please forgive me

i apologize for not posting sooner– life was busy.

HOWEVER, that is no excuse. so please check out some videos i uploaded today.

1.At one of the conferences, during the day, Byron (our SIFAT/AHMEN Honduran Connection and an amazing dude) led our group in introductions. There were 4 different people groups/cultures present. The Garifuna, La Moskitia, Honduran (Spanish speaking), and Americans. He put 1 person from each different people group in a group together. We then had to share our stories in whatever way we could. I drew pictures and had a lot of hand motions. Casey laughed and joked around. Elisabeth Ann danced. We learned to communicate in broken languages. Through laughter. Through confusion. It was one the most amazing times during the trip for me.

 
2. Each afternoon, Marlene (in blue shirt), Pastor Nahum (with guitar) and his daughter (in purple by Casey) led us in worship. We didn’t know the words, but the tunes were easy to catch. And clapping is always such an excellent form of praise.

 
3. Byron taught us a few regional songs (I think from Mexico) that were so much fun to sing. This one is called “Cielito Lindo” and it is a song, as Byron would say, to “bring the romances.” The lyrics are below:

“From the Sierra Morena mountains, Pretty darling, they come down, a pair of black eyes, Pretty little heaven, which are contraband.

Refrain:
Ay, ay, ay, ay,
sing and don’t cry,
because singing gladdens,
Pretty little heaven, the hearts.

Bird that abandons, pretty darling, his first nest, if he finds it occupied, Pretty little heaven, is well deserved.

That mole you have pretty darling, next to your mouth, don’t give it to anyone, Pretty little heaven, for it belongs to me.

If your little mouth, dark one, were made of sugar, were made of sugar I would spend my time, Pretty little heaven, kissing.

From your house to mine pretty darling, there is no more than a step. Before your mother comes, Pretty little heaven, give me a hug.

An arrow in the air pretty sweetheart, Cupid launched playing he shot it towards me, Pretty little heaven, and I’ve been wounded”

 
4. On our trip to Reista, we traveled by a small motorized canoe– Picked up a very pregnant mother to give her a ride. Her children ran out to greet her. The sunset is gorgeous in this shot.

 
5. Just a quick shot from the Carolina Clinic in Limon. The beach was lovely.

 
6. And last but certainly not least. Marlene. Her joy is contagious. I’m a better woman for meeting her. I can’t wait to see her again.  Here is a short clip of her trying to convince Elisabeth Ann to do a dance. Marlene was 100% love, laughter, kindness. She is a portrayal of the Proverbs 31 lady.

Honduras Day 1

Started the day at 3:41 am.

Thankfully Wil drove us to the airport–Casey and I changed into our matching shirts (this is apparently a common trend among mission groups)

Casey and I got to sit by Randy (a fellow team member) on the plane, and Casey and Randy hit it off quickly!  I’m not always the most chipper person sans coffee, however Casey is hyper at 4am, so I was thrilled that Randy wanted to chat too!

On the flight to San Pedro Sula, I sat next to a nurse from Ohio who was also on a medical mission trip–she served for years in Africa, adopted sons from Russia, had a heart for Christ and His people– to say the least, I was so thankful to get to meet her. And honestly, we never even swapped names. But she was great.

Flew over the coast of Belize. Woah Stamp. Beauty.

I was hoping to see a shark (watched too much shark week) but it never happened.

Thankfully Baggage Claim was a breeze!

Met our bus driver: Vicente. Phenomenal Guy. Heart for people, dry sense of humor, spoke no English, but was still excellent at communicating with us!

Began the trek to La Ceiba:

“The landscape is absolutely gorgeous- hills with sharp peaks, rows upon rows of palm trees, green everywhere!”

“However the need is great–speckled upon the stunning landscape is extreme poverty.”

–Can I just say that Casey’s encouraging attitude was one of the best parts of the trip!?!? Everyone kept saying, “Casey, Funnyman, tell us a joke. tell us a story. make us laugh.” AND he came through every time! I didn’t hear him complain once. He was a rockstar.

Learned how to peel a hotdog. That was interesting.

Another interesting observation: Coca Cola signs everywhere, but the restaurants serve Pepsi. hmm.

Lesson learned from the day: “I’ve never thought of myself as an introvert, but I’m finding that I crave a little solitude– just to refresh and recharge. The room is quiet. I don’t know what I’m supposed to be doing half the time on this trip, but it really doesn’t matter. I’m learning to go with the flow and not be a control freak.”

still processing…

i’ll start posting stories tonight and tomorrow– but for now, here’s one of the highlights from the trip:

quick glimpse

Once we got to Honduras, I learned very quickly that I would not have access to the internet to blog– So…sorry about that…

Also, I’m still in processing mode, so please bear with me- I will try to start posting stories from the trip on Thursday, but until then, below is a picture of a little girl playing in the rain while waiting in line to see the doctor.

14hours.

14 hours until our flight leaves Birmingham– We will fly to Atlanta, then on to San Pedro Sula.

Below is the ONE thing I cannot forget– if you have my number, text me to remind me to take it!

After work I’ll take a final shower (ha gross)–then Casey, Clay, Wil and I are going to dinner–

We’ll stay at Wil’s place and he has graciously offered to take us to the airport at 4am. He’s fantastic.

We’ll check our boxes, join the team and change into matching team shirts (pic to come).

I’m not sure if I’ll have access to the internet to post. If not, I’ll post everything once we return.

Thanks again for your prayers and support!

We love you all enormously!

boxes packed

Casey and I have our four check-on boxes packed full of supplies to distribute– other than medical supplies, we added deflated soccer balls/pumps, crayons/construction paper and wet wipes (for us!)

otra dia, otra aventura…

When I was at Auburn, I went to a worship service on Thursday nights- Encounter (where I actually met some of my closest friends)- and I remember one night, Matt Dean (the leader), said, “What breaks your heart? What makes you laugh uncontrollably? What makes you so mad you could scream? What puts your mind to ease? Whatever it is, chase it. Live it.”

If the thought of girls being sold into the sex trade breaks your heart, do something about it.

If watching children learn new skills, have balanced meals, and happy faces makes you laugh like crazy, do something to encourage it.

If knowing that women are marginalized, neglected and abused makes you pound your fists in anger, become an advocate for them.

If being surrounded by nature calms your heart and revitalizes your soul, work to protect it.

“God-ordained passions often break our hearts. And they can seem like an overwhelming burden to bear.  But pursuing our passions is the key to living a fruitful and fulfilling life. It is the thing that wakes us up early in the morning and keeps us up late at night. It is the thing that turns a career into a calling. It is the thing that gives us goose bumps. And nothing will bring you greater joy.” -Mark Batterson

“Ending Hunger Now”-Josette Sheeran of the UN World Food Program

In preparation for the flight on Saturday morning and the “aventura” that is to come, Casey and I were talking details last night. Right now, we’re both experiencing anticipation, joy, anxiety, fear– all of the unknown. All of the jobs that we hope to achieve, the relationships we hope to build, the end we hope to create.  However, that is not (entirely) the purpose.

“We must never put our dreams of success as God’s purpose for us. The question of getting to a particular end is a mere incident. What we call the process, God calls the end. His purpose is that I depend on Him and on His power now. It is the process, not the end, which is glorifying to God.”- Oswald Chambers

The process of living with/in/for/through God. Through chaotic airports. Through new countries. Through different languages. We are preparing for that process. Your prayers would be HUGELY appreciated!

 

Preparation

So as we prepare for our mission to Honduras (which is in just 2 weeks!), I’ve noticed the “To-Do” list growing exponentially…

1. Make sure our shots are up-to-date

2. Get malaria meds

3. Buy bug spray

4. Learn to lighten our load while traveling (http://www.onebag.com/)

5. Buy Spanish children’s books and soccer balls

Those a just a few on the list…

But all too often before I leave on a mission trip, I focus solely on the physical demands that need completion. I forget to prepare mentally and spiritually for the experience that will occur for not only me, but for the other team members, those whom will be served, and the church leadership both in the country and also back home which will be praying for the trip.

So in preparation:

1.The UMVIM, SEJ office has an excellent Devotional Guide for Teams, titled “Preparing for the Journey”— written by one of the pastors in the North Alabama Conference, R.G. Lyons.

2. My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers — excellent devo

3. Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide by Nicholas D. Kristof — This book has been on my Amazon Wishlist for months, so I took the plunge to commit to the purchase– my friend, Kelly, read this book for a Grad School class and has recommended it to me multiple times… I’ll start on this tonight- Can’t wait!

4. Listening to this new song by Rend Collective Experiment.

5. Also listening to Mumford and Sons on repeat…they are grand. Here is a sample of their new song.  And also an older song, yet favorite.

So do you have any suggestions for preparation? I’m open.

peace,
cristin

Team Meeting #1

Yesterday afternoon, Casey and I drove to Jasper for our first team meeting.

Before yesterday I don’t think Casey nor I fully understood the diversity of this group.

Our one team will be doing work in: Cosuna, Ciriboya, Plan de Flores, Limon, Pallacios, Pueblo Nuevo, Los Mokitia (multiple villages) and Shalom.

There will be groups working with: the AHMEN/SIFAT Initiative and Library, the International Medical Seminar, a deaf school, feeding kitchens, a sewing school, an orphanage, a girls’ school, an eye program/clinic, teaching basic sanitation and health and medical clinics.

We will have the opportunity to build relationships, play soccer, sing/dance and simply talk.

i.cannot.wait.

Casey and I joined the “Snake Eaters” team— hopefully eating snake is not a requirement. But I’ve heard it tastes like chicken…? This group will travel up the river by canoe for the 2nd half of the trip— Dr. Camp (our team leader) referred to it as “Not for the faint of heart.”  There, the doctors in the group will host medical clinics, and Casey and I will build relationships, play soccer and do whatever is asked of us.

i.cannot.wait.

Oh, also, I volunteered to create the team shirt…(no one else spoke up)…do my team members know how uncreative I really am? They will soon find out! I will HAVE to solicit the help of my former roommates- the uuber-creative Katie and Whif. More details to come!

just a note

The “About” Section of this site clarifies the work that Casey and I will perform!