Thanksgiving Week in Honduras

Thanksgiving is not really celebrated here in Honduras. The school recognizes it, and we have Thanksgiving festivities in the elementary, but it is not that big of a deal. Pilgrims and Indians are not exactly relevant to these children as they are in the States. It's understandable, but I LOVE Thanksgiving! I have been talking to my aid this past week about traditions of my family. I am sure each of you have traditions that are unique for your family. It has been fun for Aaron and me to combine our families' traditions, do away with some, and add a few of our own this year. This is our first Thanksgiving together as a married couple. Last year, we both went home to our parents' homes for the last holiday as single people! As sad as it is that we won't see the Huttons and the Halberts (and Flemmings and Smiths) this Thanksgiving, I am thankful to have a wonderful husband to spend it with. It is hard to believe that I have been a Halbert for almost a year now!

As we are getting more and more settled here in a new country, we have a lot to be thankful for. As you spend this Thursday preparing a big meal, visiting with friends and family, and probably watching football, please remember the ones around the world who may not have family to spend Thanksgiving with or who may not have money to make a huge feast. There are many here in Honduras, and this is small compared to the rest of the world. We don't come into close contact with many of the poorest of the poor. Most of our students come from the richest of the rich, so there is a big difference. However, even our students don't have perfect lives. Some of them are raised by their maids, nannies, and chauffeurs. My heart goes out to them, as well as the poor of Honduras.

Last week was Spiritual Emphasis Week, as I mentioned in the last entry. Academia Los Pinares is a Christian school, but all of students are NOT Christians. There is a lot of joy in the high school as a result from last week. Please pray that the Lord will be ever present in the lives of these students. Some accepted the Lord as their Savior, which is worthy of praise to our God. Pray that the school will continue on from last week to encourage those in their new faith. Some are still hard-hearted, and they need your prayers as well. Here is the website of the speakers: www.rickandmick.com If you go to the photo gallery, there are some pictures from their trip here. There is one of the entire high school at one of the assemblies-you can't miss it!