Hola from Guiamaca

Hi Everyone!
I´m really glad I get to update my blog so soon. It is hard to believe that I have already been living in Honduras for one week. At the same time, it feels like I have been here forever. I had a short break after lunch with the kids so a few of us volunteers are sitting in  an internet cafe in Guiamaca. My time here so far has been incredible. I´m not sure yet really how to describe it. The days are long and filled with lots of work but they are so fulfilling. For the first couple of days, I was working all day with the toddlers and babies. Changing diapers, playing, feeding etc. On Monday, all of the volunteers were assigned to a specific house that we´ll be working with daily. I´m with the little girls. They range from ages 5 to 11 and I am already so in love with them. We also do a lot of other jobs..basically whatever needs to get done. I am living in a female volunteer house. There are 11 of us right now. Everyone is really great and we have a lot of fun. For all of my old roommates, it reminds me so much of 418. Needless to say, I feel right at home.

By far, my favorite experience so far at the orphanage has been going to church. The kids, staff, and volunteers have church Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights. I can´t explain how amazing it is to worship God with hundreds of orphans and the people giving their lives to serve them. Last night, we were singing a song in English (some are in English and some Spanish). The presence of God was so tangible as we all sang `You are my freedom, Jesus you´re the reason I´m kneeling again at your throne. Where would I be without you here in my life?´ Since being here I have found out that very few of the children here are actually orphans. They are all here by court order, meaning they have been removed from their homes because of abuse or neglect. It amazes me that the kids can still smile, laugh, and be open to love after the horrors they´ve lived through. You wouldn´t believe some of their stories. It is even more amazing, though, that they have ended up in a place where they are loved and where they hear the Gospel. When we were singing that song, the kids were not going through motions. They were crying out to the God they know and love. As it says in Psalms, though their parents have forsaken them, God has taken them up. I am so thankful that I get to be among them and I am learning so much from them already. I wish I could share more with you but I´m going to have to leave. Thank you so much for your prayers. The Lord is so good and is teaching me so much. I hope you are all well.
Lots of love!