Week One

Disclaimer: The Previous Post "We Made It" is actually from June 24, 2009 but we had some trouble with the internet so I could only save it at the time. That is why this post has the same date...

We have had our first week and already we are living by a Faith that we are not familiar with. Don't get me wrong, it's been AMAZING, but neither of us has had to trust in the LORD quite like this before.

Let me explain. Last Sunday (June 28) we were getting ready for church when all of a sudden our power went out. I thought it was because I had plugged to many things into one socket (a hair dryer and hair straightener). I asked Derek if he would check the breaker but we don't have a key for the laundry room (yet), so he couldn't. So I went to church with bad hair (which means it looked like every other day here, so far).
We got to church early so we could practice with the worship band (I am in the choir and Derek is playing drums for the first time in about 6 years) when we were quickly informed that all of Emmanuel's electricity was out. In fact, so was the entire country's. This is when we realized that the country of Honduras is 'working out' some political issues (apparently). All we knew at that time was that there had been a military coup and the Honduran President (Mel Zelaya) was no longer in the country, but had been "taken away" by this coup.

Since that morning we have heard a number of things. The military removed the President on that day because he was trying to change the constitution so that he could serve more terms . His term is up this November (technically with elections). When they removed him, the leader of the Congress was appointed interim President until the elections. The Honduran President (Zelaya) is now in Costa Rica, intending to return Saturday. The reason he is waiting until this day is because some Central American government coalition told the current military coup/Honduran government that they had until Saturday to decide if they would reappoint Zelaya. If they choose not to, then they will be kicked out of the coalition. There has been some talk that the Honduran military is planning to arrest Zelaya when he gets here.
People have also been talking about those who back Zelaya: Chavez in Venezuela (who allegedly has troops in El Salvador and Nicaragua right now waiting to charge at any minute), Puerto Rico, the UN, and Obama --- pretty much no one is supporting the current government because they don't want to support a coup... and i'm sure there are other reasons tossed about here and there.

As for our safety in Honduras right now, the U.S. Embassy said for Americans to stay put. We (Derek and I) are laying low. And just to be on the safe side, we are staying inside the orphanage. There has also been talk about the military roaming the streets, drafting any man (foreigners included) who is "loitering" and between the ages of 13-30. For this reason, Derek will NOT leave the orphanage at all. And I told him if we feel like the military can get in here, he's hiding under the bed!

In all the chaos and uncertainty, we feel like now- more than ever- is our time to cling to what we know to be true: God's sovereignty. This is why I say we are experiencing a much deeper type of faith than ever before. But it's good for us. We've prayed many hours and both feel a peace about staying. We also know that this timing cannot be merely a coincidence.

Other than that, all is 'business as usual'. I have been assigned to the toddler house and already want to bring some of them back with us. I am there everyday Monday-Friday from lunch until after dinner. In the mornings, after breakfast I help with the dishes in the 'small girls' kitchen. The girls and boys are grouped by sizes here instead of ages: small girls/boys, medium girls/boys, big girls/boys. This is to help eliminate bullying. This also allows the older ones in their groups to step up into some leadership roles. The boys and girls also live on opposite sides of the orphanage and have very little contact with each other (they even sit separate at church with us volunteers in rows between them).
Next week I am supposed to start tutoring 3 girls in English in the mornings. This will not interfere with the duties I already have.

Derek has been super busy! He has been assigned to manual labor which results in cutting grass pretty much every day with a weed-eater (I kid you not)! This is because the land here is so rocky and hilly. He is already getting so dark from being outside all the time. But today he didn't have to chop grass, instead he helped kill and process 425+ chickens! And yes, according to Derek, the chicken does keep moving after it's head is chopped off so you have to hold the body down until it stops. Other than that he is helping in the health clinic before and after he does manual labor.

Between our assignments, soccer and worship team, we stay pretty busy around here! But we also have a lot of down time come 6pm... if we can bare to stay awake much past 8pm. Speaking of, it is WAY past our bedtime!