My children

My children. There are 39 of them. I help raise 39 children. They come in all shapes and sizes. The little ones unable to hug you enough, and the older ones acting as if they are too cool for one- so you give them one anyones knowing that they are in desperate need of the love and attention. The majority of my children come from incredibly difficult backgrounds. Anything from neglect to intense abuse. They have amotional scars from their pasts, but these scars could never define them. Some are lost and scarred, needing your full love and attention at all times. Some have no idea where they want to go in this life or how they ended up here, while others know better then you ever will what their goals are and how they will obtain them while keeping their faith and trust in God. I will never know everything that has happened to these children- nor do I think that I want to. But not knowing what has happened to them in the past means that I was not there to celebrate their birthdays with them when no one else would. It means I could never know the amount of scars or hurt or tears they have endured. I was not there with them through the joys of lost tooth, or to be proud that they made the grades to pass on the the next year in school.

What it means is that I know them NOW. In these two year that I am here I have the beauty pleasure of experiencing their joys and pains with them- whether that be adjusting to life now after having what theyve been given in the past, difficulties in school, or the joy of their 9th year Christmas, I will get to know and see and love them for these two years in a way that no other person that came before me or comes after me will be able to. I hurt at the pain of not knowing them before, but realize the beauty in knowing them now, and forever being a part of their lives from this moment on. They have already in these 3 monthes taught me more than I learned in my 3 years of college. Through their words, actions, love and neglect they are transforming ME. I pray that through grace I may be able to reciprocate this action and love them with a love that could only come from Above. I pray that I might be there for them these two years so that everyone that enters their lives after I leave will not have to fret about things that might have happened, but know that these children were loved with a pure love.

I pray that you might pray with me on this journey so that every heart whether it be on the Finca or those simply reading this blog might be opened more fully to the beauty that is happening around us everyday. We are alive, breathing, and creations of God. Everyday in a new creation that we are to strive to live to the fullest.

October and November in Photos

Here is just a quick picture update of things that have been going on around the Farm these past two months:

There was a dance! Two of our children graduated from 6th grade and three graduated from 9th. (In Honduras you are only required to pass 6th grade, so not many children go past this, which is why it is a great privilege for our kids to further their education. All three will be moving on to high school in our Phase two program)

We've already celebrated two (American) holidays here! First: Halloween! I'm not quite sure what I dressed up as because we only had 5 minutes to find a costume. This is my group and the pumpkin we carved.

Next American holiday: Thanksgiving! (I found this to be a hard one to explain here due to the relations that happened with the Pilgrims and Indians shortly following this lovely meal. Still- What a beautiful day to appreciated all that we have been giving in our lives!

To celebrate we had a football (American) game. The teams were the Indians vs. the Pilgrims. The children really enjoyed watching our crazy game that makes very little sense to them.

We also cooked dinner for ourselves and 100 guests. My job was to cook rolls.
Picture this pan times 5. It was a 6 hour ordeal, but everyone was satisfied in the end!

These lovely people were in charge of pies. 15 pies to serve 80 people- and there were leftovers! (I made apple pie pancakes for everyone for breakfast this morning!)

As soon as the visitors were gone, the shoes came off, and the Christmas music turned on! I would call that a successful Thanksgiving in Honduras.

Thank you for all your continued prayer!

A look around

My computer broke the first time I tried to use it here, so I have not been able to upload pictures (And to be honest, I have taken very few. When you are going to live in a place for 2.5 years and nothing quite so out of the ordinary is passing, it can be weird to take around a camera everywhere.)
But I want to take you on a virtual tour of where I live by describing a typical morning. (What a true statement- I LIVE here, and am so aware of this life that God has blessed me with!)

I wake up in the morning for the first time about 4 a.m. to a lovely rooster crowing outside of my "window" (There aren't really window on our house, just bars where a window would be, so that the breeze can blow through). (I am still unsure of why we have so many roosters, and have plans with my fellow missionaries to eat them before our time was through... unfortunately, now that I have posted this, people will know I was involved in this plot.) After returning to sleep, I wake up again at 5:30 a.m. to jump in the shower quickly before 6 a.m. morning prayer (Either laudes or a Communion service with the entire community)

As I walk out of the house the very noise I hear is the crashing of the waves that are about 50 yards away from the front of the house. The only thing that is between our house and the beach is the stove and oven made of mud that we cook lunch and dinner on (Fires take about an hour to heat up before you can start cooking, so plan accordingly.) While walking to the Chapel one encounters first many many trees with birds singing beautiful songs high in the branches, closer to the ground, there are always children running around getting some morning chores done before prayer. This is one of the best times of the day: all is silent expect for the humming of the waves and singing of the birds as the sun has just barely began to creep over the mountains, as your mind has time to wake up and fully appreciate the beauty that is God's creation before rushing into a busy day.

When walking into the Chapel I am really woken up and one or two little hands run up and ask me to sit with them (The youngest girls love sitting with one of the missionaries in the morning)



Midway through morning prayer in the Chapel the sun really begins to rise, and lights up the beautiful stain glass window that sits above the Tabernacle. By the time prayer is over, a full sunrise can be seen above the mountains right as you walk out of the Chapel.

After prayer, everyone heads back to the house for breakfast. All 24 in our community gather around the massive table to share the food that one or two in the community have prepared for us. (Normally in the morning this includes bread that was made the night before and fresh fruit. Delicious!) This is one of the few times that the entire volunteer community is together by themselves (apart from dinner, and on some nights community meetings or community nights) After breakfast each person heads off their own perspective jobs- teachers, social workers, and nurses. For me this means heading over to the middle school which the science teacher to begin either teaching or tutoring young (angsty) minds in math and computers.



Hopefully I will have pictures soon to help you share in this beautiful adventure, but until then, I pray this will suffice! Thank you all for the thoughts, prayers, and letters! They have meant so much and have truly given me the strength to continue waking up every morning!

Seeing Christ

As I walked out on the beach yesterday I saw Christ- flesh and bone- sitting, running, playing in the waves. He was screaming, “Sara! Sara!” With His big brown eyes and running up to give me a hug. He was saying, “Oh, please PLEASE teach me how to swim!” He then proceeded to lose His attention and ran to sit on the ocean letting the water wash over His legs and take His little body every which direction. He was sitting in the shade enjoying the few free peaceful moments away from the 7 beautiful little girls that. He cares for everyday.

As I walked away from the beach, again, there He was. He was bored and tranquil on a Sunday afternoon saying, “Sara! Take us to the park” “NO! Take us to the beach!” “No! Let’s make bracelets!” Jesus (All 6 beautiful faces of His) decided He wanted to make bracelets. As we walked to get the supplies, He pulled and tugged on my clothes trying to gain my full attention- which is hard to do when He is 6 different people. Jesus sat patiently (for a moment or two) as I tried to explain how to make a bracelet. He very quickly became restless and decided to try it His own way. The beads spilled everywhere and I helped Him pick them up. Sometimes, Jesus has learning disabilities and can’t always understand thing like how to make a bracelet, so He sits happily, watching His friends make them instead. Every time someone acknowledges Him when He is like this, He responds with a giant grin that could light up the whole world. When Jesus finishes making His bracelet, He is very proud of His work and says, “Sara! Sara! LOOK!” He likes to scream it in my ear with a big smile on His face.

I saw Him again in a different form. I was very nervous, as it was my first day shadowing for my new job as middle school Math teacher. Jesus was sitting in class, looking quite intimidating, waiting to form an opinion about His new teacher. He got incredibly angry when the teacher called Him out for talking. He didn’t really want to do any work and was often heard saying, “Teacher! I don’t WANT to!” Many times He wouldn’t say anything and would just stare with blank eyes at the teacher. Jesus was difficult and frustrating. I found Him much harder to love in this form… but in the end my love meant more, because it caused me to actively love.
“I have found the paradox that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love”

Update

The last 3 weeks of my life have been, to say the least, hectic. After traveling from Antigua, Guatemala to Honduras we arrived in La Ceiba where our Phase 2 is currently located. After the children finish their education here (up to 9^th grade) They have the opportunity to move on to phase two to continue their education in high school, and eventually college (phase three). Phase two permits them to have more freedom, responsibilities, and life experience in general.

After a couple days in Ceiba we made our way to the Finca in Trujillo where we have had orientation for the last 2 weeks. We have had time to meet all the children, became acquainted with this lace and its rules, its spirituality, and the other volunteers that keep it together. We had the opportunity to shadow different jobs, and were informed on Friday what our official title would be for at least the next year.

I came here thinking that I would be the social worker for the small children, (having experience in both sociology and working with children) but through discernment realized that I was being called very much so out of my comfort zone, as were many of the people in my group. Instead of hanging out with small children, I will be the colegio (7^th, 8^th, and 9^th grade) Math teacher. This is equivalent to the same grade in the U.S.- geometry, algebra, and whatnot. The only difference is that I will be teaching these subjects in Spanish, and the children tend to be high school age (14-18). Needless to say God is working in some mysterious was, but I’m so excited and ready to be in this position with all the blessing and difficulties. I will also be teaching computers to all grades (1^st-9^th). It’s amazing to look back even just a month ago and realize how much has changed within and around me that I would feel called to teach Math in a language that I barely know.

The Romero Prayer

A prayer given to me by a fellow missionary. It needs no explanation:

It helps, now and then, to step back and take a long view.

The kingdom is not only beyond our efforts,
it is even beyond our vision.

We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction
of the magnificent enterprise that is God's work.
Nothing we do is complete, which is a way of saying
that the kingdom always lies beyond us.
No statement says all that could be said.
No prayer fully expresses our faith.
No confession brings perfection.
No pastoral visit brings wholeness.
No program accomplishes the church's mission.
No set of goals and objectives includes everything.

This is what we are about.
We plant the seeds that one day will grow.
We water seeds already planted,
knowing that they hold future promise.

We lay foundations that will need further development.
We provide yeast that produces far beyond our capabilities.

We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation
in realizing that. This enables us to do something,
and to do it very well. It may be incomplete,
but it is a beginning, a step along the way,
an opportunity for the Lord's grace to enter and do the rest.

We may never see the end results, but that is the difference
between the master builder and the worker.

We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs.
We are prophets of a future not our own.
Amen.

-John Cardinal Dearden

Keeping reading

“Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.”

I remember reading this passage over and over again in both college and high school. Anxiety. That was the word that stuck out to me the most. Anxious, stressed, worried, constantly thinking about my tests, about my leadership positions, about my friendships, about everything. God seemed to come almost as a relief from all these things, rather than First in my life. I would read this passage weekly, thinking, “God,... let's get through this week.”

Getting through a week? How terrible. I had made myself so busy that I couldn't even take the time to read the full passage. I was simply reading the part that I felt related to me at the time: being busy, and letting God know it. Yes, sure, I was to do it in prayer with thanksgiving, but I was missing something. I was missing the part where God IS first. He is the reason for living. He is the reason for our education. He is the reason for being a leader. He is the center of our friendships. Or at least... He should be. And His intention will never be to make us anxious. If that is the case, something is wrong. The majority of the times that I can look back and see this anxiety.. what was wrong was that I was taking in all the earthly things I thought represented God such as my Catholic organization on campus (and the 10 related groups), my social justice classes, my service sorority, and even my friendships, and I was shutting God out. Saying, now that I have these physical representations of you, I am no longer in need of YOU.
When in reality- ALL we need is Him. To be silent and hear His voice. After we hear His voice- to listen to His voice. He will guide us in these activities, and with that He will help us to read the passage more closely.

“Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil 4:6-7

As I reflect on this passage now, all I see is this phrase: “peace that surpasses all understanding.” What a beautiful phrase. Alone- we know nothing, we can do nothing, we are nothing. Our body in not ourselves, and it is not the actions we do that count but the love inside with which we do them. Peace.... yet a peace we do not understand and do not wish to understand. Giving ourselves entirely, knowing that we will be looked after. God will not leave us when we truly give ourselves to Him.

“The faith given to me in baptism suggests to me surely: by yourself you will do nothing, but if you have God as the center of all your action, then you will reach the goal.”
-Pier Giorgio-

An update on our time here: Many of the missionaries were sick this weekend (5 of 7) and so we postponed our volcano hike to tomorrow! We did have the chance to celebrate three of their birthdays this weekend though with a pinata! There were many children in the park, so we invited them to join us. What a beautiful experience to be able to share in community with the children around us! 2 weeks until we arrive in Honduras!

The children gathering the candy from the 5'5 Buzz Lightyear pinata

Erin, David, and Erin. All three of their birthdays were this weekend!

Allison and I with Buzz

Picture post :-)

This is Antigua, Guatemala. Mountains, Volcanoes and Churches are in large supply. The 5 people standing at the foot of the cross are other missionaries serving at the Farm.
This is San Francisco, where we go to Mass. The church looks as though it is ruins (partly because it is) It was destroyed by an earthquake many years ago, and just recently they have decided to reconstruct it.
Flowers are also in large supply in Antigua. The whole town is colored purple, orange, and red. It is quite a treat to be able to see this on the way to work.
These are 2 of the 7 people I'll be living with for the next 2.5 year. David (from California) and Allison (from Chicago). They are playing with the cootie catcher we had just made. (The things you do when you don't have internet!)
This is Ashley (from Massachusetts) and Kevin (from Tennessee!!) Laughing at David and Allison playing with the cootie catcher.
On the left is Erin Lucía (from Maryland). Her middle name is not actually Lucía... but we have 3 Erins serving at the Farm, and needed someway to distinguish between them. Her middle name is actually Lucy, which sounds like lazy to hispanic people- so they thought we were all calling her lazy.... In the middle is a friend that we met- Gabriella
This is Erin Marina- again... her middle name is not Marina but Maureen is also not easy to say in Spanish.

This 6 people are some of the most wonderful people I've ever met (as you can tell simply by their smiles!) I can't wait to tell you more about them, and about our adventures.

I wish I could show you more about the smells, the sounds, the people and the culture, but that will have to wait for a day when I have hours upon hours.

We are celebrating THREE of their birthdays this weekend, and will be climbing an active volcano! More updates to come.

poco a poco

I started school last week, and have been studying Spanish 4-5 hours everyday at the local school here. There are students from all over the world, including the two that live with me from Quebec and Germany. Classes have been needless to say- a bit frustrating. For those that have gone to school with me, you are aware that I'm not a fan of the classroom. I would much rather be out in the world- talking to people, working with my hands, seeing change. Yet, mi maestra (my teacher) is teaching me valuable lessons every day. Humility at how far behind in Spanish I am. (Amazing that those last few classes on Spanish Art in the 1800, the early history of Spain, and the rule of Franco did not aid me in speaking to people in everyday conversations.) Understanding, while being able to see many cultural differences through her. And patience... realizing that nothing will come quickly or easily, especially if I try to do it alone.

Her favorite phrase is "poco a poco" (little by little) ... you'll understand Spanish more little by little. Little by little your stomach will stop hurting... Little by little you will not be so white.

Poco a poco.

We cannot do anything big. All is done little by little, and even those small things we cannot do without God.

“What I do, you cannot do; but what you do, I cannot do. The needs are great, and none of us, including me, ever do great things. But we can all do small things, with great love, and together we can do something wonderful.”

-Mother Theresa

"You know well enough that Our Lord does not look so much at the greatness of our actions, nor even at their difficulty, but at the love with which we do them."

Saint Therese

I'm here! What's Next?

I arrived in Guatemala last night after 5 hours of plane rides and a 3 hour layover!
So 8 hours of travel that were absolutely necessary to prepare me for what is to come.
The first plane ride gave me time to cry. To be sad about leaving my friends and family behind. Everything Ive know, and everything that is comfortable gone. After a couple minutes of crying, the 1.5 hour nap that ensued was also much need after my dad had woken me up at 6 a.m. that morning.
By the time I arrived in DFW I had nice alone time to remember that silence is so necessary for growth. I was able to reflect on the coming years, and how ready my heart actually was for this journey.

The next plane ride was truly a God send. When I handed the attendent my ticket, a busser went off, and she asked me to step to the side and see the other attendent. It seemed that my seat had been taken. The same thing happened to the man behind me and the guy that he was traveling with. All of our seats had been given to two people, and we needed to be reassigned. They gave the three of us seat in the same row with me in between the two of them. They were both with an organization called Project:Living well. The organization sells products to raise money for different projects, and is currently working on providing clean water in Guatemala City. The catch? You have to tell them what difference you plan on making in the world, or even just in someone elses life. To call people to something bigger than themselves and to show them that helping another is so much easier than they believe.
What amazing conversation!
Check out the organization (whose website will be up soon!) And what these amazing men are doing for the Kingdom!
https://www.facebook.com/ProjectLivingWell?sk=info

More blogs to follow!

So much love and peace,
Sara

“I imagine that you may ask yourself, “Ok, what's next?” I encourage you to let the answer to that question be, whoever the next person you encounter is. What I mean is sometimes we have these huge events that we are involved in and when it is over we are looking for the next huge event to get involved in. I am encouraging you to view every interaction you have as the next huge event, because you never know when that one on one interaction is going to change a life. And God working though us to change a life is one of the biggest events we can have”
-Chris Rogers

home away from... 'Home'

You always hear that "A house is not a home"

And it's quite true, it's not... but there can be many memories, people, and events associated with that house that cause it to be home. So when that house is left behind, a piece of the past is as well...

But what, then, is home?

In the past month I've had to move out of my apartment in Knoxville. I no longer have a place to call my own in that city... one which was so good to me for three years of my life. I have many friends still living there, but, alas, being the college town that it is, they too will be gone in the next 2 years. If I ever return to that city there will not be the familiar faces to greet me, as their lives will have parted from it as well. Knoxville is no longer home.

Two days ago, my family decided we would be selling our house in Nashville. It will be on the market at the beginning of August before I leave for Guatemala...

There is so much clutter in our lives that goes unnoticed until we are forced to clean it up- both physically and spiritually, and at the moment, I'm in the process of cleaning them both out.

I've had to pack up not only Knoxville, but now Nashville as well... leaving no physical place called "home" in the U.S.

But of course, we must always remember that we were not made for this world. My home will never be here. The closest thing to home that we will find will be when we are truly following that plan which God has placed on each of our hearts. When we allow ourselves to follow Him completely, He will give us rest. He will provide us with a home.

Many times though we must be stripped of what we thought was home, to allow a new one to enter our hearts.

So now, as I continue this journey walking with God, I'm being stripped, physically, emotionally, and spiritually of what I have called home for these last 20 years, to prepare myself for the Home that God has in store for me, but even sooner than that... to prepare myself for the imitation of that Home, which He provides to us here on earth when we follow Him.

For me... this next glimpse of Home will be Honduras.

Guatemala

Greetings everyone! I just received news about my Guatemalan host family, and I wanted to share!

On August 27th I will be leaving to go to a school in Antigua, Guatemala for a month. This is a language school to assist me in my Spanish speaking skills and is part of the Farm of the Child experience. I will be staying with a host family in the local area, attending classes during the day, and immersing myself in a culture completely unlike my own. The house is a 5 minute walk from the school (La Union) and a 10 minute walk from the park. My host family is a woman named Juanita, who is 75. She has a daughter and 3 granddaughters that visit her everyday. The granddaughters are 22, 24, and 26, so it will be nice to interact with people my age.

While living with them, I will be able to receive a full experience of their culture by participating in their everyday lives.

Here is a picture of the area:

All of the other volunteers will be in the general vicinity as well, so that we will be able to meet the people we will be with for the next few years, and become acquainted before beginning our 27 months.

After a month of Spanish training, I will head to the Farm of the Child and be able to communicate better with the children, locals, and other staff/volunteers.

I am looking forward to this wonderful opportunity, and the many ways God will reveal His glory. Again, thank you so much for all your support and prayers.

Support in unexpected places

I've been somewhat speechless for the last month. The graciousness of people has been incredible overwhelming! The task of raising such a large amount seemed near impossible, and yet I've already made it to a third of my goal.

How might you ask?

God has surrounded me by some of the most wonderful people.

If I told you that almost $600 has been donated by college students, would you believe me? I didn't believe it myself.

My number one goal in reaching out the my collegiate friends was for prayer, as they were the ones who taught me the power of prayer in the first place. They have given me prayer, and so much more. They have given me support, love, and hope. Two quick stories:

There is a girl that has been in a class of mine each semester for the past year and a half. We've been in small groups, but never talked extensively about much. I had hardly talked to her at all this semester. As we were sitting in class one day taking a test, she finished early and walked past me to leave. She stopped in front of my desk and handed me $20, saying "this is for your trip" and walked out. That simply action meant more than she will ever know. She didn't know much about me, or my dreams, all she had seen was a facebook event, that most probably ignored. The simplicity of her giving allowed me to carry on, and realize that this truly is bigger than myself, or anything I could imagine.

As I walked out of graduating from the University of Tennessee this past Friday, I was bombarded with hugs from 10 friends. The fact that they had even attended a graduation for 1,100, simply to see me walk across a stage was enough in itself.

While we were standing there waiting for my family, they handed me two presents: one from a friend contained two books- One by Blessed Mother Teresa, the other by Blessed John Paul II. Such a perfect gift!

Then they handed me a card from all of them. Inside was full of notes and signatures from many of my closest friends from college. In the middle of all the signatures was a circled number.

These people that had been my family the past three years, the one who were just a broke as I was, trying to make their way through college and loans, had come together and donated $430.

A picture of my roommate telling me about the money

Even typing that, it still sounds absurd. I'm so grateful for these beautiful people, that have allowed me to grow and trust in God as I have these last 3 years. Without their love and support I would not be where I am today. Words could not describe how much they mean to me, and how much I have learned from each and every one of them. I continue to remain speechless and God works through those I love, through those I hardly know, and even through strangers. It truly shows that we all are One. We all are His. And He has the ability to work through each of us as we allow Him.

So thank you, to my beautiful friends who have so perfectly allowed Him to work through them. I love you more than you could ever know. And thank you to the beautiful strangers I have yet to meet, yet I already know you so well, because you have allowed yourself to be His.

Videos of the Farm

Here's a quick video minutes series explaining more about the Farm of the Child, our mission, and what the volunteers do:

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34L74BEfqBo

Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSiYTUXhqo8

Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSofjMWJzu0

One of the beautiful parts of the farm is that there are normally 50 children living there. How wonderful, beautiful, and easy it is to say a Rosary, praying a Hail Mary for each one by name.: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdDgmTecR7s

Thank you all so much for your continued prayers and support!

How to help!

One of the greatest parts of an adventure in life is the ability to share it

with others. I thank each and every one of you for your interest in my

adventure, and for giving me the ability to share this with you!

The greatest way for you to join me is by keeping the children, staff, and the work of the Farm of the Child in your regular prayers! Prayers are essential because they allow our mission and our daily work to become larger than just ourselves. Also, please know of our prayers for each one of you! I also encourage you to look into the organization at farmofthechild.org.

Inform others about this amazing opportunity, and ask for their prayers as well!

"The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful" - James 5:16

Another way for you to get involved is by keeping up with this blog. I intend to write regularly over the next three years, and am looking forward to keeping you all updated about my time at the Farm. If you'd like to receive letters, or e-mail updates, please just let me and I'll be sure to write you as well!

A third way for you to support my work is by making a donation. In addition to the 27 month commitment that each of my fellow volunteers and I make, we also pledge to raise the funds to cover our living, travel, and preparation expenses. In my case, these expenses amount to $10,000 for the duration of my commitment. It's never easy to ask for money -- especially from the majority of you who are poor college students -- but even a dollar or two each month, for twenty-seven months, adds up to something great!

If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation online...

1. Go to www.farmofthechild.org/donate.php

2. Enter the dollar amount you wish to donate. Click Update Total.

3. If you have a PayPal account, sign in. If not, click Don’t have a PayPal Account to continue.

4. Enter your name, address and credit card information. Click Review & Continue.

5. Click on the link Add Donation Instructions.

6. Include my name, Sara DePhillips, in the instructions section.

7. Click Continue and Confirm Payment

8. You will receive an email confirming your donation and we will receive an email confirming the donation as well, so that we can send you a tax receipt.

You can also mail a check made out to the Farm of the Child to:

Sara DePhillips
9725 Turner Lane
Brentwood, TN 37027

I've been so blessed to have such supportive people in my life, and I'm truly thankful for each of you! Thank you for the support, prayers, and interest that you have expressed! I'm looking forward to sharing this journey with you!

Love in Christ,

Sara

“Never doubt that a small group of dedicated individuals can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
-Margaret Mead

1 Corinthians 13

"If I have the language perfectly and

Speak like a native

And have not His love for them,

I am nothing.

If I have diplomas and degrees,

Know all the up-to-date methods,

And have not His touch of understanding love,

I am nothing.

If I am able to argue successfully

Against the religions of the people and make fools of them,

And have not His wooing note of love,

I am nothing.

If I have all faith and great ideals and magnificent plans,

And not His love that sweats and bleeds

And weeps and prays and pleads,

I am nothing.

If I give my clothes and

Money to them,

And have not His love for them,

I am nothing.

If I surrender all prospects, leave home and friends, make the sacrifices

Of a missionary career, and turn sour and selfish amid

The daily annoyances and slights of a missionary life,

I am nothing.

If I can heal all manner of sickness and disease,

But wound hearts and hurt feelings

For want of His love that is kind,

I am nothing.

If I can write articles or publish books that win applause,

But fail to transcribe the Word of the Cross

Into the language of His love,

I am nothing."

Stephen Brown

Why Farm of the Child?

Farm of the Child is a family-style orphanage on the northern coast of Central America’s poorest and least developed country – Honduras. There is a community of about fifteen volunteers that work to provide fifty children with a home, a family, an education, and Christian formation.

"Many of the orphaned children who arrive at Farm of the Child suffer from malnutrition and other health problems, little or no schooling and a lack of love and affection. At Farm of the Child, they receive a loving, home-like environment in which the children can grow, learn respect for others and become healthy, happy members of a loving family"

Volunteers make a 27 month commitment to serve on the Farm in a variety of ways such as administration, accounting, social work, pastoral ministry, teaching, medicine, maintenance and community outreach. Once arriving on the Farm, volunteers live together and are guided by the four pillars of community, spirituality, simplicity and service.

The purpose of this blog is to keep you updated on my journey to the Farm and to include you in this adventure! I will be keeping up with this as much as internet access in Honduras deems possible, and I am looking to this as a way to stay in touch with everyone, and to share these next 3 years with you all!

Letters and e-mails would also be much appreciated from you all, as I would love to stay updated in your life as well!

You can write to:

Finca del Niño

Apartado Postal #110

Trujillo, Colón

Honduras, Central America

or email me at sara.dephillips@gmail.com...

be sure to include your address! (No internet, phones, or TV on the property makes for the perfect amount of silence to write snail mail!)

Thank you all so much for your interest both in my life and this program! I would not be able to even attempt any of this without the support of my friends and family. Without the support of every single one of you! I look forward to continuing our walk of life together, even from different continents.

A long coming desire of the heart.

This is my college essay that I found last week... I've been so blessed to be able to follow through with the desires that have been placed on my heart for so long now!

Patrick McDonald once asked, "Why is it that a child's death amounts to a tragedy, but the death of millions is merely a statistic?" I am a child. I am not one of the 640 million children who do not have adequate shelter, but I am a child. I am not one of the 500 million children who do not have access to sanitation, but I am their sister. I am not one of the 400 million children who do not have access to safe water, but I am their advocate. I am not one of the 90 million children who is severely food deprived, but I can help.

I am a child with resources, so I will take action. I am not part of the half of the world’s population that lives on only two dollars a day, but I have the resources to help them. I am not one of the billion people that entered the twenty-first century unable to read a book, or sign their name, but I am a teacher. I am not one of the 210,000 children that has died every week due to poverty, but I will devote my life to saving theirs.

I am a child with a voice, so I will

make my voice heard. Mohandas Ghandi once stated, “If we are to teach real peace in this world, and if we are to carry on a real war against war, we shall have to begin with the children.” We must not be afraid to take a stand. “Say not ‘I am too young.’ To whomever I send you, you shall go; whatever I command you, you shall speak. Have no fear before them, because I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord.” (Jeremiah 2:7-8)

Children hold the future in the palm of their hands: they make up the future leaders of the next generation in power. They will have the ability to make a difference: to end poverty, to shelter the homeless, to feed the hungry. These children must be educated, yet in order to do this, we must have a proper education to help those lacking one. Even Mother Teresa received an education to aid the million of lives that she touched.

I am one of these children who is looking for an education to help the millions who cannot get one. I plan on devoting my life to shaping this world into what God intended it to be, no matter how hard the task. God has devised a plan for all of us, and I know this is the right one for me. With the help of my peers, I will give all I possess to make this world a better place before I join our Heavenly Father.