Serious PTA meeting

I joined the concerned parents of Lake Silver Elementary, the Principle, the superintendent and the

Title 1 representative at the last PTA meeting of the year. I teach preschool in this neighborhood and

babysit for pretty much everyone in College Park so I knew everyone there. Everyone was surprised

to see me but I was surprised to hear what they were saying. I don't know if it was because I am

currently applying to volunteer at the boys and girls club on that side of town that the children they

are talking about live in or because I was a lot like the children they were speaking about. It was hard

for me to sit there and here what they were concerned about because I love their children but it was

equally hard to listen to the words those children, our children what does Title 1 mean for us? Well

your property value does not go down, the middle school in your neighborhood already is a Title 1

school and those children need to go to school too. I found myself sitting there with mixed emotions

as the parents, teacher, principle, superintendent and Title 1 representative were all speaking to get

their point across, voice heard and I was sad, wanting to help and I didn't know how. Until the end of

the meeting when one of the teachers spoke up and spoke about the buddy program they have their.

You volunteer at the school by spending time with a buddy at the school who is high risk and a light

turned on I can do that! A couple hours a week, check up on them and show them you care I thought

it was a perfect idea! So I will be signing up next school year to have a buddy at Lake Silver

Elementary.

It's a new year and I am back in Honduras!

This past year has been full of great times with the kids, fellowship with the other missionaries, eye opening experiences and lesson only God could have shown me here. 

In the last year and half I have gained the trust of over 100 children between Mama Tara's Orphanage, House of Hope and Morgan's feeding. We have had a lot of fun together-swimming, dancing, talking but in the beginning mainly sharing the common love language down here. Touch, the children crave to be touched-hugged, kissed, hold hands and sit on your lap but what they don't know is it's a perfect opportunity for me to pray for them. To open their hearts to the message I have come here to share with them. Because I wont be here forever to show them love but Jesus can forever live in their hearts and they can feel His love. After I gained their attention with all the fun things then they were ready to listen, after experiencing my love they were ready to understand His love. Because I could not do what I am doing, love as many as I love and understand all the pain here without Him. 

I dont know how this would be going here without the other missionaries or support-we cry together, pray for each other and are just there for each other whenever one is in need. I am so glad I grew up in the youth group so I knew how to be apart of this group as well. We share the word, we have worship together and talk about our highs and lows to know what each of us needs prayer for or for giving Praise. Some of the missionaries who have been in the field a long time have grown accustom to doing life here on their own. They've grown thick skin because they've seen a lot and don't cry for almost anything anymore. I pray for them frequently not only for their ministry but so I don't grow into a missionary who doesn't cry when I hear about an 11 year girl who is pregnant by her grandfather. I pray I never get so comfortable in this world that I expect help from a drug dealer, to whip a child with a cord because it's what they are use to for punishment nor do I want to be able to say I understand why children are abused because of poverty. I never want to not shed tears because I have seen so many babies die from malnourishment, I never will turn a hungry child away because all I have left is my own food and I wont get so wrapped up in this world that if my things get stolen I will grow cold to God's people here. I will except that I cant fix everyone, I cant heal anyone but I can show them God's love and pray they seek it for themselves. I have learned God breaks my heart for these people so I turn to him because only He can heal it. Only he can give me the hope, strength and love I need to endure the pain and sin that surrounds me.

I have loved so openly, freely and unconditionally here and its the most rewarding feeling ever. I have never been so heart broken, full of sorrow and empty as I have while here. I have never been so loved, truly happy and blessed as I have in the past year and half. My time here has been nothing but an amazing gift from God, a answered prayer I would even go as far as to say a miracle. I have been sick more than any person from the States who has lived here-even the ones who have been here over 12 years. I have had to leave to San Pedro Sula to have a camera down my throat, many blood test and a lot of pills yet I keep coming back here. God has shown me his words to be more true than I have ever realized...."I will not give you more than you can handle". He has turned me into a strong Christian women that I might not have realized in the States I could be.

And for all this I am thankful, I am in awe of His power and I am in love with His grace. I also am thankful to all of y'all for your belief in me, your continues support and prayer. I pray that you are able to support me in 2014 while I am here in Puerto Lempira in the mission field at House of Hope. Thank you for taking the time to read this, I know you all are very busy and it means a lot to me.

Exciting news!!!

Dear Friends and Family,

Thank you all so much for sponsoring me and making it possible for me to continue in this work that allows me to share the gospel through the tasks I do daily with children who so badly need to know that someone loves them.

I have been working in the mission fields of Honduras since I was almost seventeen years old.  I have thoroughly enjoyed it and been blessed in doing it.  In June 2012 I began my mission work with Reach Out Orphanage Ministries (ROOM) by serving at Mama Tara’s Orphanage in Puerto Lempira.  Mama Tara’s is filled with lots of loving, amazing children that work hard every day to not only survive, but also educate themselves.  I volunteered at this great orphanage for several months.  When another volunteer arrived at Mama Tara’s Orphanage I began working at House of Hope, a nearby orphanage providing rehabilitation, evangelization and education of handicapped and malnourished children in the indigenous region known here as La Moskitia.

My time spent at Mama Tara’s will always be remembered with fondness in my heart.  After working more and more with the children at House of Hope, ROOM and I believe the best fit for me to serve our Lord and His children is to switch my sponsorship from Reach Out Orphanage Ministries (ROOM) to Send Hope (the parent organization of House of Hope).  This change will take place on December 10^th, 2013.

I am extremely excited to become a full-time missionary with Send Hope!  Send Hope, the founding organization of House of Hope, primarily serves handicapped and malnourished children.  The director, Katrina Engle, has been a missionary for twenty-three years and I believe I can learn a great deal from her and her amazing family.  Send Hope has invited me to work as a full-time volunteer at House of Hope indefinitely.

Again, I am thankful for your past support and I am hopeful you will continue to sponsor my missionary work through Send Hope.  Send Hope has a different process of tracking donations than ROOM, so I will be able to send regular thank you letters and express my appreciation for all you do to support my work.  I apologize that I was not able to do this through ROOM.  For more information on Send Hope you can visit their website:www.send-hope.org.

As of December 10^th I will no longer receive support through ROOM.  I ask that you begin sending your support for my work to Send Hope.  Their mailing address is:  

Send Hope

720 E. Main St., Ste B., 

Allen, TX 75002

House of Hope is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.  All donations are tax-deductible.  Please be sure to write “Courtney Knewasser” in the memo field of your check so your support goes towards my work and not Send Hope’s general fund account.

If you have any questions feel free to send me an email at courtneymission@gmail.com, or send me a facebook message.

Love,

Courtney Knewasser

Pedro

         I know it's been a while since I've written-I was in the States for 6 weeks but now I am back and boy do I have a story to share! Pedro's story-Pedro is a boy who had cancer in his leg and needed it removed. House of hope paid for him to travel to San Pedro Sula for his surgery and now he is living here in House of Hope so he doesnt have to stop going to school. Also now that Pedro is missing a leg he cant do things for himself and his parents can't take care of him as well as House of hope can. After his surgery he went home and his parents couldnt even get him to the hospital to have his stitches removed. So this morning Pedro and I went to the hospital-they looked at hit nub and they said he needs lay down and you need to hold him. The stitches were suppose to be out 2 weeks ago so they were under skin in some places. He hops up on this mattress with no sheet and lays back and I hold his hands and arms more for support than pressure. There is no power in the hospital at the moment so they use a cell phone for light but they did have gloves, a new sterile kit and she wiped his leg with a alcohol wipe that's all that matters at the moment.

The first stitch wasnt bad it was where she could grab hold without going in his skin-we are all smiles. Second, third and forth a little wince but some movement so I had to put some pressure to hold him still.  Fifth, sixth and seventh there was a little blood she had to go deeper with the tweezers to get the stitch up. Tears start to flood Pedro's eyes down his cheek and mix with the sweat pouring from his face and more squeezing...promises were made for drinks and snacks. Eighth and ninth he lets out a little squeal that only we could hear and he quickly holds his breath so another one doesnt escape because you don't show pain here. Tenth was deep, she took a break for Pedro and her-the nurse spoke to Pedro in Miskito and then she went in and got it out. Eleventh and twelfth were easy and that beautiful smile was back on Pedro's face. He sat up and they wiped it again with alcohol and my hand got one more tight squeeze. He looked at me and I said ready? School is better than this isnt it? He said yes but my coke first please and everyone started to smile and laugh.

3 weeks later...

Pedro is doing amazing!! He is going everywhere with his handcart or on crutches and he also loves going swimming on Sundays with the group. We had some children making fun of him but we worked that out real quick. Pedro is getting more comfortable but still having pains where he has no leg so please be praying about that for him. Also if you are interested in helping please consider going to the Send Hope web page and donating because without Send Hope Pedro would not have been able to travel or get the surgery.

Now on to new about me as some of you already know I came back to Puerto Lempira for my second year and did not move to San Pedro Sula. I am living in House of Hope as a full-time volunteer. I have been posting tons of pictures of what we do here with the children and I hope you all have enjoyed them!!

My next update will be sooner :)

Life as I know it is about to change at least for a month and I am excited!!!

So for the past month and a half I have been serving my fellow missionaries here and I have never felt more rewarded. As most of you know I LOVE children and I LOVE God and so I put those tow together and I show all the children I come into contact with God's love. I try and model Jesus like behavior as much as I know how but don't get me wrong sometimes I am drained and just want to be alone. Wanting to be alone is a new feeling for me, I have never wanted time alone because I never found being alone enjoyable. But I am realizing being alone is God's favorite time to work on me, to show me his love and to restore me.

In my everyday routine I wake up at 5:30 and do my quiet time-I am a talker out loud to the Lord, sometimes I am listening to music and sometimes I am just reading so I don't feel alone.

I walk out my door to a beautiful boy Aaron who is just waiting to tell me something, ask me something and show me some kind of treasure he has found. Our taxi truck pulls up with 2 sets of twins who are smiling at me and just waiting till get to school and off the truck so they can tackle me with hugs, kisses and sometimes just talking me wrapping their arms and legs around me laughing.

I volunteer for another woman for is running the preschool and living at the Mama Tara's Orphanage and she is out there al the time. So she separated from the rest of us in town so she misses talking in english and hanging out so she is just waiting for me to interact with her.

From 8am till 3pm I am surrounded by beautiful and amazing children of all ages who just want my attention or love. One of my main jobs in the pre-school is the art center and I LOVE art...I love watching children create art. One of the most beautiful things in life for me is watching children do art for the first time. A child experiencing paint, scissors or glue with their little hands for the first time is a sight I hope to see for the rest of my life. The smile that grows on their little faces is a sight that stops time and reminds me of Jesus' LOVE. In that moment I am being blessed more than I could ever think I would be by little hands doing art.

I put my iPod on and I walk to House of hope and there I am again surrounded by beautiful and amazing children who just want some part of me. And then throw in a Charlie and it becomes a love fest!!

I finish my day most of my time at another missionaries home with their family-I love family, I love how a house is full, loud and always in motion...just the the 2 orphanages I go to.

But....

Today, today I went to bible study in the morning and then out to get a special treat with Aaron who had a wonderful morning. And then I didn't want to leave my house...I felt drained, I needed to be alone. At first I hated it but then I started to write, read and plan.

I am planning my month of June, in June I will be moving in House of hope for the month to volunteer. They don't have a volunteer me not having children can help out. And with my friend Samantha coming she can help and have an amazing experience living in a orphanage. In June we will be helping with groups, waking up and putting children to bed, watching babies and serving wherever we are needed. It is about to be a crazy and busy month but FUN and I am excited so the way I see today was important for me to take the opportunity to be alone because starting June 1st I might not get another one!!!

R.O.O.M has a new address!!

The Preschool starting back up after a 3 week break, babysitting for my fellow missionary again for a week and getting another horrible parasite. It has been a crazy month since I've written and will be posting a new blog this weekend but I wanted to update R.O.O.M's address for all of you.

PO BOX 5882
Concord NC 28027

Thank you for continuing to support me in my mission to love God's children!!

For the past 10 days I've had the chance to walk in the shoes of another missionary while she is in the States. She is a single mother to 3 children she is in the middle of adopting and has a feeding program twice a week for 50 children. Also she tries to help anyone who knocks on her door and sometimes it seems like there is someone always knocking. Between 3 children all under 4 years old and a stranger always asking for something I don't know how she does it-always has a smile and always willing to bake you something when you come over for a visit. All I can think is God gives single mother's especially on the mission field a little more patience, a little more Grace and a lot more love to share. I am not ready to be a mother at all is what this experience is showing me especially not in a 3rd world country...

So far I have given away her infant to another missionary woman who is older and misses having children around her home. I am learning to except help and take this as a blessing that this woman is willing and able and its ok if someone else can do it when you aren't able.

All the of us have contacted scabies from somewhere-cream was put on. Clothes, sheets and towels were washed. And we were worried about me bringing lice into her home, who would have guessed her children would be giving me scabies instead.

But I must say the thing that makes me know that this young single mom is truly blessed by God is she never complains and if I was being woken up by a toddler who has managed to get poop all over himself and his pack n play at 5am I would be complaining, actually I did complain. lol But the that toddler says your name and giggles and smiles so big you forget all about having to clean the mess up.

And the thing that has blessed me the most is having the opportunity to do her ministry while she is gone. Her ministry has about 50 children in it and they are all sponsored by someone in the States for the feeding program, birthday and Christmas gifts. During the feeding program the children go swimming at the lagoon, eat lunch and then hear the bible and then answer questions for prizes.

I see Jesus in my everyday life here so much I am not ever really surprised by it I just smile and my heart gets the most amazing feeling. During the feeding program I was keeping an eye on the kids in the water and the toddler on the blanket in the shade behind me. At one point I turn around and there is a boy about 12 and his little brother about 3 sitting with the toddler. The 3 year old was holding his cup for the toddler to drink and the older boy was holding him on his lap and reading the bible to them. That moment made the cleaning up the poop, scabies and not sleeping thru the night all disappear-my heart was smiling so big for that moment I couldn't think about anything else.

So I might not have the patience of a single mother or the grace of one either but I have been blessed in so many ways during this time getting to serve a single mother.