Category: anecdotes

typical TIH moment

Today was the last day … I leave tomorrow for Iowa and it is so surreal. I’ve never been on the receiving end of the Christmas tradition in the education system. I always saw my mom bring home cute figurines, generously decorated mugs, and an assortment of holiday sweets, but I never thought I would be receiving similar gifts. But, today the students came with anything from mugs to candy to jewelry to hand-made cards – so generous and so lovely!

One of the wonderful 7th graders brought me a basket with apples, grapes, and a bottle of Welch’s sparkling grape juice. The apples, I later found out, are a Honduran tradition from the 50s when only the upper classes could afford them. They would purchase apples and give them to workers as a gift and it caught on as a tradition and now apples are a common Christmas gift.

Anyway, I thought tonight was just the evening to toast with my roommates, after our first couple months successfully behind us. We poured out the bubbly into our newly purchased real cup and saucer set (we got a 20 piece kitchen set at the grocery store!) and raised for my long-winded toast. Just as we put the teacups to our lips for a sip, the power promptly shut off.

We could barely keep it down we were laughing so hard! It was SO typical Honduras – a TIH (this is honduras) moment! We went through the apartment ceremoniously lighting all the candles we received today, knowing this would be the only time we could actually use Christmas tree candles before next year. The power outages don’t bother me, really. There is ALWAYS some fun to find in the darkness!

Well, my packing took me a whole 15 minutes, so I hope I’ve not forgotten anything. I will see some of you very soon… and I will try my very hardest to keep this up while I’m traveling and enjoying time in the States.

Posted on by Caroline 0

stealing my heart

Tonight we had the 10th grade Bible Study girls over for gingerbread decorating, cookie-making, crazy-fun-having, giggling, wet-wood-fire-starting, silly game-playing time. Heather and I are absolutely exhausted.

Here are some things I am coming to realize:
1. I am more and more in love with these girls. Does that happen with all people? It’s this intense feeling that’s somewhere between your heart and your gut, but certainly not indigestion… hard to explain… but when I see them I just want to give them a hug that would reach to their inside and warm their hearts. I LOVE them – deeper than our silly English word.

2. I am getting old. Today, I was running around like a crazy person doing stuff at school then randomly throwing gingerbread dough together over my 20-minute lunch so we could bake after school. At about 5:00 with 15 girls in our apartment I thought I could just collapse right there on our cold, tile kitchen floor.

3. I don’t need anything. Seriously. I’m not just saying that to be charitable or “Christian” … I literally don’t need anything more than what the Lord is providing at this moment. We talked tonight about our response to the gift of Life and our response to the Giver. The greatest gifts come with much sacrifice… so what am I willing to give that is not easy? What am I willing to give that will hurt?

4. I am sometimes very foolish. I know this is not new news. But, ask me how I ended up under a broken table in the courtyard screaming tonight and I would have to shrug my shoulders and just say, “I wish I knew.” It’s not just being frightened, though. I absolutely, positively love to laugh. At first it’s the giggles and kind of complimentary “hmmphs” but, if you get me going – if you really get me going, I can be rolled out on the floor. I can tell you one of the best feelings is getting up after a good, long roll of laughter.

There is more 🙂 but I want to show you a few photos from tonight of my lovely ladies and the fun we had.

The girls said they were going to “nap” on my bed. Then they came out dressed in my clothes…

Carolina and MariaJose – two of my wonderful girls!

MJ came in from soccer like a crazy girl – I captured just a piece of it!

Here’s making cookies and decorating!

These are apparently Heather and myself. I’m not sure how close it resembles us…

After the cookie decorating and dinner, we moved outside, where I tried desperately to make wet wood burn… but to no avail.

So, we settled for gas stove-cooked marshmallows and called it done.

Some of the girls already left, but this is part of our group!

I honestly feel so so blessed to know these girls – they are stealing my heart!

Posted on by Caroline 0

Hogar de Madres Solteras

So, this past week we had a Christmas party for the Hogar de Madres Solteras (Home for Single Mothers), which is a refuge just down the road from our school. We have a unique opportunity to get to know these ladies and their precious little ones and I believe God is opening doors for that to happen right now.

I wish I had time to write more, for now here are some pictures:

The girls made and decorated cookies

This is my wonderful friend Alfredo!! His mom Santos came to our school for the Christmas concert because we invited the ladies to sell some of their jewelry. I never had so much fun chasing someone down!

This is Jensi, her daughter Marjorie, Santos, and Alfred at the jewelry stand. It was so great to see the students, families, and teachers see these women and their work.

It’s so crazy to think that these little girls have little ones of their own!


The 11th grade girls are heading up the outreach – and I’m pretty sure they are never disappointed with how the Lord shows up (especially if its in the form of a sleeping little one!)


There were games and a candy cane message.

And lots of entertaining! Alfred LOVES to jump!

Like I said, I could write forever, but this is all for tonight. If you’re interested in finding out more about this special place, please let me know!

Posted on by Caroline 1

Moonlight sledding, top ten lists and lots of coffee: snapshot into my week

Hello long lost friends!
I don’t have much time to write, but I thought I’d give you a quick snapshot into my week this week. We had an awesome moonlit sledding party…

I drank lots of coffee… between coffee dates with students, staff meetings, and the new coffee-shop like addition that was just added to my church, I have had to remind myself to drink water before working out because it’s mostly coffee flowing through these veins. Notice what’s in my hand…

And had a simply hilarious time with the rest of the student ministries staff. This is more the norm than the exception. Isn’t that great! I love how our offices are separated from the other church offices so we can be as loud and goofy as we want. Here’s one of the things that made me laugh out loud this week- my boss was working on this for Underground (Sunday School.)
Ahh, I love youth ministry. 🙂

Ten Christian Reality Shows that DIDN’T make it

10. Run and Not Grow Weary: contestants run continuously until all but one has grown weary

9. Catacomb Survivors: contestants fight rats, unending darkness, and slimy stuff as they try to outlast each other in a succession of big-city sewer systems

8. Crossover: contestants alter the lyrics of popular mainstream songs in an attempt to be the first to convince a Christian music station to play their Christianized song

7. American Idols: contestants take turns competing with modern-day prophets of Baal as they call down fire on alter sacrifices

6. Hour of Power: oh wait, that’s actual a reality show

5. BIG Brothers and Sisters: obese people from the same congregation use competing Christian weight-loss programs to see who can get in the best worship shape

4. So You Think You Can Pray?: contestants vie to see who can achieve the highest prayer-to-answer ratio

3. Big Name Pastor Apprentice: contestants try to win a spot on Joel Osteen’s pastoral staff by competing in preach-offs and book authoring deals

2. The Biggest Loser: contestants compete to see who can most thoroughly “lose their life” in order to “gain it”

1. The Courting Bachelor: male contestants compete to see who can convince Stacie Orrico’s parents to let him ‘court’ their daughter

Posted on by Caroline 1

Parties are Exhausting!

I’ve never thought of myself as the best host, but I am usually pretty good at being busy. Well, this past Saturday we hosted the staff Christmas party (my invitation above) in our apartment and I was certainly busy! We went to the market in the morning and then didn’t stop running around until after 9:30 pm (that’s late, by the way, for all you youngsters!).

Apparently, we inherited the tradition of hosting the Christmas party when we moved in to the apartment. However, no one thought to mention that to us as we sifted through all the leftover articles of clothing, christmas lights, and random decorations shoved in the closets… so we threw them out! Instead of buying more decorations, we went on a thieving spree a couple hours before the party … we picked up trees and decorations from here and there and ended up with quite an endearing display!

We made dozens and dozens of sugar cookies with four different colors of frosting. Every Christmas party needs a cookie decorating contest!

Cutting out cookies definitely reminded me of home… all those sweet memories of getting creamed in the decorating contests just drifted back to me. This year, I’m hoping for a close second place (I usually take 4th or 5th out of 5, but I’m convinced last year the judges were tricked).

Out of all the wacky Christmas attire, this definitely beat all. These girls WERE the gifts. We had a talent show, where they performed a Christmas medley dancing number brilliantly, and for which I introduced them as, “your gift for the evening.”

Heather and I whipped up our little rendition of Let it Snow (Let it Glow) which we thought was pretty stellar for a 5 minute prep time. And I’m pretty sure I can say that a fun time was had by all. Near the end of the night, after the cookies were judged, food eaten, and talents shown, we somehow real naturally moved into a time of worship with guitar and hand drum. We sang, danced, and grooved for awhile, just loving in this blessed community.

What a great way to start this season! Have you had any Christmas parties? What is your secret to hosting?

Posted on by Caroline 0

New Honduran Horizon!

Click here for the new edition of the Honduran Horizon.

These last few weeks have been such a whirlwind. I’m still wondering how time can seem to stand still each day and whisk by each week. Sometimes I feel like I’ve just arrived and other days I feel like I’m at home.

My heart is broken for my students, many who are searching for something that will fill up the holes in their lives. For some it’s drinking, for others it’s friends, and still others turn inward when life turns cruel. I have learned, though, that love is not soft. Love is a very sturdy object, anchored in Truth and pointing to Hope that does not disappoint. Try explaining that to a distressed student who just received a detention for talking in my class… again.

My heart also breaks for the broken humanity that greets the morning in this country. Children, women, men, mothers, daughters, brothers, graduates, schoolteachers… poverty knows few boundaries and brings humanity to dreadful ends.

Today, after a rough run-in with 7th and 8th graders, I found myself (the Counselor) being counseled by our Dean of Students. I suppose he saw I was a bit depleted. What started out as a good idea (fundraising competition for the women’s shelter) turned into students’ decision to stop at nothing to win. Every opportunity we see for blessing, Satan sees an opportunity for sin. Our enemy will always send his legions to frustrate the plans to bless others.

May our hearts always break at broken humanity. I’m no less broken than these students and these battles should always, always send me to my knees.

Posted on by Caroline 0

A New Kind of Thanks

I so cherish the thanksgiving traditions of my growing up years… family gathered together from all across the countryside to celebrate the many blessings. Even if I tried to hide it in my adolescence, I loved the closeness created in the crowded room, stomachs full with Aunt Jill’s infamous mashed potatoes, Aunt Shirley’s stuffing, and hearts glad with conversation.

Well, this year I am enjoying a new tradition. We met last night with the staff to give thanks for the blessings of the past year. I’m still learning, but sitting down with Hondurans and listening to visions of justice and change made me think about the clash of cultures at the first “thanksgiving.”

I know it’s completely cliche, but I resonated a bit last night as I listened very closely to the inflections of my Honduran brothers and sisters. I continue to pray God will prepare the way for greater understanding in the language as well as the culture. Because He is moving here, where his creation is crying out for redemption.

I am so very thankful for who God is, and the more I see of His creation, the more my heart is to bring Him praise!

What are YOU thankful for today?

Posted on by Caroline 0

Apartment C-3 Makeover

Almost.

I would be lying if I said we were completely done with our little home makeover, but let’s just say we went from zero to 60 this weekend. Tonight at 10 pm I cleared as much as I could to take the final photos. I still have some creative touches to add, but here are some pictures of the past few days and the “final.”

This is the closest to “rust” we could find. Before we were finished, I’m pretty sure some of my joints actually rusted from overuse… is that possible?
My favorite Heather phrase from the past couple weeks, “I’m easy.” Now, don’t get the wrong idea… by “easy” she means that she could go along with anything. Like painting… she would walk in the room and say, “Put me in coach.” Umm… pretty awesome!

I’m not sure if this was Friday or Saturday night, but either way it was the last few strokes before we cleaned and crashed… as you can see from the excitement on my tired, painted, dirty face!


You might wonder if we got ANY paint on the walls.
We did, slowly but surely.
And then, we started looking around to see what else we could paint. These cabinets, which were so delightfully colored purple and blue, were a strange sight to greet a morning wanderer in search of breakfast in the morning… which is why we decided to mix a few colors to find chocolate brown. Who doesn’t like something chocolate?
We couldn’t leave the project without making our mark. So – here are the initials of the 2008 girls of apartment C-3.

So, remember on Saturday we were having a hard time locating a ladder? Well, I tracked one down. The only problem emerged when the ceiling was about another ladder’s worth high. Did that stop us? No. Neither did this cautionary sign on the top of the ladder. I think it’s more of a suggestion than anything.

This is the inspiration for our entire common space. I picked up this piece of fabric a LONG time ago in a scrap pile at the fabric store (which, as it turns out, is not any cheaper than the normal piles!) and they are now our kitchen curtains!

Here’s the piece where my creativity got a chance to run free. Since my roommates didn’t care, I let loose! I drew a tree on an overhead projector and then painted it right into our kitchen. I’ll add leaves eventually, but for now this is it.


I wish you could see the sweat on these walls! But, you CAN see the amazing, fabulous “wall words” now stuck to our living area wall. There really couldn’t be a more fitting verse for us to see every time we enter our apartment. Thanks, Shelli, for sending this great addition!

Well, there you have it. We’re almost done. A few touches… like a subtle hint that we’d like our furniture re-upholstered (or get slipcovers), curtains for the living and dining areas, and something to make those metal doors a little less… well, metal.

C-3 Makeover 2008
We spent way too much money on paint, laughed way too hard at very lame jokes, danced to Mariah Carey, Hanson, Switchfoot, Frank Sinatra, and the WICKED soundtrack, went crazy several times from the fumes, giggled without reason, and FINISHED a very big job, despite minor and major setbacks!

If YOU have a crazy remodel story – share it with us!

Posted on by Caroline 0

there’s a party going on right here

While Christina is serving the Lord and the students at the concert and lock-in, I am going to share a mini story about the amazing redemption the Lord is bringing here, to Pinares.

This week was spiritual emphasis week, as I wrote earlier, and the topic was spiritual warfare. I didn’t know this until today, but the students were expecting flashing lights and dramatic skits, because in the past teams from the US have come down for the week. Well, the week wasn’t flashy or elaborate, it was just plain old teachers standing up to testify to the spiritual, unseen battle.

Daniela is one of my 10th graders who has rolled her eyes at me more than once. Her attitude is unpredictable and she can be moody. But, tonight the Lord did an amazing work in her life that was even surprising to her. We had an outreach for the high school kids tonight and after worship the students had a chance to share a testimony. The very last one was Daniela, who shared that just minutes before during worship, she accepted Christ into her heart.

Through tears she told of how the Lord had been working in her life throughout the week, nudging and encouraging. By her own admission, she has a temper and is frustrated easily, but God persisted and she is the cause of a glorious celebration in heaven tonight.

Praise God for the work of redemption and restoration!

Posted on by Caroline 2