April update

April is almost over and I am one month closer to returning to Honduras.

Last quarter, I challenged my Spanish classes to raise money for a student in Honduras and they raised two months worth. I was proud of their generosity as 6th and 7th graders.

Cultural differences never cease to amaze me. My friend, Judith Alexander, who has been a missionary in Japan for several years, wrote in her most recent update about the thousands of kids in Japan who commit suicide each year because they are so stressed about academic achievement and future job success. Meanwhile, I encounter many students everyday in my teaching job in the U.S. who could care less about their education nor do they understand the connection to their future success. Sometimes I feel like I am fighting a losing battle…

I recently returned from a spring break vacation in Gatlinburg, TN with my mom and nieces. It was a much-needed getaway. We had a lot of fun hiking in the mountains, seeing the history in Cade’s Cove and yes, visiting the tourist attractions as well.

Before spring break, I was able to attend a Seder dinner, the Jewish Passover feast. It was very interesting to learn about the historical symbolism in all the parts of the dinner, especially since we joined Messianic Jews (those that believe that Jesus is the Messiah). If you have never been to one, I highly recommend it!

Thankfully, before I left for vacation, I was able to turn in chapter 1 of my graduate thesis on urban education. It took me two months to complete chapter 1, and I have two weeks to complete chapter two. I hope to be finished writing my thesis in December of this year, Lord willing.

Please pray for Betuel, Norbertina, Jose Carlos, Zuly, Keidy, Alejandra, Delldelker, Alexi, Mirian, Cinthia, Orlin, Jose Osorio, Glendy, and Dilcia, who are the high school students receiving scholarships and for Moises and Tesla who are in college.

This summer I plan to be in Trujillo, Honduras from July 23rd – August 9th. I look forward to meeting up with my friends from the West Metro Church of Christ in Atlanta, GA and visiting Brian and Sarah Bilodeau, Yerfrin and Maybelline Rodriguez and the other workers at Little Hands and local church members. Of course, I will be checking in with the scholarshipped students as well. I hope to bring home current pictures and information in order to pass it along to you all.

Yefrin and Maybelline, the BECA coordinators in Honduras, are keeping busy as usual. In addition to facilitating the BECAs (scholarships), they are co-directing Little Hands Big Hearts and raising their new baby, Jack.

This year, there is a family of boys who attend church with me who also attend the school I teach at. Omari, a 6th grader, will greet me at school, but hasn’t been too warm because he wants to be cool for his friends. Last week, he came up to me at church and initiated a big hug and greeting, which really blessed me. Omari and his five adoptive brothers have been taken in by Mrs. Baker. It’s so encouraging to me to see kids from school at church. It’s a wonderful connection that is not often made. This is the first time in my teaching career that I have been able to worship with my students.

Last month, I went curling (yes, the Olympic sport on ice) with the youth group that I now work with at church. It was an event that I never imagined I would partake in, but it was a fun team building experience, primarily because we were all equally as bad at it!

May God grow you and yours in this Spring season.

Nadine