Channel 2 meteorologist David Chandley's wife, Lynn, and oldest daughter, Lauren, are traveling to Honduras this week. wsbtv.com asked them to blog about their adventures and they readily agreed! Enjoy.

Lynn's Last Blog

Leaving Orphanage Emmanuel I was filled with a mixture of emotions. I was so excited to get back home to David, Leah and our dogs but a part of me wanted to stay with the kids longer. It seemed like I had gotten to know quite a few by name and you could see their excitement when I was able to call them by name. They loved saying our name too! We could always hear one particular girl calling Lauren..it was LORENA..LORENA..LORENA !!! it always gave us a chuckle that she would work so hard to get our attention.

HOW YOU CAN HELP: Orphanage Emmanuel

We were able to invite a couple of young men to our team dinner on Thursday night. The menu was lasagna, salad, fruit, corn salad, bread, key lime pie and ice cream. Jose Luis and Josue David were already walking up to meet us when we set out to get them; we could see their excitement. They were all cleaned up and Jose Luis was wearing the sunglasses that Lauren had given him earlier in the day. Lauren & I were eager to see how they would react to this grand meal. As we entered the buffet line Josue David handed me a tray, my utensils & napkin before he got his own. We sat down and they immediately dug in. Generally they only use spoons with their meals so we noticed that they used the spoon & fork together. They both loved the meal and quickly asked for more lasagna & bread. They were both so polite and smiled the entire time. When Josue David tried the key lime pie he made a face. The nonverbal clues indicated that he did not like it! We also gave both of the boys a bag of Fritos, their first, (they actually crushed them with the bottom of their cup and ate with a fork) Another first...an ice cream cone.

VOLUNTEER: At The Orphanage

It seemed like the dinner came to an end much too soon but it was special to get to spoil them. I know both boys enjoyed it but I think Lauren & I enjoyed it more. Seeing this evening unfold and watching these boys eat their very first ice cream cone is something I will never forget. As we were escorting them back to the adult in charge of taking them back to their dorm the younger one, Jose Luis began to cry; he knew his Cinderella moment had come to an end.

The day began early Friday morning. By 6:15 all 450 kids were in the front "yard" for circle time, they sing praise songs and recite Bible verses before going to school. We walked around the circle greeting and hugging the kids; they are very disciplined not to get out of line. Of course once we found our little guys we would stand with them. They were happy to see us but both understood that we would be leaving soon. Through one of the kids who spoke a little English Josue David asked if I could ask Poppy if he could go home with me. This little boy had only known me a few days but felt a connection with me that I can honestly say was reciprocal. He wrote me a note and drew a picture. I received several notes from other kids as we left; I had a woman translate them for me. Their thoughts are so sweet & pure. One of the older girls actually wrote me a note in English. Thats a big deal and I expect Claudia to excel in school.

Reflecting back on the week at Orphanage Emmanuel I am in awe of how the operation comes together month after month. It is generosity from around the world that allow David, Lydia (Poppy & Mommy) and the rest of the staff to provide a safe haven for the orphaned children in Honduras. If you ever feel the desire to make a difference in the life a child find a way to spend a week at Orphanage Emmanuel.

The next time I go back I hope it is with all 4 Chandleys.

*********************************************************************************************** Lauren's Last Blog

Leaving Orphanage Emmanuel was so hard for me. As we were leaving on the bus the kids were in their yards yelling "Bye, Adios" and I just lost it because I knew I was going home to my loving family, house and friends and realized the kids were not. This wasn't just camp for the kids, it's their daily life. I feel like I gave the kids a glimpse of hope for a week. I enjoyed giving them hugs and attention because they don't have a mom and dad to give them a pat on the back or even to tell them they are loved and I hope that I did that for some kids this week.

This was such a neat experience. It really made me appreciate my family and all that I am blessed with. I really admire the kids' optimism. They are constantly smiling and have such a willing work ethic. I had such a fun time goofing off with the kids and seeing them laugh. I thought the language barrier would be a bigger problem but I knew more Spanish than I thought plus I learned a lot on a week plus a smile and hug doesn't require verbal communication.

Lord willing I will be going back to Orphanage Emmanuel next year and I hope to bring as many friends as possible because I think everyone needs to experience it for themselves. I praise God for blessing me with the opportunity to go and serve Him.

**************************************************************************************************************

Friday, 2-22, Lauren Chandley

This week is flying by and I want it to slow down!!

Last night we had Karen, a girl who works at the toddler house full time and is an orphan here at Emmanuel, up for dinner at the team house for her 20th birthday. She was hesitant to come join us at first because she gets uncomfortable around lots of people. She loved the food and ate so fast. Vegetables and beef sure do beat having rice or granola everyday. We wanted Karen to have a very special birthday since her family was not here to help her celebrate.

Today we spent the majority of the day painting the new toddler house, but our group did get to go hang out with kids after they got out of school for about an hour. The kids are divided into different yards according to age and gender. They are like little communities because their dorms and dinning halls are in their yards. I love walking past the yards and hearing their voices yell “Laurena Laurena Venga Venga!!” (which means come here). Anne, my friend from school who came with me, and I taught the girls an American game and now they want to play it all the time! I really enjoy spending time with the teenage girls and I know it is a treat for them to have someone near their age to goof around with. It is also easier to communicate with them because they know more English. The girls are also helping me with my Spanish and laugh when I mess up.

Today I also got the chance to go by the boy’s yard. When we walked up the boys were all sitting in rows while the older boys lead them in songs. It was a sweet sound hearing over 50 middle school age boys singing praise songs. The older kids here really do step up and take leadership roles.

This evening there was a church service. Anne and I got as chance to sit with some of the girls we have grown close to. The service included songs in Spanish and English and the kids sang their hearts out, which is a little different from the service at home because no one here is timid about singing.

Our group has to finish painting tomorrow which means I need sleep. Hopefully we have time to play with kids tomorrow because that’s what I look forward to everyday!

************************************************************************************************************

Thursday, 2-21, Lynn Chandley

We had a great time on the field trip to the Chiminike Childrens Museun in Tegucigalpa, it was a very interactive experience and they played along side children from other schools. They were amazingly patient during the 3 hour bus ride and sat politely in their seats. Most of the kids only understand a few words in English so there were challenging moments of communication , I got creative and started pointing to things outside the window and telling them what it was in English. We were assigned 3 kids to keep up with, I had a little boy named Ivan, his sister Ana and Keila. They wanted to take turns sitting in my lap. I have chaperoned field trips for both of my daughters for years but I must say that I have never had my hand held more ! The most memorable moment of the trip was on the bus ride home..the children were fed a sandwich, chips and a drink at the museum, which was a treat but we chaperones took peanut butter sandwiches. We had an extra sandwich so into the trip back to the orphanage I offered a piece to Ana, she took it and tore it in half and gave it to Ivan. I was amazed how they could take such tiny bites of this sandwich to make it last so long. I will never make another pbj sandwich without thinking of this sweet moment of sharing between a brother and sister.

We were back to painting on Wednesday.. it is neat to see the men from the various churches working together to finish the tile, electrical installation and putting the finishing touches on the building. Some of the older boys from Emmanuel were there to start assembling beds and assist where needed. The boys work in the areas of cleaning, maintenance and landscaping while the older girls do the domestic work like cleaning and cooking. The older teenagers live with the younger kids in their assigned dorms. The grounds here are very clean and neat and it is obvious that they have a lot of pride in their home. We only had a small window of time to visit with the kids in "their Yard" because on Wed at 5:00 we all go to a church service. We took some marbles, little matchbox cars, suckers and various other goodies to share with the boys. They love to have something in their pocket.

The kids are already seated in the chapel before we arrive, they sit according to gender and age. A little boy named Josue (14 yrs)motioned for me to sit with him. We had a few moments before the service to chat...my limited Spanish and his limited English .he wanted me to know who his siblings were so I gave him a piece of paper and he wrote all their names and ages .. a total of 5.It is surprising how many mutliple siblings are here..As the service was ending he took a little yarn bracelet off his arm and tied it around my wrist and told me he loved me...WOW

I have a surprise for him tomorrow.. I will invite him to our team dinner this will give me an opportunity to fill his pockets with a few special goodies and give him a new hat or shirt that we brought with us. I may even have him cheering for Parkview before the evening is over. I look forward to stretching Thursday as long as I can make it !

***************************************************************************************************************

Sunday, 2-16, Lynn Chandley

My trip to Orphanage Emmanuel was delayed a day so that I could get a passport renewal in Miami, even though it had not expired.

There was less than 3 months and many countries require 3-6 months before the expiration. The mom in me was disappointed to have to send Lauren ahead but I knew she would be well taken care of by the other team members. The night in Miami gave me a chance to get to know my pastor's wife better. Lara Blanchard is a true veteran traveling to Orphanage Emmanuel, so she was able to fill me in on what was awaiting me. Lara is part of a group that gives dental exams & cleanings to the children.

After a long travel day and going thru customs in Tegucigalpa, Honduras we were ready to travel 40 NE on an old school bus to Guaimaca. The 2.5 hr bus ride revealed the true poverty in Honduras. The roadside was littered with trash, the little shack houses were built very close to the road with various pieces of scrap metal & wood. There were adults & children walking along both sides of the road, many of the children barefooted and several wearing no clothes at all. Ocassionally I would see a dog and there were random horses & mules tied on the side of the road.

There was one thing that was very apparent..these people looked very sad.

By the time we arrived at the orphanage I wanted to find my own daughter and give her a hug and then I was on a mission to find as many kids and hug them before it was time to retire for the evening. After just a few hugs and many sweet smiles I saw that these kids are happy. This place is an oasis for these 450 kids who call Emmanuel home. I will talk more about the facility later but this place is very organized is and has been built with the loving hands of many volunteers thru the years.

***********************************************************************************************************

Saturday, February 16, 2008: Lauren Chandley

Here you go: Saturday Feb. 16th:

I finally made it to Orphanage Emmanuel in Guaimaca Honduras. It was such a long day of travel but it was worth it. The bus ride from Tegucigalpa was unexplainable. Pictures and even video don't do it justice. It was the most humbling bus ride I've ever been on. The houses in the city are built right into the side of the mountain, people are everywhere, and fruit stands line the streets. Driving in Honduras is a little different than Atlanta. There seems to be no speed limit and people are always honking their horns to get you out of the way.

By the time we arrived at the Orphanage it was 6:00 in the evening and most of the kids had already gone to bed. Fortunately we found a couple kids that were still awake that we could love on.

My mom is coming today! She had to stay in Miami because her passport was three months from expiring and you are not allowed to enter Honduras if your passport is within 3 months of expiring. Fortunately we learned that the night before we left. But she got her passport renewed and will arrive today.

I am so excited about the week ahead and seeing what God has in store. I'm off to go paint fingernails now for the older girls!

Lauren Chandley