USA, it's been awhile.

So I'm leaving from Emmanuel in the morning at 7:30am. It still has not hit me hit that my time here is over. Saying my "good-byes" today was harder than I thought it was going to be. Tears shed. But I'm excited, however, for the season to come. I have been reading a lot about the sovereignty of God and plan of the Lord. He always is in control, and I know He is concluding this season now for a reason.

I've been praying the last couple days for him to show me and prepare my heart for the season to come. Because I have been so focused on 'being here', I haven't really thought much about the fall. However, I really got excited about it. He laid some verses on my heart to pray for, much being about community and prayer. One heart. Expectant for what is to come during my senior year.

Not to mention, I am unbelievably excited about seeing my family & friends in the coming days. It's been so long!! Ah I can't hardly stand it.

Oh & turkey (and really all things American)... I have missed you a lot. You will be immediately reinstanted into my daily food regimentand or life.

LOVE YOU HONDURAS, my stay has been amazing as usual. You will be missed greatly. Until next time...

reality.

This morning the reality of me leaving really hit me. I was at circle with the little girls and I was holding their hands like I normally do, but for some reason this wave of "oh my goodness, I'm leaving them in two days" hit me like a ton of bricks. I almost lost it right there. Looking back into these beautiful faces of the girls that I have been with for a month and knowing that I am going to have to tell them "goodbye" tomorrow, until I don't know when, isn't the best feeling I have had.

The older girls understand what is happening. They know that there is a possibility I won't be back. They are used to people leaving them, EVEN THOUGH it doesn't make the situation easier. We have really bonded and I feel like I'm leaving some of my best friends.

I know the Lord has called me to Honduras for this specific period of time and that time is up. I know their is purpose in this, and He has prepared my heart to leave, even though it is going to be extremely difficult. I'm thankful for a sovereign Lord that knows exactly when things need to happen, and has maticulously woven our lives together for certain events and times. 

I have been extremely blessed by this experience, and have learned more than I could have ever imagined. The Lord has stretched me in ways I didn't know I could be stretched and I am forever grateful for this season. Praying for my sisters.

"I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them." {1 Timothy 2:1}

my sisters (or hermanas if you will)...

During some down time this week, I started writing down many of the things that the different girls I have spent a lot time with here have taught me. There is much, and much for which I am thankful. But I wanted to highlight them & shine a little light on how MUCH they have meant to me throughout the past month. The meaning of sister in Christ has taken on a whole new meaning for me because these girls literally have become my sisters, part of my family that I will always carry with me.

What I have learned from them:

ALBERTINA: Servanthood & Humbleness. Albertina is one of the most beautiful people I have ever met, and its not just because she is outwardly beautiful. She is 18 years old and she radiates love for the Lord. He is her everything. She has humbled herself before Him, and it is evident through her work. She doesn't want recognition from anyone for the things she does. She does all the "dirty" work per se when no one is looking. A lot of the girls look to her and she has no idea, but I see it everyday. She has an extremely calm spirit that sort of sets the tone for everyone that comes around her. This includes me. I know there is a reason she is the first girl I met at Emmanuel. She has remained one of my best friends here throughout. "Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise." (Proverbs 31:30-31) This is Albertina.

KELIN: Grace, Responsibility, and Gentleness. Grace flows from Kelin, especially every time I mess up severely in the kitchen (which I had no idea what was going on most of the time). If I mess up, she just says, "It's okay I do it too sometimes" (which I honestly never saw her do, but made me feel better regardless). She has a gentle spirit, and is encouraging. I remember one day I was saying how I couldn't do something, and she in all honesty puts her hand on my shoulder and says, "Taylor, you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you." Wow. She too leads with a calm spirit. "When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instruction with kindness". Prov 31:26

ROSA: JOY & LOTS of it. Haha. I can't even talk about her without having the biggest grin come to my face. Rosa is always laughing, and smiling. When something bad happens, like us dropping all of the lunch for 40 on the floor-she shrugs and grins and says, "It's okay!". She never lets circumstances get the best of her. She has joy that's higher than that, and it is extremely contagious! Everyone needs a bit of Rosa in their life! ..."and she laughs without fear of the future" (Prov. 31:25)

GITA: FAITH. Gita is a pillar, and you can tell by the fruit of her life. She inspires me more than I could ever imagine. She challenges me daily. I remember one day saying to her, "Gita, why don't you just come to America and live with me?" She reponded by saying, "Taylor, if the Lord says yes I come. But if he doesn't I'm not coming." The response kind of suprised me because I was kind of half kidding. But that is how Gita is, she lives by faith every single day of her life and in every circumstance. She is also an astounding leader. Many of the girls look up to her and she has NO idea. Not to mention, she takes care of the special needs girls and this takes a lot of patience and tenderness, which she has much of. She too radiates the Lord. 'She is clothed with strength and dignity..." Prov 31:25

RIXI: Comfort in God alone. Rixi has been through a lot but she doesn't find her comfort in her circumstances or the events that have happened to her. She looks forward to the confident hope of the Lord. She understands that she was created in His image, and views herself with His eyes. It's an extremely beautiful thing.

STEPHANIE: Breaking down walls is worth it. We are meant for community and not to go at this life thing alone. Stephanie was a hard cookie to break. She has trust issues, and has been through a lot of hardships. It was hard with her, but finally she came around. I am so thankful the Lord helped me stick with her, because what's underneath though messy is absolutely beautiful.

LAURA: Working for the Lord. Little 11 year old Laura has the best work ethic of many people I have ever seen. I remember we had like 90 something empty boxes to haul to the dump. I was carrying like 3 boxes or so and heading that way and I look behind me and Laura has literally stuffed 14 boxes into each other, and that was only for one hand, she was doing the same thing for the other hand. Also, if the floor is dirty, she is the first one on her hands and feet scrubbing. I want to be like that. She is also much stronger than me and weighs 80 lbs. "She is energetic and strong, a hard worker." Prov. 31:17

ESTEFANY: I don't know if words do Estefany justice. Estefany is one of the special needs girls and is TRULY one of the sweetest, most joyful people I have ever met. She knows exactly how to put a smile on my face. The Lord is funny too because where our house is, I have to walk past where Estefany is every single morning to get to my kitchen. It never fails, every morning she runs to me and gives me the biggest hug and ask me how I am, all the while laughing hysterically. She also, thanks to Rebekah Cowart, learned a dance to "Miracles Happen" from High School Musical and no matter what kind of day you are having it will turn it around real quick. It's almost as if Estefany has this power to know when I am a little down or frustrated, and here she comes making me laugh and remember what it's all about. If I had to list top 10 things I will miss, Estefany would be one of them.

This is just a list from girls that I am around every day. There are many others who have impacted me while I have been here. I couldn't be more thankful for these girls and what they have meant to me, and I don't know if I'll ever be able to express it fully. I do know though wherever I go, I'll be taking my Honduran sisters along with me :)

grateful for the small things.

Today was such a fun day. I'm absolutely loving my kitchen girls and I'm glad I get to spend all day with them. They say the funniest/sweetest things.

They were going through my ipod today, and for some reason got on Matt Wertz. They loved it. Hearing Rosa trying to sing "Faith and Compromise" was hilarious. And all day she kept singing her version. Also, she came upon the song "Down" by Jay Sean. She knew the song but Rosa's version was a little different instead of "You are my only", Rosa says, "You are my homie" and instead of "Baby are you down down down down down?", she says, "Baby are you round round round round round?". Haha, I could not stop laughing. It was one of the funnies things ever. She kept singing it all day long, and it was too funny to tell her what the words really were. Imagine little Honduran, spanish-speaking, 14-yr-old Rosa singing that all day, with the biggest grin on her face. Can't help but laugh & of course join in with her version.

I told one of the girls, Gita, yesterday that I just want her to come to America with me. And her response was pleasantly suprising. She said, "If God say yes, I come. But He must say yes."  I know this was a small statement but the faith of some of these girls is so encouraging. The Lord is their everything. Their life isn't complicated with "stuff". They seek the Lord's face as if it is everything, and it is. Her faith spurs me on. So thankful for that sister.

Later this afternoon when we were washing dishes, Kelin just looks at me and says, "Taylor, you leave. I remember you always." It was so touching for her to say that to me. It makes all the hard times SO WORTH IT. The beginning times when I would wonder if they were ever going to let me in, and me constantly having to prove to them that I truly wanted to be friends with them, and most importantly that I cared. I would truly say these girls are my friends, and I am going to miss them a lot. It's really hitting me.

These are just some of the things that happen everyday. It's the small things that have really made this such experience so blessed for me. I'm thankful that the Lord knows more than me and put me in the kitchen with the older girls when I really thought I would want to be with kids. So grateful His ways are higher than mine, I would miss out on some incredible blessings.

everyone has a story.

You know those days when something happens to you that you feel like you can't write it down or retell someone because you feel like words don't suffice?...

Well tonight was was such a time as that. All the volunteers had bible study tonight, and Michael one of the volunteers who is 60 years old gave his testimony tonight. I almost hesitated in writing about it because there is no way to adequately express the magnitude of this hard yet beautiful story of the Lord's magnifying glory. He has been some extreme trials, yet rejoices with the truth that he now tangibly knows that "all things work together for the good of those who love God." (Romans 8:28)

He inspires me to push forward, trusting the Lord with every step because He is forever faithful. And Michael, he is a walking example. Michael has been called here to Orphanage Emmanuel, and literally sold everything to get here. He had it "all" as we say, but the Lord said I have something else for you. He literally lives by faith. He has nothing, except for his faith in the Lord who has brought him through the toughest and darkest days of his life. There is much more to the story, and I couldn't do it justice. I also can pack 3 hours of a beautiful unfolding story into one blog post.

But I will say this. Everyone has a story. Something the Lord has really placed on my heart is that we are a body, "permeated with Oneness". We should get to know the where, what, when of the people we are encountering. We never know what they actually could add to the story the Lord is writing for us. The Spirit is weaving in and out, forming a wave. How cool is to meet peole of all ages that their heart is beating for the same thing as yours as mine?

The last thing Michael would want is for someone to praise him for what he has done, or who he is today. As he says, "you can replace every 'I' in my story with Jesus."

...and to that I say Amen!

Song of Solomon 2:13

This morning I woke up and I was just tired. Not tired as in being sleepy but my spirit was exhausted. I was completely at the end of myself. I needed to be filled again. Needed to be alone, me and the Lord. Just us.

I got by myself and opened my devotional book, Jesus Calling. The first sentence was, "Come away with me for a while. The world, with its nonstop demands, can be put on hold." This was a sigh of relief for me. The Lord really spoke peace over my weary self.

The fig trees are forming young fruit, and the fragrant grapevines are blossoming. Rise up, my darling! Come away with me, my fair one!"

Song of Solomon 2:13

It was like I needed an okay to be still. That verse means so much to me. It's like the Lord is saying, "Listen you have planted the seeds. Come away with me and let me do the rest." My weeks are always so jam packed that I have just adjusted to the tempo of the world, always moving always doing something. Constantly pouring out. However, it is not in our nature to never stop. We are weak. It is the Lord who makes us strong.

I'm really trying to focus making my alone time with the Lord my highest priority. I know I am here to pour out. But He said to me "You are my child too, let me take care of you as well. Without me you cannot pour out or bless them." When I am closer to the Lord I can pour out more so the kids will benefit with me spending precious time with the Lord as well.

It talked about Luke 10:41-42, when the Lord came to visit Mary and Martha. Martha was so "worried and upset over all the details" yet Mary was sitting at the Lord's feet, listening to what He was teaching. Martha asked the Lord to tell Mary to help her prepare the dinner. Yet the Lord said, "There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her."

My prayer is that I become more like Mary for the rest of my time here, really dwelling in the presence of the Lord, saturating myself in His word.

"If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be RADIANT as though a floodlight were filling you with light."

{Luke 11:36}

-- JOY: Rachel and I got the chance to take Isieus (our adorable special needs child, whom we both claim to be our "little baby") to see his real sister, Sili. It was one of the most precious moments I have ever experienced. I couldn't help but well up with tears as I got to see this sweet sister see her brother for the first time in months. I couldn't help but just SMILE from ear to ear the whole time they were together. I realized in that moment how many things I take for granted. Here was this sister & brother before me, without parents, holding each other for the few minutes they had-- and you could tell that time was so very dear to them. WOW! What a blessing it was to be able to behold that. We are so lucky to be able to come in contact with our loved ones frequently.

thankful & rejoicing.

I have to come to a really great place in my time here at Emmanuel. I have established great friendships with the girls, and have been able to have some really great conversations with them. This is a victory to say the least with the hard start. I'm almost sort of sad that they won't be traveling back with me because I feel our relationships have only begun. I hate to think that I will be leaving them, as everyone in their life has done. I will be on my knees for every single one though.

Their individual stories are precious to me. Each one, yes, have had and are still having their own battles, but they are beautiful at the same time. I know I call them beautiful a lot, but they really are to me. I am incredibly thankful, and I just can't thank the Lord enough.

It's Kelin's, one of my sweet friends, birthday tomorrow, I am so excited! i'm trying to get stuff for her birthday-i'm literally having to use my resources. should be funny. paper cut outs? possibly!

Church last night, Wednesday, we talked about rejoicing ALWAYS in the Lord. Not just when we want to, or during certain circumstances, but always. I really started thinking about it because after a physically demanding day of hauling wood up the huge hill, or toting flour bags to and fro, I really don't think about rejoicing the Lord at that specfic time. However, we are called to live above our circumstances and yes rejoice always. A lifestyle of rejoicing. I pray this becomes the song of my life.

fits of laughter.

Today we went on a tour of the Orphanage. It was really cool because normally we are just so busy working we really don't soak up what's around us, and how it came about it. I am so in awe of the Lord and how incredibly faithful He is with everything that has come to be at Emmanuel.

On a lighter note, the highlight of my day came when the tour ended and none other than Miss Rebekah Cowart gets out of the tractor and starts sprinting towards the special needs yard.

[Let me paint a picture for you. Rebekah works with the special needs and she is wonderful at it. They are a joy. But she thought one of the girls, Stephanie, was upset with her so she wanted to make sure she was okay. The "yard" is a big open area that all the houses surround. So... the yard can be seen my almost everyone at the Orphanage at any time.]

So as Reb is sprinting to the yard, she must have forgotten the intense rain storm we had last night, because yes... she BUSTED, bad. And the ENTIRE special needs ERUPTED with laughter. It could possibly be the funniest thing I have seen in quite some time. Not only was it Reb falling, it was the precious special needs--their laughter is contagious, thus causing me to experience intense laughing cramps.

And after she fell, sweet Pedro, who has Down Syndrome ran and helped her up, making sure she was okay. It was so funny. It was so sweet at the same time. They absolutely adore her, and were so concerned with getting her clean, because here they come trying to wipe all the mud off of her.

All the girls couldn't get enough of it, this made them literally laugh the entire rest of the day. The all know Reb as the funny one that dances a lot because due to our lack of Spanish knowledge, Reb has found that dancing does the trick. Every time I came in contact with one of the girls, they would start to ask me if I saw what happened - and they would lose it.

I often times throughout the day found myself imaginging Reb falling over and over, and randomly laughing hysterically. This just adds to my girls in la cocina just saying, "Oh Taylor..." which is probably their favorite phrase.

For more laughs, I seriously consider everyone following Rebekah Cowart 's blog. She is a joy to me as I'm sure she will be to you.

Esther epiphany.

Tonight I had Esther epiphany if you will...

Tonight we had a volunteer meeting and we talked about Esther 4 when Mordecai requests Esther's help to intercede on behalf of the Jewish people. At first Esther is unaware of what is going on. After she understood, she says that she has not been called to the King and therefore cannot go intercede for her people.

When Mordecai hears she will not go he says, "Don't think for a moment that because you're in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. If you keep quiet as a time like this, deliverance and relief will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?"

Wow. This really hit me.Though Esther was in the palace and queen, she still had a choice. She still had a choice to go after what the Lord had called her to do. Though we are in the "palace" with the Lord and his people, we still have a choice as well. Like Mordecai said "deliverance and relief will arise from some other place". The Lord can still make His will happen without us, however we are losing an incredible blessing in the process. But as Mordecai points out, Esther was "made queen for just a time as this".

That Lord had intrically designed and knitted together Esther's life so that she could take this calling was so beautiful to me. Everything had planned out perfectly at this specific time so that Esther could rise to the Lord's call, and the Lord's glory was magnified through it.

Esther's response to the matter was this, "I will go in to see the king. If I must die. I must die".

I love her confidence in the Lord and her call in this moment. She goes in full force, knowing that her faith lies not in herself but in the Lord. I want to be Esther-minded, going after my God-ordained passion full force. I know He can use someone else to fulfill His will, but I don't want to miss my call. I don't want to regret. He is concerned with details. He has knitted together my life specifcally for something, for His glory. I don't wan to "keep quiet" at such a time as that. That is so exciting to me, and I praise Him in advance for what He is doing and will do! How beautiful is our God of details, intricately weaving together our lives for the ultimate story of His glory.

Day 13: Saturdays in Hondo

Saturdays in Honduras could possibly be one of my most favorite things. I love waking up to these beautiful mountains & hearing the voices of the girls & boys playing outside. It was kind of cold today because of the crazy rain storm we had last night. We all sat on the porch outside that overlooks the "yards" where the kids play for the better part of the morning, listening to music and talking. It's a glorious thing.

Then we cleaned our house and had a dance party. Yes with brooms and mops included. Many laughs happen in this house with these girls, so thankful for them!

After lunch I played with the little girls for a little bit then I went to hang out with my sweet friend, Albertina. I know I say this a lot, but she is one of the most genuine, precious people I have ever met. I just love being around her, she teaches me so much.

I learned today that she has been here since she was 5, so for 11 years. She also has one sister that lives in Tegucigalpa, the capital city, with their mom. Due to my limited Spanish I couldn't really figure out why she wasn't with her mother as well. We went for a walk and then met up with some of the other older girls. I am thankful for the time I get to spend with them because I definitely feel like the older girls are my ministry here.

 My new goal is trying to learn all of their stories but it's hard with the language barrier.  I am incredibly thankful that I have found my kind of niche here. My role per se. I am kind of thankful too that it's a times a difficult one (even though that's weird to say), because I have no other explaination for getting through other than the Lord. When I am weak, He is strong.

ALSO, We found Betty Crocker chocolate cake in town at the Supermarcado so we are making it for a random celebration of America. America, we miss your food. Sorry rice & beans, you aren't cutting it.

Day 11: When in Hondo...

So my sweet little roommates and I have started this "When in Hondo..." game. It goes as so...

1. When in Hondo... you are always glistening/look wet because you are doused in bug spray no matter where you are going. Yes, even bed.

2. When in Hondo... you eat things you never thought possible, because you are absolutely tired of peanut butter, and semi-fresh bread.

3. When in Hondo...you ignore things that usually you wouldnt, such as bugs in the beans you are cooking, or flies or the tortillas. Or just maybe the scorpion that fell from the ceiling on your hand.

4. When in Hondo... you are absolutely 100% REAL.

5. When in Hondo... you don't have something, use a machetti.... for everything.

6. When in Hondo... no need for a sound machine because you have barking lizards.

7. When in Hondo... you must crawl on the ground under the stove to light it to use it. This is a team effort.

8. When in Hondo... be prepared for rain at any second.

9. When in Hondo... any American food is like fireworks in your mouth.

10. When in Hondo... the power goes out every day.

11. When in Hondo... you LOCK your door to your room because the security guard may or may not have been killed 6 months ago... still a mystery.

12. When in Hondo... you laugh so you don't cry.

13. When in Hondo... you smell like mayonasia and tortillas at all times. It's real cute.

14. When in Hondo... you are always fearing lice.

15. When in Hondo... anything goes!

Regardless of Hondo's many interesting ways, we wouldn't have it any other way. We are loving it and the list will continue. I'm thankful for the many laughs this month has supplied already!

Day 10

Last night was a late night, so I didn't have time to get my thoughts down for the day. I woke at 5am and didn't get done until 830pm. Last night I had med clinic duty. There is this most precious child named Melissa in there because she has a skin issue (of some sort). Melissa is one of the most adorable children I have ever met. She is wide open & really smart. She makes me laugh, a lot.

We were just sitting in the rocking chair together watching Shrek in Spanish, when I said, "tu eres mi bella amiga" meaning, "you are my beautiful friend" and she said "no". Note: Remember Melissa is two-years-old, she just got to the Orphanage a week ago. I asked her "Why not?" and she responds, in Spanish of course, "The rash on my face makes me very very ugly." .....

This is two days in a row, that literally one sentence a girl has said has left me there completely broken. How does a two year old even gather that she is ugly? These girls truly do not think they are beautiful, and it honestly kills me. It's something that is engrained in them from early on, seeing as Melissa is only two. I'm not sure where this all stems from, but it's not okay to me. My heart hurts for them and I wish there was something I could do/say to make them believe otherwise. It brings me to my knees though. This is a horrible trend here and I pray its a trend that is broken soon.

Don't get my wrong I love the little chicos (boys) here. However, the Lord is revealing this HUGE break my heart for these girls and their worth. They truly are some of the most beautiful girls I have ever seen, and most of that beauty is radiating from within. I have worked alongside so many true servants, that adore the Lord- they have taught me leaps & bounds, even given our spanglish relationship. And for that I am forever grateful. Please pray for my sweet friends hearts here. They are very dear to me. I am thankful the Lord has given me this beautiful opportunity to gain their friendship. I am confident the Lord will restore what is lost. And I want to a be a part of it. Whatever it takes.

Day 9: broken & beautiful.

Something happened today that found me completely broken. Today at la cocina (the kitchen) with my four precious Honduran girls was a different day than normal. Everything was done for lunch when I got there so we were just able to talk. A moment came when Rixi (one of the 4 girls) and I were alone.

[Side note: Rixi is absolutely precious. She stands no more than four feet, and has one of the biggest hearts I have ever seen. She doesn't say much, but that huge smile of hers will get you every time. She and I have kind of bonded per se. We have this unspoken language between us- we just get each other. However, my progressing yet still improving spanish made it possible for us to have a conversation today]

I was telling her how pretty her skirt and shirt were, and she kind of looked down. I asked her what was wrong. After a few moments of silence, she proceeded to tell me that all the girls in her house tell her that she is ugly and not beautiful. I saw pain in her face. My heart broke. Seriously ached. Then she said, again after silence, in spanish with that cute grin of hers, almost as if she could see my brokenness, "It's okay Taylor because I know Jesus thinks I'm beautiful, and that he loves me very much."......


This absolutely killed me. Everything in me had to keep me from crying at that moment. Tears were welling up in my eyes. Here was this precious little girl, 16 years-old before me, broken -- yet she starts hugging me. Admist all her pain, she chooses the Lord. He is her rock, and her strength comes from Him. Though dark clouds surround her she stands strong on the Lord. It is evident. Yet my heart breaks from the circumstances that she daily faces. I wish I could fight her battles for her.

I just held her. I didn't know what else to do.

I'm realizing my heart is breaking for older girls. It tears me up when girls, like we all have, find their worth in affirmations or lack of affirmations from others. Many of the girls here do not believe they are pretty. Frequently throughout the day they tell me they are ugly. It really hits me hard. Really.

This morning I was reading about having a "gentle, and quiet spirit" which is most beautiful to the Lord. Rixi has that. It is interesting that the Lord would have me thinking on this verse, and put a living example before my eyes. Not only does this four-foot beautiful daughter of the Lord and sister of mine radiate the Lord, she inspires me to want to be better person. Please pray for this precious friend of mine. And all of my other sisters who believe the same lie.

"Don't be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God."

{ 1 Peter 3: 3-4 }

Day 8: Honduras

The Lord is teaching me so much, and I'm realizing He is taking me out of every comfort zone to do so. Even comfort zones I didn't realize I had. For that I am thankful. I'm reading Radical by David Platt and was hit with something I read today.

He was talking about the global church and how the Lord in Matthew 28 calls us to "Therefore, go and make disciples of ALL the nations...". He goes on to talk about how making disciples is quite the process. He says,

"Making disciples is not an easy process. It is trying. It is messy. It is slow, tedious, even painful at times. It is all these things because it is relational. Jesus has not given us an effortless step-by-step formula for impacting nations for his glory. He has given us people, and he has said, 'Live for them. Love them, serve them, and lead them. Lead them to follow me, and lead them to lead others to follow me. In the process you will multiply the gospel to the ends of the earth."

At times it's hard here in Honduras with the girls and the language barrier. A lot of these girls have literally been dragged through hell and back, and I hate to fathom what else they have been through. They don't trust people easily but I am thankful they have chosen to let me in. That is not to say that everything is easy and smooth. They have a lot of issues. But when I read this I realized, yes sometimes its hard and painful to get them to let you in, but its worth every second. It's not supposed to be easy, it's a process, with its ups and downs alike. I am thankful for a faithful Saviour that never fails and never leaves, and always sustains. I'm thankful He is the ultimate restorer. I pray that for these girls.

Day 4-5

I love weekends in Honduras, being able to play with the kids all day and explore in town. The kids are so funny and are always keeping you on your toes- you never know what you're going to get. I absolutely love the girls I am with on the trip! It's been such a great experience being able to bond with them here.

Day 3: Honduras

This song is the my jam in the mornings here in Hondo mountains Gungor- The Earth is Yours

This is sweet Iseus, one of the special needs children, that I do physical therapy with in the morning. He is the cutest thing, and has kind of already stolen my heart. He was asleep when I got there I couldn't resist taking a picture-just so adorable.