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Marcy's Journal
2/23/2008 2/16/2008 2/09/2008 2/07/2008 2/03/2008 02/01/2008
02/01/2008 Entry There is so much to do when moving to another country that unfortunately the things that are needful or most important often get neglected. I made sure not to neglect my personal walk with the Lord (prayer, worship, study) for my own spiritual progress, but I probably would have spent a lot more time on learning Spanish and preparing notes to teach others. We were unable to get a container to ship all our household belongings, but we did get one pallet stacked with boxes/items that was sent to Arkansas to be part of someone else’s container. We rented a truck and drove it 45 minutes away – a pallet full and shrink-wrapped. So, what would you pack? I had one day to decide and pack the pallet and looking back, I would have packed suitcases first, then pallet, so that I didn’t have to lug so much around. There was so much in the natural that seemed overwhelming: preparing the house for sale, keeping it clean, packing for myself and four kids, saying our ‘good-bye’s’ or ‘see ya laters’ to family and friends, canceling magazines, credit cards, utilities, etc. There are still supposedly last minute things I will have to wrap up here (when we get internet). Travel (see pictures) We could have been home for our closing on the 28th and then flew out the 29th and 30th to Honduras, however we wanted to take a little detour and reconnect with some friends in Texas (with our own personal money). So, our travel began on a Friday from BDL (CT) to DFW (TX). We had two suitcases each (total of 12), 6 carry-on bags, Katarina’s violin, Kjell’s guitar, a car seat, two laptop computers, and my pocket book. Katarina and Mikayla were carrying their American Girl Dolls too. We spent Friday until Tuesday in Texas where we had a big reunion with friends on the Saturday. On Tuesday the 29th we flew to Miami where we stayed overnight. My reasoning for this was keeping flight times at decent hours when the kids would be at their best (not sleep deprived). Also, after arriving in Honduras (30th), I knew that we would have a 4 hour drive to Yamaranguila, so I didn’t want to push it with the kids. What I did not realize in that booking an overnight flight, they would not keep the luggage. So, we had to bring all 12 suitcase, plus 6 carry-on’s, plus the extras to the hotel. Basically, we filled the shuttle to the hotel. With a flight delay at DFW (TX), we did not get a chance to enjoy the hotel in Miami. The 30th we went from Miami to Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Out of 4 different flights, no bags were overweight and we did not have to pay any extra for anything (they tried at DFW because they overbooked a flight, but we had favor with a stewardess who came to our rescue). The only extra travel expense were those carts that hold your bags (very needed with everything we had) and for the last trip to the airport when we paid to have them take our bags at the outside check-in (otherwise it was three more carts full of suitcases, keeping track of the kids, getting inside, going up the elevator, etc.). It was enough to go through the inspection before the gate three times. We were pros at taking our shoes off, lap tops out of the case and in a separate bin, liquids in a baggie, walking through and putting ourselves back together at the other end! We had all sorts of travel games, but with the carry-on so packed full and up in the overhead compartment – coupled with the excitement – we found that we just had our snack or drink and listened to MP3 players. Out of four flights (going up four times and down four times), not one person got sick. I did put Jeremiah in one of those harnesses, so I would not be too tired to keep track of him and my laptop, purse, and carry-on, and the girls, and he hated it immensely. The kids did have some freedom though as we waited for flights to walk around and watch planes flying out and in. For general travel (not a move that requires you bring as much as you can), I would suggest a very small back pack for only kids who can carry them, and the minimum of luggage. Although I could take the advantage of 2 bags and 1 carry on for Jeremiah, he could not carry or pull any of it. So that, plus the guitar, laptops, and car seat in addition to our carry-on was just too much. I look forward to not taking this stuff back on a plane! When we set out to move to Honduras, and to sell our home, we received so many mixed reviews about the economy and some very legitimate concerns about logistics, “What if it doesn’t sell?” I did not know Kjell was believing for our house to sell in one week. We put our house on the market on a Tuesday and had an offer by Sunday. It was still early, the offer seemed low, and I was not comfortable with the family who wanted the house, so I turned it down. This made the next two months seem so long and the offers were only getting lower. We got together with some friends who were also moving and instead of praying for ourselves and our own situations, we prayed for each other’s. We prayed, we praised, we prayed. Within one week, we received another offer (the lowest). My real estate agent was not even going to show it to us, but she said to the buyer’s real estate agent, “Are they willing to come up?” The buyers came up to exactly the price of the very first offer (that we had in less than a week). We tried for a little more, but they could not do anymore. When we accepted this offer, I thought that I had really missed it. Were we supposed to take that first offer? Man, I wanted to show everyone that no matter what the market was like, my God could sell this house and show Himself strong on our behalf. What I almost missed is how God DID show Himself strong on our behalf. Our house, in CT, sold in three months. The inspection came back without request (meaning that we did not have to fix a thing in our home or lower the price due to inspection items). We were able to live in our home up until a week before we left (we decided to live with Kjell’s parents as we cleaned and packed our things, but could have stayed in our home longer). The closing was successful (we weren’t even there – we had signed over power of attorney). If we had sold the house any sooner, we would have been paying for our stuff to be in storage for months. At that time, we did not know we were moving to Yamaranguila and that the timing had changed, so we would have already closed on the house in December and been without a place to live for 4-5 weeks too. Another thing was that I couldn’t really have people help me pack because everything was not going. I had to be the one to go through stuff and see what would fit (going by importance). What really did help me though, was once the pallet of stuff was sent and the suitcases were packed, I had to get rid of everything else in my house. So, I had a friend who would come over and fill up her big vehicle and either drop the stuff off as designated (I had labeled boxes and items for certain people), bring it to Good Will, or keep it. I think she came by 4-5 or more times. As the ‘stuff’ would leave, it would be more and more of a relief. One thing I will say is that simplifying our lives and getting rid of all the ‘stuff’ has been a great blessing. Although it was hard to walk through with my children (getting rid of half their things in a tag sale and then another half as we packed and ‘it’, the stuff, just did not fit), I can honestly say they still have an abundance. One friend helped me immensely with finding a new perspective of what I have. Even if I was not moving, I think it would have helped me to de-clutter my house even more. Here were her three criteria for keeping things in the home:
Now, I’m not saying this is easy. I had many things in my house that were not functional, beautiful, or sentimental that I did not want to part with. One way I dealt with it was telling Kjell I wanted to throw something away – so I asked him to do it when I was not looking! For example, I had a container full of cassette tapes. They were some classical music I had recorded in college, an audition tape for college, some records (yes, those round black things that went on a record player) I had taped, etc. I do still have a cassette player, but I was not doing anything with these. I didn’t want to part with them, yet I had not taken them out of the attic in the 6 years I was at the house. That’s the stuff I just had to get rid of. Now that I am in Honduras I realize that on the one hand, I could have gotten rid of a lot more (especially clothing, maybe even shoes). On the other hand, there are things I would have packed. However, the things I would have packed would have been more in the functional category (and I am probably able to get them here). We live in the Rosa Adelina Care Complex (which I will find out if we can change to center because no one likes the ‘complex’ as a word). When entering the ‘area’, we pass through a barbed wire fence and drive up a road (dirt, of course). We come up to a little shack where the night guard (gun and all) stays to protect the property and then pass through a regular fence with barbed wire on top. To the left is the temporary church building (future cafeteria). To the left of that is an apartment building for staff to stay in (almost looks like a hotel with four different rooms). To the right is our house (more detail on this is in ‘the house’ section) and next to that is the orphanage. Behind the house is a warehouse or utility or storage building. There is also space for about nine to sleep as well. Basically, this complex is designed to reach the community in any means possible to tell others about Jesus. In addition to the current buildings, there are plans for an elderly center (taking care of the widows), vocational school, medical center, media center with radio broadcasts, sports area, church, and more. The outreach items will be in the area between the first two fences. The land was donated by a man who lives on the top of the hill. He is a Christian and wanted the land used for God’s work. His moms’ name was Rosa and his step-mom’s name was Adelina. He just wanted one room or something in their honor since both mothers loved the Lord. Luis Sorto (founder of ‘Love Without Boundaries’ and the center) did more than that – he named the whole center after them. In addition many different members of the body of Christ have come together, to work together, to use all of our various talents and giftings to reach this area and beyond (i.e. without boundaries). I just created a brochure on the center and the various members (people involved). Kjell will probably create a web page with links to each part. The House (see pictures) The house we are living in was originally designed for missionary teams to stay in. Therefore, it has four bedrooms and 3 full bathrooms. The kitchen and living room area are huge as well. Our master bedroom has it’s own private bathroom in which the toilet and closet is in there with their own separate doors. Basically, the closets in general (in the bedrooms) are so big that they might be almost the size of the girl’s old bedroom! So, we each have one suitcase with our clothes in it and then their dresses hanging up. This leaves plenty of room for them to play with their toys in the closet still! Right now, Mikayla and Rebekah share a room and Katarina and Jeremiah share a room. Our room is our bedroom plus office (quote unquote). The other bedroom actually has a door to the outside (in back). We were going to have that be the music room and office, but are keeping it free for guests. The floors are all tile. The showers are tile too (no tubs). I really expected to have a house where the wires were coming out of the shower head and you could not throw toilet paper in the toilet (because they don’t make the pipes big enough – so the toilet paper goes in the trash). However, this is an American made house with Honduran materials mixed with American materials. So, the shower heads are safe, the pipes are big enough for the toilet paper, and we can even cook with the water that comes out of the faucet because there is a filter on it. When I think about the house and the facilities here, I was reminded this morning of prayers Kjell and I prayed years ago (probably 5 years ago or so). We prayed for a house with no mortgage or loan, to be debt free, to have all the facilities we needed to do what God called us to do, etc. One day I know I will just sit down and cry my eyes out because I have come very close so far. This was very encouraging and elating. To touch the results of our prayers just makes us reach to pray more of God’s plan in this earth and watch it come to pass. Horses & A Dog (see pictures) My kids have always wanted a dog. They would beg me for one. At first it was just ‘no,’ then it was ‘we are moving.’ As the kids prayed for a dog, I mentioned to Mikayla that it would probably be more realistic to pray for a horse in the area that she could ride once in awhile. I said we probably would not own one, because we did not know how to take care of it, but she could ride someone else’s. So, this is what Mikayla was believing for. When we arrived at the center it was dark and it was very late. The only thing we noticed was the beautiful stars in the sky that we could actually see because no lights or city obstructed their view. Well, we did notice a dog, but thought it must be someone’s. In the morning however, we looked out the window and I think it was Katarina that saw a brown/red horse, then a white one. Mikayla came running over with excitement. I don’t even know who the dog and horses belong to, but that day they were able to ride the red horse (Chino). The white one (Blanca) is wild. We have only been able to get her to come near us with looking the other way and holding out hay. We gave both horses half an apple yesterday and they were coming after us for more! Kjell wants to learn how to saddle the horse today and so we will probably learn to ride too. I don’t know when I will trust the girls to go alone, although the Honduran house parents at the orphanage say their daughter rides alone. So, the kids have a dog (Flipper – pronounced fleepair) and two horses. The orphanage is right next door. There is a family who lives there with two children of their own (Brenda and Cindy). There were nine children, but when Luis Sorto was in the United States ministering, INFA (an organization like DCF, Department of Child and Family Services) came in and took 7 children. There are two different kind of orphanages in Honduras: ones through INFA and ones through individuals or an organization/ministry. INFA was trying to make Luis pay them and because he didn’t, their desire is to shut this orphanage down. On the one hand, INFA seems like the enemy, taking children and selling them to other families (who have to be on a waiting list and who really do not have a say in what child they adopt). On the other hand, some true orphans are being placed with families. I will put a prayer request about this on a different page or in an email. As of right now, there are two orphan girls, Iris (age 5) and Rosi (age 4). They are smaller than our Rebekah (who is 6 ½), so there may be some developmental delays. Some orphans have a family. The mom will keep having children because she knows that the ‘Americans’ will take care of them. This is just feeding a cycle of despair and hopelessness. What I would like to see for this facility, is either a place with true orphans (no mother or father or relatives) or a place where parents and children can be taught. In addition to parenting skills, this could be a way to teach about relationships and even birth control. Cooking (see pictures) The interesting thing about cooking in another country is not what you would think it would be. I have a gas stove, microwave, refrigerator, pots and pans, and utensils. I have the money to go buy food. As I walked up the isles of the local grocery store – I stood confused. I couldn’t just grab what I needed. I had no clue what I needed. I started going through in my mind then what meals I could make, but I would look out and not find the ingredients I needed. Some of this is ‘normal’ moving stuff – refilling or stocking on condiments and the like. Some is just different. To help myself shop, I would think, “I can make this.” But then I would find one ingredient and no others. For example, in thinking of homemade mac and cheese, I could find elbow macaroni, milk, and margarine, but no cheddar cheese (or any block type cheese). I would think of making chili, but could find no can of crushed tomatoes and no chili powder. So, so far it has been cooking some great processed meals or interesting combination meals (shells with sauce, box mac n cheese, hot dogs and microwave popcorn, etc.). I learned I might be able to find other ingredients in the ‘big city’ which would involve planning my trips right. Yesterday though, I met a missionary family who live ‘down the road’ (which from the videos and pictures you will know that does not mean 5 minutes). Brooke (originally from South Carolina and her husband René, a native Honduran) just told me she makes a list, has recipes, knows a less expensive place to shop, and will take me with her on Monday. I am very excited because I bought enough for 3 days the first trip and 3 days the second trip and I told Kjell there has got to be a better way to shop and plan! Plus we have to figure out about how much we are spending on groceries (which should be less at this other grocery store Brooke will take me to) and shop for longer amounts of time (at least a week). Paying for the groceries is a whole different story (maybe I’ll put that under money). As far as food preparation, fruit and vegetables (that you eat the outside of) have to be washed in a water/bleach (9 parts to 1) solution. We did this with strawberries and apples so far. Bananas are funny. Since you don’t eat the peel, technically you can just eat them. However, you can’t touch the peel and then touch the banana. So, one day I peeled everyone’s banana, placed it on their plate (without the inside touching the outside peel), and therefore I was the only one who needed to wash my hands before I ate the banana. It was a funny scene to watch though. The second day we were here, we sat down and spoke with Luis Sorto (founder of ‘Love Without Boundaries’ and the Rosa Adelina Care Center) and Porter Briggs (administrator of the complex and missionary from Comayagua). Luis shared his heart and how Porter, Kjell and I could be of help here. It was amazing and overwhelming a bit that someone would have this dream of a center and then basically turn it over to us to run. Our responsibilities include:
The things that are unfolding here have been things we’ve longed for and desired to do for a long time. To be in a place where different members (denominations or non) to flow together as one body, work in unity, for one common purpose – Jesus Christ, is amazing. We hope to continue to seek other local missionaries and work together as a unified team as it is already taking place here (we’ve already met 3 missionary families). Truly Christ is the head of this body. Another thing we’ve desired is outreach through media. If this is translatable, I’d love to have a show called, “Hope for Today.” Kjell and I have always wanted to disciple people and train up leaders. Here, we feel like we can have a hand in that both spiritually (through preaching, teaching, discipleship, and duplicating ourselves in every way) as well as physically (having the teams and their skills, whatever the trade, impart that into the lives of the people here). We won’t just get people saved, but we will teach people how to get others saved. We won’t just meet needs, but we’ll teach others how to meet needs. We won’t just work, but we’ll teach others how to do the work. The girls are handling the move remarkably well. Hey, with a dog, two horses, roadways to climb, rocks to cross and climb on in the river, swing set, new bedrooms, and no school – they are great! Just give them a soccer ball or a notebook and pen and they are off playing for hours. They are interacting more and more with the four girls next door too. There are two different bilingual schools. Both schools are in La Esperanza. One school has the school year start February 15th (a bus comes to Yamaranguila to pick kids up) and another school (Southwest) follows the typical school year calendar (but it would be a 45 minute drive with possible carpooling), so we will see how much it costs and about registering them next week. Jeremiah on the other hand, has not settled in yet. I don’t know how much is the age (‘wonderful two’s’) and how much is the adjustment. Without any other way to describe it – he cries a lot during the day. He was doing this before we left too (before and during the move). It probably started a little bit after when he turned ‘2’ and a little bit around when we got our house ready to sell. It’s the simple fall or frustration with a toy that triggers him. Although, he can be perfectly content outside with a ball and the open field or going for a walk. I just can’t live outside and watch him! We’re doing our best to keep the nap time and bed time schedule consistent and hope that will help. I am also hoping that a magical light switch is turned off when he turns 3 (in April).
It is so sunny here and a great constant temperature. It’s so sunny in my bedroom that I can not read the digital clock during the day. There are only two seasons in Honduras: rainy season (winter) and the dry season (summer). I wonder why I learned the four seasons in Spanish class, since it seems to only be two seasons here. We have entered the dry/summer season. Where we are it is about 70 degrees. The highest it will ever get is 80. I basically wear jeans and a t-shirt. I have a sweatshirt on in the morning and at night. At night, I get a little bit cold before bed, but once I’m in bed, I’m fine. There is obviously no heat, but there is also no need for air conditioning. The kids are already running around in shorts and their faces and arms are getting nice and pink/red. It’s sometimes windy too. It’s tiring to be outside in a sense. The only thing, I can think of to liken it to, is when you spend the day at the beach or go camping. You tend to spend all day or more time outside and are not used to it. It’s either sun burn or wind burn on the face and that ‘outside’ hair. Sometimes I don’t even know why I am curling my hair in the morning. It’s even so sunny, that I don’t even need to turn the lights on in the house during the day. It doesn’t help when the kids are all up between 6:15 and 6:30am and they are still turning and leaving lights on. Apparently this is a missionary ‘hot spot’ (no pun intended). We didn’t even know that. The weather is great here.
02/03/2008 Entry On Sunday, February 3rd, we had our first church service. A couple of boys from the neighborhood arrived first and then a bus load of girls (literally came in a school bus) from an orphanage down the road. I wasn’t sure if service would start right at 10am, from past experience in other areas of Honduras, however it did. Some walked in late or later. Luis Sorto opened the service with some songs on guitar. It is a bi-lingual church, so some songs were done in Spanish and in English. Luis even had someone translate his Spanish into English as he spoke and introduced people and us as well as interpreted for us when we spoke. Later we found out that the girls from the orphanage down the road were using an English home school curriculum before (they are now going to bilingual school) and so most of them speak very good English and Spanish! After worship, our family was introduced and I shared a little bit about Kjell and I and Answer the Call Ministries as well as about our past trips to Honduras (Comayagua and Danli). I preached (no title for the message!) about God’s plan to reach the nations, what the Rosa Adelina Care Center represents, and how we can work together as a team to carry out that plan (one body, many members). I even prepared an introduction in Spanish, but did not get to use it because they translate everything for English and Spanish speaking people who attend. I gave an altar call for salvation, but no one responded so I am assuming that these are people that have already been led to the Lord, which is why they were at church. Because many were bilingual, we spoke with the girls from the orphanage down the road after church without an interpreter. Some of the girls have a real desire to know more about God. When asked in what specifically (how to study the word, prayer, worship), they responded that they just want to ‘go deeper.’ So, we are figuring out if this is how we want to focus our midweek service (discipleship with interaction) or whether I will just take a trip out to the orphanage once a week for that. There are many interested in music as well. We found out there is a drum set, speakers, and maybe a bass guitar at the orphanage being unused (the last directors of the orphanage were musically inclined and there was a church there or somewhere near there). We will probably start worship team rehearsals on Friday nights with a core of girls from there and bring those instruments here (to the church building) if we can. We sent a pallet full of ‘stuff’ to Arkansas to go on a crate to come here. My keyboard is on there. I don’t know when that is arriving. Luis Sorto will be getting us a Cd and music of some songs and a girl from the orphanage, Ani (18 year old), might have some songs or music as well. She said she would be able to take Spanish songs and translate them into English and vice versa. In a way, church was exactly how I expected (the building, the order of service, the children 12 and under going to children’s church). In other ways it was not (people came on time, it was bilingual). We went for a drive in the afternoon to see what was down the road that we had taken a walk on the other day (since we did not get very far). We also hoped to find the orphanage (of 20 girls). What a bumpy road. There were parts where the road just drops off, parts where it seems like only one lane, a bridge with smoke coming up from under it (we didn’t stop to find out why), and parts where the road is still under construction. It was quite the dusty adventure.
2/07/2008 Entry We went into La Esperanza three times over two days. The first trip was to check out a bilingual school, South West. The second was to get help grocery shopping by a fellow missionary, Brooke. The third was to check out another bilingual school, Moriah (uses the Abeka home school curriculum), and check out the office to get information on South West. It takes about 30 minutes to get into the town of La Esperanza. Then, there a bunch of one way streets and the streets are not named. I think after three trips, we finally know how to get to the main road to go through town and how to get back to Yamaranguila (very important!). I bought all sorts of groceries and Brooke is going to copy some recipes for me (mostly Honduran). It was a relief to have someone show me everything in the store and tell me, ‘when you see this, stock up on it,’ ‘this is a great price,’ ‘you can get such and such at another store,’ etc. All the girls wanted to go to South West school. We compared prices and fees and pros and cons concerning curriculum and decided to finish out this school year (5th, 4th, and 1st grade) by home schooling them. We will purchase the home school curriculum, PACE, and do that from here. Otherwise, the girls will miss some school as we have to go to the main city of Tegucigalpa (4 hours away) to get residency and drivers licenses.
Currently our monthly support is between $385-500 per month. In the natural, we should have never come to Honduras on that amount (missions pastors suggest you raise at least 80% before heading out, which would be approximately $1600 or so. However, we came because God told us to and also because we have a house to stay in free of charge (no rent, no utilities). Therefore, the money we did raise covers food, gas, phone, internet ($1/hour at an internet café). So, we will begin believing for $1,000 to $1500 to $2,000 month of support. This will allow all three children to attend school in the fall ($500/month for all three, not including initial registration and book fees), savings for travel (trips with missionary teams), travel (trips back to the USA), and any car repairs or future vehicle needed. Also, we would like to be a blessing to others financially and to this complex, Rosa Adelina Community Center.
On our second trip into town (to see Moriah school and South West office), the car (1986 Toyota Van) would not start. We checked out some fuses and Kjell and Porter began to push as I steered the car. Once facing downhill, the guys got in and tried to pop the clutch. Right then, a missionary friend, Rene, drove by. He towed the van with a rope. He thought we ran out of gas because apparently Honduran gas gages are not reliable (with the bumpiness of the roads). Once we filled up with some gas, the van still did not start. So, we brought it to a mechanic. They thought it would be something expensive like the fuel injector and thought we would have to leave the van overnight. He checked the fuses too. Apparently, Kjell checked them all, except one, that was way in the back. As soon as the mechanic put that back in, the van started! He charged 50 Limperas, which is less than $3 US dollars. Pretty awesome! It was amazing to see God take care of us: the timing of Rene driving by, towing the van, the mechanic, Porter talking on the phone with his mechanic, the simplicity of it being a fuse, and the cost being so minimal. Since it is so dusty, Kjell began thinking of ways to clean off the van and parts from time to time here at the complex – a little preventative cleaning and checking! 2/09/2008 Entry Honduran Prison (see pictures) Late Thursday night (February 7th), Dr. Andy Garrott (of New Vision Ministries) and a small group arrived at the Complex (Rosa Adelina Community Center). Friday, guys from the group from Mississippi (Andy Garrott, Malcolm Morrhead, Saúl Larios, Bob, Pat, Paul, Craig Malcom, Jul, Jose) as well as Kjell, Porter, and Luis Sorto, went to a prison in La Esperanza to minister and provide a yummy meal (so both a spiritual and physical meal). We thought Kjell ought to check it out first before bringing our family there. Just before we arrived here in Honduras there was a hostage situation in that prison. Just a week before, Kjell and Katarina (along with Porter) were at the prison to confirm this visit and were able to see the gun shots in the office/waiting area of the prison. No need to fear, the prisoner who caused the hostage situation has since been moved to another prison (maybe higher security?)! A Pastor from Mississippi shared the gospel and some prisoners were saved. The Honduran prison makes prisons in the United States look like a hotel. They saw a cell and it was just a room with maybe 15 prisoners in it. We learned that almost all of the hammocks (hamacas) in Honduras are made by prisoners and some make purses and bags too. They can get paid for them. The prisoner’s regular meals seemed to consist of beans and rice (which seemed to be cooked primitively over an open fire) and if they get corn tortillas, they are buying them from someone who comes in and sells them. I thought it was strange that prisoners could earn money, but then I was thinking about in bible times. I always used to wonder why when someone did not pay a debt (in the bible) that they were put in prison. How were they going to pay off their debt if there was no way to make money? As a child, I would think that was a stupid way to have someone pay off a debt – since in prison, they would never make the money to pay it off. So, I began to think that maybe the answer to this question I’ve had was answered in the difference between a Honduran and a United States prison. Prisoners are not just learning or practicing a trade, but they are making money. In that case, they would be able to pay off their debt and/or send money to their families. I think Kjell and Porter are thinking of a way they can go to the prison regularly and be of assistance to the chaplain who is there. Maybe a regular bible study or a meal here and there, other than rice and beans, would be nice.
On Saturday, a group of us went to the waterfall with Porter as our guide. It is about a 60 foot waterfall nestled in a densely wooded foresty area. We walked trails that had to be chopped with a machete and we had to lean just so we wouldn't slip and fall. We finally made it to the pool where the water crashed onto the rocks.
On Sunday, Pastor Bob from Mississippi shared the message at church. 2/16/2008 Entry Weeklong Dental Brigade (see pictures) Sunday, a dental team from Oregon (put together through Medical Teams International) arrived. Medical Teams International’s main thrust is helping after a disaster (tsunami, hurricane, etc.), but they had made a connection here in Honduras (after hurricane Mitch about 10 years ago), so through that connection Honduras has received more help. The night before the medical team arrived, we set up dental chairs and disinfecting anything and everything (literally every bag and tub of stuff). Thank goodness for disinfectant wipees of all kinds! Sunday evening, the church was converted into a dental clinic. There were five stations set up, supplies behind us, and an area to sterilize all dental instruments. Everyone was ready to begin at 7:30am on Monday, but no children showed. A couple people had to leave to go pick kids up and bring them. Since it was the first day of school, teachers would not dismiss the kids for a dental clinic. So, kids from the neighborhood were helped (had dental work done – mostly extractions). No one from the town came to assist either, so I became a dental assistant! For those who know how ‘non-medical’ I am, you know that it is a miracle I could even sit there and help (my dentist from the United States would probably laugh). I would hold a hand or shoulder and look away to the door for any needles. I got to suck the water/saliva out of children’s mouths (without gagging). I was so exhausted after day one that I went to bed at 8pm and was zonked until morning (that was the best night of sleep yet). By Tuesday, I realized that I could not be a dental assistant all day and learn Spanish worship songs and prepare a message, so I decided to help in the mornings up through Wednesday and then Kjell replaced me Thursday and Friday. Katarina and Mikayla helped too, not only emptying the garbage and organizing, but assisting as well! There was a big difference between the kids that went to school and those that did not. The school kids had uniforms (that were mostly clean), shoes, and had seen a dentist before. The children from the neighborhoods that did not go to school, had dirty clothes (often the wrong size), shoes with holes and no soles, and they had never seen a dentist. The dentists, knowing the most of these kids (schooled or non-schooled) may or may not receive additional help, have to decide what will benefit the children in the long run (without x-rays) and fix the teeth with the most problems although they could have been worked on all week or more. Plus, in order to help each child in some way, they cannot be fixing every tooth because it would take too long. NOTE: I think the other children cannot go to school because they do not have the money for the clothes and shoes. And there is no law that says children must attend. It would be great to find out how great the need is (for clothes and shoes) and what it would take to get them there. It wouldn’t work if the parents still won’t let them go to school, can’t or won’t clean the clothes, or will sell the clothes and shoes so they can buy food. We, as a group, prayed over each day in the morning and I was praying almost the whole time when I was assisting. I have learned that dentistry is very focused and intense as far as constantly paying attention. I know they do not typically see that many patients in a day, but it’s still intense work. Luis Sorto’s daughter, Kimberly, who is doing her internship for dentistry, hopes to do some follow-up with the children and help more in this area by having an office she can work out of here at the complex (care center). Starting a Worship Team (pictures on the church page) This task is not as easy as it seems. The church is bilingual, but we still need to learn the Spanish words to the songs as well as figure out chords. The orphanage down the road donated all their equipment to the church here (microphones, speakers, drum set, keyboard, bass guitar, tambourines, shofar), but we had to really clean it up and see what was working and not working. For now, we are having the girls from the orphanage lead in song. We picked Friday nights for worship rehearsal. The first week, we just picked a few songs in English to go through, see where we were at, and teach a little bit on worship. We’ll have to see what songs we have between us and learn them both in English and Spanish. 2/23/2008 Entry I am in no way discouraged at this point. We have only been here for a little bit over three weeks. After talking with missionaries – of one year or many – I can see how discouragement can creep in. So, I am writing this to help people pray for missionaries and to have for me to read, to ‘jerk the slack’ out of me, if I ever lose heart. I believe a missionary enters the mission field with expectations and hopes really high. They know what want to accomplish and they are willing to make whatever sacrifices necessary to see that come to pass. They are sent because they believe (believers are supposed to believe, right?). But after time, when they don’t see those expectations and hopes come to pass, their heart gets sick (Proverbs 13:12). Maybe they can’t see the effect of loving that one orphan has on a that child’s life. Maybe they can’t see what opportunities they have made available for others. Maybe the success is not as easily recordable as church attendance and most of the jobs are considered ‘behind the scenes.’ A missionary is chosen because they can see years down the road. Most often, that is how the prayers should be prayed as well – not just focused on the people we are ministering to, but the lives changed through those people we are ministering to. This can be hard to wait 1 to 5 to 10 years to see the results of those prayers (prayers for the changes through the generations). What would be easy then, is to rely on our five physical senses (what we see, hear, touch, taste, and smell). Maybe it is the culture or the people that we begin to think will never change. Maybe it is the lack of opportunity or the let downs that missionaries experience. We were never called to live by our five physical senses. If we have received Jesus as Lord, we become a new creation (II Cor. 5:17). Old things (living by our five physical senses) have passed away and all things have been made new (our spirit man is made alive so we can live by our spirit and our spiritual senses). We are a spirit, we have a soul (mind, will, and emotions), and we live in a body. Our spirit is new, but we have to renew our mind and crucify our flesh. So, what can we do and what can we pray so that missionaries finish the race (this could apply to any Christian as well – in full-time ministry or not – since we are all ministers of reconciliation)?
I’m seeing prayers answered today from 5-10 years ago. This has greatly encouraged me to think bigger and pray bigger (more the results of what we are doing and for the generations to come). By staying focused on God’s Spirit leading and directing our spirit, and by releasing the power of God’s word through prayer, we are going to see great results for the kingdom of God. The van did not start again, on our way home from an internet/grocery run in La Esperanza, last week (Monday). So, we had our missionary friend, René, tow the van to the complex (where we live). The first time the van wouldn’t start, it was just a loose fuse. This time, Kjell cleaned everything he could and wiggled everything he could, but it would not start. So, we heard of a mechanic in Yamaranguila and had him come out to look at it. He needed it brought out to his shop, so we had a tractor, from the orphanage up the road, tow the van there. We should have gotten a few pictures of this Honduran towing! Anyway, the fuel filter needed to be changed. We were able to pick up the van that day and it only cost $50. Although we did not want anything to be wrong with our van, it was a great opportunity to go town and meet more people. Town of Yamaranguila & Playground (see pictures) Today was our second time going to the town square and playing on the playground. However, this time I took pictures. When I was in Torrington, CT, I was part of the Torrington Early Childhood Collaborative. I conducted a parent leadership class called PEP (People Empowering People). Our class community project was the playgrounds. This included:
The group found out that Torrington had two playscapes that had not been put in. The irony is that the playground here in Yamaranguila, Honduras has many of the same problems we found in the playgrounds of Torrington, CT. Pieces of the metal slide were sticking up or missing, swings were broken and missing, basketball hoops had no nets, and there was garbage everywhere. There were a couple of people fixing the park: one was welding the gate entrances and the other was painting the gates. I would like to plan a trip to the town with our family and people from the church (New Generation) to go clean up and fix things (maybe in connection with a team from the States). However, we would like to meet with the mayor first, find out his plans, and work together and or let him know first. This square would be a great area for outreach practically (repairs, meeting and interacting with people, playing basketball or soccer) and spiritually (mime, skits, music, etc. with the gospel message).
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Ephesians 1:18 - ". . .that you may know the hope of His calling. . ." |
