TOakes Photography: 2011

Hello and welcome back! It's been a very interesting week, and I have been thinking a lot about this next post. As promised, I wanted to share my story of how I first met the child I sponsor, Jarol, and the second child I started sponsoring last year, Josue.

WARNING: It is a little long, and might require some tissues. Enjoy!

I first went to Honduras in 2007 on a mission's trip with my church. I went expecting God to do something, and before we went there, I was praying God to specifically use me. I did not know how God was going to use me, because my Spanish at the time was almost non-existent. (My Spanish now is only ok. I am nowhere near fluent.) At that time, I had studied French in high school and college, and I knew that my French would help me learn Spanish.

So off I went, with my dictionary, verb book, and extra grammar book. I studied very little before I went, and was trying to desperately learn as much as I could. I wanted to be able to actually talk to people somewhat. I must have looked like the biggest nerd carrying my three Spanish books around everywhere, but that's ok. :)

During this trip, we worked primarily with the young children and teens of the church. These kids, thank God, didn't really care that we couldn't speak Spanish. They just wanted to be hugged and loved, and wanted to play soccer with someone. And, apparently, they loved Gringos! Good for us.

As we were there, I was looking around and asking God to give me someone specific. Soon, I felt I was suppossed to reach out to one particular boy, and so I tried my hardest. I played soccer with him and ran around with him, and I'm pretty sure he laughed at my poor Spanish. He would tell me things, and I would just smile and nod. I had no idea what he was saying! He was even in a production that him and his friends put on. It was a play of some sorts. But, like I said, I had no idea what was going on! I still encouraged him and hugged him and all that good stuff.

After we were there about 3 days, Jarol came up to me, hugged me, and said in English, "My father!"
..............
I was so floored! I couldn't believe it. This child, whom I could say almost nothing to, considered me a father figure after only three days. Four years later, I still can't believe it. But I know that it's a holy thing, and a responsibility that I take very seriously. We were there for about two weeks, and, as I'm sure you can imagine, saying goodbye was not easy. He was 9 going on 10 at the time, and saying goodbye was incredibly difficult for someone so young to do. We cried and hugged each other for at least 30 minutes.

Before we left, I talked to the missionary we worked with, and she told me about an organization called Compassion International. So when I got home, I made steps to sponsor him. My youth pastor at the time had to help me, because there were unexpected hoops to jump through. But it all worked out in the end, and I was able to sponsor him. It was so exciting to hear that I could do it, and even more exciting when I got the paperwork in the mail. I can't even explain it.

Since then, I've been to Honduras twice more. Once with my church last year, and once this past August. It has always been incredible to not only spend time with him, but, as my Spanish has gotten better, to be able to mentor him and to speak into his life. He is an awesome kid.

Last year I started sponsoring another child, Josue, because I felt like I was suppossed to. It turns out that he is a friend to Jarol. That makes everything so much easier! We all write back and forth to each other through Compassion International, and we also call each other, and sometimes talk on Facebook. (He uses the computers at school.)

All in all, the experience of sponsoring and mentoring these children has been amazing. Sometimes when I think I'm not doing anything right, I remember them, and remember that there is something good and lasting that I'm a part of. As I get letters from them from time to time, I will also blog them. It's so exciting to get letters from them! :)

WARNING: Here comes a plug!

If you are someone who has not sponsored someone but have thought about it, I highly recommend Compassion. It's a great Christian organization, and I feel that they run their company in a very responsible way.

Now that that's over with, I hope you enjoyed reading! I know it was a little long, but hey, all the good stories are! Now without further adieu, here are some pictures from my very first time in Honduras.