Did I forget to Blog?

In a word - no. It has been on my "to do" list for months but it never made it to the top - or anywhere near the top for that matter. To be honest I didn't feel like there was a lot to say, but I realized that I need to simply get into the habit of posting on a weekly basis. So here goes, I'm gonna try to recap the past 3 months; buckle your seat belts 'cuz we're gonna move quick.

In May my time at Conestoga Christian School came to an end. It was sad, very sad; I didn't realize how much I truly loved those kids and how hard it was going to be to say goodbye - perhaps forever. When you spend 7 hours a day with the same group of people for 2 years the relational dynamic moves beyond teacher-student. It becomes something akin to an extended family dynamic (disregard the play on words).

At the end of May I had a very relaxing and exhilarating time of retreat at Camp Susque with my family and friends from Agape Fellowship. An added bonus was that three of my students, Josiah Stoltzfus, Dustin Groh and Bryce Petersheim were able to come along for the trip. We had an awesome time and I was sad to see it come to an end.

Both my brother and one sister graduated from Williamsport Area High School and Grove City College respectively. While it was a nice time with family, I've decided that I don't care if I ever see another graduation in my life. They have to be some of the most boring affairs on the planet - speech after speech about 'reaching for your dreams' and 'finding your inner strength'...what does that even mean?

As soon as school was over my roommates threw me a 'Honduras Can Have Him' going away party. While it was all in good fun I am quite convinced that by and large the title of the party expressed their sentiments exactly. I think my chronic and obsessive vacuuming and ironing about drove them over the edge. I realize I am OCD about certain things - but at least my disorder creates productive and beneficial results...I think I'll keep it.

For the past two months I have been in training in Lancaster - much of it was classroom lecture style about biblicl foundations for missions, how to be sensitive in cross-cultural work and the other pertinent issues. If ever you get a chance to hear David Shenk, Ron Sider or Eloise Menesses speak I highly suggest you do so - they are truly wise and wholistic Christians. We also spent some time interacting with members of other religions; we visited a mosque, synagogues and a Buddhist Temple - we were there simply to learn and observe. It was fascinating and the conversations that I had with the people there were so rewarding. Training was generally an enriching experience; I got to know such a vast array of people - Kenyans, Eritreans and Americans getting ready to set out all over the world. Just being able to sit at meal time with experienced missionaries and listen to their stories was such a neat experience.

The last piece of news that I have to relay is that God has so richly blessed me in these past few months. He has provided an incredible group of support team members - these people have taken it upon themselves to raise my support, pray for my needs, care for me before I go and during my time in Honduras and keep up communication with my Churches and supporters. I have been so blessed by them. God has also done amazing things in the way of support - I just received word from EMM that 90% of my support has been pledged. As such, I am cleared to get my flight booked for lnaguage school in Costa Rica. Praise God, in two short months my MST's have raised 90% of a $30,000 a year budget - that's divine intervention right there.

Alright, that's it I'm ending this post - it's been a lot to cover and I promise to become a weekly blogger, for better or worse. Please continue to pray for me - I have a lot of little details to wrap up before I go and my window of opportunity is steadily diminishing.

Blessings to all of you!

- Matt