We're Still Here

Because of no internet in our Jovenes office and the start to our busiest season, I've been MIA. I know and I apologize. For now, forgive me while I post (what I think is) the cutest video ever.

Busy and Blessings

We are very, VERY happy. Thank you to everyone who made this blessing possible. God is so good to us. 

A Dream Come True

When I first moved to Jovenes, I lived in the green house with the oldest boys for a year. Obviously I had a lot of changes and things to get used to in the first few months. One was sharing a bathroom/kitchen with the couple who were here at the time. They were very reserved, and sometimes I felt like a nuisance.

Santos and Maria's new home

Then soon after God sent two angels to Jovenes en Camino. Santos and Maria had been serving Jovenes as substitute houseparents for several years when the full time houseparents had two weekends off a month. God then opened a window and allowed them to come work here full time.

I remember one of the first things I came to appreciate and love about this couple was their contagious spirit. They are both so welcoming, humble, and outgoing. They instantly made me feel at home with them, as if I was part of their own family.

Chad and Ronald turning over the house

I remember after dinner one night we were having one of our long, nightly talks, and Maria mentioned that they did not have a home of their own. They had rented a house before moving to live full time at JEC, so on the weekends they had off they usually had to stay with friends or rent a hotel. The point of this time is to relax and rejuvenate since their job is so taxing. And in my opinion, being a guest in someone else's home or a hotel is not always so relaxing in a family of four.

Genesis and Sara (Maria and Santos' daughters)

Fast forward to this week (about two years later), and God's grace is so prevalent. Yesterday our executive director stateside, Chad Hedgepath, turned in the keys to a brand new house here in the valley. Chad and Ronald planned, fundraised, and brought down a group of 10 men from Heritage Church in Franklin, TN to construct the house. Maria and Santos saved for years to buy their own plot of land, and as soon as that was purchased things got moving.

Hermitage COC group turning over the keys to Santos

The boys in the green house also played a large part in helping prepare the land, construction, and a lot of manual labor. Other Jovenes en Camino employees also helped in many ways - such as the cooks preparing food daily to send over to all those working hard in this hot sun. I think this made yesterday so special, because we had all played a part in helping Santos and Maria's family. We all felt the pride and joy of this house being finished. We were able to see their dream come to life.

Part of the Jovenes en Camino family with Santos and Maria

I think Santos said it best when he said, "God is so good, even though I am not. He has worked through others, through the boys, and through us. For that I am grateful for His grace."

This is one of my favorite things about Jovenes. We are one, big family. We help each other out when times get rough. We know we can't live this life alone, so we lean on each other. I'm so grateful to be 25 and have experienced such an incredible story of grace, selflessness, and love.

Thank you, Lord. You are so good to us.

March Update

I cannot believe we are already into March of 2014! Where has the time gone?? It seems like yesterday I returned to Jovenes to spend NYE with the boys. We have already had so many amazing visitors (two being my best friends, Scat and Lindy), and last week we had our first spring break group from Oklahoma. The boys are super excited for all our visitors and sponsors coming to visit this month. 

I have some awesome news to share with all of you. I have committed my heart to another year at Jovenes en Camino. This means, for now, I will be in Honduras for 2014 (Lord willing). After that, it is up to God!

Poppy is now a mommy!

I feel so good about this decision and am ready to see what amazing things He does through the boys and the Jovenes family this year. 

One of the biggest blessings of 2013 was being able to find a beautiful and safe home to rent right down the road from JEC. My landlords are so sweet and always thinking of me, inviting me to dinner, and calling just to check in on me. I feel safe and am able to rest each day without worrying about my safety. This daily alone time is so vital to my work here.  I need this time to relax and recharge. I am an old lady and go to bed at 8-8:30 most nights!

beautiful tree growing in front of my house

I recently decided to treat myself to one luxury after 2.5 years of being in Honduras - CABLE! I now have basic cable to watch movies, sports, etc. I didn't miss it much when I didn't have it, but now I'm grateful to be able to come home, eat dinner and turn on a movie. 

One of the hardest parts of 2013 was definitely my car situation. I know I've complained on here (via blog) and in person to some, but I honestly think I spent more of 2013 with my car in the shop than with me. I am constantly reminding myself that if this is my biggest problem, I'm doing pretty well.

This is the list of what all I had done to my car in 2013:

-new transmission

-new alternator

-new battery (literally last week it died)

-new parts shopped from the US to fix motor issues

-new tires purchased (after a generous donation)

Right now, I desperately need a trustworthy car. My car is a Mitsubishi Montero Sport (2000) and has over 160k miles. Honduras is a very dangerous country (as most of you know), and with an unreliable car, I never know when/where it is going to break down. Not only am I worried about my own safety, but also the safety of the boys and other employees when they are in the car.

ABSS boys wanted to help fundraise

Aside from safety, I feel like such an inconvenience to the other Jovenes employees when I don't have my car. We have to switch cars and rework schedules because my job requires me to take lunch to the bilingual school, pick them up from class, and run errands in the city. Also, I can't do simple everyday things such as going to the grocery store and paying bills.  I can't stay at Jovenes to help with homework and school projects if it's after dark, because it is not safe to walk home alone at night.

My problem is I am not good at asking for myself. I don't enjoy fundraising, but I ask people if its for the boys. I don't second guess asking for them, because I know it's not selfish. So at the first moment I have to turn around and ask for myself, I feel greedy and hypocritical. I have so much in comparison to so many here. 

However, I realize this is something both the boys and I truly need. When I eventually leave Jovenes,  my car will be donated to Jovenes en Camino for their benefit and use. 

Luis Fernando

If you know of anyone who would want to help me, please send them this blog. I can't tell you how much it would mean to the boys and me. They are constantly asking "why did you buy such a bad car?" or "Annie, when will you get your car back from the shop?". I just hang my head and feel like I've let them down. I'm embarrassed that people helped me buy this car, and even though I did all the necessary checkups by several mechanics, I still messed up. My dad constantly reminds me, "that's just the business of buying a used car" and that I shouldn't be embarrassed. 

Can you help us?

For more information on how to help, please email Jessica Steen at jessicas@harpethhills.org

10 Years

A decade.

                          

Jovenes en Camino, as of Wednesday, celebrates a decade of service.

Service to all the boys who have come, gone, and remain.

We could not be more proud of all God has done in this past ten years. Clearly we've had our ups and downs just like everyone, but we are currently on top of the mountain praising God and screaming how much we love him.

Darwin

I say this because this is how the employees feel. And the employees feel this way because of the progress we've seen in the boys and the campus. The campus is more beautiful than ever, and from my last post you can see how well the boys are doing in school.

The boys are healthy, happy, and this is home. We have 55 boys who currently learn everyday more and more about becoming a man of God. We have 22 full time employees who are such amazing examples to these boys.

Guity

I cannot personally begin to describe how much of a blessing this place is to my life and to the life of many others. It has changed my outlook on life. I hope I never go back to living the way I did. I hope I always remember what God showed me here, what He did here, and how many lives He saved by working through the hearts of the JEC family. 

Norman

Tomorrow (Friday) we are inviting about 150 guests to help us celebrate this milestone. We will have a morning ceremony where the boys will participate and share what JEC has meant to them over the past decade. We will share a meal between the boys, the employees, their families, and special guests. We have invited the local mayor and director of the public school. Please pray the event goes over smoothly and these people can see God’s love through our boys. 

fall 2011

In the afternoon we’ll have our February birthday parties with homemade, anniversary piñatas and lots of cake and ice cream. We have also invited the girls’ orphanage, “Faith, Hope & Love”, where several of our boys have sisters in the capital. All 25 girls will be joining us to participate and help build a stronger relationship between our two homes. 

It will be a long and exhausting day full of many happy hearts. 

New Year, New Beginnings

Classes officially started back this week for the public school boys yesterday, so we're back in the swing of things here at JEC!

Julio, Juan Carlos, & Hector on their first day of high school

We have 6 enrolled in private, bilingual school, 19 in the public elementary school, 23 in the public high school, and one starting his college career. Could we be more blessed?

High school boys are excited to start a new year!

I am so proud and honored to work with such an incredible team of dedicated employees here at Jovenes. When I first arrived in mid 2011, many of the boys had repeated several grades and their averages were very low. The change the boys have made in the past 3 years is incredible. The houseparents are so dedicated to working specifically with each one by helping them with projects, encouraging them to do their homework daily, etc. This can be seen in many ways, but it is especially obvious by the rise of their grades. One of the yellow house boys finished last year with a 96% average!! Amilkar, we are so proud of you!!!

Amilkar with our education director, Demetria, at the merit bank awards ceremony

One of the ways we have motivated the boys is by creating a "merit bank", where twice a year the boys get to choose prizes from the bank according to their GPAs. These items usually come from donations from summer groups or we by little by little during the year.

Demetria and our 90 to 100 average boys!

Since school was about to start we decided to have our merit bank award ceremony on the last day of January along with that month's birthday celebration. Our new education director, Demetria, and I were in charge of organizing the afternoon's event in our cafeteria. Our extremely talented and creative house mom, Mary, made the cakes along with the help of that weeks' visitors, Sarah Catherine (one of my best friends) and her husband, Richy ("Ricardo").

Richy, Scat and some of the yellow house boys

Each boy's name was called in order of his GPA, and by 10 point groups (90 to 100, 80 to 90 etc) the boys were allowed to choose their prize. Amilkar of course chose the only soccer ball we had, so next time we know what to get more of!

We cheered and screamed (I literally lost my voice) for each boy, which brought out the biggest smile on their sweet faces. I can't say it enough, I AM SO PROUD OF THESE BOYS!!! They have come so, so far.

Some of the prizes

After the award ceremony, we presented Yoni Garcia (17 years old) with his 6th grade diploma. This is a HUGE deal for us as well. Yoni has been receiving private classes (home-schooling essentially) from our education director, and the country has legally recognized him as passing 6th grade. Our director, Ronald Millon, presented him with his diploma and talked to the boys that no matter how old you are or whatever obstacles stand in your way, you can do anything you put your mind to. Congratulations, Yoni!!!

Director, Ronald Millon, and Yoni Garcia receiving his diploma

The birthday celebrations are always a fun time. We finally finished our leftover pumpkins from our Halloween celebration in October. It took us a few months, but they were perfect to cut a hole in, fill with candy, and then watch explode! Our January birthday boys were William and Yimi from the yellow house, Noe from the pink house, and Cristian Ochoa, Gomez and Chino from the green house.  Happy birthday, boys! We love ya!

Happy birthday, boys!

January flew by, and I'm coming up fast on a 10 day trip home from February 17th-26th.

high school boys praying over 2014 academic year

2014 is looking to be an incredible year. Thank you, Lord - you are so good to us!

NYE Wrap Up

I flew back to Honduras on December 30th after promising the boys for months I would be here to celebrate NYE with them. Christmas is definitely their biggest celebration of the holiday season, but the 31st is a pretty big night as well.

Hondurans celebrate it pretty similar in many ways - staying up late, fireworks at midnight, getting dressed up, etc - but some are SUPER different and confusing.

For example several days after Christmas Hondurans make scarecrow-like dummies to look like an old man and woman. These dummies are supposed to signify the past year, so naturally (?), at midnight you burn these dummies to mean you are "getting rid of the old, and getting ready for the new". We had our past summer interns down on NYE, and we all decided it seems like the weirdest tradition, but the kids seem to get pretty excited about it. You literally fill the dummies with fireworks and then light them on fire so they "blow up". As you can see from the pictures, it almost looked like we were burning people alive.... no worries - nothing of the sort!

We had a delicious dinner of pollo relleno (stuffed chicken) with rice and tortillas. After dinner the boys took turns singing karaoke, doing skits, and telling jokes as a sort of "show". We played music and danced until late, then around midnight it was time to shoot fireworks and "burn the viejo and vieja".