Welcome!
Our group of American teachers has arrived in La Union (Lenny, Kara, Brooke, Cassidy and myself).  We also have two girls from England who will be teaching some and tutoring (Beth and Harriet).  After arriving in to San Pedro Sula we all met each other and the other teachers who will be teaching at other Abundant Life Schools in Honduras.  Our whole group took a bus ride to Gracias and checked into a hotel.  For the next few days we spent time exploring the city and having orientation at the Abundant Life School.  The school there was built right at the base of the tallest mountain in Honduras and the view and grounds are beautiful.  The group of La Union teachers then made their way to their home (3 hour bus ride on rock/dirt roads through the mountains).  The ride was a bit bumpy but offered spectacular views of the land and mountains.  We passed numerous coffee farms on the way out as it is the main source of income for this area.  Upon our arrival we had dinner at the Abundant Life Church with a mission group from one of the churches in Holland, Mi.  The food was great and it was awesome to hear about the work they had done while here- build a new classroom at the school.

The next day, we made our way up to the school (15 min walk) and were given a tour of where we would be teaching.  We began work on our classrooms, decorating and sorting books.  One of the teachers I am working with, Brooke, said it best when she said "I never want to hear a teacher in the States complain again!"  This is very true, our books are barely held together and all we have to decorate with is construction paper; the desks are small and very uncomfortable and there is only a bookshelf and maybe a table for a teachers desk.  Despite these things we are enjoying the opportunity to begin our careers as teachers and can't wait for the students to arrive.