Love, Love, Love!!

This weekend was our first weekend we stayed here in Copan Ruinas. It was nice just to experience what life is like and what people do for fun! Some of us went Saturday to La Pintada (a small village outside of Copan). It took us about an hour to walk there from the office and then we met up with a few children who showed us the way to the waterfall!! The hike was uphill most of the way which was hard for us Americans, but those sweet kids would run up ahead barefoot and stop and wait for us! The view was gorgeous and the waterfall was so clear. We enjoyed eating lunch up there and playing with the kids. On the way back down I held Franky who’s three and the cutest little boy!!! I felt like he was the first Honduran I’ve been able to communicate well with, probably because neither of us know very much Spanish!! J He would point and count the cows but he could only count to three so I helped him out. Then I would point to other animals like chickens, a horse, a dog and say “Que Es?” and he would name the animals!

When we got back down to the houses a few of us went to Harleen and Franky’s house because their mom wanted to show us how to make dolls. On the streets in Copan Ruinas little girls will come up to you with a bag of different size dolls and try to sell them to you. I was soo excited that we finally had the opportunity to sit in a true Honduran home with a family!! When we got there the mother was very hospitable and found us all chairs to sit in and then asked who wanted to make one. No one volunteered so I decided to do it and I’m soo glad I did. She was really sweet and showed me step by step what to do and when I definitely didn’t do it right (most of the time) she would take it and help me! (The dolls are made out of dried corn husks that have been dyed).

After we left her house we went to a local fabric store run entirely by women who use a loom to weave scarves, purses, headbands, ect. The money they earn goes toward feeding their families and buying school supplies.

On the way back to Copan we took a different trail and passed by a mini Mayan ruin. The main Mayan Ruins are located right outside Copan Ruinas on the drive to Camp Peace but apparently there are random Mayan remains scattered throughout this area that are free to explore! The one we saw was a bunch of large rocks that at one point probably had carvings on them but the only one we could identify was a frog. Frogs in the Mayan culture symbolize fertility.

                This past week we’ve all really been focused on love. How important it is, what your intentions are, and making sure you love all people. It’s easy to get caught up at camp thinking “oh it’s just another day that we have to occupy the children” but really it’s another day to demonstrate God’s love to one another. This last weekend at a devo we talked about 1 Corinthians 13 which most of us have heard multiple times in our lives but it was a good reminder. One girl brought up the fact that when you read it different points pop out and certain ways to love are harder than others at different times because of what you’re going through at the moment in life. You may struggle with patients one week and being boastful the next. Another point that was made was how it’s those who you struggle to love the most that really need it and in the process of showing love to them you grow closer to God. For example at camp their might be a child who really just doesn’t pay attention and acts out a lot but because of it you pray to God more for the strength to love that child and due to that dependence on him you are strengthened. Not to say that these kids here are bad, that was just an example. Really the children at camp have been great! I’ve loved getting to teach them, play with them, and just find out more about them. But the next time you’re asking God “why am I in this situation, or struggle” instead of asking God to take it away we should be thanking him and running to accept the challenge because in the end we will be strengthened in Christ and more prepared for the next trial ahead.

                Please be praying for all the interns this week. We’ve had several get sick and we are all definitely running low on energy. Pray that we will be strengthened through the trials we have ahead of us and remember to thank God for your own personal trials and growth.