November is a slightly different month here at UPH because camp is now over for the year, so the routine I was pretty much adjusted to was set to completely change! I was worried I'd be short of things to do but that has definitely not been the case! For example, a few weeks ago we had 3 days of end of year programme evaluation which I got to be a part of. Lots of meetings and discussion but was really interesting to be Involved in the process and see where we can improve next year.
However a part of this month has been taken up with all the end of year trips so I thought I'd use this post to tell you where I've been! There are 3 separate end of year trips for camp, split up into grades. The 1st-2nd graders trip was an afternoon out to visit the Mayan ruins that sit just outside of Copan Ruinas. We were taken round all the different ruins with a guide, learning about how the Mayans lived and worked many years ago. For example how they didn't have money in those times but used seeds from cocoa plants to buy food. It was very interesting!
The 3rd-4th graders trip was out to Aguas Calientes (hot springs) where we spent the morning swimming and playing in one of the pools which is filled with the warm water from the springs.
After we'd had lunch and swam a bit more, we left and went on to visit another newly opened archeological site here in Copan which is called El Rastrojon. We walked around the site and learned about how it had been discovered and restored.
The trip with our 'grandes' or 5th-6th graders was a weekend away to San Pedro Sula. This trip is earned on merit and good behaviour from the year so not everyone gets to go, we had about 22 kids with us from both camps. We left on a Friday afternoon and took most of the day to get to San Pedro. We stayed in the house of a missionary couple from the states who are living and working with the people of the city. The trip featured it's usual components, such as going to the City Mall to eat and then going to the cinema (we saw Cloudy with a chance of meatballs 2 or 'lluvia de hamburguesas 2') and on Sunday we drove up to the coast, to Tela, to go to the beach which was GORGEOUS and for many of them their first trip to a beach.
However for me, the best part of the trip which was a new addition this year, was a service project. On Saturday morning we all went to a 'Hogar de niños' in the city which houses abandoned, orphaned, or abused children. A Christian charity called Orphan Helpers is working there and we went with the purpose of sharing songs, games and a short bible message with all the kids. The visit had such an impression on me! Lots of the kids who we met were suffering with either a physical or mental disability which was difficult to see. There was even a room for tiny babies who, for some reason or another, had been abandoned by their parents and been brought to this orphanage for protection, so desperately sad! But despite the difficult stories we were hearing it was so encouraging to see our kids playing with all the other children, who on the whole seemed happy and well looked after. As we were in the bus on our way home one of our girls, Karla, poignantly said that after going there she feels like we should all be very thankful and appreciate our parents more. Was great to see how much they had learned from the visit as well as us leaders.
Aside from these trips I've been busy with other things. I am continuing to meet up with Roscelyn which is going really well and we're having good discussions. I've also started going along to a kids club which is on every Monday evening and is run by a man called Pastor Fabio. It takes place in his house and all the kids from our neighbourhood go to it. Every week it's different but usually there is a bible story and a small craft. Great opportunity to get to know some of the kids in my area :) and Pastor Fabio and his wife are extremely friendly and generous.
What can you pray for?
- join me in giving thanks to God for all the ways he has blessed me in my time here so far, so easy to see how he has been answering prayers! I feel at home here and really loving my work :)
- pray for all UPH staff as we start to prepare for vacation camps in January. Found out I'll be teaching English at Camp Hope, so pray in my prep as well!
I also give thanks for all of you! Thanks so much for continuing to support me by praying, sending emails, letters, texts etc. Such an encouragement :)
