¿Porqué nosotros aqui? Why are we here? ~By Amanda

I definitely believe that I am God's workmanship created in Christ to do the works that he prepared in advance for me to do (Ephesians 2:10)
In Utila my days are filled with joy, excitement, new experiences, fun, and learning, tons of new knowledge is finding it's place in my mind. We are in contact with so many people every moment of the day. Some who have lived here their whole life, some who came for a week.... three years ago, and others who are just passing through. Conversation usually starts with, "English?" then goes onto, "Where are you from.... What brought you to Utila.... What other travels have you gone on?" The people here are just amazing! Most of them haven't been to their real "home" in years. They only country jump. I love it! Each person has a reason for being where they are, whether it's, "I've been all over Central America but never Utila..." or, "A friends mentioned it so I came..." the reasons are countless. When I've been asked the question, "Why are you here?" my answer has been, "I'm learning Spanish." Which in all reality is the total truth. My family packed up and left to Utila, a place we knew nothing about for three months, to learn Spanish. In fact even one week before we were on the plane, we were still asking, "Are we going to do this or not?" But although it's truth... there's more. Why are we learning Spanish? Why this Island?
Yes, two years of a foreign language is a high school requirement. But as a servant to the Most High King, I know that God equips us with things He has a purpose for. But not only will he use our Spanish once we get home again, there is a reason that we are on this Island, seeing the same people, interacting, making friends. There is a reason we have the Zalaya's as landlords, Alma and Diana as Spanish teachers, Tatiana as a Dive Instructor, and those assistants on the boat(Zack, Leon, and Danielle)
As you all know, we came prepared with our Child Evangelism Fellowship Curriculum and the Jesus Film for whatever opportunity God opened, and will open. So far, we have a five-day club set for in the evenings at the end of this month. As far as the Jesus Film goes, we've still been praying about when, and where. Mom found out that for $25 we could play it all day in the theater here, just advertise a free movie. Pastor didn't think anyone would come... but even one life... one soul... We'll see what God leads us to do. But for now, we see even our very lives, living day to day, have been a light- a witness. Everyone at the dive shop has noticed we were different than they were, it's somewhat cute to watch them relate to us. One man, Leon, has lived in Utila his entire life. He speaks español y English. He noticed the bracelet that I was wearing. The one with the gospel colors creating it's rubber band. He said it was cool. I told him that he could get one if he was able to tell the story that went with it. ''A story? There's a story that goes to that bracelet?" I began to tell the story, but not knowing how interested he was in hearing it, I was giving a shortened version.... thankfully Andi wouldn't settle for leaving John 3:16 out of this important story, so she took over. She asked him what sin was, to which he replied, "You're asking me? I don't know... maybe smoking and drinking, because it's bad for your body. God wouldn't like that, right?" Later when she got to Jesus, he was asked, " Who is Jesus?" again he said, "You're asking me.... umm.... " he looked down, and gave a little laugh, "uh, you kind of caught me off guard here, how 'bout you tell me." Once we were done telling him all the parts of the bracelet, he seemed to be thinking... he thanked Andi for the story, then said that his mom was a big church go-er, still is... so he's gone some, and he prays sometimes.... He said though that he believes there are four elements to life; Spiritual, Physical, Emotional, and Mental(intelligence) He said often times people focus too much time on one or the other. A strong man could be totally clueless to spiritual things, and one who was intelligent could be highly emotionally unstable ect. He said he felt as if he were able to find a balance to them all, he would truly find God. He kept talking, so we listened. Later Mom was able to tell him that in the Bible, Jesus grew in all the areas he was talking about. (Luke 2:52) It was a profitable conversation. I told him about Solomon, who was searching for the meaning in life. "The book of Ecclesiastes, in the Bible, is all about his journey finding the purpose of existence." We explained that he found the study of books to have no end, and that everything he sought was meaningless... "At the very end, he finally tells you what the purpose and meaning of life is. I'm not going to tell you though, because I would like you to read it. All of it. It's very good!" He seemed disappointed at that, but conversation carried on. We later remembered that he probably doesn't have a Bible. The next time we saw him, the time wasn't right. So we carried on normal casual conversation. But whenever God opens the opportunity again, we have Ecclesiastes marked in a Bible we'll let him borrow.
Prayer Reminders:
Tatiana & her husband Alfred
Leon
Josè - No fear, but strength to follow the passion in his heart to serve God in English and español.
My family - As God begins to work more in us, Satan will do his best to ruin our witness
I can't remember her name right now, but God does, she's a lady who has gone through a lot these past two years, and needs certain things financially. I think Mom will tell you more about her later.
Thank you!

DIVING!
our last dive, was by far my favorite! Mom didn't get sea sick, and it was to sixty feet. Because of the depth Bonnie and Andi were not able to come. But we saw so many cute fish, squids, and beautiful coral.... but my favorite part.... we went to a dive site called something moon... maybe moon walk, I can't remember for sure, but it's name came from the fact that it is one giant circular sand patch surrounded by the coral wall. there we did fun exercises like weightlessly floating, taking off our mask, reg, bcd ect. But, we also took our fins off, stuck them in the sand, and did flips! Front flips... back flips... it was SO much fun! Because we are in training we aren't able to take pictures, but now that it's over, we can rent a camera, pay for fun dives, and go back. That spot is only 40' so Bonnie and Andi can come too! I know, my story of diving isn't very detailed.... my main focus for this post was our mission. But I will tell you about the very first 'dive', we were under water doing exercises, I felt like it was difficult to breath, and the whole time I just wanted "real air" when we surfaced, we all checked our gages to see how much air we had used. Before the dive I had a little over 3,000 psi.... I was hearing everyone say, "I now have 1,500.... 2,000...." I just kind of laughed and said.... "umm" They looked and were like, "wow, you just held your breath for 40 min." .... so I explained it was difficult, and they switched me to my alternate reg.... but it's definitely a story to remember. :D
Anyway.... That's all I can say for now. I do love Spanish!
'Till the Sunrise,
Servant to the King,
Amanda