A New Season

It’s amazing how fast time can fly; it seems like just yesterday that I boarded that plane out of Houston, with everything I owned packed tight in my suitcases.  I was full of so many emotions and thoughts.  I was so scared, and uncertain of what this new life I was stepping into would look like; I was excited and anxious to get settled into my new home and get to know the kids.  I knew that day that I would find my place somehow in Didasko, and I was sure that I would fall deeply in love with the kids, but honestly I had no clue what I had just gotten myself into.
 
I didn’t know that day that I would love those children deeper than I had ever known love before, I didn’t know how it would feel the first time I heard the words “I love you mommy”, and I had absolutely no idea how bad it would hurt when I had to say goodbye. 
 
I am so grateful for the privilege and honor that it has been, to have the opportunity to invest in the lives of His little loves.  I can’t possibly express how much I’ve learned and how I’ve grown during my time in Didasko.  I have learned the value of the word “mommy” and the privilege it is to hear it come from such sweet lips.  I have a deeper appreciation and understanding of the love of our Father, and a tiny glimpse of how He cares for us more than we can possibly comprehend.  I’ve also learned that just as everything has a beginning, it also has an end. 
 
Recently, I returned to the U.S. after four years on the field as I was overdue to come home for a time of rest, training and ministry re-focus.  Over the last several months the Lord has been clearly speaking to my heart about so many things.  One of the things I feel strongly about is to further my education to be able to work with children in a greater capacity.  I truly believe that this is part of the Lord‘s will for this season of my life.
 
I KNOW that the Lord has called me to be “A Mommy to Many”, and that He has asked me to be “a mother to the motherless”. He has not waivered in that, and I am not questioning it.  I do not know what my future holds, but I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that He is not finished with this calling.  I believe that He wants to take this time to further prepare me to be able to accomplish the things that He wants me to do.
 
For so many of you that have been supporting me so faithfully throughout the last four years, I can’t possibly express how grateful I am for your love and support.  Thank you for believing in me and this calling that the Lord has placed on my heart. Throughout the next several months I will be looking for a job and a degree program in the U.S.  If you feel led and are able, I am asking those that financially support me to do so through the end of this 2011 year as I get settled back in the states.  Thank you so very much for your continued love and support. I will keep you posted during this next season!

Summer Interns

This summer we were blessed to have 5 young ladies intern in Didasko for several weeks. While they were here, they were able to see what life in Didasko is like on a daily basis. They helped get the kids up in the morning, they helped showering them, getting them ready for school, the whole works. They helped with homework and sorting laundry, played lots of soccer, and just loved on kiddoes. It was a real treat having them here, and having the oportunity to get to know each one of them.

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Time With Family

With every year that passes I think I come to a better understanding of how important family is. Since we lost my daddy a few years back, I've definitely come to see a greater value in the precious moments we have with those that we love the most. This summer I was blessed to have some sweet family time. Here's a few pics of our time together.

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Community Mission Team 2011

In June, a team from my church in Texas came and spent a couple of weeks with us. We had an icredible time! They have built great relationships with the kids here, and it blesses this heart of mine to be able to spend time with so many close friends and family. Thank you so much Community for investing in my life, and the lives of the kids in Didasko, as well as the people of Honduras. We love you!!

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Sometimes You Just Gotta Toot Your Own Horn

You know, I’m not generally one to toot my own horn, but today I have pretty much been an amazing mixture of Betty Crocker and Super Mom, so my horn is about to get tooted.  It all started just before 6:00 am this morning when I pulled my sleepy self out of bed, got the kids up, bathed, dressed, and chores done…not easy, but you know, same ol’ routine. The kids ate breakfast, the older kids headed off to the military base to do some activities there, and I got the little kids settled playing legos and board games on the front porch, again just everyday life. I knew I had a busy day ahead of me, my house was a DISASTER, company was coming for dinner, Carolina had a doctor’s appt, and we were going to have a big birthday party this evening for several of the kids and Cristian. So I went in the house, and I don’t really know what happened, but the super mom cape magically appeared. I got my house totally clean (the kids were AMAZING by the way, and there was minimal fighting) I swept, mopped, and dusted the whole works! I did two loads of laundry, baked an AMAZING huge birthday cake showered and even shaved my legs ALL BEFORE NOON!!! I threw myself together, ate a granola bar, and took Carolina and Normita to the doctor’s office. As we were leaving the doctor’s office, I realized I had just given him the very last of my cash, and I hate being so far away from banks and ATM’s and having no cash, so I decided to head to the closest ATM…about 30-40 min away. Just before we got to the gas station/ATM Normita starts saying her tummy hurt, and within minutes she vomited ALL OVER the back seat. Luckily we were almost to the gas station. I got her and the car as cleaned up as I could with some wet paper towels, got my cash and we headed home. We weren’t on the road two minutes and Normita says “Rhonda….I’m gonna throw up” and there it was EVERYWHERE…AGAIN. I pulled over stripped her down to her undies and cleaned her and the car up as much as I could, and prayed we’d make it home. I got home, got her bathed and settled on the couch with cartoons, and got back to work. I got the birthday cake put together and iced, made a YUMMY dinner…if I might say so myself, and the evening went just as planned. It’s been a great day, but busy to say the least. It ended perfectly snuggling with a whiny two year old that didn’t want to go to bed. 

No News Is Good News??

Sorry it's been a while since my last update, summer time in the U.S. means craziness in Honduras. :) We had an amazing group from Ada, Oklahoma for about 10 days or so in May, and then there have been people non-stop at my house since June 1st. I thought about counting how many trips I've made to the airport in the last two months, but I'm sure I can't even count all of them...not that I'm complaining, it has been so much fun. Here's a little ideas of the craziness from June 1 till now.

June 1 - My mom flew in.
June 3 - 4 guys flew in.
June 4 - 3 girls joined the fun.
June 5 - 12 more jumped on board.
June 11 - 3 ladies went back home.
June 12 - 2 wonderful women flew in.
June 13 - Another young lady joined the party, and I got my first summer intern.
June 17 - My mom went home. :(
June 19 - 19 people went home.
June 22 - My sister and her family flew in. :)
June 24 - 3 more interns came.
June 28 - Said goodbye to my sister.
July 3 - Another blondie to join my interns
July 9 - A couple of the guy interns came for a visit.
July 11 - The boys went home.
July 15 - Dropped off one of my summer interns.
On Sunday July 17 - I'll say goodbye to the rest of the interns and go home to a quiet empty house....well, with all the kids, so really there's nothing quiet OR empty about it, but it will definitely be a little quieter than normal.

So all that to say...yea, I've been busy, so please excuse the silence, but prepare yourself for the overload of pics that are on their way. :D

A Special Request

Pastor Oswaldo Canales and his wife Vilma are the pastors of the church that I attend here in Honduras, as well as the overseeing pastors of Didasko. Throughout the time I’ve lived in Honduras I have grown to love and care for this incredible man, and his family. Just recently Pastor Oswaldo was diagnosed with prostate cancer; obviously it is a very trying time. After discussing his options with the doctors, they have decided that it is necessary to completely remove his prostate (Radical Prostatectomy). The procedure that needs to be done cannot be performed here in Honduras, so they are asking that he fly to New York to have the procedure done at The Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, NY. My request to you as that you will pray for Pastor Oswaldo and his family, that first and foremost the Lord’s will will be done. Please pray for complete healing, as well as for peace, strength, and courage during this time. Please pray that the Lord would give the doctors wisdom. Please pray that the Lord will abundantly and quickly provide the finances to cover the expenses for the operation as well as the expenses entailed to fly to the U.S. The operation alone will cost approximately $49,250.00. If you would like to be a part of the Lord’s provision for this family, let me know, and I can get you the information on how you can do so.
Blessings,
Rhonda

Easter Fun

In the U.S. Easter is so wrapped up in Easter baskets and bunny rabbits that it's hard to find Jesus and the real reason we celebrate Easter in the midst of it all. It was a bit of culture shock the first time I spent Easter in a Latin American country. I was so used to our culture and the way we do things, that it floored me to see the drastic difference. Here, the majority of the population has Holy Week off of school/work, and EVERYTHING shuts down on Good Friday. It's such a blessing to be able to watch and learn from a culture that holds a much deeper respect and reverence for Holy Week, I've learned so much watching some of the catholic traditions, I will truly never view Holy Week and Resurrection Day as I did before.

That being said, as much as I love and respect the way they do things here, honestly the thought of Easter passing and not seeing a single Easter egg kinda made me sad. So I decided to bring a little bit of my culture here this year. The kids had never even heard of dying Easter eggs before, so I headed to the store, got a few dozen eggs, a little vinegar, and some food coloring, and the egg ding began. The kids LOVED it, although they thought it was really strange. :) Here are a few pics of our Easter egg dying adventure.

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A Special Day Out With My Little Ones

I took our five littelest out for a special day last weekend. They were so excited, pure bundles of joy the whole day. :) Here's a few pics of all the fun.

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My Mom's Wedding

As many of you know, I went home for a quick trip last month for my mom's wedding. It was a true Texan wedding, and we had a blast!! Here's a few pics from her big day.