It´s time to get real.

Well, I think it is safe to say my group and I are, if not already, soon to depart the honeymoon stage here at the Finca. Our schedules and expereinces are becoming very real, challenging, and clear. Though, they are accompanied by many joys as well.

We’ve been told my many of the “expereinced” Vols that this past month has presented more than the usual amount of challenges...both physically and emotionally. In the “conviences-that-are-clearly-conviences-in-the-campo” department (campo meaning rural Honduras), we have faced some battles with running water the past month. We are well into the rainy season here. Rainy season means that the weather cools off to the low 70’s, which is great. It also means that we get large amounts of rain. I have never experinecd so much rain with such force before living here. On Halloween, it down poured for the whole day and nearly continued for 36 hours. This of course created a lot of problems for us, including some minor flooding of surrounding areas, no running water due to complications with our water pipes, and limited travel to town due to bad road conditions. These are all inconviences, but they also turn into adventures. When we don’t have water, we find ways to exist. We start to collect run-off rain water from our roof, bathe and wash laundry in the nearby river, and conserve every little bit of water we do have. It is exciting, really. And, in all of this I have learned how easily people can adapt to pretty challenging conditions. In the States, I would go crazy if we were without water for 4 days, as I think we all would. But here, it just seems to be normal and things go on.

Emotionally...life here can certainly be challenging. I expected that I would encounter some rough situations working in an orphanage. Yet, expecting and experiencing are two different things entirely. Through these struggles, though, it becomes very clear that the Finca is needed greatly in Honduras for both our children and those who will come in the future. Please continue to pray for our children and our community as we continue to grow and struggle together.

Despite these struggles, there is so much love and joy here. I have begun spending more time with the beautiful girls I work with and it is such a gift. Their smiles, laughter, and desire to be loved is so warming. It is amazing how much all of our children thrive when given love and having their basic needs met. They find happiness in such simple expereinces. It is really amazing how full life can be when it is so simple.