This is why I am here.

Okay, to catch you up…
This past Saturday, Randy and I traveled out to San Miguel (Mololoa) to work with the preachers. It was incredible! I finally spent a Saturday completely in the community. The three preachers (Leo, Sebastian, and Mauricio) went around and spoke with members of the community. Randy and I “stood around looking pretty.” Actually, we did a little more. We had a blast meeting people and making connections. The kids enjoyed having us there—almost as much as we enjoyed them. I can't wait to go back. This is why I am here.





I am here to help with material needs...Just look at this picture closely. Do you see the house made of several types of materials? Do you see the tens of houses that hold hundreds of people in the background on the side of the mountain? God has blessed me financially, and I can "afford" to help this community.







I am here to give happiness...Aren't these girls precious? Wouldn't you love to see them smiling instead of sad? I strive to bring joy (even if it is through them laughing at my Gringa accent) every moment I see them.









I am here to play...Yes, I love to have fun with these kids. How boring would life be if we didn't find time to play? Here is Randy showing Miguel how to be a big kid.
















I am here to be a mentor...This is Marvin. Like many young boys and girls here, they are desperately seeking the attention and love of someone. Sometimes, they find the wrong people. Marvin's example in life is his older brother of 15 who has been into drugs and recently ran away to join a gang. Marvin misses his brother and has a lot of sadness and misplaced anger. All of us living here are constantly seeking to make a positive difference in his life before he turns towards the path his brother took.









I am here to share God's Word...In this picture, Leo is speaking with Oneda about spiritual matters. Although, I am unsure of these abilities, I realize that God is strengthening me and giving me the words to share (even in Spanish) when they are needed. Please pray that I will grow closer to God as well as develop my Spanish so that I can do His work more actively.

Now I ask, Why are you where you are?

Gustavo

At the end of the afternoon, Randy asked Gustavo (Oneda’s five-year-old son) if he wanted to go home with him. Randy always asks Gustavo and his little sister; it has become a joke basically. They say yes at first, but then they change their minds when they get to the car. This day, Gustavo actually came. He was so precious!!! For whatever reason, he took to me while traveling. I stayed at the Kluge house for several hours playing with him. His favorite thing was the millions of things that Alora could make with clay.


His first driving experience seemed to go well. He didn't know what to do completely, but he got the hang of video games in a short while.








Spending time with him just reminded me of the scripture where Jesus has the little children come to Him. We should all be as innocent, precious, and loving.

Will work for Spanish lessons

I have felt the normal pace coming back some this weekend. Before I catch you up on this weekend, I need to tell you about my “Hondurism” for last weekend. [All of the Spanish translators I have worked with will especially appreciate this one.]

Last Sunday, I attended church at San Miguel (actually Mololoa) with the Kluge group, Karen, and Katie. Before church, Randy asked me to “play translator” to ask one of the ministers about some needs in the community. You know me, I LOVE to use my Spanish as much as possible. So, I jumped at this and did okay. We struggled some, but we seemed to get all the main points across to each other. After the service, Randy had me ask the two guys if they wanted rides down the mountain. On the way, he got the idea to just ask them to lunch. In the car, I noticed the “Hondurism”. Yet, I thought I was mistaken. At lunch, my suspicions were confirmed. Are you ready? Here it is…..When I speak in Spanish, I need a Spanish translator. Did you read that right? Read it again. When I speak IN SPANISH, I need a SPANISH TRANSLATOR. :) Only I could do this. Let me explain.

Earlier, I told you who all went. Among the group, I probably have the most Spanish—nothing to brag about (it’s not a lot more). But, let’s not forget that Southern accent (I love it in English…not with Spanish). I sat next to the preachers so that I could talk to them. Randy sat nearby to discuss more needs of the community. So, I was the translator for that. Well, in speaking to the two of them, I noticed one of them whispering in Spanish to the other what I had just said. And it wasn’t really any different. “Yo quiero…” “Ella quiere…” Sometimes he would swap the order of the words when I had messed them up; yet, they were basically the same words. It was humorous but a little frustrating. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore and asked where they were from (I thought my “Honduran” dialect was too much of a difference). The one that could understand me is from Dominican Republic. The one that couldn’t (later he told me that he understands about 80%)…you guessed it…from HONDURAS!!! What’s up with that? 90% of my Spanish was learned here! I guess I just need to work on losing the Southern influence.

So there is my “Hondurism” for the week. How cute, huh? Just say it again…Jen needs a Spanish translator when she speaks in Spanish. I just have to smile.

My new found love

Okay, I love Bebo Norman. Can't get enough of him. I love the beat, the words, and his voice. I have been listening to his music for about two hours and want to share one of my favorites. Maybe it won't be the same reading instead of listening. But, you can try.

Cover me.
Cover up my tears.
Cover up this man
Who's covered up in fear.
I need a peace of mind.
I need a piece of you
To cover all that's gone and everything's that new.
You unveil me with your mercy.
I want to breathe you in.
You unfold me, then you hold me.

Chorus:
Cover up my heart.
Cover up my soul.
Cover up this world and everything I know.
You cover up the sky.
You cover up the sea.
Cover up the mountain and every part of me.
Every single breath I breathe, cover me.

I am still alive
And covered up in years.
Covered up in lines,
As innocence appears.
So give me peace of mind.
Give me a piece of you.
To cover all that's old with everything's that new.
You unveil me with your mercy.
I want to breathe you in.
You unfold me, then you hold me

Chorus

You unveil me with your mercy.
I want to breathe you in.
You unfold me, then you hold me.
I want to shed that skin.
You unveil me with your mercy.
You unfold me when you hold me.
You invade me,
Would you take me away?

Chorus



Imagine asking God to "cover up" everything. I love how God can do that. He can give me a piece of him as well as a peace of mind. He eases my worries and calmes my spirit. I have fears and a past I don't want to remember. Yet, He makes everything new with His mercy. And best of all, He never leaves me; He is always there to "hold me."

Am I home?

Well, I am back home...yes, home. This has come to be the place where I lay my head down at night. But is it home? What are all the cute sayings, "Home is where the heart is." "There's no place like home." "Home, sweet, home." "Home is where you hang your hat."

Yes, it is home. I have missed several things...including the crazy yet considerate driving. I am even accustomed to the long waits and unanswered questions.

However, I miss Nashville. Well, not even Nashville. I miss my family and dear friends. I miss the church that has supported and encouraged me every step of the way. I wish I could just relocate them into Teguc. But we know that isn't possible. So, what can be done?

Do I stay where I feel closest to God and moved by Him daily? Do I stay where, even through some frustrations, I feel I am following His will? Do I stay where I actually feel at home?

Or do I get selfish, and move home for the luxuries? Or for the family and friends I miss having daily interactions with?

Just writing my thoughts as they come. I wish the answers were easy. But they aren't. To anyone and everyone reading this blog, please send up a small prayer for the girl who has to decide soon which part of her heart she needs to follow.

Love you all,
Jennifer Michelle, Sissy, Jen, Jen-nifer, Payasita, Noj, and simply put Jennifer