Dear Loyal blog followers,

The last of the Intern is back stateside. After 68 days in Honduras, I have returned.  And I do have to say, I was not to excited about leaving.  Yes, seeing my family, my friends, and of course my dog (you da best ginger) were all things that I was looking forward to, but I felt as though my “ministry time” was ending, as if La Ceiba, Honduras was the only place that I could glorify God by showing His love; however, after thinking about it for a few days, returning has been much less bitter and much more sweet than I had anticipated, because I began to realize something–our purpose as Christians is not to glorify God only on missions trips, or only on special occasions.  I am just as capable of serving, glorifying and enjoying the God I have come to love and adore here in the suburbs of Boston as I am in the villages of La Ceiba Honduras.

This is something that has given me peace while trying to readjust to American culture of schedules and slow-drivers.

This summer has been amazing, and I owe much of that to my two counterparts (Amy, Jamie) .

Please keep La Ceiba in your hearts, as the mission team there will be going through some changes fairly quickly.  The Pettengills are leaving on a 6-month furlough to the States in September, and The McCanns are expecting their third child in early November.

And thank you all once again fro your continued financial and prayer support, you heard the call of Christ and you responded, and for that we are forever grateful.

God Bless,

The Intern

These last few weeks have definitely been a whirlwind–we have had three teams in a row (the last one left this morning.)

Our main focus with these teams has been building a new house for a single mom named Maria, as well as our regularly scheduled ministries such as English classes, kids club, and med clinics; it has been amazing how fast this summer has flown by!!

Here is maria’s house, after 1 week of work:

With the next team, we took a busload of children to the beach.

arriving at the beach:

Playing in the water:

climbing the sketchy observation tower (closest thing you can find to a lifeguard chair in La Ceiba)

and here is Maria’s house and it stands today, after three weeks of construction.

Jamie left just under two weeks age, Amy left last week, and I leave this Tuesday.  I don’t think I have fully processed the fact that I am leaving this place that I have called home for the past two months (not to mention all last year.)  Leaving last summer was difficult, but I was almost certain that I was returning this summer.  Now, leaving for the second time, and looking forward to my future summer plans, I don’t know if La Ceiba fits.  Will I be back–yes.  But will I be back for an extended stay, where I will be able to reconnect on a deeper level with so many people that I have ministered to over the last two years–who knows.  Please pray that God would cover me a (as well as Jamie and Amy) with his peace as I leave this place that has become my home.

For the past week we have been enjoying a week off between teams.  After having four teams in a row, this week off is a much needed time for relaxation and rejuvenation before we host three teams back-to-back-to back starting this saturday.

Of course, a week off hardly means a week without seeing the kids that we work with regularly.  On tuesday, Jamie, Amy and I took 13 kids from the village to a swimming hole on the other side of the city.

the ride there...

Growing up near a river, I knew it would take a a lot to impress these guys. At first, when we got to the river, they were hardly impressed; but as we climbed to 150 or so yards up to the main swimming hole, I saw their faces begin to brighten, and the boys start to run to see what was ahead.   By the time everyone arrived at the top of the trail, the boys were already jumping from the 25 foot ledge.

the view from the top of the trail.

playing with some of the boys

Jamie y Nancy

These children are such a huge part of our lives, please pray that in these last few weeks we are able to continue to build healthy relationships w/ them, and show them what a great God we serve.

First of all, if anyone missed the US-Algeria game this morning, it was possibly the biggest/most dramatic win in US men’s soccer history.  Now we play Ghana on Saturday in the round of 16, and if we win we get the winner of Uruguay-South Korea to play in the quarter finals.

ANYWAYS, ministry lately has been all about soccer (as Stunner’s last two posts have illustrated), and one of the coolest things that we have gotten to do this summer has been play indoor soccer as a team every week.  That means just us gringos–without any ridiculously good Honduran 12-year olds to make us look silly.

While the first night we were all a little awkward trying to play a game that many of us haven’t played for years, it has been so relaxing to get some exercise and fellowship with one another through this beautiful game.

Please pray that through all of the stress and busyness of short term summer teams that we will be able to continue to minister to and grow closer to each other.

I fly out tomorrow morning, so I wanted to get in one more post.  The past week has been fun but tiring.  The team welcomed the third short-term group of the summer (a church youth group from Georgia), and in light of world cup pool play they’ve spent a lot of time on soccer-related activities.

On Tuesday afternoon we had a soccer skills competition (headers, hitting the crossbar, longest goal, etc.) on the town field in Armenia Bonito.  I helped with the younger kids, and it was especially fun to see a shy girl and a 7 year old boy beam the crossbar twice in a row when almost none of the soccer studs could hit it once.  On Wednesday morning we drove out at 4:30am to project the Honduras v. Chile game in the community center where we host most of our events.  Honduras lost 1-0, but the event was a great success.  Around 60 people from the community packed in to watch and cheer, and several unfamiliar faces chose to stay during halftime to hear a short message and prayer from a local pastor who we invited.  The short-termers sat on the floor and served everyone drinks and popcorn.  It was great to see the Gospel preached in connection with serving the community and celebrating culture.

By today I was a bit sleep-deprived, and we had a five hour med clinic followed by a 4 v. 4 soccer tournament on the town field.  I was working with the younger kids, and I found myself getting easily frustrated with everyone around me.  I was ticked off at the 14-year-old who asked me five times if he could play with the 11 and unders, at one of my favorite kids (yes, we have favorites) who refused to talk to me when I tried to say goodbye because his team had lost in the tournament, at the short-term team for not knowing enough Spanish to help more, and at myself for getting dehydrated and yelling too much.

Observing and talking with the missionaries and interns here the past two weeks has been helpful in seeing the need both to recognize my own sin (my need for control, my fear of failure, my pervasive self-focus) and to openly admit that sometimes work and relationships are simply annoying and disheartening.  Even as I try to care for people, I’m free to be honest about my frustrations and lack of genuine compassion for those around me because I have a God who promised to finish what he started in my heart and who knows me but still calls me beloved.  “For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me” (Ps. 31:3)

As Josh and Jamie mentioned, I’m visiting La Ceiba for a couple weeks.  I arrived last Wednesday, and it’s been refreshing to see old faces and fun to meet lots of new people.  I’ve really enjoyed spending time both working and relaxing with the ‘staff’ from last year — Jamie, Josh, the McCanns, and the Pettengills.  It’s embarrassing to remember some of the cruel and stupid things I said and did throughout my year here (and undoubtedly continue to say and do), but I’m so grateful that this team persistently shows me (and each other) lots of love and grace.

Some things haven’t changed much.  This past week I went to kids club and the weekly medical clinic in Armenia Bonito, ate baleadas and fried plantains, and swam in the river with a lot of the kids that befriended me last year.  And the mountains are still gorgeous.

Postcard material.

But it’s exciting to experience new developments and see ways that God continues to bless the ministries and relationships here.  I’ve been living with the Clows, an amazing family of six who arrived a month ago will be here working with the team for four years.  I’m getting a small taste of what it’s like to host and work with short-term teams from US churches.  Part of that has been working construction in Armenia on a house for a single mother and large new property that the team was able to buy in Armenia Bonito.  It’ll eventually house a public indoor soccer facility, a medical clinic, a church, and a school.  I’m also still brushing up on my Spanish and picking up new bits and pieces.  My new favorite sarcastic phrase is ¿yo qué sé? or “What do I know?”  I’m pretty clueless most of the time, so it’s often appropriate.

A break in the shade between shifts of moving filler rocks and mixing/pouring cement for the foundation of the future indoor soccer facility.

This week's short-term team from Georgia doin' work on the roof of a new house for a single mother in Armenia Bonito.

Mike planning out the work day with Santos, a community leader and our catracho construction foreman.

We’re all getting pumped up for World Cup soccer.  Next week’s short-term team is doing a lot of soccer activities as community outreach in Armenia, and Honduras plays Chile on Wednesday at 5:30am Honduras time.  We’re curious to see if the caravana (party in the streets) will run all day when they win…

Amy, Josh, and Jamie

Please pray that we will be willing enough to do things way outside our comfort zones as well as humble enough to recognize that it is only through God’s grace that any of this is possible.

With all of the joy and excitement that comes along with a team of 12 gringos also comes a lot of stress and often times frustration.  Philippians 4:7 reads, “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Hosting eight summer teams will be stressful.  Please pray that through all the stress and all of the unexpected problems and complications will take hope in the fact our peace comes from an unchanging God; pray that in the midst of chaos we will feel this divine peace.

Also, Andy (aka Stunner, Stun-gun, etc) arrived a few days ago and will be here for 3 weeks.  We thank God for his servant heart and refreshing completion of the original intern!

The rest of the Intern will be arriving in the next week and a half – Josh on Wednesday night and Andy on June 1. For a short time Sam Wheatley (also from our high school) will be joining us as well, he is flying in with Josh. And one more intern, Amy, will be joining me here at the McCanns to help the team out this summer. Stay tuned for more info and pictures

The third part of the intern, Stunner, will not be joining us this summer, and his juggling skills, balloon hats, and ridiculously good spanish will be missed dearly.

Some photos of what we miss in La Ceiba:

Jamie and her girls

Th McCanns

Pettengills

The Killer Guard Dog

fitting as many people as possible in one pickup

It’s gonna be hard focusing on school with all this excitement to look forward to!

Please pray that we will be able to finish our spring semesters strong, and that God will prepare us to be used for His glory this summer in Honduras.

my sign

walking with my neighbors

It is still discouraging that many uninformed countries are taking the side of Zelaya, claiming he stands fro democracy.  We should be applauding Honduras for being one of a handful of nations to CHOOSE democracy over dictatorship, and stand up against Zelaya.