From Rachel

Dear friends and family,

Greetings from Honduras! I just wanted to send out an update to let you know what is going on in my life and fill you in on my first week on the mission field of Balfate, Honduras.

I arrived last Sunday. Everything went so smoothly, there were TWO people in front of us in customs--nothing went wrong in the airport at all! We (Natalie and I) met up with her family and headed to their house (a four hour drive across the country).

The week has been so busy! I have been taking some Spanish classes that are pretty helpful. As far as ministry opportunities, most of my work has been with little kids, which I love. On Wednesday mornings one of the doctors here at the hospital goes out to an elementry school at a nearby village. I am able to go with him and help with that. It's amazing to hear these beautiful Honduran children singing bible verses and "Holy,Holy, Holy" at the top of their lungs. I've had the opportunity to teach two extremely cute little girls (ages 5 and 3) English. They were very sweet; the lesson helped their English and my Spanish. On Fridays, I go to the dump to serve food to the children that live there.

There have been hard parts on this trip so far, and I'm sure there are more to come, but, it is a learning and growing experience.

I have had some free time to spend either alone or with the Faull family (the family I'm staying with). Living with four girls has made my trip feel more like home. We have been on walks, stayed up too late having "girl talk" and laughing a lot. :-)

God's creation clearly displays His glory. The Caribbean is in clear view, beautiful flowers surround the house, incredible skies dominate in the morning and night.

I miss everyone and I'm praying for you. Pray that I will have strength and my life would shine with godliness and the love of Christ. Pray that "utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth bodly to make known the mystery of the gospel" (Eph. 4:19) --this is especially hard for me because I'm not fluent in the language.

I will try to keep in touch and keep you updated as much as I can.

In Christ,

Rachel