December and January, I enjoyed visiting with family and friends. It had been a difficult several months for me before my return home. While home, I sought after a lot of alone time to recuperate spiritually, physically, and emotionally. I was also loved on by family and friends in the ways they show their love. I am so blessed to have so many people who love me and take the time to show me. By the last few days of my stay I was visiting friends and ready to rejoin the human race. I am very sorry I didn’t get to visit with everyone I wanted to. Please forgive me for not getting to you. I feel fully revived spiritually, physically, and emotionally.
My return to Honduras was warm (literally and figuratively) and welcoming. The kids made me feel so good. They seem to have done some maturing and growing over their winter school break (Equal to the U.S. kid’s summer school break). Most of them are about the same age. They seem to be playing well together for the most part. Their reactions to punishment or, even to each other do not seem to be as frequent as they were. I don’t know if that is just my perception or if it is really true.
Nohemy continues to call me mama, more frequently now. She and Rosy are the only two who do so. Rosy only because she is trying to get my attention and can say only two words, ‘no’ and ‘mama’.
Cindy sat in my lap for the first time today. I don’t know if it was because I had a fruit snack and she really wanted one or if she is just getting more comfortable with me. Either way, it was nice for the short time it lasted.
Josue the soon to be 3 year old, seems to have a foot fetish. He is expressing jealousy at the moment of handwriting this. Antonio (Fito) is sitting in a chair between Karen’s knees while she is sitting on the edge of the trampoline. He started to rub Karen’s feet and Josue started yelling at him expressing that Karen’s feet belonged to him. He was ready to hit Antonio over it.
I figured I would share a few play time favorites of the kids with you for January.
The kids recently made a tree swing out of rope they found and cardboard seat. They are being good about sharing it.
For several days a group of kids have been spending their playtime looking for grasshoppers. They love finding them. Reina will try and set up a habitat for them using broken toys, grass, rock, and leaves. Then, she proceeds to pet them to death literally. She gets sad when they die, but doesn’t understand she is the cause.
They had about 8 hoola hoops when I returned from the states in January. Four of them are known to be stuck high in the trees, 2 or 3 are broken in pieces and are used as various imaginative things. The remaining 1 or 2 are no longer round. The only round one is stuck in a tree. However, at the rate the hoola hoops keep going up into the trees, we may have to rename the Honduran apple tree to something more fitting. It is sad because Daniela seemed to love playing with the undistorted hoop.
The hoops were used in contests, and as decorations in the lower branches of the trees. Also, they loved the challenge of throwing them in the trees to be faced with the challenge of climbing the tree to get them out.
There is a hammock belonging to a man who frequents Honduras. It is very expensive, dirty, and is a favorite toy for the kids. They swing, climb, twirl, and bind themselves in the contraption only to come out looking happy and as if a big powder puff puffed them head to toe with dirt.
They love the trampoline but tend to do something against the rules of using it. The consequence is to go a week or more without the privilege, depending on the offense. Right now over half of the kids are without the privilege.
The rollerblades are also a favorite, but they fight over the same 3 pair out of the 8 pairs they have. Right now the blades are a passed fad only to return again in a couple weeks.
I think I am going to lobby for a tether ball. I don’t like to play it personally, but I think the kids would love it. They spend so much time outside, any outdoor games or game stations really help.
The bikes are dead. They love them, but can’t ride them anymore. With some money donated specifically for their recreation, they will receive either repaired or new bikes. This is currently a work in progress, and the best route to take is in the discussion process.
Well, I hope you enjoyed hearing about some of the kids play time. I have some short videos to go with this newsletter. I will attempt to get them posted at some point in time. I think I am going to need instruction on that endeavor before it can be completed.
Prayer request.
Well, I have a decision to be made and I am asking God to help me know in every part of me by mid March if I should stay or go at the end of May when my year is up: Should I stay, go somewhere else, or go home to the states. I want to ask you to be in prayer about this with me. If you feel compelled to share what you hear from the Lord on this, please, do so. All things expressed will be considered as well as what God lays on my heart. I will need continued support of all kinds if I stay. I will also, finally, take language classes.
Also, I miss you guys. Letters to me are few and far between as to how you are doing. I am one to speak huh!? I rank up there at the top for worst letter writer. If you are thinking about me and have time to write to me, I would love it. It would be very encouraging to me. I also will try to do better in this department. I won’t expect anything more than what I do myself, but I thought I would at least throw that out there.
Thanks for your love, time, and support.
Stacey Hooper
Philippians 1:3 “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.”
