Day 4: Performing for the students, and many more interactions

Today was an early day, starting with breakfast at 6:15 a.m., so we could spend as much time as possible with students at Instituto Gubernamental Soberania in San Antonio De Cortes for the third straight day.

We took part in an early-morning school assembly, singing “Holy, Holy, Holy,” and performing a parable of the wedding feast. Justin and counselor Eli Gonsalez talked about Por Que No Tu and we distributed books about Jesus to the 300 students. 

We played soccer against the students, who were now our friends, for two hours before taking a break at the downtown park and enjoying a Hondurinian lunch of baleadas (scrambled eggs and slow-cooked beans in warm flour tortillas) and Coca-Cola. Children attend school only in the morning or afternoon, and it was fun to play and visit with so many of our new friends in the park. 

After lunch, we visited a bilingual school to help the children with their English by interacting with them. Pairs of the team spent time with each class, playing games like Simon Says, I Spy and Duck, Duck, Goose, as well as reading books, asking questions and having conversations. Everyone was excited to talk with us. 

At 3 p.m., we returned to the Instituto Gubernamental Soberania to repeat our music and skit for the afternoon students. Before we sang Holy, Holy, Holy, Eli shared the meaning of the song, explaining the trinity to a community where many know of God and Jesus but not the trinity. The students thanked us for our work, in part, by performing a traditional dance. 

And then, more soccer. 

We returned to the retreat house just before dark for a comfort food of chicken, rice, tortillas, and freshly squeezed orange juice before settling in for devotions and interactive games to end the night. 

 -- Emma Beiler