Proverbs 16:9 says “A man’s heart plans his way, but the
Lord directs his steps.” We are grateful that despite our own planning, God
continues to lead us exactly where He desires.
We have continued to work with the House of Blessing and are
working on learning the children’s names and getting to know them a little
better. With about 75 children, this is quite a challenge, but each Saturday we
get to spend with them is a gift. Marvin will often go on Thursdays and Fridays
in order to help with cooking preparations or cleaning up. These are not easy
jobs, but they are usually managed by 3 women who have been volunteering for
more than 2 years. I have been teaching the 3 to 5 year olds with help from Manuel
and Josué. We sing songs, color pictures, and even have a brief English lesson.
For our Bible lessons, we have been studying the start of Jesus’s ministry
including some of his first miracles, and the children have memorized the verse
“Estén siempre alegres.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16 “Be joyful always.” It was an
easy verse for them to memorize, but I am certain it is difficult for them to
apply because many of these kids face abuse, hunger, and witness drugs,
alcohol, and prostitution in their own homes.
Marvin helped redo some broken cabinet doors and repair
furniture at Eternal Family Project girls home this month. There is always more
work to be done there, and we are trying to schedule time for him to work there
each week. We were thrilled to spend time with the girls Easter weekend. There
were lots of games and a great cookout that we were blessed to be a part of. Ten of the older girls from Eternal Family Project join us each week for a youth Bible study with Manuel and Josué and the children living with our neighbors Nicole and Oliver. We have been reading through 1 Timothy and enjoying snacks and games together. This has been a special time for me to get to connect with the teen girls and to invest in their spiritual lives.
Manuel and Josué were out of school the whole week before
Easter and enjoyed spending a week in Las Flores with their families. It was
hard for them to leave their village and return to their studies, but they are
now doing great. Our church had a sunrise Easter service with a pancake
breakfast which was a very special experience for us all. When we found out
that the boys had one extra day off from school, Marvin and I took advantage of
the opportunity to take Manuel and Josué kayaking through the nearby canal and
out to Lake Yojoa. We had a blast!
The absolute best part of this month for me was the week
that my mom spent with us. It was her first time in Honduras, but she traveled
here fearlessly by herself. She helped so much with the never ending laundry,
cooking, cleaning, and dishes in addition to taking care of Thomas. She never
seemed to tire despite the fact that it was in the 90’s most of the week. She
enjoyed a visit to Eternal Family Project’s home and her time at the House of
Blessing Ministry. Our boys loved having her here and told us last night that
even though they couldn’t understand each other, they miss her so much, and the
house feels empty without her. THANK YOU MOM for coming with such a heart to
serve and being a blessing to our family!
