.  Also, the farm is in need of a new vehicle.  Mrs. Pam is looking for a Toyota Tacoma 4x4, extended cab, extended bed, diesel truck less than 10 years old.  On my last blog update I showed a picture of 29 people in a truck.  That should show you why we are in need of such a vehicle.  If you know where we can find one (or something similar in Nissan or Toyota), please let me know.  Or really, if people could just be in prayer that we find something like this it would be a great help.

Well, another short blog entry.  I plan to update this a bit more often so as to include the stories and experiences of my weeks in Honduras.  I feel like I have left a ton of information out, but its a bit difficult to find the time and/or internet connection to update frequently.  This post has been a little sparatic and spread out through a few days, so forgive me.  Thank you for checking in on me.  Your prayers and encouragements are always needed.  And remember, "there's always going to be a hair in the soup."

 

Getting Settled In

Hello All.  So this is my new blog.  Recently (in the past 2 weeks), I picked up and headed out towards Yamaranguila, Honduras.  I was offered a teaching position at a girls home called Project Talitha Cumi.  PTC is home to 27 young ladies ranging in ages from 18 down to 3 years old.  I've created this blog, because after nearly 2 weeks, I've become aware of my need to write down and share some of the simply amazing things that I have been able to witness and be apart of.

So my "job" is difficult to put into words.  I would consider all and none of this a real "job".  I'm working probono until December 1st fom my first stay here, and then will most likely return early in 2011.  Some of my "purposes" are to teach/tutor a group of 8 or 10 high school and middle school girls.  My girls attend a home school-type program on saturdays, and are tutored through different programs during the week.  Other than teachering, another "purpose" for me at the farm is to simply hang out with the girls.  The girls enjoy soccer, watching movies, playing games, and most of the time just laughing.  Both parts of my "job" have been extremely enjoyable thus far.  I really feel as though I am just starting to get the hang of things down here. 

In my first 2 weeks here, I have aquired more stories than I have time to write and probably more than anybody cares to listen to.  I've walked for hours through the wilderness to deliver rice and pinatas to impoverished schools, ridden with 29 human beings in a small nissan truck, walked a handful of miles down dirt roads, learned some spanish from pre-school children, sold rabbits, and have had the opportunity to get to know some of the sweetest girls. 

Well, I wanted this to be a test run for my blog, so I'll leave this one short(-ish).  Thank everybody for the prayers and kind words.  

-Ben Heath