Working Hard & Settling In

Life has taken on some semblance of a routine. I get up between 5 and 5:30am, partially out of need and partially because the jungle birds start singing outside my window around that time. School starts at 7am and classes last until around 2pm. I do breakfast on my own, but I rotate between the five kid’s homes for lunch and dinner. This arrangement has worked out very well because sharing meals with all the different families here has fast-tracked my relationship with the house parents and their children. After school, I usually work on lesson plans and other school related needs. Dinner is at six and by the time I get home around seven I am usually wiped out. Occasionally, I will work during this time, but that is now more the exception than the rule. I try to make it to bed by 9pm, keyword here is ‘try’. I usually avoid doing schoolwork on Saturday and try to limit Sunday to a half day of work.

If you are wondering what is keeping me so busy all the time, I’ll tell you. Teaching. I am currently teaching 4^th grade math and science and 6^th grade of the same. And just so I don’t get bored, (I’m kidding:) I am currently teaching English classes in the afternoon and host a tutoring session every day. Our school is very small, so the grading is quick, but as any teacher can tell you, it doesn’t matter how many students are in the class the time required for lesson planning is the same! Teaching in Spanish, especially science, also presents a significant challenge for me. Prayers appreciated. I am also the school principal. The breakdown of my time usage per day is probably 90% Teacher duties and 10% Principal duties.

There are two other teachers at the school. Walter and Victor. They are both young men (late 20s) and they have been teaching here for about five years. Victor has invited me on a few excursions to go swimming in the beautiful crystal-clear rivers nearby with his large household. Walter is also the resident pastor and leads two church services here each week, one focused on the people who live on the property and a second directed toward people from the nearby villages. All the adults here have busy schedules. Which should come as no surprise since they have between 8 to 13 children in their homes!

I don’t want to overwhelm you with information, so how about a few self-deprecating stories? I’ll start with the cliffhanging picture I left in our last update (me with ultra-short hair). I had lice! Sharon gave it to me when she visited during Easter break. Not the most fun I’ve had, but still worth it!!! In other head-related news…if you look at the pictures from this update, you’ll see one of me with a Friar Tuck hairstyle. I was walking behind our apartment and split my head on a low hanging overhead beam. Thankfully, a visiting nurse was able to apply butterfly stitches which held it together well enough to heal. If not, it would have been an hour ride down to the Jungle Hospital. Which is what happened a few weeks later in March when I got seriously ill. I borrowed a motorcycle and rode down the mountain to the hospital in Rio Viejo (where Sharon will be working). I received excellent care from Dr. Martin, Nurse Tabby and several others! Thank you again.

I was obligated to leave Honduras in May due to the expiration of my Honduran Visa. The law allows only 90 days in-country per visit plus a single 30-day extension. Sharon and I will be applying for a 5-year temporary residency when she arrives. It is expensive, but totally worth it, and cheaper than flying back to the States every 120 days. The weeks before and after my trip to the US were incredibly busy preparing 30 lesson plans! The time in the States was a whirlwind in its own way…lots of visiting and get togethers, but not stressful. Seeing family, friends, and especially Sharon, was wonderful! And to top it off, some incredibly generous friends insisted on covering the price of my plane tickets! We are so blessed.

Ever since the rains stopped, the apartment where I am living has not had water consistently. Mostly, it is an inconvenience and adds extra steps to everything. For example, instead of just flushing the toilet, I need to fill the tank up with water first (or dump the water directly in the bowl). The other main consequence is that I have been taking ‘bucket baths’ for the last seven weeks. I fill up a scrubbed-out garbage can in the shower and dump water over my head. It certainly gets you clean, but it’s not nearly as relaxing of an experience. Work has been done to try and fix the problem with the water, however, we’re not quite there yet.

Quick note on the picture of the Fire Beetle. It’s a really cool insect. First, it glows with bioluminescence. Second, if it is stuck on its back, it can arch its body very rapidly which flings it upwards with the chance to right itself. If it happens to land on its back again…rinse and repeat 🙂

Lastly, a quick update on purchasing a motorcycle. The extremely good news is that Melbourne Community Church raised all the funds needed to purchase a motorcycle!!!  We are overwhelmed by the generosity of this body of believers…. many of whom do not know us well. We would really like to purchase a used motorcycle, since it is much more economical, but we have not been able to find one yet. We are hoping to locate one that will suit us soon.

Almost forgot, a quick update on Sharon’s migraine treatments. They are going well! However, her doctor has had to cancel many treatments for personal reasons and so her arrival date in Honduras has been pushed back. We both struggled much with what to do but think getting as much treatment as possible is the best course at this time. Also, she was approved by Ajovy to receive a 6-month supply of their migraine drug for free!

We are incredibly thankful for:

• The opportunity to serve this small community in Honduras.
• The incredible medical care I received when it was needed!
• The generosity of so many different people that enables us to do what we do.
• Sharon’s migraine treatments working well!

Please pray for:

• Finding the right motorcycle to purchase.
• Me, Victor and Walter as we teach these children to think, to value, and to love.
• Sharon’s migraine treatments to continue as much as possible.
• Maintaining a personal relationship with Jesus amid so much clamoring need.

Chris and Sharon

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?”

Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” Isaiah 6:8