Bend --> Balfate.

Thank you everyone for all of your prayers!!! I had the most stress-free, easy travel yesterday between planes, buses, and cars from Bend to Balfate. Even though I was awake for about 36 hours and traveling for 26 of them, Gracias a Dios--I slept for a few hours on the plane. Which truly is an answer to prayer because I'm almost never able to do that. (And I enjoyed some delicious coffee along my trip, which helped too.) :) 

My nutritious dinner on the bus from San Pedro to La Ceiba...

Praise for...

-The safe journey to Balfate, Honduras.

-Making new friends on the trip here.

-Lisa, for being so loving and generous.

-The boys, welcoming me with smiles and hugs all around when I arrived.

-The amazing good night's sleep I got last night!!!!

-Balfate. I already feel right back at home here. :) 

Getting ready to step off the plane in Honduras!!

I got to the Redmond airport Monday night at 5pm and landed in San Pedro Sula at Noon on Tuesday afternoon. Took a bus from there to La Ceiba, was picked up by lisa around 6:30pm, and then we ran a few errands while in the city. And one of these 'errands' was picking up a little girl from the Ceiba dump (a large community of people live there). She had a very swollen right side of her face, probably infected, was in a lot of pain and needed to go to the hospital. So, we picked her up and took her to Balfate with us, where we fixed up a bed for her on my bedroom floor & she spent the night with me so Lisa could take her to the hospital this morning & get treatment. And this type of thing is normal for Lisa & her boys--if someone they know from the dump needs a ride to the hospital or a place to stay while they heal, her family welcomes them in with open arms. So, Dariana (the little girl) and I became friends and when I went to find her some paper and colored pencils to use when we got home, because she needed something to take her mind off her throbbing cheek, she gave me the sweetest and most sincere smile I've seen in a long time. 

I could get used to this. Wait--what am I saying? 

I love this. 

It's tiring, stressful, a little crazy, heartbreaking, humid, and you can only plan so much--most of the time it's taking it day by day, or hour by hour, because plans are constantly changing.

And I forgot how much my soul feels at peace here. <3  

I can't even explain it--I know I'm exactly where God wants me; I'm at the center of His will for me, and that's a surreal experience.

A little about where I'm at...

Where is Balfate?  <--Here's a map of where it's at!

I'm on the northern coast of Honduras in Central America, about an hour's drive from an actual city with a grocery store, etc. 

I can walk to the beach from the house. :) 

It's hot. And humid. 

Like 80 degrees and 80% humidity. It's also rainy season, so it rains a ton randomly during the week.

I'm living in Lisa's guest bedroom in her house.

There's no a/c, but i have a fan in my room!

I live with Lisa and her seven boys. Yes, seven.

I share one bathroom with the seven boys.

I have decent wifi! Yay!

I'm a 10 minute drive from Hospital Loma de Luz.

There are tons of incredible waterfalls & rivers just a short drive away.

Please pray for...

-Energy. Especially when it's hot & I'm not used to it yet.

-To be able to remember all the boys' names!! (Out of the seven boys, there are TWO pairs of twin brothers...I've already mixed them up countless times since I arrived...)

-Safety. There have been a few robberies lately, in broad day-light, to some of the houses nearby.

-Wisdom and patience. I start teaching the boys English, math, and leading a Bible study tomorrow or Friday. 

-The boys' hearts to just be hungry to learn more about God and full of love.

-My family back home will be at peace while I'm gone and know that I'm exactly where God wants me to be. And that they won't worry too much. :)