So I think I'm finally getting really tan. Actually, I think that might just be a thick layer of dirt that is eternally plastered to my skin. Either way, maybe soon I'll start to look like a Honduran.
An unbelievable amount of stuff has happened in the past few days. It's sort of hard to make it short and sweet so as to keep anyone's interest, but I promise it has been quite the adventure.
For starters, Amy's best friend Shelby & her family finished their 3-year stay at Hospital Loma de Luz on Sunday. Even after knowing Shelby for only a week, we all absolutely love her and were very sad to see her go. To celebrate her last evening with us, on Saturday night we all climbed up to the water tower which overlooks much of the coast of Honduras and many of the little villages. It was dark, so we couldn't see much, but you could just sense how vast it was. The time up at the water tower is something I don't think I'll ever forget. Me, Liz, and Chris reflected on how cool it was to hear "Open the Eyes of My Heart" (Abre mis ojos, Senor) sung in two languages together while we were teaching guitar/piano at a school in Margarita that morning. It was one of those moments where it really hit us how truly universal the Gospel is-- it transcends any culture or any language. Read Revelation 7 to see what Heaven will be like. Not everyone's going to be speaking English there. That's what's going to make it so beautiful.
Sunday I had the opportunity to go into San Luis and Balfate to sing with the kids in the churches there-- thankfully I felt much more comfortable than last week.
Monday was probably the highlight of the week though-- an experience that I will truly never forget. I feel like the life that the Rumbaugh's lead isn't real. But when you step back and realize that it is, it's so so cool and it's such an INCREDIBLE blessing that we get to have a little part in their ministry. Sometimes Dr. Don goes up into the mountains, and on Monday, we went with him. Sort of. Natalie, Julia, Chris & I hopped in the back of a pickup which was headed up to the mountain town of Satal. Julia was going to work with John at a pre-natal clinic there. John drove us up the mountain (with the most breathtaking views EVER) and dropped us off along the way in a village called Las Flores. We were of course accompanied in the truck by like 10 other Honduran women who were hitching a ride. Cramped much? In Las Flores, Nat, Chris & I headed to a river to wait for Dr. Don. Then together we all hiked through the mountains and forded two rivers, with books in a cat litter box, bookbags, and guitars at the ready. We were supposed to teach in the schools up in the mountains, but none of the teachers had shown up, so alas, no school. So, as Dr. Don says, we became missionaries and became very flexible. We went to a couple houses and read through picture bibles with some teens, and at a woman named Dominicana's house, we sang songs with her daugthers. She then proceeded to cook us the most delicious rice & beans (and only rice & beans?) I'd ever had. 
The juice she gave us was pink with black floaties in it, but that didn't affect me, thankfully :). Although, I can't say the same for the others hehe. We then continued on a 4 mile hike up and down hills headed to Satal. Well, Natalie & I did, Chris & Dr. Don rode the motorcycle. After sweating more than I think I ever have in my life, we stayed in Satal for a few hours reading Picture Bibles with some kids and singing tons of songs with them. It was an incredible time. They were so eager to read. And when we drove back down the mountain, we all just reflected on how blessed we were to have been able to do that, and how incredible God's creation is as we looked out over the expanse. What a beautiful God we serve.Less serious things to note:
- Hondurans are AWFUL at basketball. Nat, Dr. Don & I played against 5 Honduran men at Alfa (the youth group hosted here on Tuesday nights) and let's just say, I felt like I was a good player. Hilarious.
- Honduran kids are also AWFUL at frisbee. But it's really cute and it made it a lot easier for me to play with them. They even passed me the frisbee sometimes! Imagine that happening in the United States!
- Honduran cows like cat litter. As we were in the mountains on Monday, a huge cow wouldn't let Chris pass on the footpath. Instead, he proceeded to constantly sniff the cat litter container that Chris was holding that contained books. One of the funnier things I've witnessed in my life.
- Honduran cows poop everywhere. ATVs, when driven by Liz Pinero, sometimes runover said cow manure. And, if you're lucky, the wheels will hit it at just the perfect angle where the cow manure will squirt all over your feet. Mmm.
- Honduran futbol games with hundreds of screaming kids, is wonderful. (Riding a bus with about 50 of those screaming kids, also wonderful.)
- Getting stung by a jellyfish in the Caribbean actually hurts really bad.
More serious things to note:
We keep reading in The Purpose Driven Life (and I just read this morning in my devotions) about how if we're trying to figure out God's plan for us, just look at where our passions lie-- what brings us the greatest joy. And I think I can honestly say that the look on a little kids face when I've just taught him a D-chord and A-chord on the guitar and he can now successfully play "Alabare", is one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. Just, that smile. 
Every day has just been something new. I can't even put into to words the joy that God has given me while being here. And I'm so excited that theres still a month of this left. New adventures to have, new people to meet, new ways to serve. Bring it on.
Padre, nuestro que estas en el cielo, sanctificado sea tu nombre. Venga tu reina, hagase tu voluntad, en la tierra como en el cielo,
Lauren
Fun picture of the week:
Chris, Julia, Mike, Amy, Shelby, Liz, Me, Natalie.. Caribbean.
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