Happiness in Pockets

In Honduras, vendors (especially women) create elaborate and beautifully-made aprons to help them take money and make change on the streets. I've always been in awe of those aprons. I mean think of all the possibilities for all those pockets!

Today, mom and I finally found a little shop in Juticalpa selling the aprons. I was so excited to finally have one of my very own. But I have to admit, when we put them on tonight I actually thought to myself, "What am I going to do with all these pockets?!?!

Milestones in Honduras

Just a few short days after beginning his new life in Honduras, Nick started a new journey as a teenager. We felt bold as celebrated this new era in our new home so far from everyone and everything familiar. (See the photos of this momentous occasion here!)

And this week we celebrated another milestone in Honduras as Nick begins a new great adventure―adulthood! And we can't imagine a better place to start than this place that had stolen our hearts. We've come full circle.

¡Feliz Cumpleaños, Nick!

This birthday was made extra-special because Nana was here to share it with us!

A special-ordered cheesecake for this special occasion!

May all your wishes come true!

Little Hawks

With all the activity going on in El Nido (the rec room), we decided that the younger kids needed a separate time to enjoy all it has to offer. For the first time today, we opened for the "Halcóncitos" ("Little Hawks"). We hope to make it a permanent part of our schedule, opening once a week after school for the children of the workers that live on campus.

We started the afternoon with a craft project, making airplanes out of clothespins and popsicle sticks.

We invited children ages 6 to 12, but we couldn't say no to this little guy when he showed up with his big brother. Steve helped him decorate his airplane.

We aren't used to seeing many girls in El Nido, so the Halcóncitos give us unique opportunity to minister to some special young ladies.

Steve played foosball with a couple of the kids, while the others watched a Dumbo DVD.

A Photogenic Family

As missionaries far away from home, we treasure photos of our family back home. But photos that make you smile every time you see them are priceless!

Today, I finally framed these gems for our coffee table:

Thanks for the smiles today!

Oh Baby! Ministry Moments

This morning, we took mom to Hospital Escuela (the public hospital in Tegucigalpa) to help give out the many blankets, onesies and baby hats she's been collecting for my friend, Gaby's, ministry to the poverty-stricken moms of Honduras.

Mom showed Gaby and I all the cute baby stuff she'd collected.

Mom separated the outfits and blankets into packets for boys and girls.

Our friend, Char, and Steve prepare the cloth diapers to give to the newborns.

We also provided sandwiches to the moms.

Mom made a special connection with this little guy who was in the dialysis ward. Look at that BIG grin!

Gaby helped dress the newborns in their new outfits.

What a precious little guy!

Made to be Creative

We are made in the Creator's image. Therefore we are made to be creators ourselves. This is an idea that we touched on at the Discipling Nations conference in Panama and again at camp. And it's a theme that God has been whispering in my ear ever since we saw the sawdust carpets on Good Friday. I don't think we as a Church have really grasped and understood our power to influence communities and nations for Christ through creative pursuits.

So after talking with Steve, we decided to give the students at El Sembrador more opportunities to express themselves through the arts in the rec room. As part of this effort, we spent this weekend with a very simple craft project for Valentine's Day. Honestly, Steve was pretty skeptical that this would go over well with teenage boys, even though we know how popular the holiday is here in Honduras. And I'll admit I was starting to have my doubts as I prepared the materials. But it turned out to be such a huge success that I had to rush to prepare materials for a second day of crafts!

They may have been making hearts for their loved ones, but it's my heart that is overflowing with happiness as I look at these photos.

Limbo Rock

Some of the kids knew how to play, but for a majority of them our limbo contest in the rec room was a first.

Our winner celebrated with his prize (a Snickers bar and a Coke).

Stay tuned for photos from the re-match coming soon!