September, A Special Month
In Jeremiah 29:11, The Lord told Jeremiah "I know the plans I have for you... plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." He also has plans for each one of us, offering us hope and a future filled with promise in a new life with Christ.
It is our prayer that by helping God's children at Orphanage Emmanuel prepare for their future through vocational training, guiding in counseling, teaching and modeling of Christian family values, we are honoring God's plan for our lives and are helping the children discover God's plan for them .
Children's Day
September 10, the day all of Honduras celebrates children. There are piñatas, balloons, candy, presents, and lots of attention. At the orphanage in Copan, each child was paired with an older student from the Mayatan Bi-lingual School for a huge party with games, prizes, pizza, cupcakes and soda. There was a surprise visit from a clown who painted faces.In Copan Ruinas, at central park, there was music, games, and more piñatas. Each school had their own celebration.
Independence Day
September 15 is Independence Day for Honduras, all the businesses are closed but the actual celebration begins on Friday night with a parade and the crowning of Princess Copan Ruinas. The parades continued throughout the weekend with the final one commencing around 10:00 on Monday morning. The rhythm of the drums reverberates throughout the town as the children process lined up by schools and grades. Teachers march along and parents either follow along on the sides or move from one vantage point to another to see their child pass by. There were a few dignitaries at the beginning, a couple of floats at the end. The park was packed full of families from Copan Ruinas and the surrounding villages and countryside. Venders sold food and drinks typical of this region. What a celebration!
Sustainability Conference
The last week in September we attended and participated in the annual Sustainable Honduras Conference (previously known as Project Honduras) a conference for NGOs to meet and share information. The focus this year was Collective Impact, in other words, How can we work together to make a difference not just in the lives of those we help, but in Honduras? During the three days of workshops and presentations, we met and talked to people from orphanages all over Honduras. We also made contacts with organizations that help orphanages connect with resources in Honduras such as help for special needs, government and non-government agencies, and legal advice. It was a very full, valuable three days.
The Rainy Season Is Here!
Praises & Prayer Requests
Thank you for all your prayers and support. We would not be able to do this without them. Please continue to keep us in your prayers.
Prayer Praises:
Prayer Requests:
Prayer Praises:
- For the faithful support we are receiving from friends and family.
- For the good health we have enjoyed.
- For safe travels and safe living in Copan Ruinas.
- For teachers, new contacts and wisdom gained.
- For a safe place to learn the language and culture of Honduras
Prayer Requests:
- For the ability to learn and use the Spanish language
- For wisdom and guidance as we begin to prepare for moving to Orphanage Emmanuel.
- For preparation of the hearts and minds of the children and staff at Orphanage Emmanuel to receive us in December.
- For our families and friends at home in the US.
- For increased financial support