Clean Plate Club

Eating Brazillian food in Paraguay
Loved it!

Over the years I have become an adventurous eater and it becomes even more apparent when I am around picky or cautious eaters. I understand that some people don't like certain foods, don't like trying new things, or are cautious because they have weak stomachs, but I on the other hand am not.

Almuerzo at Betty's in Honduras
Delicious!

I typically jump at the chance to try new things and I love fully embracing new cultures, food and all! I have been abroad a few times now and have never gotten sick once. I think this helps me to be more adventurous as I do not equate being abroad with memories of throwing up everything I ate.

Eating chicken hearts in Paraguay
They were surprisingly good!

I consider this gift to be a blessing. God has confirmed over and over again my calling to travel abroad to teach and do mission work, and how could I if I was scared of trying new things or getting sick? 

Baleada at Betty's in Honduras
Delicious, but HUGE so I could only eat half

Instead I have promised myself to try anything at least once which has allowed me to try some pretty interesting things and find out that I like some things I never thought I would. 

I tried two bites of intestines at a mall in Paraguay,
Not too bad actually...

I don't like wasting food, especially in other countries where feeding me could be a sacrifice for someone. So if I like the food, or if it's at least tolerable, I try to clear my whole plate. Besides, sometimes you don't know when or what you're gonna eat next...

Taco de pollo at Betty's in Honduras
Pretty good!

Here at the orphanage we all dislike soup days. It's already 95-100+ degrees outside every day so hot soup just isn't our favorite choice for lunch.

Soup day last week at the orphanage in Santa Barbara, Honduras
This soup was pretty good from what I remember

Today was a soup day. 

Today's soup included fish, rice, carrots, yuca, plantains, and peppers. And of course, in typical Honduran fashion, was served with a mini corn tortilla. We also got a slice of watermelon!

While eating the soup, I started observing those around me and it was one of those days that made me realize how NOT picky I am about my food. While others were trying to identify the make up of the soup and debating how many different things they were going to pick out, I cheerfully tried it all. I started reflecting on my eating habits and how different they were from everyone else. Again I was reminded how God has blessed me with this ability to eat anything in preparation for my life abroad. Needless to say, I ate my ENTIRE bowl of soup and my tortilla and watermelon.

Sopa Paraguaya, a traditional food in Paraguay
I liked it!

I'm looking forward to trying more new foods while I'm here in Honduras and around the world in the years ahead. I told God he could have all of me, and that includes my stomach as well. :)

Here's a look at more foods I've eaten this summer!

Pastelitos at the orphanage
Favorite!

Breakfast at the hotel in Paraguay
The bread was always so good!

Paraguayan passion fruit ice cream
Tart and delicious!

Burger with egg somewhere in Paraguay (we were lost)
Not too bad!

Grilled chicken, salad, and bread at a mall in Paraguay
Delicious! And the pineapple juice was AMAZING!

Abre mis ojos

Today we sang one of my favorite children's worship songs, especially in Spanish - Open the Eyes of My Heart or Abre Mis Ojos.

It immediately made me think of what God has been teaching me this week and how I was just praying the other night that I would have "eyes to see" the things God has to show me here. To see how others live and thrive here. To see how God is working here in Santa Barbara. To see things from a new perspective as I am stretched far beyond my typical comfort zones. All for the glory of God.

It was just one of those perfect moments God gives us to remind us that He is in control. During today's devotional we talked about how God is with us every step of the way. It mentioned how we don't need to look forward or behind us, but instead we only need to look towards the Lord, because He has a perfect plan for us.

The last week and a half have been filled with so many fun stories, crazy happenings, and slightly frustrating times, but through it all we are constantly reminded that God is always in control.

With the staff here we have been going through the devotional book Jesus Calling every weekday and I continued it on my own through the weekend. Each day seems to be perfect and fitting for our time here in Honduras and for the staff as they continue their work here after we are gone.

God has a plan for each of us visiting, those on staff, and the children who come to the program. He desires to give us peace and strength as we work hard to show the kids love and hope, and wants us to place all of our trust in Him as we go about our days. We needn't worry about anything, because He created the world and knows it far better than we do.

I encourage you to spend some time with the Lord today and be reminded that He has a plan for your life as well.

Dios te bendiga,

Cassidy

The Four

As promised, this blog post is dedicated to the specific story of one of the families we serve here at the orphanage. 

Today's featured family: Ana, Yessenia, Judith, and Nico Lopez.

Ana (18), Judith (14), Nico (12), Yessenia (16)
Photo stolen from Kelli Brown :)

These kids are not your ordinary teenagers. They are extremely responsible, very smart, and affectionate. Just by looking at them you would never know the hardships they have faced over the years...

Abandoned by their parents, they have had to live on their own and learn how to take care of each other. Years ago their dad left the family and as revenge on him their mother quickly abandoned them as well. For a while they had to rely on their neighbors for food.

After their mother left Yessenia thought she would die in their house. The kids would hear gunshots at night and get very scared. Judith always had hope that their mom would return, unfortunately she never did for long. She returns occasionally to try to push the girls into marriage in order to support themselves and stays overnight sometimes because their house is closer to her doctor. She quickly leaves for her appointments without saying goodbye.

When Jheny, the orphanage director, found out about the kids she tried to persuade the mother to return so that she could give permission for the kids to be in the program here - hoping that their mother would return for good. Their mom came back for about a week to allow the kids to begin the program, but suddenly left without warning.

The four kids never miss a day in the program now, unlike many others here, because they can't afford not to. They come here not only for food, but for the family relationships they have built with the kids and adults here.

Ana

Ana, the oldest, hates her mother and is constantly overwhelmed and worried. She hardly laughs or talks, but is starting to warm up. She is very smart and mature and wins most of the card games we play with her. She is a very good example for the younger kids, but has low self-esteem and trust in herself.

Yessenia

Yessenia is such a sweet heart and super adorable. She smiles every time you make eye contact with her and has the cutest laugh! She doesn't have a hateful bone in her body, but instead is simply disappointed in her mother. She is very smart and loving and writes the sweetest letters to us and to her sponsors, reminding them how much God loves them. 

Judith

Judith was always her parents' favorite child and because of that she is very naïve and believes anything you tell her. She is very sweet and girly and loves the color purple. She loves making friendship bracelets with us and practicing her English.

Nico

Nico is such a fun kid and of course, super smart just like his sisters! He knows the most English of everyone in the program and loves to play chess with Brayan - he usually wins and let's everyone know "We are the champions!" Everyday he comes up to us, looks us right in the eye and says one word: "games." Which means "Can I please have your iPhone to play games?!"

These kids are the best!

Ana currently works on staff at the orphanage for a small salary to help take care of her family, so the girls show up at 8am while Nico is at school. Yessenia and Judith go to school on Saturdays because it is cheaper, so they come to the orphanage during the week to help with Isela with all the cooking. Ana does office work and helps teach the younger children's Bible class.

After the program is over the four stay to hang out with us. If we're going into town for dinner than they have to go home, if not they are invited to eat with us and can stay at the orphanage to play games until we walk them home at 8:00. This past Saturday we took Nico shopping with us while the girls were at school. It was a blast having him around!

They really are some of the best kids I've ever met. They are so happy and fun and have so much hope in the Lord. One day I was talking to Nico and Brayan, asking if they were best friends and Nico said no, so I asked who his best friend is and he said "Dios!" - God is his best friend!

It's such a blessing to spend so much time with all the kids here, but especially these four. They are as much a blessing to us as we are to them. Bekka and I both want to be Yessenia when we grow up! She just has such a sweet spirit and is so adorable! 

I'm excited to get to know them more over the next few weeks! :)

Our God is Greater

The last few days have been quite the ride as me and my team experienced quite a few inconveniences. These included a water shortage, ant invasion, several power outages, Internet outage over our two communication days, and me accidentally overspending at a hammock stand due to money confusion. (details on these stories to come)

Though these things have happened and have been somewhat frustrating at times,  it has given me a new perspective on how God wants me to spend my time here and what He wants to teach me. 

I've definitely been taken out of my comfort zone in several different ways just in the last week, but it has stretched me to the point of realizing, as the kids here so often remind us (especially through song), "todo lo puedo en Cristo que me fortalece" - I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 

I wouldn't be here today without being fully obedient to God's plan for my life and trusting Him every step of the way, so why wouldn't I keep entrusting these small trials to the Lord as well? He is bigger than a couple days without a shower, He is bigger than the ants crawling all over my stuff, He is bigger than my bite infested body, He is bigger than power outages, money confusion, upset stomachs, faulty Internet, extremely hot temperatures and any other inconvience we may encounter in the next five weeks here. 

He is with me always, I just have to keep reminding myself of that truth every step of the way. 

If I can stay focused on keeping a positive attitude through every annoying little thing that happens here, then I will be able to experience so much more of what God has to teach me while I'm here.

(Posted at 1:04am via iPhone, so hopefully that all made sense...) 

Videos de Semana Una

Kristin, one of my team members from St. Louis, made two great videos of us with the kids this week that we keep watching over and over and over.... We just can't get enough of these kids!! :)

Enjoy!

Reunion

Week One

Living the life

I think we have all settled into our new routine here in Honduras. The past few days have been so much fun! It's been so great to see the kids again and build relationships with the ones who have started coming since I was here last year. Having them bond with me already after only meeting them three days ago is so encouraging! The kids come from such rough homes, so it's great to see the progress they're making here, learning how to love and be a kid!

We have thoroughly enjoyed jumping right back into their routine with them and my favorite part of the day is when they all start arriving! You never know who will walk through the door next, ready for you with a huge smile and a big hug! 

Here are a couple pictures from Monday, our first day in Honduras, when we rode the new covered pickup truck for 2+ hours to Santa Barbara.

Bekka, Katie, Me, & Shelby

Lanae, Brittany, Chelsea, & Kristin

It started to pour while we rode to Santa Barbara in the truck

Letter from Judith waiting on my bed when I arrived :)

Our life here in Santa Barbara is pretty chill. We wake up for breakfast at 7:30, then do devotionals with the staff at 8:00, which is one of my favorite things. After that we pretty much have free time until the kids start arriving around 11:30-12:00. During our free time I usually meet with my devo partner(s) for the day and we talk and pray for each other. It is a neat way to get to know one another one-on-one (or sometimes in 3s) and find our focus for the day. After that we nap, blog, prep for our lessons, hang out, make bracelets with Judith, play with any kids who show up early, or do anything else to get ready for the day. It's nice and relaxing. 

All the kids arrive by 12:00 and get ready for lunch by setting up tables and chairs and washing their hands. 

Mirian washing her hands

Brayan - we called him the miracle child because he likes broccoli

 After lunch is chores, which they take very seriously.

Ana Gabriela sweeping in the front courtyard

Carlos cleaning a table

Then hygiene time, during which they take turns brushing their teeth, flossing, and combing their hair. Then they get a multivitamin and some lotion. The little boys are so cute when they come out of the room holding a little handful of "crema" and smile as they put it all over their arms and neck like they're so cool. Who knew lotion could make kids so happy?

Felipe (left) brushing his teeth, Erick (center) flossing

 While some are doing hygiene, the rest are playing games and hanging out with us waiting for their turn.

Lester is a great artist!

 After hygiene is worship time where the kids love to sing "Si tuvieras fe." :)
It's a song about how God says if you have faith like a mustard seed, you can tell a mountain to move and it will move. It's a loud, fast, fun song with motions and they absolutely LOVE it! It's one of our favorite things to do all day!

Then we split the kids into older and younger groups for Bible time and ESL classes and then do tutoring and homework help. The kids leave at 4:00 and that's usually when most of us take showers to cool off and get ready to leave for dinner at 5:00. We've gone into town almost every night this week for dinner and afterwards we get ice cream! Then back at the orphanage we hangout and talk and play cards until we all get tired around 11:00.

Last night we got to experience our first power outage due to a storm, but it only lasted about two minutes, which was convenient because we were playing an intense game of Tick. The rain was so loud on the metal roof that we could barely hear each other, but it was a nice sound to fall asleep to. :)

That's about it as far as day-to-day living goes. Life in Santa Barbara is the best.

¡Hasta luego!
 Cassidy

Love Lessons

I've had a lot of people ask me what exactly I'm doing here, and why is it called an orphanage if the kids aren't what we think of as "orphans?" Well let me explain...

Honduras is a very poor country and getting married young and having many children is extremely common among the women here. Some women don't even get married, they just change partners constantly, having many children all with different fathers. This creates a lot of problems, as the children are not well cared for since there are so many of them living with a single mother. Many children here suffer from malnutrition, don't shower regularly, and don't get all the love and attention they need to grow and thrive. Some children as young as 10 work on coffee plantations to provide food money for their families. Others may come from homes where they have been abused. A few children we know have actually been abandoned by their parents and have had to grow up at very young ages in order to take care of their many siblings. 
It is common for families in Honduras to live in very small houses with only one bed. Babies often sleep on the floor because it is safer to sleep on the dirt than to risk falling off a cramped mattress. Each story is different, but usually just as heart-breaking as the last. I will post specific stories throughout the summer.

Footsteps Missions has come to Santa Barbara to help remedy the situation a little and to give these kids, known as economic orphans, a safe haven where they can be cared for and their basic needs can be met. We are teaching them how to love and giving them hope for their future, hence the name "Jardin de Amor y Esperanza" or "Garden of Love and Hope" orphanage. 

Front gate of orphanage:
Garden of Love and Hope
Matthew 19:14
Mind - Body - Spirit
(Door says Welcome)

Here at el Jardin, the children are fed a nutritious lunch, which for some may be their only meal of the day, do chores to teach them responsibility, participate in hygiene activities such as hand washing, teeth brushing, and flossing, have Bible and ESL classes, and have tutoring and homework time.  

The schedule works out really well and the kids know exactly what to do when and are really good about doing their chores! They love to play games and do puzzles in their free time, and going to el campo (the soccer field) is always a favorite activity. They also love to make friendship bracelets and share them with us.

The children are so sweet, you would never know by just looking at them what their stories are. They come to the program everyday with smiles on their faces and give us plenty of hugs. The younger kids love to climb all over us and be held. 

Each child has a unique story which if you look hard enough is reflected in their personality and the way they behave around others, but they are so wonderful and are making great progress everyday! Even the newest child in the program, a 7-year-old boy named Ariel, who started last week, comes to the program everyday with a huge smile and loves to hug us! 

I am so blessed to be able to spend six weeks with these wonderful children! They are truly amazing and we enjoy learning from them everyday. 

Me & Ariel :)

Hopefully that answers some of the questions about why I am here and what we do here at el Jardin. Leave a comment if you have any others!

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” 

Matthew 19:14

Arrival

Guess what, I'm HERE! IN HONDURAS :D

(First of all let me say that now that I'm in Honduras, Blogspot has decided everything should be in Spanish, haha. Good job, internet.)

The last 20 hours or so have been quite a ride. As usual, I packed at the very last minute. So last minute that I was worried I'd miss my flight because we ended up leaving late and hitting traffic. Good news is, I didn't miss my flight and I made it here safely. :)

From the moment Maddie dropped me off in Tampa, it was a very crazy day. Little things kept going wrong or making me frustrated. Unexpected charges at check-in, mistake during security, spilling food on my shirt, reading flight times wrong, etc. It was nuts! I was so glad when I stepped out of customs and saw Matt (Footsteps intern) waiting for us. I was finally in Honduras and all was right with the world!

Since then I have been bouncing off the walls! Jennifer McClellan was laughing at me because she wasn't surprised I was my typical self all happy, smiley, and bubbly, and SO EXCITED to be in Honduras. I'm so predictable. ;)

I was just so excited to be here last night and I didn't want to sit around. The first team was so grateful for hot showers and relaxation that they were all hiding in their rooms for a while and they didn't even know I had arrived. It was driving me nuts that we were in Honduras and the only thing I could do was sit still in my hotel room. That didn't last long though, I went on a mission to find Marcie and eventually did. 

It was weird because I have been to this hotel before, and the last time I was here it was our last night in Honduras and we were all soaking up every last moment together and having fun. This time it was my first night here (and a few others') and everyone else's last night, so they were just exhausted from being here for six weeks and the long debriefing weekend at the lake, so they couldn't quite share in my overwhelming excitement.

We ended up all meeting in the lobby to hear Jheny, the orphanage director, tell us the kids' stories. The first team didn't hear them until this week and they suggested that Jheny tell us at the beginning of our trip so that we could better pray for and serve these kids while we are here. It was so hard to hear what these kids have gone through. These children that I know and love, and those I've only seen smiling pictures of, have been abused, abandoned, hungry, taken advantage of... the list just goes on and on... We see these happy, smiling faces and we think they must be doing great, but they smile because they finally have a happy sanctuary to run to. They have found people who love them, care about them, feed them, hug them. Some of them don't know how to respond to that kind of attention yet, but I'm excited to help them learn. :)
These children need to know that God's love is unfailing, unlike people here on Earth. And although their parents may let them down, their Heavenly Father never will.

On the way to Tampa, Maddie made a comment that really stuck with me. She said "growing up did you ever expect your little sister to be driving you to the airport to go to another country?!" And I told her no... My life is far from what I had grow up expecting it to be. I knew I wanted to be happy, go to college, have nice friends, eventually have a family, become a teacher, etc., but it wasn't until high school that I really started investigating traveling abroad, and it wasn't until coming to Olivet that I started fully trusting in God with all aspects of my life. And now look! I'm sitting in a dark hotel room in San Pedro Sula because I'm so excited to be in Honduras that I can't sleep! :)

My grandma has asked me kind of the same question lately. "Did you ever dream that you'd be doing all this? Going to two countries this summer?" It's crazy, I know, but it's perfect. It's what I prayed for. It's what I've wanted for my life for just the last couple years as I have grown to trust God with my future and give myself to serve Him.

(For a reminder why I'm here, read my first two blogs from January - one and two)

So here I am. In San Pedro Sula. Sitting in bed at Metrotel with the lights off because Shelby and Lanae are still sleeping. I am so not a morning person, or even a get-up-a-single-second-before-my-alarm-goes-off kind of person, but instead of getting up at 8:50 like I planned, I woke up at 6:00. Then I tried to sleep and woke up again at 7:15... I've pretty much been up since then trying to wrap my mind around the fact that I'm in Honduras again. It's weird because I'm in limbo again, like the Panama airport. I'm not at home, but I'm not in Santa Barbara either... I'm in this transition phase, preparing my heart and mind for what I'm about to do. 

This is going to be quite the adventure, but I am so ready!

Here I am

Lord, send me

All of my life

I make an offering

More updates to come! Pray for me and my team as we leave San Pedro and take a three-hour ride in the back of a pick-up truck to Santa Barbara and FINALLY see the kids! :)

¡Hasta luego!

This is my prayer

I felt this was an appropriate song for today. :)

Plus the Burkeys helped get me prepared for this trip, so I think it's fitting to have them send me off in song! ;)

I am poor
I am weak
I have fears
I have needs
I have sinned
Lord hear my plea
Apart from you
I'm incomplete

I will not say to the potter
Why have you made me this way?
But surrender my life to the Father
Keep molding and kneading this clay

Make my life shine like the stars
In the dark of the night
Your kingdom come
Here as it is in heaven

You are more
Than my need
You create all good things
You breathe life
Sustaining me
Your word is light
That we may see

We have this treasure in jars of clay
That the one who is able and willing to save
Is living again and inside of me
This is hope of glory. 

This is love's great story.

Ready... Set... GO!

This is it! Today is the day! 

It's been exactly 15 months and 4 days since I left Honduras, and I've been dreaming about going back since... and now look, that day is finally here! :)

Although it still feels a little unreal, I am definitely excited! I am about to embark on a six-week adventure that will change my life!

Six weeks of loving on some of my favorite children in the world.

Six weeks to build relationships with new friends.

Six weeks to impact the lives of so many children.

Six weeks of ministry.

Six weeks of ESL.

Six weeks of speaking Spanish.

Six weeks in a different culture.

Six weeks of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Six weeks to experience God in new ways.

Six weeks surrendered all to Him.

I pray that I will be open to what God has to teach me, but not be so focused on what I want to hear that I miss out on how He can use me to reach others. I want to be an open vessel, for God's own personal use.

Melt me. Mold me. Fill me. Use me.

This is my prayer.

Honduras, here I come! :)

“The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”
― Frederick Buechner

What's next?

I leave for Honduras in a week. ONE WEEK. This is all so surreal. 

I've already been on one amazing trip this summer, I can't possibly begin to imagine what the next seven weeks will look like. God is going to teach me so much and I am so excited!

The past month has been quite the adventure. Going to Paraguay was so perfect. God spoke to me through everything and I was able to make long-lasting relationships with so many new people. The trip has given me a new outlook on life and I am trusting God like never before and have had so much joy. I have seriously barely even gotten stressed, angry, or upset about anything lately. And those things typically come easy for me in the crazy situations that happen all too frequently around here. It may be cliché to say "that mission trip changed my life" but seriously guys, it did. 

Since the trip I have been praying about my future and talking it through with relatives and friends, and as of now, with some very clear confirmations from the Lord, I am planning to move to Paraguay next year after graduation to teach. Of course there are many things standing in the way of that plan, such as the most important - a teaching position in Paraguay! - but it will all come in time. If God wants me there, He'll make it happen. 

I am getting really excited about this possibility and God has just sent me a bunch of little confirmations along the way. Even if my plans to teach in Paraguay don't quite work out, I know two things: 1) I WILL teach abroad in the very near future, and 2) I WILL return to Paraguay in the very near future as well. I can't help but feel at peace about the whole situation. Every time I think about Paraguay and look at all the pictures (All 2600+ of them) my whole heart and soul just KNOW I'll be back there again, walking those streets again, talking to those kids again, living that life again... And I am seriously so stoked for whenever that time comes back around.

I am putting this all in God's hands and I'm just going to smile and pray along the way. I know God has so much to teach me in the next year and I am ready and willing to be open to it all. I am learning how to be the best representation of Christ I can be and I am also learning how to trust that God has everything under control, down to the most minute detail. 

My life seems pretty exciting right now, and I know it'll only get better from here. 

Thanks for coming along for the ride... :)

Church in the morning! Last time at LGN for seven weeks! Let's see what God has to teach me next....

Dios les bendiga! <3

Cassidy

Family

Just a few short weeks ago I arrived in Paraguay with 23 others, most of whom were strangers, and I began to meet even more. 
Two weeks later I returned home with some of the best family I could ever have...

Our family :)

Con caras locas :P

This trip not only prepared me for the exciting things God has planned for me next, but I was able to build relationships with so many new people. College students, missionaries, missionary kids, Paraguayans... I met people from many different states and many countries who speak quite a few different languages... but I call them all my family. :)


I miss waking up everyday and being with all of them, but I've hardly even had time to really miss them because we've been talking NONSTOP since we've gotten back!

Technology amazes me and has greatly blessed us this week. We have had a long ongoing conversation thread on Facebook that over ten of us are active on, we've simultaneously watched Mulan in four states and two countries, we've video chatted with over 8 people at once in four states and three countries, ahh the list goes on! Technology has kept us together in very creative ways even though we are miles apart and I am so grateful!


I am really going to miss talking to these friends everyday, because I know this won't last forever... but I am so excited to have these new friends as part of my life now.


I love you all! :)