Not a White Christmas

The past month has been a lot of go-go-go and it has FLOWN by. I started teaching in Escuelita, got beat in a water war against Nate and a bunch of 12 year old boys, stayed up late planning parties, stayed up late partying, and rang in the New Year with the incredible family here at the Finca. It’s hard to believe it’s January already, and almost even crazier to believe a year ago, I was celebrating the New Year having no idea the Finca even existed, much less I’d be ending the year here.

Utilizing my college degree

Starting the second week of December, we hosted winter school – or Escuelita – for the kids at the Finca. This mostly serves to maintain the kids’ math and Spanish skills during vacation and give the Tías a bit of a rest during the day. In addition to tutoring sessions on Monday and Wednesdays, I also lead a Science Club with the kids on Tuesdays and Thursday. It’s great that my degree in Chemistry isn’t going completely unused during my time here.

Planning for and leading classes for Escuelita has been a great baby step into the world of teaching. I’ve loved thinking and researching creative ways to help the kids learn and study, as well as thinking back to my own struggles and successes as a 3rd-6th grader. What helped me learn? What was missing from my own education? How can I find multiple ways to explain the same concept to these kids? It makes me excited to receive more training and begin prepping for English classes in the school year.

Party-party!

I’m officially through my first holiday season at the Finca, and I can confidently say no one parties like the Finca parties. To celebrate Christmas, we ate lots of tamales and celebrated with a big party full of gifts, food, and dancing. We bopped to the top of the new year with another party full of delicious food, games, and fireworks. We even played Finca-wide Bingo at both parties (not quite the Crawford Thanksgiving Bingo game, but it’ll do).

Christmas celebrations actually started nine days before Christmas day when Posadas started at the Finca. Posadas are a Latin American tradition recreating the journey of Mary and Joseph searching for a room in Bethlehem. Here, it includes two kids dresses as Mary and Joseph – the peregrinos(pilgrims) and the rest of the group following them, singing songs. During each Posada we stop at three houses; the first two houses, part of the group enters, and we sing back and forth asking for entry. Each time, the peregrinos are turned away. Finally, at the third house, we’re permitted ‘posada’ - hospitality. Each day, at this house, there’s a prayer, Gospel reading, singing, games, and food.

There were so many reasons I loved Posada. For one, the whole Finca was together, pilgrimaging as a family. It was prayerful and joyful, and I loved seeing the kids dressed as Mary and Joseph each day. It also was a beautiful opportunity to pray on the journey of, not just Mary and Joseph, but Jesus as well, searching for His first home on Earth, knowing He would not be permitted anywhere but a stable. One day, I had the opportunity to be apart of the group inside the houses, turning away the peregrinos. I reflected on how often I do that same thing in my daily life – Jesus comes knocking and I turn Him away. Also, the Posadas gave us the opportunity to try tasty Honduran snacks!

Christmas and New Years was full of food, dancing, and (of course) sugar. At the Christmas party, we had a talent show in which the missionaries performed a pretty awesome dance to Shakira’s WakaWaka. For both parties, I was in charge of making the playlists for the dance – it was pretty humbling to hear a couple of 15-year old’s opinion of my choice in music.

Te pido, Dios

Each party ended with a prayer service, praising God for His coming and His blessings on us. On New Year, minutes before midnight, everyone in the Finca gathered in a circle, holding candles, and shared what they were praising God for in the past year, and what they hope for in the next.

I praised God for the adventure He sent me on this year, for bringing me to my new home and family. A year ago, at the beginning of 2024, I was wondering what the next year would bring – a trip to Honduras, my college graduation, my first job, potentially moving (at the time I was pretty certain I’d live in Ames for another year). I knew by the end of the year; I’d have moved on from my identity as a student to the next chapter of my life. Never, in my wildest dreams, could I have imagined the journey of discernment and trust the Lord invited me to this year; full of uncomfortable growth, tearful goodbyes, expectant beginnings, and unsurmountable joy. In these past 12 months, I’ve learned more of my own strength and capabilities than probably the entirety of college.

I asked that the Lord continue to open my heart to hope and trust in 2025. I know the uncomfortable growth, tearful goodbyes, expectant beginnings, and unsurmountable joy are not done, and never will be. Jesus is always calling me deeper; I am always learning. I hope I can be fearless in my learning. I want to love with my heart on my sleeve, boldly and in such a way that every person I encounter knows they are loved. I hope the next year will be full of mistakes and humility, laughter and tears, sadness and joy. I hope to experience life to the fullness the Lord calls me to experience it, in all its glory and honor, resting in His loving and safe heart.  

At the end of the prayer, we all raised our candles toward Heaven, praying the Glory Be as the clock struck midnight, December turned to January, and the New Year started.

Thank you all, family and friends, for your love and support this year. Thank you especially for your prayers. Please pray for our missionary community as we prepare to go on retreat then start the new school year! I’m so excited to see what this next adventure brings.