My Favorite Place

Didasko. I can't exactly place why it is my favorite place, but I just absolutely love visiting the kids out there. I have only been to Didasko a few times but all my visits have left a lasting impression on my heart. With each visit I feel more and more of my heart being left behind with the kids out there. This past week I had the privilege of visiting Didasko with my friends from home. Needless to say I couldn't stop talking about going all week. I knew it would be the highlight of my week, and give me a little rejuvenation that I really needed. When the day of the visit arrived I was antsy all day. Our first stop was out to the farm and after that we would head over to Didasko. No offense to Donnie and the farm, but I was ready to leave as soon as possible. As our bus approached the orphanage I was standing at the door ready to be the first one out of the bus, and I was. I got off the bus and was soon greeted by Juan Pablo with a big hug and an enthusiastic "COR!" I love this kid. He is so sweet and funny and I just love the time we get to spend together. Juan Pablo and I walked around and I introduced him to all my friends. After we met all my friends we sat down to talk and he asked to see my phone. He asked to see it not to play a game or take a picture, but to write me a note. It translated to english as "From Pablo, I love you a lot, with all of my heart. For Corey" Obviously he took a big chunk of my heart at that moment. The rest of the night was committed to watching a movie with all of the kids. I sat with Juan Pablo and his brother Maynor. The both loved the movie, and the popcorn. As we began to say our goodbyes the questions from some of the kids turned to the time of my next visit. I hope my next visit is soon, because I can feel my heart being tugged by the kids out at Didasko!

Me and some of the kids at Didasko!

Juan Pablo and I!

A Big Build

Build Day. If you have been in Honduras with me you have probably said or heard a joke about me and a build site. It just is not usually my cup of tea, but I am getting better, I promise. If faced with the decision of visiting an orphanage or building a house I will 9 times out of 10 choose the orphanage. This doesn't mean I don't participate in builds, but I can safely admit I don't do the most work at any of the sites. This past week when the team was here though I did more work than usual. It is probably because I knew how many kids would be living in this house. There would be more people than you could count with your fingers living in this house and the kids were all over the place, all day long! It was awesome to see all my friends from home serving so willing for this family and I couldn't help but join in on the fun. Seeing my best friend get up on the roof and work was pretty awesome. The whole morning and afternoon was filled with nothing but hard work, and the occasional break to go play with the kids of course. As the day began to wind down and the house was completed we all gathered inside with the family to pray over and bless the house. Mark Connell, who is the #1 Corey at a build site joke teller, walked in looked at me and told me since I actually did some work this build that I should be the one to say the blessing over the house. Luckily I didn't have to say it in Spanish. As God used me to bless this house I felt so grateful to be able to be the hands, feet, and voice of Him at all times. I realized how blessed I am to have the opportunity to bless others so frequently. As I finished the blessing the new home owner stood before us with her grand-daughter in hand, surrounded by her many kids, and grand kids. The first words out of her mouth was to thank God for this amazing blessing.

The team hard at work!

Some of the kids who just got a new house!

The team and the family!

A Day at Casa with Fernando

Every time there is a group here my favorite days are the days we get to visit Children's Homes. I have now been to a few of them a good many times and have fallen in love with some of the kids there. When a group comes and visits Casa I look forward to spending time with Fernando while we are there.

During this group's visit I was able to be part of a very special day for Fernando! We arrived at Casa early so that we could attend church with the kids. We sat and waited for the kids to walk in and they all strolled in dressed to impress. Fernando saw me and made a b-line in my direction and sat next to me and Caity, who was ecstatic to sit next to SiSi all morning. The service was enjoyed by all but not understood by all, being that it was entirely in Spanish. After church we headed towards the orphanage to take a look around and give the newcomers a tour of the grounds. As we approached I saw Fernando excitedly running back and forth from one house to another always with a handful of his clothes and a HUGE smile on his face. After we got a tour from Terri we were able to spend a little time with the kids before lunch. Fernando was extremely excited to show me and tell me his good news, he has a new room! He moved to the other room for a couple of different reasons and the result seems to be all positive for everyone involved. As the kids settled down for lunch we headed to Cafe El Gringo to enjoy a delicious lunch prepared by Byron and his workers. Yet again I ate way too much food but loved it all!

After lunch it was back to Casa for an afternoon of playing leading up to a hamburger cookout for us and the kids. Most of my afternoon was filled with soccer which of course I loved!

Then of course being as it is now rainy season our afternoon of fun got interrupted. The rain started coming down and we all headed inside to the main house. The group did a great job of improvising on this turn of events by dancing and singing with the kids. I kept looking around wondering where Fernando went when he showed up at the door wet and out of breath. Of course he was at the house with his room in it! He showed up to ask me to come play with him and the kids at the other house who were at the moment gringoless. We ran over in the rain and spent the rest of the afternoon checking out his new room and playing catch in the living room there! The night concluded with some delicious hamburgers that the kids and gringos both enjoyed!

Visit from Home

Yet again I am starting off a blog my saying how sorry I am for getting behind in my blogging. It has been over a month but it has been quite a busy month. Michael was in the States for a few weeks and that meant lots of homework and studying for me to do on my own with the kids. Everyone pitched in to help and the kids did great while Michael was gone! This last week I was able to spend time with a group full of some new friends and full of some of the people who are very important to me! It was an amazing week and I will be blogging this week about all the adventures and stories that were involved in our full week of service! So if I don't post a new blog tomorrow... yell at me