Teacher's Day 2013

Today is Teacher's Day here in Honduras. Yea thats right an entire day for Mr. Corey! Well I guess it is for all the teachers but you are here reading this blog so yea an entire day for Mr. Corey. The best part of Teacher's Day you ask, well of course the day off school! I've now had three different groups of students. This year by far the most, 30 in total now. The most staggering statistic is how many of them are boys in that number... 23. Yea not a typo, 23 boys. So as you can imagine my classroom is many things. The list includes never clean, always pretty smelly, decorated in mostly sports stuff, always loud, and of course avoided by all other teachers. That being said I've NEVER enjoyed going to work so much before. I love these kids. They are so smart and everyday just want to learn more. I haven't had one let alone 30 kids before so excited to learn new things. I literally have 30-60 hands depending on how excited they are raised trying to answer questions at all times. Even if I didn't ask a question. By Sunday nights I miss them and am completely okay with going to bed early just to start my Monday with them. I read somewhere that hugs have huge health benefits and help improve your mood, I can certainly attest to that being true. My students are the definition of "huggers" this year and I seem to have a line forming each day before they leave to tell me goodbye. This year has taught me that God has me exactly where I need to be right now because I couldn't imagine a better group of kids to spend so much time with each day. Needless to say I'm gonna miss these kids like crazy when the school year ends in less than two months.

My Life

I sat here trying to put a title on this blog post for a good week. Couldn't think of one that fully explained and expressed how I feel about what I've written below. Sorry it took so long to post. Probably anyone who is reading this already knows what it going on in my life. From my facebook posts and a newsletter I've kinda made it clear what has happened. Five kids have moved into our house. Most of you probably know their names and faces already actually. Antonio, Francisco, Mario, Marvin, and Yovani. Five precious kids with a mountain of potential that has not been utilized the past year or more. After many long meetings, discussions, and of course prayer David and I have welcomed these awesome guys into our home. The decision wasn't taken lightly. We talked to trusted friends and tried to think of all the details before the paperwork was drawn up and school was started. You never really expect to see your life change forever in a matter of days but that is what has happened. Long nights of homework and studying have already happened. With many more of the same nights coming our way. I've done the homework/studying game before so that wasn't anything new. At school I've had more long conversations on the staircase to my classroom than I can count. So the talks about behavior and change, well those aren't very new either. What is new is how responsible I am for all these things now. What is new is waking up each morning and getting ready for school with 5 new faces. What is new is the fact that once something like this starts you can't go back. Personal failure now means so much more when these kids' lives are so intertwined with my life. I looked back at some of my first blogs from my mission trip here over two years ago as I wrote this blog. "During the building of the house Mario, one of the middle brothers, was by my side helping me for most of the day. He hasn’t said much to me so far on the trip but today he was extremely chatty! Mario’s story is a long one and to see him thrive is awesome. Whenever we have been around kids his age he is the center of attention and is always sharing with the other kids. Its amazing to see someone that has less that me give without even batting an eye. He is inspirational. On our ride home Mario, Marvin, and I sat in the back of the bus. Marvin was passed out after a few minutes but Mario and I were talking, singing, and dancing the whole way back. He is an awesome kid and I am so very thankful that I got to know him a little better today!" I feel blessed to be able to look back at my first experiences with these kids. To know that I've felt this way about them from the beginning. That I can be so thankful for their presence in my life. My blog has always had the same background photo on the top. A picture of me with Mario on my shoulders looking out at a beautiful view. I had no idea that day that I had my life sitting up on my shoulders already. That all we had to do was wait for God's perfect timing to put us back together.

I pray I can be exactly what they need. I pray I continue to learn patience. I pray that I take advantage of this opportunity to be prepared for what He has in store for my journey.

A Song

Sometimes I forget to blog because I'm busy, sometimes because I'm lazy, and sometimes I just find myself without words to say. I have had a song in my head for literally weeks. A group from Portsmouth Ohio was here and they played it LOUD on the way out to see the kids (Jonatan, Rosie, and Dayana). I've heard it before but it never struck as much at is did there. The song is "Where I Belong" and the chorus goes "All I know is I'm not home yet, this is now where I belong, take this world and give me Jesus, this is not where I belong." It says a lot and can mean a whole lot in not so many words. I took so much from it that morning as I saw these three little faces that were my life for over a year. I know things might never be the same with them, I might never get to spend the afternoon helping Jonatan with homework while we laugh and talk. Those memories were life for awhile and I never fully appreciated them while I had them. However as I sat and spent time with him that day I was able to really sit and realize that this isn't the end, we all aren't home yet, and we have so much ahead of us. We will both keep walking our paths in life and they will come together again whether or not it is the same as it was before. I love that kid more than I could put to words and that was the reason it took so long to put it into words. Somedays you just don't have words and you just wait until you realize thats okay.

28 students, and then some

We have been at school for three weeks now and the time has flown by! I guess that happens when you have 28 kids (21 boys and 7 girls, yea I know) The kids are very intelligent and are so eager to learn new things! I love 4th Grade and this year promises to be filled with new adventures at school. Not only am I teaching all the 4th Grade classes but I am also teaching 7th Grade Literature and History this year. I was a little apprehensive when the year started but now I really look forward to these classes, even though it does mean I'm spending a lot more time lesson planning! March has started and that means one thing here in Honduras... GROUPS! The gringos are coming and we will be busy! The madness begins Friday and I can't wait! Even though I can only spend weekends and evenings with the groups I sure do love group season (and not only because it means plenty of visits to Didasko!) Building houses has really grown on me and there will be some very memorable builds coming at the end of this month! I can't wait to see friends I haven't seen since last year!

2013: An Update

Hello All, The first month of 2013 has come and gone quicker than I thought possible. I've spent half of it here in Ohio visiting friends and family I haven't seen in over a year and it has been wonderful! This next year I will be back teaching at Interamerican School teaching (a lot of) 4th Graders again! I will also be taking on the challenge of being our very first Literature teacher as I take charge of the 7th Grade Literature class! I can't wait to get back in the classroom for these awesome challenges of education. David and I have been expanding our home to some awesome teenagers in need of direction this past year and God seems to be pushing us in a direction where this will become our ministry focus. Carlos graduated this past year and is now enrolled in a four year college program! Cristian is continuing his educational program to attain his high school degree as well as continuing his work at a local mechanic's shop. Saul is continuing his bilingual education at the Nashville School this year and will graduate from 6th Grade this spring! Cristian's younger brother, Henry, is in need of a place to live in the city that will help him continue his education to become a teacher, and that place seems pretty obvious to us, our house! We are also beginning to work, again, with Eduardo the middle brother of Saul and Carlos, as he tries to turn his life around and go back to school. As we begin to outreach to more and more teenagers our cost of living will increase with each teen. Paying for education costs, transportation, food, and of course some fun family activities as rewards for these amazing young men. David and I are looking for individuals and groups that are willing to partner with us on a monthly or one time basis to help us meet these costs and continue to help these inspiring young men. If you are interested in helping we are looking for 30 individuals or groups that feel called to help us at $15 dollars a month (or more). Above these needs we are also always in need of prayer and guidance as we work everyday in a city filled with crime, drugs, and violence. Donations can be made to the Melbourne Church of Christ located at 810 Hollywood Blvd. West Melbourne, FL 32904 with the name David Logue in the memo line. If you are interested in helping please let David and I know as we continue to rework our budget for this year and the future. Thank you all for your love and support over the past year and half and your continued support in the future. In Him, Corey Bryant

New Year, New Adventures

The holiday season is winding down and I will be heading home soon for some rest and relaxation that feels much needed. I haven't been home since last January and I am really looking forward to seeing my family and spending time with friends. We rang in the New Year in Honduras with a bang, literally, lots and lots and lots of fireworks all over the city. We also have a house full of willing hands here to serve until the 11th and they have been quite busy. Today they worked on their second house and continued work at Breaking Chains Homeless Ministry. The coming days will see us feeding at the dump, having a clothes giveaway, visiting children's homes, and also building at least one more house. It has been a blessing to see two groups of relative strangers get together and already accomplish so much work here in Honduras and I am sure the following days will see so more great things happen. Half of this group is full of some of my best friends and it has been so great to have them here around the holidays. We have also added a new member to our household, Captain Jakob. He is a Husky puppy who has been pretty sick, but thanks to some great puppy-sitting by Carlos and Saul he is doing much better. This next year promises to be extremely exciting. Full of new opportunities and adventures. I already can not wait to be back in February to hit the ground running on some of the amazing things that will happen this year in Honduras!