Over the Mountains and the Seas....

Here's the latest Sponsor update. I'm going to begin publishing the monthly updates on my blog so you guys can enjoy them too!

Destino's English Staff 2011-2012 From left: Sheena Rader, Jenna Murphy, Dani Copa, Amanda Bowen(Me!) and Amanda Bruin.

Dear Sponsors,
The 2011-2012 school year is well underway! During the fall semester, from elementary school to college, I felt like the time flew by. Now that I'm a teacher, it still feels like I've been in school for two weeks and then I check the calendar and realize that two months have already passed! So much has happened since my last update. Classes are well underway and all the students are advancing academically and spiritually. My roommates and I were able to attend a conference for Hondurasn missionaries here in Sigua a few weeks ago. Due to the school schedule I was only able to attend a few sessions but it was great, nevertheless. The keyn ote speaker was Jim Elliot's brother-in-law.

The Honduran schedule is divided into four parciales(kind of like midterms). We're just a few weeks away from the first round of exams at school. I'm very pleased with my student's progress. They're all so eager to practice their English and their enthusiasm keeps me motivated. I'm also very pleased with how my Spanish is improving and how many opportunities have opened up for me because of it. My responsibilities at school now include my 2nd, 3rd and 7th grade English classes, 7th grade music class, assisting in PE classes and presenting the country of the week during devotional.

I have a few prayer requests. The first, safety. My roommates and I were robbed a few weeks ago. We just lost a cellphone and a camera. The incident was over in a couple of minutes and we walked away unharmed, just nervous. Please pray that we will not be distracted from our task of ministering to the students. Also, the ministry is currently in need of one more person to come teach gym class and assistant in some of my English classes. So....if you are(or know somebody who is) willing to relocate to a foreign country, take on some challenges, and help out in my classes please let me know!

To end this update on a high note, I'll share some great news about one of my 2nd graders. Karina, a student from the children's home, was saved last week! During my first year working with the Destino ministry Karina was in my 1st grade class but due to her responsibilities at home she rarely attended. Last fall, Rhonda asked her parents if Karina could come live at the children's home during the week so she could continue her studies, she had quit school so she could work full-time. Fortunately, the parents agreed and it has been great to have her back and now to celebrate salvation!

It's hard to believe that in only two months I'll be back in the states for a Christmastime visit. I will be arriving on Saturday December the 17th and return to Honduras on January 2nd. Hopefully, I will be able to plan some visits to share what the Lord is doing here in Siguatepeque. If you are interested in having me come speak to your church, youth group, Sunday School class, etc. please contact me. Thank you all so much for your continued support.

Sami with his corona/crown. James 1:12 "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him."

I Am a Book Hoarder

In a previous post I shared about my love for the 2nd graders and teaching them to read. Their progress and enthusiasm excited me so much that I purchased a special bookshelf for next year's 2nd grade class and had my father assemble it during his visit. Then, during a trip to Half-Price Books I picked up about six or seven children's books for this new bookshelf. At only 50 cents per book how could I pass up such lightweight items? This type of purchase has been repeated at various yardsales, thrift stores, etc. during the summer. Now, two days before returning to Honduras I realize that I have 45 lbs of books! No exaggeration.

A Little Summer Update

August finds me sending fundraising letters, preparing for this weekend's fundraiser yardsale and of course spending as much time with friends and family as possible during my time in the states! My plane ticket was just purchased a few hours ago and I will be returning to Honduras on August 20th. We start the year with two weeks of orientation for the teachers and classes begin the first week of September. I haven't yet written about one of my neatest Honduran experiences....planning and hosting my family's first visit! Their first week was spent helping out at the ministry in whatever way possible. The majority of their time was spent helping me clean my classrooms and pack materials. Thirty of my kindergarten students graduated during this week and my parents were able to represent all the sponsor/padrinos from the states during the ceremony. We were also excited to attend the Destino del Reino School's first ever sixth grade graduation!


Wendy's and baleadas at the Honduran airport.






Celisa, meet Sophie! At the children's home.




Kindergarten Graduation




Ready to go!

Thanks Dad! A new bookshelf for the 2nd graders....

...and some new books for them to enjoy!

Are you ready for some fútbol?

It's time for Sigua's annual soccer tournament. Here's a picture of the young boys team(aka the Mosquitoes) after winning their first game!

Cafe y Bananos

Their generosity, just one of the many thing that make my students so wonderful. I could go on and on about this. However, what it boils down to, is that most of my students come from families that have so little yet their so willing to share whenever they can. They lift my spirits. The coffee was grown, harvested, roasted, ground, etc. by Dilver(1st Grade) and his family.

Settling In

This past August I was looking forward to returning to Honduras and the familiar pattern of life in Sigua that I had come to love. During my second year I wouldn't need to adjust to a new and at times confusing culture, my Spanish was no longer as awkward, I had formed friendships with others living in Sigua. I was eager to get back to my students, weekly Bible study, revisit my old haunts in town, etc. Then I received an email telling me that our house in town was currently occupied by a young family and would not be available until September, or possibly October. We would have to live at the Destino Ministry for a bit. Reacting in the way Hondruas has taught me to, I replied "That's ok, I can wait to be in town." However, in Honduras time is a concept that's not as concrete as it is in the states. If your meeting is scheduled to start at 4:00 people will begin to arrive at that time, small-talk/coffee-drinking/socailizing will wrap up around 4:30ish and then your meeting will begin. And if your house is scheduled to be ready for you to move into in September then it won't be ready until November at the earliest, or in extreme circumstances until December 17th. This is exactly what happened. Thankfully we moved to town when we all(including Karlie the new roomie) returned in January. My time living at Destino was sweet. I enjoyed playing with the kids living at the casa hogar(children's home) everyday, hearing Rhonda's stories of when she first came to Honduras and lived in the poor mountain villages and the reliable hot water. However, that time has also made me truly appreciate the niceities of living in town. To be exact, the internet/easy communication with loved ones, social life, access to groceries, school supplies, whatever I could want and all I have to do is walk downtown, lecciones de espanol, Uno and soccer with Victor and Kelly(some neighbor boys who always come by wanting to play or do odd jobs for us), plus a million other little blessings. We've been here 6 months and finally, I feel like I've settled in.

Profe Emily(in the middle) with Karina 1st grade and Franclin 5th grade on the path home. Karina, Franclin and two other siblings came to live at the children's home this past fall. I will share their story in a future post.


Harlin Ariel y Alejandra Michelle. Two of my Preparatoria(students).


My home security system(Reese the puppy) and I.


Profe Karlie de Tejas(from Texas) on her first chicken bus experience. She joined us in January and teaches 4th grade Ingles and assists me in 1st and 2nd grades. A blessing.