Mending Bodies and Healing Hearts

I'm here at Hospital Loma de Luz! I still can't believe it! Someone pinch me because it still feels like   I am dreaming! What a whirlwind the past few weeks have been. I left language school on May 20th and returned to Maine for a month to continue fundraising. I am just blown away by the generosity of people. What a blessing you all are! As of  the week of June 8th, I had my official approval to leave for Honduras and on Father's Day I was officially on my way! After two days of travel and staying overnight with another wonderful missionary family in San Pedro Sula I arrived at Hospital Loma de Luz. I have spent the past few days settling into my apartment, meeting all of the other missionaries here, and going into the city for groceries, etc. I started orientation in the hospital yesterday which was also my birthday! What an amazing birthday present to be able to start the work that God has called me to do on my birthday! God is so good!  After finishing a few weeks...

 My dear friends and family, I can't believe that my time here at language school in Antigua, Guatemala is coming to an end. Time has gone by so quickly as I am here for only three more weeks! God is doing amazing things here that has been so fun to be part of! I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here studying Spanish and meeting friends who are also beginning their journeys as new missionaries as well. The bond that we have with each other in Christ and what God has called us to do is amazing!  Although I have visited  a couple of orphanages and volunteered with at the hospital a little bit, this time in Guatemala has been that of preparation for when I will be leaving to work at Hospital Loma de Luz in Honduras full time. I am hoping to leave for Honduras at the end of June. The the role I will be taking as nurse in at the hospital is not a paid position as the hospital is missionary and donation run. I am required to raise money to $1,300 a month in financial support t...

¡Hola from Guatemala!     una Alfombra made of dyed sawdust  It has been crazy here in Antigua due to Semana Santa (Holy Week) being last week. It has finally returned to normal life. Guatemalans start celebrating the death of Christ six weeks before Easter with a procesión (parade) every Sunday with the climax being Good Friday. Each of one of these procesións consists of a float or two that depicts a different scene in the chronological story of the death of Christ, an orchestra, lots of burning incense, and hundreds of Guatemalan attendants. The huge floats (some weighing upwards of 7,000 lbs) are carried through the narrow, cobblestone streets of Antigua by hundred of Guatemalans. These floats are carried over very artistic and unique alfombras (carpets) made of pine needles, colored sawdust, fruit, and other things. Streets are often blocked off for hours with no alternative route as the procesións slowly make their way through town. These proc...

¡Hola mis amigos! ¿Cómo estás? I can't believe that I have been here in Antigua Guatemala for over  una semana (a week) already but then on the other hand, it feels like I have been here forever! It has been quite the adventure! I arrived at my host family's home late last Saturday night so I was pleasantly surprised to see the gorgeous view of the erupting el volcán fuego (the volcano fire) and the montañas (mountains) from my porch on Sunday morning. El volcán fuego erupted for several days in a row. What a beautiful sight! When it became very quiet at night, I could actually hear the firecracker-like sound of el volcán fuego erupting from my room.           I started my Spanish studies at Christian Spanish Academy on Monday morning. The school is just a short walk from my host family's house. My studies consist of 5 hours of private tutoring a day with mi maestra (my teacher) Orquidia. This sweet Guatemalan lady is filled with the joy...

Last night, I was looking at the weather for Antigua, Guatemala and discovered that the biggest adventure of my life is now on the 10 day forecast! And so it begins! One week from today, I will be leaving my ever so familiar home and family in Maine and flying over 3,300 miles to Antigua, Guatemala, where I have never been, to study Spanish for 3 months. After language school, I will be returning to Honduras in June, Lord willing, to work as a nurse at Hospital Loma de Luz on the South Eastern coast for a least a 2 year term. I am so overwhelmed with emotion right now. Sad to leave everything and everyone so familiar and dear to my heart at home, excited to get to know God in a deeper way by following His calling, scared about facing the unknown, happy to be on a new adventure and then to return to the people of Honduras who stole my heart 3 years ago, overwhelmed by the generosity of people who are making my mission in Honduras possible.  Above all, I am thrilled to have this opp...