TGIF Halconcitos

Today was our last day with the little ones in El Nido (the rec room). It's been such a joy to spend our Friday afternoons getting to know these kids. We hope we gave them something to look forward to every week and we pray that they saw God's love for them through us. We're sure going to miss the Halconcitos (Little Hawks)!

Celebrating Honduras

When we traveled to the Discipling Nations Alliance Conference in Panama last year, one of the lessons that really stuck in my brain is the idea that the Lord loves the diversity among our different cultures. In fact, he created our cultures in order to glorify Himself. And one day each and every culture that has ever been or ever will be will kneel before the Lord and present its very best from arts to language to innovations as an offering before the throne. I am absolutely enamored by that thought.

So it's no wonder that today that picture was fresh and vibrant in my mind as we commemorated Day of the Honduran with the students and staff of El Sembrador. Each class was assigned a region and people group to represent. They built and decorated elaborate kiosks to showcase their region's characteristics and prepared native cuisine to sell. The event was accented by dance performances, dramas and even a fancy horse show. It was an honor to be able to walk through the exhibits and see the best of what Honduras has to offer. And it reminded us of all the reasons we love our adopted home.

A class of children was invited to perform a traditional dance routine at the celebration.

Each booth was built and decorated to reflect the culture of the region which it represented.

Native foods were sold at each booth, like this coconut.

Music performances and dramas added to the festive atmosphere.

A Tisket, A Tasket, Yahir's Special Basket

When Nick was little, he used to come home from school and proudly present me with his latest construction paper masterpiece. It was his life's work and he was more than thrilled to give it away. To a mom, those crayon scribbles and drops of glitter glue are precious. Of course, its not the value of the components or the artistry of the work. No, the joy of such a gift is knowing that someone that you care about thought of you. It's confirmation of precious and meaningful relationship.

As passionate as I am about the importance of our ministry in El Nido, I must admit that I sometimes question if it really makes a difference―if I make a difference. This thought is especially on my mind as we prepare to leave El Sembrador. We've had such precious few moments with the students and I can't help but wonder if they've even mattered. It can be an overwhelming and heart-breaking reflection at times. Thankfully, the Lord knows my thoughts and my insecurities. So this week He sent Yahir bounding into El Nido with a little treasure in his pocket. With a big grin, Yahir pulled out a tiny handmade basket and offered it to me. "I made this for you," he exclaimed before hurrying past the desk to meet his friends at the ping pong table.

I don't know what kind of impact we've had at El Sembrador, much less the nation of Honduras. But now I know that God has used us this year. And I have a little basket on my coffee table that reminds me that we've been building more than a rec room. We've been building relationships.