Yesterday we were able to have a really American experience; we went to the mall in the capital which was one of the nicer malls that I have ever been to. It was an odd experience being in such a nice place and knowing how many people were struggling with basic needs just a few miles away. At the mall we were able to see Harry Potter in English (for only 3 dollars, try to find that price in the states) and eat at TGIFridays, it was a nice break from all of the learning and an enjoyable day. Well at church today we did not see anything new, kind of a letdown I was hoping for a wedding. Once I got back from church I did some laundry and now I am typing this blog. To recap the week, we have been moving along swimmingly with our Spanish and technical classes. My Spanish is still improving however I would like it to be better. After our classes we have been playing some soccer at the local school, sometimes some of the local children join us in the game, it is a fun time. No matter when we play and actually where we go, we are always a sight to see. We always receive looks from everyone we pass and when we play soccer people literally gather around and watch. The looks are not looks of disgust or anything of malice, just pure curiosity and it is something that we have all gotten used to. During all of our technical classes we talk a lot about the problems that the youth are dealing with today and how we will be expected to work with the youth and through what programs, etc. Just a little background, when we are assigned to our site we will be assigned to three different organizations, one primary school, one high school, and one non-governmental organization. As someone who has a background in special education I am of special interest to the people of Honduras as requests for my skills are becoming more and more common. A lot of the problems that the youth are dealing with here are actually very similar to the problems that youth deal with in the United States. Maras (gangs), drogas (drugs), and problemas con la familia (family problems) are the main issues, all which are very similar to the problems in the states. The only major difference that I see between the two situations is that youth here in Honduras do not have dreams or expectations of greatness. If there is one thing that the American people truly do right, it is that they teach their youth to dream and to aspire to greatness. That expectation just is not present here and there are numerous reasons, many of them cultural, for it that I would like to attempt to explain in another blog post. When being presented with all of these issues as well as the length of time that we are expected to be here the task is very overwhelming and seems impossible. I find it best to just simply trust in God that he has put me in a situation where I can help and take it one day at a time. When there are times when I am overwhelmed with everything I find it comforting to think back to before I left when I was talking to someone and I told them that I was trying to prepare for my trip and they simply said, “You have been preparing your entire life, you are ready.” It really is stunning but I HAVE been prepared my entire life for this and I know that I will be successful. I can’t understand how people can say that God does not have a plan for each and every one of us, to me it is so incredibly crystal clear that this is what God wants me to be doing so I know that I am in good hands. I have always been amazed how things just seem to always work out great for me and it is becoming more and more clear that it is because I am allowing God to work through me; all I have to do is trust in Him.
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