Christmas letter- Reviewing the year

Peace and Greeting from Honduras!

I pray that this letter finds you in good health and good spirits as we prepare to celebrate the coming of our Lord. I had hoped to write this update on my journey here a year ago, but have not been able to find the words to write to you until recently.

I have told many people that I hope this was the hardest year I will ever have to go through and I would like to explain why. I was not prepared for the drastic change in sight, thoughts, emotions and heart that God had waiting for me here in Honduras. My thoughts in coming down were: I love children, I almost know Spanish and I want to serve. Never in a million year was I expecting to experience the range of emotions that comes with working in a children’s home and declaring “Place me where you need me!”

They did in fact place me where they needed me and it happened to be the last place I or anyone else pictured me: in a school. For anyone that knows me really well, you know that I have been ready to be out of the educational system since my second year in high school. I constantly felt God pulling me to what I felt was something more: something that I couldn’t learn from being in a classroom. As always when sure that I knew what God didn’t want me to do, it turned out to be exactly where he needed me. My year teaching Math, Computers and English was difficult to say the least (My students would most likely have some other choice words).  After many lessons learned (more by me than the kids, I’m sure), we all made it out alive with only a few scraped knees. All seven of my ninth graders made it through, and most of them will be able to continue their studies. In Honduras only a sixth grade education is required, so graduating from the ninth grade is already a huge accomplishment. Please continue to pray for all of our children in our K-9 school. Living in a rural part of an undeveloped country brings challenges that I would have never been able to fathom while in the United States. We hope that by providing these children an education we are not only supplying them with knowledge that will help them later in life but also providing them with a space in which they feel safe, where there are people that they know care for them. I feel so blessed to have been able to meet so many children this year that have truly changed my way of thinking and of seeing the world.

Although I may be eternally grateful for them, I’m sure many of my students were relieved when they heard that I would be switching jobs for my second year in Honduras. A few months ago I was asked by Direction to be in charge of the girls apartment of our Phase II program. What this basically means is that I moved 3 hours away from the rest of the Farm of the Child to live in the city of La Ceiba with three lovely seventeen year-old girls. In an adjacent apartment my male counterpart, David, is living with three teenage boys. (If only David and I were about 20 years older we could be mistaken for the Brady Bunch!) It has been over a month now that I have lived in La Ceiba, and I must say, “mom duty” suites me a little bit better than teacher duty. (I think it may have to do with being left in an empty kitchen to make all the bread my heart could desire.) The girls, pictured in the attached photo, are three very unique and beautiful teenagers. I have already called my parents many times to beg their forgiveness for being the youngest of three teenage daughters that they had to live with for multiple years. Although they may be the most mature seventeen year-olds you will find, they are still teenagers and have their fair share of moments. (As do I, being a 22 year-old. Our moments simply manifest themselves in different ways) In the short month that I have been here I have already felt so blessed to be the person waiting for them when they come home from school. I am the one here to hear about the bad day at work. I have the privilege of making their lunch everyday, and making sure that all of their schedules are in order. I get to surprise them with Coke and extra-buttery popcorn when I know it’s been a bad day. I get to interpret the many different forms of scoffing that is the answer to most of the questions that I ask. I am the last person they will live with from the Farm of the Child. Next year each of my girls, Nolvia, Nelly and Marina, will be graduating from high school and will the leaving the Farm of the Child to enter into Phase III (real life). Each one of us will require an overabundance of prayers this year but I am more than certain that God knew what He was doing when he brought us into each other’s lives. I am overjoyed to be able to have the opportunity to be in these girl’s lives in such a profound way.

I would like to thank each and every one of you for being in my life and helping me on the path that led me here. If it had not been for the love and encouragement that I have received from all of you, my family and friends, I know that I would never have been able to witness the beautiful miracles that take place here.

Blessings all over you,

Sara DePhillips                                     

Pictured: (Left to Right) Top: Nolvia, Angel David, Arturo

Bottom: David, Marina, Nelly, Sara 

Not Pictured: Wilmer and Carlos (recently moved to Phase III)

Computer Class

Computer class:

This year I am the computer teacher to 1^st through 9^th grade here at the Finca del Nino. Although this has been the class that has brought the most headaches, it has also been the class in which I am able to interact with every child in the school.

Here are some stories that I have gathered throughout the year that might bring a smile to your face:

Computer class starts in 1^st grade, so many students hadn’t even seen a computer until the first day of 1^st grade. I was began by explaining the different parts of a computer: the keyboard (teclado), the monitor (monitor), and the mouse (el raton). One of out more imaginative first graders here of the Finca, Cati, let out a huge “EPALEH” (The equivalent to “WHOAH”). She then proceeded to put the “raton” very close to her face and talk to it saying, “We are going to be friends!” It helped that it is one of those mice that turn red when you touch it- so I’m close to certain that she truly believed it was alive.

Cati working on the computer

In this first grade class Cati’s best friend Jensi also brings many smiles. One afternoon they were working on an addition game on the computer. She was having extreme difficulties trying to add 3+3. I told her to try using her fingers, showing her my two hands with three fingers held up on each one. I left her with that knowledge and went to attend to the rest of the class. A few minutes later, I looked over and Jensi was still having troubles. For some reason, she was not able to hold up three fingers on both hands and count at the same time. When I looked over, one of her hands with 3 fingers was in her mouth, as she was trying to count with the other hand (three fingers still held up). In the end, I allowed her to use MY fingers.

My last precious story comes from just this past week. The third graders were allowed free time on the computers. One little girl (the smallest in the class) decided to use Encarta in her free time. As she started to look up meningitis, I assumed that there was an assignment that they had to do for another class. It’s normally a good indicator though if other people are doing the same thing. When I looked around and saw that no one else was working on this assignment, I had to ask.
“Mercy, is this an assignment for school?”
“No.” She said.
“Then why are you looking up the vaccine for meningitis?”
She looked at me with a big smile. “I want to look it up for my mom. My grandma has meningitis and she needs to get better”

Please continue to keep these children in your prayers as you can be sure that you are in theirs!

Culture Shock?

One of the first questions many people asked when they first saw me in the States was, “How are you adjusting? Do you have culture shock?”
I smiled to myself and laughed thinking about how it was almost the opposite.
I was overwhelmed, yes, but not because I was in “culture shock”.  I was in shock of the love and generosity that surrounded my when I was in the United States. So many people concerned not only for my well being, but the well being of the children that I serve here on the Farm.

My first overwhelming experience came my first weekend home at my cousins wedding. It was so wonderful to see my entire family right when I came home. They showered me with love in the form of food, drink, and hugs. (Warm showers as well!) One of the biggest shows of love that I have seen to this date though came at the wedding. The actually ceremony so beautifully celebrated the Sacrament of Marriage, and it was so clear that my cousin Mary and her now husband Justin are truly going to bring the presence of God to this world and to their children. This in itself brought me to tears, as this Sacrament is rarely celebrated here in Honduras. For one reason or another, marriage is almost unheard of here. If men remain in the family they don’t have a wife, but rather a “woman”. Most children here have never known their fathers, and if they do, it may have been better if they hadn’t. The Finca is blessed to know a handful of men who have remained faithful and good to their families- but they are the exception. So, to be able to witness this beautiful Sacrament with a couple that I know will be a wonderful witness of the Holy Family truly brought me to tears.

Of course my cousins wouldn’t allow from relief from those tears for the rest of the night. I had been bragging to my community members about how wonderful my cousin and her fiancé were for some time and how excited I was about being at their wedding. This may have been the understatement of the year.
As soon as I walked in to their reception, I saw this sign: 

 

I am still in awe of the selfless love this couple has. That even in the midst of their wedding day they continue to pour out their love and generosity on others. That they were thinking for and praying for and giving to the children at the Farm of the Child while planning their wedding… I have no words to even describe what that means to me, and to all of us here. It’s so encouraging to see the way that God’s love manifests itself in others.

Many people were expecting me to be in culture shock when I returned due to what some see as a selfish society, but I can honestly say that I saw the opposite. I saw people wanted to give of themselves, their love, their money, and their time. Some people not knowing how, but really truly seeking a way, and truly caring for others in this world less fortunate than themselves.

That’s not to say that I wasn’t overwhelmed by how many iphones exist as well, but I was by far more overwhelmed by the love that exists in those I know, and the potential each person has to make a difference with that love that God has given them.

Surprise!

A ¨normal¨week at the Farm:
Monday I wake up around 5:45, sometimes earlier if I´m willing to brave the cold shower that early. We have a small morning prayer in our house at 5:45, and then head to the chapel for community morning prayer.  Breakfast at 6:30, and I´m running out the door to make it to the school by 7. School lasts until around 1 and we have a teacher meeting until 1:30. At the very latest, food is in my stomach by 2, and I´m taking a quick break/ planning girl scouts for the week because it starts at 3:30. After girl scouts I take the girl back home and walk over to the chapel for English Communion Service at 5. Dinner is served at 6, with a community night following at 7. After community night, I like to just sit in the ¨living room¨ for a little bit to relax. Finally to bed, and Tuesday hits you all over again in the same way. After school on Tuesday, my only activity is Study hour for the kids at 3:30, so there is a little more time to breathe and plan for the coming classes.
On Wednesday, same routine all over again, early morning, school, grumpy children, annoyed teacher, head home, start cooking dinner. So when I checked my phone on Wednesday afternoon after a week already full of activities to a message from my dad saying that by some miracle he would be arriving in Honduras tomorrow (Thursday), my heart was OVERJOYED.

He found out Tuesday night that an adult that had already made the trip with my church was needed, and had offered to be that adult. The only problem: He was headed down to Jultigalpa which was approximately a 9 hour bus ride from where I am. (In the states, probably 2 hours, but it´s dirt roads the whole way) A nine hour bus ride was not going to stop me from seeing the greatest father in the world that I had not seen in 9 months.

SO. Very calmly (After spilling hot oil on myself) I explained to everyone what was going on, and my community VERY graciously helped me get all of my classes and meals and activities covered, AND one of the Sisters said she would travel with me (We can´t travel alone due to safety reasons) because my church just HAPPENS to work with and beside their Motherhouse. Lets just say, God was truly working to provide me the opportunity to spend a week in the country I love, with the people I love, serving in the way that I know how. It was truly more of a blessing than I could have ever even prayed for. God truly knows much better than we ever could that which He has planned for us.
I´m so greatful for the whole Holy Family team that was down here loving on the Honduran people, and SO SO grateful to the whole Hayes family that ochestrated the trip,and made seenig my father possible. They have all been a second family to me and supported me so much in my journey both here and at home, and I´m so grateful that God has placed them in my life.




In other news, I will be heading back to the states in two weeks for my first stateside vacation! It will be SO great to see family again. Please continue to keep everyone here in your prayers!
Stay tuned for some very special annoucements about next year in a blog soon to come.

Love you all, and praying for you all as my brothers and sisters in Christ,
Sara

Vacation

I'm on vacation for the weekend in La Ceiba. Today I woke up, washed my clothes in a laundry machine for the first time in 7 months. (My pants now fit again!) Made breakfast (and lunch) for 1. I watched some reruns of the office, talked to friends and family, and updated myself on whats going on in the world. By the time 12 p.m. hit, I had come to the conclusion that I already miss the Farm, and truly do love the work that I've been called to here.

I was so excited to be in La Ceiba this weekend to take a vacation from being a teacher, a community member, a girl scout leader, and so many other things that we are called to be at the Farm but I come to realize that although life is hard, and messy, and I honestly don't know what I'm doing most of the time- I'm more fulfilled being busy and stressed and lost while doing God's work than I am trying to live any other life. I don't want to make breakfast for 1 when there are other mouths to feed. Sometimes those mouths won't let you know that they appreciate you, but their presence is enough. I don't want to sit around and trying to educate myself about the many world problems, when I know them already, and my time can be used trying to solve them rather than letting them consume me. I don't want to do nothing when I have so clearly been called to do something. Doing nothing leaves me well rested with clothes that fit, but doing something leaves me with so much more: It leaves me with love. It leaves me fulfilled- knowing that this life here means nothing, but we are still called to strive for Heaven on Earth. It leaves me in Unity with Christ.

"You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved." Matthew 10: 22

Although the teenagers are still angsty and incredibly difficult to deal with sometimes, I love them with a love that's God's.

And what's an even bigger miracle is that when I'm angsty and difficult to deal with everyday- they too show me that same love.

"We love because He first loved us" 1 John 4:19

Cute story for the month:

Kate a fellow missionary teacher was teaching the 3rd graders about space one of the children asked how the planets stay up there. After giving them the proper answer that they probably didn't understand- one of our children raised his hand and said "That's not it! God uses His hands to hold them up! Each planet is on one of his fingers- and there are two for pluto!"

Feliz Navidad: The Spirit of Giving

Being in a Catholic community (With no access to internet or television) much time is able to be spent preparing for the Christmas Season (Advent). With morning prayer every morning, rosary on Tuesday, Catechesis on Wednesday, and Holy hour on Thursday all focusing on the Spirit of the Season, we had quite a bit of time to delve into what the birth of Christ truly meant. One of the topics most touched on was that of giving. So often we see that Christmas is turned into a season of desire: a season of “me” rather than “we”. As I (and many of my students) are not always auditory learners, my sights began to turn to other examples of what Christmas might truly mean here, and how I might better demonstrate that to the kids. My eyes did not have to look hard before I found one of the most real examples of this idea of giving here on the Farm.

Our children here live in houses according to their age group and gender; for example all of our youngest girls live together. A house composed of seven girls between the ages of 6 and 10. They tend to be a bit wild at times, have quite an attitude, love the color pink, dolls, stickers, oranges and flowers (at this age if one person loves it- they all decide they love it).

They absolutely LOVE receiving gifts; if you were to give them a coloring book and crayons- they would love you forever and say thank you for at least the following month.
Our children have a good home here, with all that they could possibly need- but sometimes they are lacking in “normal things” that children would normally be able to have. As a good example- they were recently prohibited from have balloons because a good chunk of them were using them to make sling shots to fight each other with. (Not that we are against slingshots, but when 40 children are running around with them- bad news bears.) So when they receive things that are all their own and not just to share with the rest of their house- it’s a pretty big deal.
Although their second favorite thing in the world is to receive gifts- it is not their grateful reception, but what comes of this reception that amazes me everyday.
As soon as these girls receive a coloring book- they are painting pictures to give to someone else. As soon as they pick a flower, they are sticking it in the hair of a missionary. Right when they have there freshly picked orange peeled- they begin distributing the pieces to everyone around them. When snacks and candy are given to them- they eat a bit or two and save the rest for a special friend or sibling. All of their dolls are named after people they know and love- and are shared and cared for by all of them. Cards are made daily for whoever will receive them- littered with stickers and colors, and messages reminding you that “Te amo”: I love you!
These little girls have so very little, and yet without realizing it, they give almost all that they have. A true example of how we are called to live as Christians: giving all that we have- not thinking about loss, but rather acting in Love and Joy.