WHAT I HAVE LEARNED AND HOW I HAVE GROWN:

* I have grown in the area of generosity. I plan to give of my own money and work to raise funds to help Cane and Clementina. Since this past summer I’ve planned on donating monthly to Compassion International, but I kept putting it off. Now I feel compelled to give the money I would have sent to the other organization to The KidSAKE Foundation instead so the soup kitchen can feed more kids. Now I look at each dime as a meal for a child in the soup kitchen, and I am more careful about what I buy. I realize how little it takes to fill a need.

* My desire to learn Spanish has been renewed. Communication wasn’t too difficult while I was there because I know Spanish basics and an interpreter was always nearby, but if I ever go back there or to another Latin American country, and if I really want to connect with the people and get to know them, then I must know their language. The children easily dismissed our talking problems; they just wanted to play. But if I want to really share God’s Good News with them from my own lips, I need to learn Spanish well. I’m not sure how I will do it, but I know I will try.

* The fact that God’s timing is perfect is further etched in my mind. I wanted to do mission work last summer, but God said no. If I had already gone on a mission, then I doubt I would have gone on another trip to Honduras over this Christmas break. Things would have turned out so much differently.

* I found a living example of what true self-sacrifice and compassion is. Jenny Rogers is an amazing woman that I’ve come to love. I hope to take after her example of servanthood because she takes after Christ.

* This trip was confirmation in my heart that God’s will for my life (to serve Him through writing) is the only thing that will satisfy me. I was able to get a taste of it this week. I more specifically want to write about foreign missionaries and document how God is moving in other countries, but this trip was a wonderful first step in reporting while on the mission field. I know I have much learning and improving to do, and I’m excited about these next years as God develops my writing skills.

* Ultimately, God showed me where He wants me to invest some of my time, prayers, and money. I believe in the work of Jenny and The KidSAKE Foundation, and I want to partner with her in helping Cane build the new soup kitchen. I believe God will use many people to see the village rise out of poverty and become self-reliant.

WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED THIS WEEK (from what I saw):

* Clementina now has the money to start her nonprofit foundation.

* The plans have been set and people on both ends understand what steps need to be taken to build the new soup kitchen.

* Cane’s elementary school has a freshly painted library, new lights, and hundreds of new books.

* The children had the joy of taking pictures from their own disposable camera.

* The soup kitchen has better electricity.

* Photographs and video footage have been collected to create promotional videos to raise money for Cane.

* A blog of personal thoughts and articles has been created to explain the need of Cane, the purpose of The KidSAKE Foundation, and to document the trip.

* Needs have been assessed – from the school, the soup kitchen, the villagers, and several nearby orphanages.

* Toys, medicine, and other items have been left for the villagers.

* Item such as purses and bracelets have been collected for The KidSAKE Foundation to sell to raise money for Cane.

* Contacts and phone numbers have been exchanged to help with future mission trips.

* The future involvement of team members has been solidified.