So you are telling me it's September already?!

Wow, didn't think I would have to say it again, but again I'm saying sorry it's been over a month. Can't tell you how busy the last few months have been, and when I finally have some relaxing time... boom asleep. Some amazing things are happening here in Honduras and I'll be keeping you all posted in the coming weeks and months what my future will look like here. Let me tell you I am beyond excited about what is in store! Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers as my ministry in the country evolves into something truly amazing. Now back to what has been going on here. We had our last few groups come through and even had a new group stay with us here at the house, it was their first time in Honduras and they had a great time with medical clinics, and of course a trip out to Didasko! Plus they were pretty great cooks, so they are welcome back anytime. They left some food, medicine, clothes, and toys for us to bring back to the kids. This past weekend we had time so we headed out to deliver some much appreciated supplies. It was also the week of Juan Pablo's birthday so I brought him a new watch and a bunch of candy, he was beyond excited! David and I spent the afternoon playing with the kids and having a great time! Here is Juan Pablo the birthday boy!

This past month has also seen some amazing moments in school. We had our first ever "Camp Day"! We went to a national park and played games and competed in races all day! This included the teachers, I was sore for days. It was great to get out there with my students and compete, the green team put up quite a fight. Sadly we finished 4th, out of four teams.... I was so encouraged however watching Arol and Escarlen participate and see all their classmates cheering them on! I love watching them with their friends and teachers, they truly love their new school! Speaking of Arol and Escarlen, grade cards were this week. Arol, yet again, is on the Honor Roll! We are so proud of him and all of the hard work he has put in this year! Escarlen saw her grades take a little dip in the third partial, but with hard work and extra studying, improved in almost all of her classes! Jonatan has been doing his work very fast and unfortunately for him that means he was doing his work with many mistakes. He was kept off of the Honor Roll so that his teacher can help reinforce the lesson that we need to take our team and complete assignments in the correct way.

I don't think we won this one....

Preparing for the next intense battle with my lineup card Yesterday at school we celebrated Children's Day or in Spanish Dia del Nino. This basically means kids get to play and eat candy all day, so that is exactly what we did at school, I behaved the same as the kids, and then went home with a headache. Dayana was able to attend the events yesterday at school! She behaved perfectly all day, you heard me right, she behaved perfectly all day! We are so proud of her and pray that she continues to improve so that we will see her back at school full-time this coming year.

My Class on Children's Day

Again sorry for the delay, but I hope you enjoy keeping tabs on me. I ask you to keep me in your prayers as I continue my work here in Honduras. Pray for patience and guidance with the coming adventures. Thank you all for your support both financially and spiritually!

My First Honduran Birthday

Last year for my birthday I was thinking about moving to Honduras. I celebrated my birthday with some friends at King's Island amusement park! I had a great time, one of my favorite birthdays. Just about two weeks after I packed my bags and ended up in Honduras. This past Sunday was my very first Honduran birthday. Everyone here had been asking me what I wanted to do and really I had no idea. Finally, David asked "you want to go to Didasko don't you?" Well of course. So my birthday started out pretty awesome, no power. So I took a cold shower in the pila (meaning I just poured cold water over my head) Then we went to take Cristian to school. After that it was out towards Didasko for a lunch of chinese food and paddle boat riding. Yes, thats right, paddle boat riding. There is a Chinese restaurant that has a man made lake out front with paddle boats, so of course we had to spend the five dollars and take a paddle around the lake. After that out to one of my favorite places, Didasko Children's Home. It is hard to imagine me ever being in a position to say that what I wanted for my birthday was to go play with 20 some kids. Honestly, I couldn't have imagined a better birthday. The chorus of "Cor" when I got out of the truck and spend a few hours talking and playing with some of my favorite kids was just what I needed. After Didasko it was off to church at Breaking Chains. I was thrilled when during worship time Leopoldo, one of the street kids I haven't seen in a long time, walked through the door! After church we talked and played and it was great to see him after such a long time of not knowing where he was. Then after church, sushi! I love sushi so this was quite a treat for ol' Mr. Corey! Then it was back home to skype with my family, I was tired so I was only able to chat for a little while before it was time to go to bed. It was probably my best birthday I can remember!

Minor, David, and Juan Pablo I love these boys!

I picture with the birthday boy!

Leopoldo and I at church!

Normita likes to play with my hair :)

Always More Kids....

I always talk about the kids I love out at Casa and Didasko, but right now my place isn't out in those places. My place is on the Primera Avenida at Breaking Chains and I have plenty of interactions with the children of the surrounding area. I guess sometimes these interactions get shuffled away in my head. I always go to those children's homes when we have groups, so they stick out in my head more as being different and noteworthy. Recently however I am spending more and more time conversing with the "Street Kids" of our community. One of these kids just recently came back into our Breaking Chains community. Leopolodo, I remember from church when I first moved here almost a year ago. I remembered speaking to him a little bit as we sat on the fountain one day. Well this last Sunday and Monday he came back to visit but is still just as reluctant to discuss his living and family situation but that doesn't stop his big smile from overtaking my heart on sight. He is a sweet kid and I look forward to doing what I can to improve his current situation on the streets. Oh Noey... Literally the cutest kid I have ever come across. I see him at least once a week as he comes regularly to the building with his father and older brother. Noey is young, and unfortunately the other day I saw him huffing glue as we took a group out to shop in the market, seeing such a young child using drugs is heart wrenching, especially when they are screaming your name from across the street. Noey has a family, and I know they care about him, I just hope and pray that they begin to take a more active role in keeping him occupied during the day to keep him out of trouble. Jonathan a.k.a. Chaka is Miguel and Antonio's little brother. He lives with his mother out in Ciudad Espana but still comes everyday after school on the bus (sometimes over an hour long trip) to visit his brothers and us here at the ministry. He is such a sweet, quiet kid. I haven't really had many interactions with him until recently, but these last few visits he spends the afternoon playing and chatting with me and I have loved that. He obviously has a lot of trouble at home and looks forward everday for a little escape into the city to see his brothers and us gringos here at Breaking Chains. I am so thankful to be an escape for him, but I also pray that I can do more to help him avoid the path his brothers have taken to end up homeless. I am so thankful God has sent me here to Honduras. I am so thankful that I have been able to slowly learn Spanish and begin to interact and love on the people here more and more everyday. The people I have met have, and continue, to change me everyday. The more people I meet the longer the prayer list gets, the more torn my heart becomes, but the more love I am able to spread.

Emerson and Jose de la Cruz

Last Sunday our Breaking Chains team suffered and unexpected loss as two of our teenagers were killed. We spent the past week with the street community as we mourned their passing. Only 14 years old. An entire life filled with violence and abuse. A kid who only wants to be loved. A sweet kid with a hard shell. Emerson. I love Emerson. He is very soft spoken, but most of the time had a big hug ready for me. The last couple months have been very hard for Emerson. Demons from his past resurfacing to cause more pain for him. However, the past few days he had seemed to be doing better. Just a few days ago we were building a house in the most beautiful place I have ever been to. We finished the four walls and were taking a break. Emerson and I sat looking at the view for a little while. Just leaning on each other and talking about how beautiful the view was and how we would both like to live here one day. We also talked a little about soccer because he had a game the next day he was very excited about playing in. This is how I will remember Emerson. I will remember him looking out into the distance and seeing nothing but God's beauty. I will remember him with my arm around him knowing that he knew how much myself and the rest of our team loved him. I will remember him as a 14 year old kid, forever young. Emerson is with our Lord now. He is in a place where the violence and pain of the streets can no longer hurt him. He is in a place where he is embraced in God's unfailing and everlasting love, and because of this I am at peace.

Jose just wanted to be loved. He was one of the sweetest souls I have ever met. He lived a hard life of violence and neglect, but when he found God and are ministry he slowly made strides to change. I can't tell you how many late nights we had with Jose talking about giving up his addictions. Finally something stuck and the last few weeks with him he was clean and more lovable than ever. If you have interacted with our ministry you will remember Jose, he lost half of his arm to gang violence a few years ago and has been disabled ever since. He never let this set him back and always tried, and accomplished, anything he could do with his limitations. One of the lasting memories I will have of Jose will be the stories told by everyone who witnessed him show God's love this past week at a special needs orphanage. To see the pictures and him giving back the love he has been shown brings tears to my eyes. I love these two boys. Let them be a reminder to us all that the world we live in has violence and pain, but there is also hope and love. Let them show us that with God's love changes can happen. We will remember them as children of God, who just needed someone to teach them what God's love really is. Please as always keep our team and our kids in your prayers as we continue to show the love of Christ in our day to day ministry with the street community in Tegucigalpa.

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!