Sorry I've been slacking off with the blogging but it has been a little hectic around here! Getting all of the kids ready and caught up for school, which starts in 10 days, and having so many new faces to get to know in the building has been pretty crazy! Today Amber went home for the next two weeks, and David will still be in the states for the next 10 days... this means Michael and I are in charge at Breaking Chains. I know scary right!? Lucky for us today went as smooth as humanly possible. The teenagers are missing Mami Amber and Papi David but they definitely want to make them proud. They immediately got to work after we went to the airport today and were as helpful as I have ever seen them all throughout the evening! Pray that they stay busy these next two weeks and be praying for Michael and I to help everyone at the building the best we can as we step into new roles.
My first ten days here I was blessed to have one of my goods friends in Honduras with me, Caity Davis! It was great having someone from home come here and see all the things I have fallen in love with over the past 5 months! Even though we were busy doing different things most of the time I enjoyed the time we got to spend at the homeless shelter as she meet the sweet faces I work with everyday! I literally can't wait for the whole group to head down this way in May, if only I had a time machine!
School starts for me on Monday and I am pretty excited to see what this school year has in store for me! I want to thank everyone who donated school supplies and stickers and everyone who has begun to help me financially as I begin to find my spot here in Honduras, I couldn't do any of this without your help! Prayers and Donations are welcome and encouraged especially over the coming weeks! Thanks for reading!
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Gustavo
We have a new child at Breaking Chains, Gustavo. Gustavo has been in and out of our building since my arrival in August, but only recently have we seen him stay with us long term. Gustavo is 10 years old and has spent the last three years of his life either on the street or in a children's home. He was raised by his Grandfather until his death and is still emotional about the loss. His mother has visited him at our building however the abusive nature of his family cause him to make the decision to live on the street rather than at his mother's house.
Our team is doing the best we can to give Gustavo what he needs but we know we don't posses the facility to meet his every need. We take his situation on a day by day basis and are working on plans to help Gustavo have a future other than existing on the streets of Tegucigalpa. I want so much for this little guy because he has touched my heart. I want to see him go to school, have a positive relationship with his family, and I want him to have an environment where he can feel loved and wanted.
The other night Gustavo disappeared for almost 10 hours. Needless to say I was worried, we went out once it got dark to look for him, and of course while we were driving around town he showed back up at the building. Michael and I talked with him together and then separately. When I spoke with him he couldn't stop mentioning how he felt alone and just wanted to go out to play. As much as he tries to act like an adult or teenager deep down he just wants to be a kid and have a normal childhood.
Yesterday we were able to spend time with Gustavo away from the homeless shelter and it was pretty awesome. He was polite, well behaved, and was able to relax and have fun all day. We took him out to dinner at the mall and before he sat down to eat he went running to the bathroom to wash his hands first. I loved watching him be a kid yesterday because so often he feels the need to act so tough and independent.
As awesome as yesterday was today brought us back to reality. Gustavo was sitting in the office with Caity, some of the teenagers, and I. I'm not sure how it all started but he ended up fighting with one of the teenage girls. When I got him to sit down on his bed he was sobbing. He shut down and wouldn't talk so all I could do was hold him and tell him that I love him, but that fighting will not help his situation. When he finally calmed down he said what he usually says to me which is the fact the he feels like he is alone, and that just breaks my heart. I pray for guidance when dealing with Gustavo, because I know I don't have all the tools to help him, but I'll do whatever I can. I pray that he comes to know how much our team loves him and I pray we can give him a future outside of the streets he has come to call home.
Our team is doing the best we can to give Gustavo what he needs but we know we don't posses the facility to meet his every need. We take his situation on a day by day basis and are working on plans to help Gustavo have a future other than existing on the streets of Tegucigalpa. I want so much for this little guy because he has touched my heart. I want to see him go to school, have a positive relationship with his family, and I want him to have an environment where he can feel loved and wanted.
The other night Gustavo disappeared for almost 10 hours. Needless to say I was worried, we went out once it got dark to look for him, and of course while we were driving around town he showed back up at the building. Michael and I talked with him together and then separately. When I spoke with him he couldn't stop mentioning how he felt alone and just wanted to go out to play. As much as he tries to act like an adult or teenager deep down he just wants to be a kid and have a normal childhood.
Yesterday we were able to spend time with Gustavo away from the homeless shelter and it was pretty awesome. He was polite, well behaved, and was able to relax and have fun all day. We took him out to dinner at the mall and before he sat down to eat he went running to the bathroom to wash his hands first. I loved watching him be a kid yesterday because so often he feels the need to act so tough and independent.
As awesome as yesterday was today brought us back to reality. Gustavo was sitting in the office with Caity, some of the teenagers, and I. I'm not sure how it all started but he ended up fighting with one of the teenage girls. When I got him to sit down on his bed he was sobbing. He shut down and wouldn't talk so all I could do was hold him and tell him that I love him, but that fighting will not help his situation. When he finally calmed down he said what he usually says to me which is the fact the he feels like he is alone, and that just breaks my heart. I pray for guidance when dealing with Gustavo, because I know I don't have all the tools to help him, but I'll do whatever I can. I pray that he comes to know how much our team loves him and I pray we can give him a future outside of the streets he has come to call home.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Letting His Light Shine
Jonatan is a born people-pleaser. I can see Jonatan doing just about anything he puts his mind to. With the help of a good education, the sky will be the limit for this little guy.
This six-year-old is always the first of our kids to try to help with any project we are doing at the building and is quick to be upset if you tell him you don’t need his help.
All he wants to do is help others, and he does a great job with helping his little sister Rosie. He is the first one on the scene when Rosie is crying. He’s always there to tell her everything will be okay and give here a great big brother hug. I hope we can continue to help Jonatan and his great heart grow into a young man that can be an example for other children.
We can’t wait to see this little goof grow into his own person. He lives in the shadow of his older brother Arol among his family now. Unfortunately, their mother Belkis has favorites, and Jonatan isn’t one of them. Neither Arol nor Jonatan are to blame for this, and both deserve to break free of their chains and find who they are meant to become.
Jonatan’s so excited to start school that he has already begun asking me to teach him English words and phrases. He has mastered a few such as “Go,” “Stop” and Michael’s favorite “Wassup.” He loves asking me what Spanish words mean in English, even if sometimes it isn’t entirely necessary that he knows that word. One night he was…well, gassy. He then wanted to know what that word was in English.
So, if you ever get the chance to meet Jonatan, he will have no difficulty letting you know when anyone is farting at the building.
I see so much promise in Jonatan that I get excited just thinking about the possibilities a good education will give him. There are so many giving souls at our building, but not many of them are six years old. I know that Jonatan has a role to play here in the future of Honduras, and his first step to achieving all he is meant to do is a great education.
Please consider helping Jonatan break the chains of poverty with any donation you can give to this boy’s education. He needs you and this so much! If you would like to share in Jonatan’s future, see the link on the “Home” line above to see what help this boy needs.
To help or if you have questions, email me at corey@bchonduras.org or my co-director of education at michael@bchonduras.com.
This six-year-old is always the first of our kids to try to help with any project we are doing at the building and is quick to be upset if you tell him you don’t need his help.
All he wants to do is help others, and he does a great job with helping his little sister Rosie. He is the first one on the scene when Rosie is crying. He’s always there to tell her everything will be okay and give here a great big brother hug. I hope we can continue to help Jonatan and his great heart grow into a young man that can be an example for other children.
We can’t wait to see this little goof grow into his own person. He lives in the shadow of his older brother Arol among his family now. Unfortunately, their mother Belkis has favorites, and Jonatan isn’t one of them. Neither Arol nor Jonatan are to blame for this, and both deserve to break free of their chains and find who they are meant to become.
Jonatan’s so excited to start school that he has already begun asking me to teach him English words and phrases. He has mastered a few such as “Go,” “Stop” and Michael’s favorite “Wassup.” He loves asking me what Spanish words mean in English, even if sometimes it isn’t entirely necessary that he knows that word. One night he was…well, gassy. He then wanted to know what that word was in English.
So, if you ever get the chance to meet Jonatan, he will have no difficulty letting you know when anyone is farting at the building.
I see so much promise in Jonatan that I get excited just thinking about the possibilities a good education will give him. There are so many giving souls at our building, but not many of them are six years old. I know that Jonatan has a role to play here in the future of Honduras, and his first step to achieving all he is meant to do is a great education.
Please consider helping Jonatan break the chains of poverty with any donation you can give to this boy’s education. He needs you and this so much! If you would like to share in Jonatan’s future, see the link on the “Home” line above to see what help this boy needs.
To help or if you have questions, email me at corey@bchonduras.org or my co-director of education at michael@bchonduras.com.
Monday, January 2, 2012
About My Friends
Over these past two weeks of being home I have noticed one thing that I used to take for granted... my awesome friends. God has blessed me by putting some of the most supporting friends you could find in my life.
We will start out with someone who I've known for a long time but who has just recently become one of my best friends thanks to Honduras. I have mentioned her before in my blogs and she is even coming to Honduras with me next week! Caity Davis is an amazing person whose love for Honduras was important in bringing me to Honduras in the first place. As I have said before I am so excited for her to come down to Honduras to see the projects I am involved with first hand and to meet all the kids and teens that have touched my heart and changed my life!
Next we have my best friend since I was little. He has also been to Honduras many times but the one thing I am so thankful for is his consistency with our friendship. I know that no matter how long I am gone for that whenever I get home I can head over to Daniel Wallace's house sit on the couch and I can feel like I have never even left. Having seen him in Honduras I know more about what an awesome guy Daniel is and what all he can do when he wants to help others.
Daniel's brother Michael is next and I have to say I have learned so much from him that it is hard to even put into words. I don't have an older brother but he more than fills that role. He was the first person I knew who went to Honduras and after reading his blogs and hearing him talk about helping the people there with such passion I knew I would have to see it for myself. And then once I got to Honduras on our missions trip and was able to see the impact he had made first hand I was amazed. I actually thought he invented the high-five-fist-bump that everyone in the country does. I can't wait for him to bring a group down this summer so that I can work with him in Honduras again!
Next is a friend that I didn't even know a year ago. Steve Carter. I met Steve on our missions trip over the summer and immediately knew we would be friends. We are both loud and fun loving and we share a love for Honduras that will make sure we are friends for a very long time. His passion for Honduras is so awesome to see and hear about that I know he can barely even wait to get back to work on another adventure in Hondo.
Dan Fearer, Tim Plouse, and Mitch Grubb. Three more friends that no matter how long I might be gone I know that I can show up on their couch and not feel like I missed a beat. Not a week went by in Honduras when we were not in contact and once I got home for a visit it feels as if I had never left and friends like this make missing Honduras bearable while I am here visiting during the holidays. Another friend, Nick Andrews, I have grown even closer to in my absence. He is always excited to hear a story from my adventures, and our FIFA nights will probably continue for years to come.
Best Buy friends. Wow I never knew just how many people I use to work with that I had become such good friends with. When I went into the store to visit the other day I was there for almost two hours just talking with everyone. Every time I would look to the door to leave I would see another person that I missed and needed to talk to again. I was so blessed with a good steady job at the BBY and a great understanding, supportive boss in Mark Blankenship to be so supportive in my decision to get up an move in a blink of an eye. Without such a great work support staff I could have never moved to Honduras so easily.
Interamerican School. I absolutely love my school. I love my job, my kids, and also the awesome teachers I work with who I have become great friends with. They help me with just about everything and I could not have made it through my first teaching experience without their help and support! I miss them all so much and I can't wait to get back to work next month!
David Logue, Amber Foster, Michael Lemmons, and Courtney Matthews. Our Breaking Chains team. I never expected to fall in love with a ministry at first sight but that is exactly what happened. Not only did I get coworkers out of this deal but I now have friends for life. I feel like I have known our team my entire life and that I can tell them anything. You can't buy friends like these and I am so thankful God provided me with such an amazing group of friends in Honduras to rival my friends back at home!
Caity, Michael, and all of my Breaking Chains friends have blogs that you can read by clicking on the corresponding link on the right hand side of the page!
We will start out with someone who I've known for a long time but who has just recently become one of my best friends thanks to Honduras. I have mentioned her before in my blogs and she is even coming to Honduras with me next week! Caity Davis is an amazing person whose love for Honduras was important in bringing me to Honduras in the first place. As I have said before I am so excited for her to come down to Honduras to see the projects I am involved with first hand and to meet all the kids and teens that have touched my heart and changed my life!
Next we have my best friend since I was little. He has also been to Honduras many times but the one thing I am so thankful for is his consistency with our friendship. I know that no matter how long I am gone for that whenever I get home I can head over to Daniel Wallace's house sit on the couch and I can feel like I have never even left. Having seen him in Honduras I know more about what an awesome guy Daniel is and what all he can do when he wants to help others.
Daniel's brother Michael is next and I have to say I have learned so much from him that it is hard to even put into words. I don't have an older brother but he more than fills that role. He was the first person I knew who went to Honduras and after reading his blogs and hearing him talk about helping the people there with such passion I knew I would have to see it for myself. And then once I got to Honduras on our missions trip and was able to see the impact he had made first hand I was amazed. I actually thought he invented the high-five-fist-bump that everyone in the country does. I can't wait for him to bring a group down this summer so that I can work with him in Honduras again!
Next is a friend that I didn't even know a year ago. Steve Carter. I met Steve on our missions trip over the summer and immediately knew we would be friends. We are both loud and fun loving and we share a love for Honduras that will make sure we are friends for a very long time. His passion for Honduras is so awesome to see and hear about that I know he can barely even wait to get back to work on another adventure in Hondo.
Dan Fearer, Tim Plouse, and Mitch Grubb. Three more friends that no matter how long I might be gone I know that I can show up on their couch and not feel like I missed a beat. Not a week went by in Honduras when we were not in contact and once I got home for a visit it feels as if I had never left and friends like this make missing Honduras bearable while I am here visiting during the holidays. Another friend, Nick Andrews, I have grown even closer to in my absence. He is always excited to hear a story from my adventures, and our FIFA nights will probably continue for years to come.
Best Buy friends. Wow I never knew just how many people I use to work with that I had become such good friends with. When I went into the store to visit the other day I was there for almost two hours just talking with everyone. Every time I would look to the door to leave I would see another person that I missed and needed to talk to again. I was so blessed with a good steady job at the BBY and a great understanding, supportive boss in Mark Blankenship to be so supportive in my decision to get up an move in a blink of an eye. Without such a great work support staff I could have never moved to Honduras so easily.
Interamerican School. I absolutely love my school. I love my job, my kids, and also the awesome teachers I work with who I have become great friends with. They help me with just about everything and I could not have made it through my first teaching experience without their help and support! I miss them all so much and I can't wait to get back to work next month!
David Logue, Amber Foster, Michael Lemmons, and Courtney Matthews. Our Breaking Chains team. I never expected to fall in love with a ministry at first sight but that is exactly what happened. Not only did I get coworkers out of this deal but I now have friends for life. I feel like I have known our team my entire life and that I can tell them anything. You can't buy friends like these and I am so thankful God provided me with such an amazing group of friends in Honduras to rival my friends back at home!
Caity, Michael, and all of my Breaking Chains friends have blogs that you can read by clicking on the corresponding link on the right hand side of the page!
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