Honduran sights for the day

So today several things happened that had me question where I was. Most days its just my life so I don't really realize when things are a little different than in the States. Today however...
1. Saw a sign today for a "Black Friday Sale", yep in English and in a country that doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving yet they are going to have a day-after-Thanksgiving sale??
2. Heard in a department store an elevator music version of the Prince song "Purple Rain"(again hmm....)
3. We were checking out at the pharmacy today when my phone ring so I handed Y the wallet to pay, thinking she would take some cash out and pay. I return to see that not only has she used a credit card that isn't hers but she is signing(and by signing I mean printing) the receipt...with her name?? Neatly written on the signature line of the receipt, under where it has printed Shannon's name, is Y's name.
4. We were at the pharmacy to buy lice treatment, which they sold us, but they don't sell the comb to go with it...you have to go to small corner store to find those????

But its on days like this when the car breaks down with both Y, C, and another girl in the car and we spend the whole time waiting on someone to come and rescue us laughing and joking that I have to stop and think, is this really my job? I love my job!

Special outing with the boys

My new best friend Alfredo

Saturday we went with street boys who are a part of the Peter Project on a special outing. The boys have been learning a series of 5 verses that tell the story of the gospel through the rainbow. Black is the first color and the verse is "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23, the verse for Red is "For the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus." Romans 6:23, and it continues you get the picture. The boys who memorized all 5 got to participate on Saturday. We went out to eat at Pizza Hut and then afterwards rented a field and played soccer for an hour. It was a real treat for most of the boys to be able to eat out in a restaurant.

Fernando, Alfredo, Christopher, and Ramon at the soccer field 

With Fernando in Pizza Hut

Louis praying at Pizza Hut

The boys pray after playing soccer

Ramon who comes to the Peter Project with his 3 brothers Chele, Alfrado, and Louis

Little Louis who is 9 memorized 3 of the verses and was able to participate in the fun!

Model for the day

Today Y had exams for her beauty school. I got to be her model. So off to school I went with Y today. We get to the gate of the school and she shows her school ID to get in, the guard then looks at me and says, "What about her?" Y responds with "Her? I don't know her! She's just some 'gringa'" After some persuasion and leaving my ID with the guard we were in. She wet my hair then blow-dried it and straightened it, what a feat! She did an awesome job! When I was raising support to come to Honduras I could have never imagined what I would be doing when I got here. I also would have never believed when I was in language school that I should learn how to say "straighten" or "dye". The Lord is full of surprises!

A Day of Firsts

So today I drove in Honduras for the first time! Shannon says to me, "Today is a great day for you to drive because I think all the lights are working" (as in all the stop lights in town, yes folks that's a rare thing. A stop light we go through daily was out for several weeks when it went out.)
Another first tonight: I was at Puerta de Esperanza and little J comes running through the house yelling, "Jenny, Jenny, Jenny". Today is first time I've ever heard her call me by name. She is developing such a little personality and is less of a baby and more of a little girl every time I see her.
 Little W was being super cute tonight too. He wanted a sip of my water, so I was trying to get him to do sign language for "please" (you rub your hand on your chest). He watched me with a "you must be crazy" look for a few seconds then rubbed his hand on MY chest, not his. He then looked at C and I confused when we were laughing at him.
Continue to be in prayer for my relationships with these girls, for C and for Y. That language wouldn't be a barrier and that I would be able to show them grace and love and most of all more of Jesus.

The family comes to visit Honduras

These past 5 days have been a whirlwind of catching up with family, showing them the sights of La Ceiba, and giving them a glimpse of my life and ministry here.

My grandfather and Josef playing Frisbee in La Fe at Kid's Club

My dad passing out candy to the children who could tell him what each color of the salvation beads represented. 

My mom and Stephanie

JR and Arnold playing soccer

My mom hanging out with Elias at Puerta de Esperanza

Up, up, up

The babies at Puerta de Esperanza are learning simple sign language and English. E, who will be 2 in December, knows the most sign language. He knows the signs for "more", "please", and "thank you". When he wants something but you tell him no he signs, 'more please' really fast. It doesn't matter what it is, it could be a toy, water, or my cell phone. He thinks "more please" equals give me what I want.
J on the other hand who knows the most English (as a result of Shannon and I really only speaking to her and the other 2 babies in English),  knows if she wants someone to pick her up she has to say "up". In J language that means the same as signing "more please" to E. J says "up" for anything she wants. She wanted a magnet off the fridge the other day so what did she say? "up, up, up" over and over again until I handed her the magnet. Did I also mention J says "wuv you". Melts my heart every time:)

Bible Study with Y

Friday I did Y's weekly book study with her. She is reading the book "Lies that Young Women Believe". She was engaged in the book and since the book in Spanish several times we just died laughing because there were words that neither of us knew the definition of. She is still in the first few chapters and the book is talking about Eve and how all the lies that women believe go back to the first lie that the first women believed from Satan in the garden. The book quoted Psalm 119:11 "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." When the Psalm was quoted she immediately said, we have to look that up and she found it in her Bible. She made me read the entire Psalm outloud (which was a little painful to hear me reading in Spanish :) When I had finished she said "that's beautiful, I love it". And later when Shannon came over she read the verse to her. It's encouraging to see her excited about God's word and applying the book to her life. Even in the 2 months that I've been here I can see a change in her. She's joyful and pleasant to be around and I am excited to get to spend more time with her!
On a completely unrelated note when I got ready to leave later in the day it was like 1:45 and I hadn't eaten lunch yet so I said I have to go I'm so hungry. Well the house mom heard me and was giving me a hard time for not telling her when I got there at 12:30 that I hadn't eaten lunch yet. Y interjects and says "yeah, here at Puerta de Esperanza (which means door of hope) we have hope for food and for water". Several times a day a think, 'This is my job? I love it!' My time yesterday with Y was one of those times:)