Mary Faith's Journey into Missionary Life and Learning

Mary Faith had been eagerly anticipating her move to Honduras to become a full-time missionary with the same excitement a child feels on their first day of kindergarten. And in a way, it’s an apt comparison, because Mary Faith’s journey began with her going back to school—Spanish school, to be exact.

On September 25, after a whirlwind week traveling with fellow missionaries Kirstin and Esdras on a backpack trip in the States, Mary Faith arrived at the Spanish Institute of Honduras in Siguatepeque. She was ready for a new chapter but also grateful for the time to rest and settle in before starting classes on October 7. Those first days gave her a moment to reflect on the incredible journey that had led her there.

As eager as she was to dive into learning the language, Mary Faith quickly realized the challenge ahead—especially as an adult student. “I knew it would be a challenge, and I was right!” she said with a laugh. While her vocabulary had grown over time and she could read Spanish fairly well, listening and speaking fluently was a completely different story. The first two weeks were difficult, full of moments where frustration bubbled up as she struggled to memorize even the basics.

But after that initial hurdle, Mary Faith began to find her rhythm. Taking on the mindset of “slow and steady wins the race,” she noticed gradual improvements. By the third week, the constant repetition was paying off, and she was stringing sentences together. “It’s fun to ask my teacher, ‘How do you say...?’ and keep building on what I know,” she shared.

Mary Faith has also come to appreciate the one-on-one lessons, which have been instrumental in her progress. Reflecting on her teacher’s patience, she couldn’t help but chuckle, noting that teaching a middle-aged student like her must be quite different from the 6-8-year-olds her teacher works with at a local public school. As a perfectionist, it hasn’t been easy for Mary Faith to accept the slow pace of language learning, especially with the challenge of memorizing exceptions to grammar rules when she doesn’t yet fully know the rules! But through it all, the immersion method has proven effective, and she is understanding more each week.

Part of the school’s program includes weekly outings, allowing students to practice their Spanish in the community. These outings have been a highlight for Mary Faith. Her first adventure took her to a cozy coffee shop where she enjoyed baleadas and great coffee. The next week, she ventured into the local market, practicing her Spanish while buying vegetables. Recently, she even tried her hand at pottery. These outings, paired with the school’s weekly Home Fellowship Group—a time for worship, Bible study, and fellowship in English—provide much-needed mental breaks and spiritual refreshment.

One of the best parts of Mary Faith’s experience in Siguatepeque has been sharing a house with Kirstin, who is also taking a refresher course at the school. The house is just a few blocks from the institute, making their daily walk to class both easy and enjoyable. Having someone to share the journey with has made this chapter even more special for Mary Faith.

Looking ahead, Mary Faith plans to stay at the Spanish Institute until the end of November. After that, she’ll return to Arizona for the holidays before hopefully coming back to Honduras in January, possibly for more language school before the busy mission season kicks off in February.

This past Saturday, Mary Faith had the chance to get involved in the local community by helping sort and package medicines with a medical brigade organized by a doctor from the States who works in Siguatepeque. For four hours, the group worked together to prepare medicines for a medical outreach in the mountains, giving Mary Faith a tangible way to serve in the area.

As she continues working toward her goal of full-time mission work, Mary Faith has two main prayer requests. First, she asks for prayers that her brain will retain everything she’s learning—a task that has proven to be quite the challenge! Second, she is trusting God to provide monthly financial support, praying that her goal will be met by January so she can make a long-term move to Honduras and fully dedicate herself to the mission.

In this season of growth, challenges, and anticipation, Mary Faith remains steadfast in her faith and commitment to the calling God has placed on her heart. With each new word learned and each new experience, she moves one step closer to fulfilling that call.

 - posted by Christi