When I think of Honduras, I think of the many sounds. I think of the sounds of a motorcycle engine roaring, the nightly fireworks from our neighbors, clucks of chickens in yards (and houses), the wind in my ears while sitting in the back of Natan’s truck, and the sounds of laughter from adults and children alike. As soon as I walked out of the airport, I remember hearing the distinctive sound of engines roaring and buses honking, knowing I was right back at home.
My trip to Honduras this year was a breath of fresh air. I was so thankful and fortunate to be able to come back to Honduras for a second time, this year with my friend Emma Cate. We had the opportunity to assist with a mental health day with children at a school, do community visits/check-ins with families and pastors, inventory hundreds of medicines for an upcoming medical brigade, teach an English class, and lead children’s church. Of these, there are many moments that stand out to me. One of these moments is the community English class that VER has started. Last year, I co-taught one of these classes with Brooklynn as they were just starting the program. It was amazing to see how much this program has grown in just a year. The students (from middle schoolers to mothers) all took time out of their busy lives to dedicate to community and learning. The men and women in this class were dedicated, fun, and so smart. Not only are the students learning English, but they are also a tight-knit community, having both classes at the VER Mission house and coffee shops. The light in their eyes with “ah-ha” moments, teasing each other, and sounds of laughter filled my cup. The intentionality that Brooklynn and VER had put into the students and the lessons was so evident.
Before I taught the pronunciation lesson, I remember being so nervous. I was making slides, coming up with a lesson plan, and Googling fun lessons for adult English Learners. I was hoping to get things just right so they could learn as much as possible in two hours. After reflecting on the lesson, I think I missed the big picture; perfection wasn’t needed. Intentional time spent in community and loving on the students was more important. While I hope they remember the English we worked on, (aka practicing the pronunciation of “America”), I hope even more that they remember the laughter and how they felt in the class.
I think sometimes we can miss the big picture in modern “hurry culture”. I am reminded of the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10. Martha is busy getting the house ready for Jesus. I imagine her frantically cooking, cleaning, and making sure everything is just right for the Savior. Mary, however, is still. She is sitting at the feet of Jesus, soaking in time and conversations with Him. How often do we miss good things because we’re busy? How often are we trying to get everything perfect (the house, our jobs, our families, our vacations) that we miss quality time with others and, more importantly, with Jesus?
I hope that our lives start to reflect more of the sounds in Honduras. I pray it’s filled with the sounds of birds and cars as quiet time is spent outside with the Lord. I pray it’s filled with laughter as we spend time with Christ-centered community. I pray it’s full of God’s gentle whisper in the wind as we take time to be still with Him. And I pray it’s full of the sounds of cars as we travel, both locally and internationally, to love on others and share with them the good news of Jesus.
Anna is an ESL teacher at Oak Mountain Middle School where she teaches students from 14 different countries. Her life calling is to work with English learners, but especially native Spanish-speakers. On the weekends and in the summers, you can find her exploring the world both domestically and abroad.
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