Arrival in Honduras

Greetings everyone,

I wanted to let you all know first of all that I have arrived safely in Honduras. Already it has been quite the experience. Already I have learned a lot about Honduras, its history and culture. Yesterday, John picked me up and we drove three hours from San Pedro Sula (where I flew into) to Santa Rosa de Copan, to his house, where I am now staying.

This morning was a lot of getting introduced to the city and the people. I was shown how to get to the supermarket a couple cafes, the farmers market, and to Caritas. Today I met many people who work at Caritas (Caritas is like the parish center where a lot of work for the parish is done). I met Padre Efrain who I will be working with. They were all very welcoming of me and seem glad to have me here. However, the people here speak Spanish very rapidly and I have a very hard time understanding...this is going to be a major challenge for me, learning to understand the Spanish. There are also a lot of slang words that I have to learn.

We also visited a comedor today which provides lunch to young children. We helped serve them arroz con leche (rice in milk) and baldias (I think that is how it is spelled...it is basically refried beans, cheese, cream, and sometimes meat in a tortilla...they're quite popular around here).

The next few days and next week will be quite packed and intense and busy. Tomorrow we are going out to one of the sectors for a meeting which is about an hour drive away. Sunday there is a big mass with lots people. there are other things scheduled as well, but I don't remember off the top of my head.

Next week, though, John is planning on taking me out to one of the rural villages (aldeas, I think they're called) and leave me there for a few days; This will be quite an intense experience as I will be very challenged to use and improve my Spanish as I will not have anyone there with me who speaks English. I am excited for this experience but a little nervous as I know it will challenge me to grow and to step outside my comfort zone.

I have been reflecting on this idea, that I need to put myself out there and look foolish sometimes, and go through the struggles, because it is through these struggles that I am going to grow. It is very easy for me to just smile and nod and to let John do the talking. I was reflecting on Christ's love, and His absolute self-giving. He gave Himself completely for us, risking total rejection, risking facing ridicule, but yet He entered fully into humanity, gave Himself, in absolute love, absolute self-giving...He did not bottle Himself up inside. I am realizing that I have to trust in this love and put myself out there as well, to give myself, by attempting to speak Spanish more even if I screw up and look foolish. We must not be afraid to put ourselves out there. Pray for me, that I may be filled with humble courage, to embrace the struggles, to step outside my comfort zone, to not let fear of uncomfortable situations hold me back, but that I may trust fully in the Love of Christ, to let Him work through me, even in uncomfortable situations. Also, I have realized that if all are in His image then to encounter Him more fully, I must struggle to encounter Him in all people, even people who speak a foreign language from me

Let us not put the Light of Christ under a bushel basket but let it shine through us in all situations. And let us search for His light in all people, and help them to discover His light as well, and to let His love be revealed to them more fully. I have a lot of learning and growing to do, and it will be challenging, but I will trust in Him, in the God who is the God of ALL nations, of ALL languages, of ALL people, and who made ALL people in His image.
May God's light, love, and peace be with you all!

Your friend and brother in Christ,
Kevin Earleywine