Ano Nuevo

Happy New Year! Thank You Lord for such a beautiful 2013! And thank You for another new year! Please help us to use it for your glory! (that one's for you mami:)

After 7 hours of mass, dinner, and dancing, I know I was completely worn out. Some of us spent New Years day chillin on the paddleboards.


 It was very chill year. Some of us ladies went paddle boarding! Thank you Jesus for such a relaxing day!

 

Noche Buena Cena (Christmas Eve Dinner)

 For the 24th we got up early and started making dinner! I was on the tomale-making committee. hehe. We made close to 200! So good! (Sorry it's a bit out of order but here's the pics!)

stiring the maza

 

Feliz Navidad

Thank everyone for all your Christmas prayers and blessings and all who donated towards the wishlist! I pray you had a wonderful time with your families! Several people have asked me how I felt over the season being without family. I admit during the advent season I had some emotional days however I'd say the 23rd when all the missionaries were up til about 2am wrapping presents for all the kids, listening to Christmas tunes on the ipod, and eating cookies that Noelle & Curtis generously shared from their parents, was the night I felt true peace. At one point I looked around the room and really knew in my heart this is where God has called me to be and I am truly at peace with my vocation as a missionary.

what's Christmas without Christmas donuts? :)

3 per person? what? :)



and don't forget Christmas cookies!

and the missionaries have stockings too! Sants brought us forks. hehe.

Advent

İFeliz Navidad! Merry CHRISTmas! Sorry it has been awhile but we have been without internet for about 2 weeks now. Thanks to all who sent packages as well. I would like to share a little of my advent and CHRISTmas experience here with you.

 First I want to share a tradition common throughout Latin America called "posadas". In Spanish this translates to "shelter". The tradition acts out the travels of Mary and Joseph seeking shelter in Bethlehem and involves going door to door singing. The tradition is said to have started in Mexico but is practiced throughout Latin America. It starts on December 16 and continues for 9 days leading up until Christmas. For a brief description you can go to this link. http://gomexico.about.com/od/festivalsholidays/a/posadas.htm

 

For me it was a beautiful tradition during this advent season. It was really profound for me to sing the words as we stood outside and sang from the perspective of Joseph and asked to innkeeper for shelter. Then it was time for us missionaries to sign from the inside of our house and just the words we were singing. "I don't care who you are, leave me alone..." It is similar when we read through the passion at mass on Palm Sunday and speak the words of the crowd, "Crucify Him, Crucify Him." It really made me start to meditate and realize that every time I am unwelcoming to someone, I am turning away Christ at my door. It was truly profound and helped me really focus during this Advent season. I was very happy to be apart of it.

I also had the opportunity to stand in as Our Lady for one of the days. It was so special to meditate on how she would have felt during this time going with Joseph from door to door looking for somewhere to sleep for their new baby. I can't imagine even the faith of Mary trusting in our Heavenly Father that He had a plan and everything would work out...obedience:) How beautiful.

(Pictures to come!)

address

For those of you that were asking our address is:

Finca del Nino-Natalia
Apartdado Postal 110
Trujillo, Colon
Honduras, Central America

Lazy Sundays

What a beautiful lazy sunday we spent just hanging out on the campo. I was meditating as we played. Our kids have been through so much. These emotions were starting to effect my mood. I realized you just take one day at a time, sometimes minute by minute. I watched them, their smiles. They were just living in the moment. What a great example! Just keep living! All things are possible through Him!

races

La Clinica

Gotta love fruit snack breaks!

wishlist

I have a list of our current wish list for all of you that have been so generously asking. According to previous missionaries we have not had problems with receiving mail. It seems to take about 2-3 weeks to arrive. I apologize this list is a bit last minute, but if we do not use your gifts for CHRISTmas we will use them for birthdays or other special occasions.

CHRISTmas & Birthday wish list for our ninos

craft kits (boys & girls)

soccer balls (size 5. easier to send if you deflate first)

legos (boys & girls)

lotions, body sprays, lip gloss

jewelry (bracelet, ring, necklaces, earrings)

                -the girls love colorful jewelry and dangling earrings (teenage appropriate)

watches (girls & boys)

                -digital sport watches for younger kids, link hand watches for teens

sunglasses (boys & girls)

marbles

dolls

purses

wallets (boys & girls)

soccer jerseys-(only up to adult small, boys & girls)

belts (black, brown leather, designs)

pants for boys-jeans (medium sizes)

tennis shoes (sizes 32-42 or 6-10 girls & boys)

long sleeved dress shirts (y10-16, adult small boys)