Dia Primera a Manos Felices

Hola!

Today was an amazing day! We got to spend our first day at the school with the kids. As soon as we pulled up to the school we saw Santos, the little boy we visited yesterday who lives in the dump community walking into to school with his mom... God is so amazing! Once we were in the school we were met by the principal, Oneida, who showed us around the different classrooms and introduced us to all of the students and teachers. Savannah and I worked with the pre-school class because we will be leading the bible school for that group on Tuesday. I have to say by lunch time I was extremely ready for a nap. I love working with them. The class is full of some great kids and I´m excited for what this week brings.

Santos, the little boy we visited on Sunday, came into the school kicking and screaming but ten minutes later he was up and playing with the other kids. When he came into the school he didn´t even know his name… like most of the other kids when they come to the school here but by the time he left he knew 3 signs, which is quite an accomplishment. I cannot wait to see what other amazing things God is going to do this week. 

I had a rather interesting experience with one kid, Samuel. He was in school last year (keep in mind their school year has just begun) and his mom pulled him out but has decided to bring him back this year. He got put in my class but was kicking and screaming so I took on the task of trying to calm him down... he kicked and screamed for about 15 minutes until Miriam, one of the staff members, came and took him back out. Working with a kid who is upset and crying is hard when they have limited language and you want to try and tell them something. Later in the day I saw him and he was much happier. I hope he returns to school tomorrow so we can try again and he stays in school.

Working with kids who have almost no language with ages ranging from 4 to almost 7 is extremely sad but just as rewarding when they learn new things. Once we were done with school, which ends at 1:30, we went back to the high school where we are staying and worked on VBS materials. That night we ate tacos, Honduran style, YUM, and played with the children who´s parents are part of the Deaf Ministry Leadership Team. I am so blessed by the amazing God we serve and how he allows us to experience situations to teach us new things.

This week I am learning, first hand, what it is like to not be able to communicate. Many times I have felt like the kids in my class who have no language and have to resort to some other form of communication to get their point across. I am so blessed that I serve a God who loves me and understands what I say no matter how I communicate. I am, also, learning how important it is to be able to communicate, even if it is basic. I could see myself doing this full-time, I love it.

Tomorrow, Savannah and I will be leading VBS for our class so it will be very interesting to see how that goes because their attention spans are extremely limited. Also, it will be difficult because imagine if you have no language you have no way of knowing or explaining who God is and how much he loves you and wants to have a relationship with you. This hit me hard when we got back to the high school as I was working on VBS material. I just to tell people how amazing God is and if they don´t even know that I just said HOLA to them, how can I? My heart is broken for the lost but even more so for those who don´t have a way to communicate… I think I´ve really found my calling.

Blessings,

Rebecca

PS Keep the prayers coming!