Today started a bit earlier than most days so that we could browse the cultural booths set up by the students. At each booth, students had displays showing various aspects of the Honduran culture like dress, weather, geography, and food in each of the departments (states).  We then had the opportunity to purchase a variety foods found in the departments.  Several of us also met our sponsored students while we perused the booths.  That 03was a very special experience.  If you have the opportunity to sponsor a student, I would highly encourage it.  You would be amazed at how grateful and hard-working the students are. 02

From there, we went inside to see more songs, dances, and skits by the students of the various grades.  We were all really impressed with their productions, especially the drama.  It depicted the evil forces of Satan trying to win over the soul of a boy.  Then Jesus came into the picture and defeated all the evil powers.  In the end, everyone was bowing at Jesus’s feet.  It was quite a picture of the world and what is and is to come. 01

There was a little time in between the presentations and our first class of the day so many of us used the time to bond with the students, playing various hand-slapping games.  Of course, the kids also wanted their photos taken – A LOT.

Teaching today was much like the other days.  The only real difference was the age of the students.  We worked with 7-9th graders in the morning.  In the afternoon, we taught three classes of high school students.  What amazed me were the number of students at the high school level who attended all three days of classes even though we taught the same lessons to each group.  They attended by choice and were always disappointed when the class ended even when we ended 15 or 20 minutes late.  I can’t remember a time when I was teaching in the United States where kids were ever disappointed that class was over.  In Honduras, education is a privilege and the kids definitely treat it as such. 00

After lessons were over for the day, some of us enjoyed another game of baseball with the kids, while others moved more dirt and rocks.  It was really nice to see kids of all ages playing together.

One of our team members, Shari, spent the day facilitating and co-leading a workshop with Pastor Daniel for the Methodist Pastors in Honduras about invitational evangelism and radical hospitality.  The pastors had amazing ideas that were creative and innovative.  They left excited to implement their new plans and strategies.

We ended the day with dinner at the mission house, followed by a devotion at the hotel led by Jen.  She encouraged us to reflect on how God provides so we shouldn’t worry.  As a group, we decided that we worry too much and don’t trust enough.  If we were able to trust more and step outside what is comfortable and easy, we can better be the hands and feet of Jesus, in our home, our country, and our world.