What's a fufurufa?
Well, it's been a while, blogging audience. I had a wonderful visit to my home in Indiana. I took part in two weddings, spent time with family and friends, and found some needed rest. I traveled to different parts of Indiana and spent time in 3 other states! Now, I'm back. There's a lot to talk about. I decided back in November that although I was learning Spanish through talking with people and studying at home, I wanted to spend at least a few weeks doing some more intensive Spanish work at a language school. So... here I am!
Yesterday, I took a two hour bus ride from Tegucigalpa to the small city of Siguatepeque. It certainly feels different than Tegucigalpa! It has the feeling of a small country town. This morning I went for a run (outside! by myself!) and passed farmers and people walking places who smiled and said buenas dias. No one looked scared or in a hurry. What a breath of fresh air! I am living with an older woman named Nery. I'm not sure how old she is, but she has grandchildren and is very sweet. I have a room upstairs, a bathroom, living room and a lovely porch complete with hammock. There are no bars on my windows and I am free to leave them open and let the fresh air come in. This is certainly a treat for this city girl. The air feels fresh and clean with the occasional scent of a campfire coming through. Sounds of mariachi music, spanish, cooking, dogs barking, children playing and roosters crowing drift through my windows instead of cars, sirens, and fireworks. Right now I am enjoying taking this in, but I'll be honest I wanted to find that rooster in the wee hours of this morning and make a soup out of him.
Each day, I will have 4 hours of individual spanish lessons with a tutor. Reyna, my teacher, is really interesting and very helpful. I learned so much just yesterday. I can tell she has experience with helping people of many different levels of Spanish. It's fun to be able to joke and learn some new phrases. Yesterday, my new word of the day was "fufurufo(a)"- this describes a person who is dressed up, perhaps has money, or looks fancy. It doesn't necessarily have a negative connotation of being snobby, so I like it. So yesterday, since I came on the charter bus where you buy tickets instead of on a chicken bus to the city, I might be considered fufurufa. There's your word of the day!
Some things that I am looking forward to:
1. Learning more Spanish (obviously, I suppose)
2. There is a mennonite population here and apparently they have both a donut shop and an ice cream shop. I intend to find both, but especially the ice cream shop. I know it will be good.
3. Living with a Honduran and learning more about the culture through this. Even though I've lived here for 3 and a half years, I've always lived with North Americans so I think this will be good for me.
4. Eating Honduran food. Nery cooks pretty much exclusively Honduran food from what she has told me so I will get my fill of that.
5. Walking around outside and exploring a new place.
It should be a great two weeks. This time is also serving as a time for me to get away, to pray and to really ask God about what he has for me. Some things you can be praying for me for:
1. This year has been full of change, and during this time I am preparing to make some more decisions and changes, which you will hear more about once I make them. The Lord has truly given me a passion and vision for being here and I want to be sure that my decisions line up with that.
2. Peace. While making decisions, I can become anxious and restless. Please pray that I would feel his peace come over me during this time. Pray that I can keep my eyes fixed solely on him and what he wants for me.
3. Language learning. Pray that I would really be able to soak in and use the Spanish I am learning to have a more effective ministry.
4. Eyes open for God's will in each day. Sometimes I get so focused on the big picture that I forget that all I truly can do is live out God's plan for each day. I want to wake up each morning asking God, what do you have for TODAY? There are needs all around and I don't want to miss out because I'm not focused.
The verse I've been meditating on lately is from Ephesians 3:20 "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably (abundantly!) more than all we ask or imagine through his power that is at work within us.." I pray this over all of my requests and each one of you as you pray. I pray that the Lord would make you aware that he wants to do even more than what you can possibly dream up.
I pray for all of you today, that as you go about your daily routines you would be blessed. I pray that he would open up opportunities in front of you to serve as well. I pray that you would learn something new today and be stretched and encouraged. Grace and peace to you!
Yesterday, I took a two hour bus ride from Tegucigalpa to the small city of Siguatepeque. It certainly feels different than Tegucigalpa! It has the feeling of a small country town. This morning I went for a run (outside! by myself!) and passed farmers and people walking places who smiled and said buenas dias. No one looked scared or in a hurry. What a breath of fresh air! I am living with an older woman named Nery. I'm not sure how old she is, but she has grandchildren and is very sweet. I have a room upstairs, a bathroom, living room and a lovely porch complete with hammock. There are no bars on my windows and I am free to leave them open and let the fresh air come in. This is certainly a treat for this city girl. The air feels fresh and clean with the occasional scent of a campfire coming through. Sounds of mariachi music, spanish, cooking, dogs barking, children playing and roosters crowing drift through my windows instead of cars, sirens, and fireworks. Right now I am enjoying taking this in, but I'll be honest I wanted to find that rooster in the wee hours of this morning and make a soup out of him.
Each day, I will have 4 hours of individual spanish lessons with a tutor. Reyna, my teacher, is really interesting and very helpful. I learned so much just yesterday. I can tell she has experience with helping people of many different levels of Spanish. It's fun to be able to joke and learn some new phrases. Yesterday, my new word of the day was "fufurufo(a)"- this describes a person who is dressed up, perhaps has money, or looks fancy. It doesn't necessarily have a negative connotation of being snobby, so I like it. So yesterday, since I came on the charter bus where you buy tickets instead of on a chicken bus to the city, I might be considered fufurufa. There's your word of the day!
Some things that I am looking forward to:
1. Learning more Spanish (obviously, I suppose)
2. There is a mennonite population here and apparently they have both a donut shop and an ice cream shop. I intend to find both, but especially the ice cream shop. I know it will be good.
3. Living with a Honduran and learning more about the culture through this. Even though I've lived here for 3 and a half years, I've always lived with North Americans so I think this will be good for me.
4. Eating Honduran food. Nery cooks pretty much exclusively Honduran food from what she has told me so I will get my fill of that.
5. Walking around outside and exploring a new place.
It should be a great two weeks. This time is also serving as a time for me to get away, to pray and to really ask God about what he has for me. Some things you can be praying for me for:
1. This year has been full of change, and during this time I am preparing to make some more decisions and changes, which you will hear more about once I make them. The Lord has truly given me a passion and vision for being here and I want to be sure that my decisions line up with that.
2. Peace. While making decisions, I can become anxious and restless. Please pray that I would feel his peace come over me during this time. Pray that I can keep my eyes fixed solely on him and what he wants for me.
3. Language learning. Pray that I would really be able to soak in and use the Spanish I am learning to have a more effective ministry.
4. Eyes open for God's will in each day. Sometimes I get so focused on the big picture that I forget that all I truly can do is live out God's plan for each day. I want to wake up each morning asking God, what do you have for TODAY? There are needs all around and I don't want to miss out because I'm not focused.
The verse I've been meditating on lately is from Ephesians 3:20 "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably (abundantly!) more than all we ask or imagine through his power that is at work within us.." I pray this over all of my requests and each one of you as you pray. I pray that the Lord would make you aware that he wants to do even more than what you can possibly dream up.
I pray for all of you today, that as you go about your daily routines you would be blessed. I pray that he would open up opportunities in front of you to serve as well. I pray that you would learn something new today and be stretched and encouraged. Grace and peace to you!
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