Not Ruthless

We are Ruth-full! Ruth is our newest intern. She will be a bonafide doctor soon and decided to travel from her studies in the UK (she is from Wales) to get experience here. We plan to give her all she wants. She is already helping in all three areas of the medical work, assisting and working with the doctor, the nursing students (seen in the rather unflattering picture seen here that I quickly snapped yesterday), and with Marlen in the pharmacy.

She will be with us until September, and other than the interesting help during hospital visits (hey, doctors are pretty handy!), her help in assiting me in learning about the UK, Wales (Do you know where Wales is?), polishing my British accent,and possibly buying another Defender...even if the steering wheel is on the "wrong" side of the car.

Corn of plenty

I was struck by not so much this image, but just the scene. Get hip to it...man.

We had done a corn distribution in San Juancito and this boy had helped (he is not a member of the Church, but has been helping as of late...seeds being planted?)

One of the bags had ripped at some point, and there was an "insignificant" amount spilt in the bed of the truck. At least so I thought. This boy used the first thing he had to scoop up all the corn he could to take home. And sometimes people wonder aloud if the corn we take to people is welcomed as a really needed gift.

Run like the wind bullseye!

Well, there was not much wind, and with a late start (of course....another speech!) the sun was out in full effect, but a good "race" nonetheless.

I did not break any personal bests, but was overall pleased with my time of two hours considering there is a group here and I have not exactly been in what you would call strict training. I suppose I should mention it was a mini-marathon, which is 13.1 miles for you US and UK citizens, or 21K for just about everyone else.

Ol' Charles Ford, the US embassador was even there in his role with the Ruth Paz foundation, which was the organization being benefitted through the race proceeds, sponsors, etc. Supposedly I heard that they raised over $40,000? Not sure how that happened, definitely my $2.50 for race entry was a big part I am sure.

Happenings as it were

Interesting little picture I saw posted at the gas station we were filling up at yesterday. I suppose jotting down the pertinent information about the people that just robbed you is important, I just wondered two things:

1. Would you remember to jot all this down after being shot at, etc.?

2. Why do the thieves only drive 1930's cars or a Ferrari Testarossa?

Anyway, the construction this week continues. The clinic saw expanded container entrance/parking area/road area poured. Not glamorous, but very cool nonetheless.

Today found us in San Juancito lending a hand to the construction efforts that have been ongoing there. The first footer was poured, and the work is to continue for the forseeable future on the building there (until we run out of funds that is). Hopefully some good progress will be made by then, and possibly more donations come in to continue the work.

Sampedrana visit

Well, another successful visit to Sampedrana over the past two days.

We began with a normal clothing distribution, just done a bit differently.

We set up shop at the Church, using the two tarps we have left there for activities and protection for the shop, with the benches arranged on the back fo the concrete pads for containment and organization. Gender was able to put people in an orderly way via a list of families and names he had organized before we arrived, which helped quite a bit, especially since there were more people there than we anticipated.

With the longer clothing distribution (and some unexpected rain) we were only able to do preparation work on the construction project we were to begin. We will be building a warehouse/storage building/construction supply facility, and using a method for construction that requires quite a bit of instruction and explanation to Gender and the Hondurans there (as well as to us as we are new using the material as well, trying it out for possible use in building the new clinic).

(see our clothing ministry's support to the vehicle safety ministry here at right)

We began the work today and left much for them to do until we can get back with the next group to get the need materials for the next phase of the project, which will be putting the walls up, and eventually pouring the "roof" which will double as a second floor if need be.

And for those of you in the know, one of the very ill children in Valerie's ravine project was finally taken to the hospital yesterday by the parents (with the prodding and help of several volunteers and one willing to go with them to the hospital). Upon arriving, her "little" sister was also admitted due to illness. Valerie had brought the older sister (three years old...not walking, looking more like a one year old) to the clinic several days last week trying to get her hydrated, fed, and cleaned up, but to no lasting avail. Darwin stopped by yesterday and said they were doing better. Pray for them, and for their family situation which is in need of more repair than just getting these two girls temporarily healthier.

Wait, and wait some more

Well, I have decided I need to find something better to do when I am waiting all the time.

Today was waiting at the airport. I wait at the airport quite a bit, especially lately with groups, lost baggage, etc.

I met a Presbyterian yesterday at the airport. I did not know there were over 20 such Churches here in Honduras. Getting to know him a little better and talk "shop" was a good way to spend some waiting time.

I met a girl that works in the information booth two days ago that asked me about my CIY shirt and led to a brief conversation about Christianity being a religion like Catholicism, what it means to be a "fanatic" for Jesus, and more. Also a good way to spend time waiting.

I met a guy from Texas working for CAM today while waiting for baggage for a couple hours (no dice). Interesting chat, and he even owned a 1998 SsangYong Musso, so I know he must be a good guy.

Plus, today Soren had to go with me, so he got to watch a couple planes land, see many bags "mor bas dada?" "re ba, blu ba, greeen ba, jello ba" we practiced colors in both languages, also a good way to spend some time waiting.

Sometimes waiting is just an opportunity to do something else. If only I could figure that out more often, as, it would seem I have many such possibilities.

Time for everything

Yesterday we went with the group to Cofradilla for a clothing distribution (impromptu...we called them this past week to set it up after another site fell through) and it was just enough for us to handle. We were done in time for lunch, and then to head back into town to try to get the two missing bags from the day prior. No dice. "Try back tomorrow." Ah, instilling all sorts of confidence.

We returned to the mission house to find that someone had scaled the part of the fence between the garage and the mission house and had broken the PVC water line. Part of an attempt to break into the garage, boredom related vandelism, or trying to take our electrical lines (to sell for scrap), take your pick. Yet another demonstration though of how we need to move forward on the fence project (this is the third time the water line has been cut or broken).

Unforseen opportunities

Wow, I am hopeful for the group that arrived today. Why?

Yesterday I was driving home and felt a need to spend some time with God (how noble!). Then I noticed my mind was wandering (how human!). This happened for a few miles, then I heard the freshly fixed Ford make a rather weird, odd, loudish noise, then the battery light lit, and I noticed I no longer had power steering...or power brakes...or AC. "Hmmmm" I thought..."perhaps this is a problem." I was correct. At least it was not a major problem.

Then Oscar said his Ford was also needing repairs that would not be completed on time.

And the Defender was in getting the AC relay replaced (and they were quick to add that routine maintanence was needed...."do you drive on dirty, muddy, dusty roads like all the time?" Me: "What? Never!"

The list goes on...but not too long. God is good, even in those circumstances, and the blue Ford was fixed by today, at least for now. The White one to be picked up tomorrow (fast to fix, and fast to spend on parts to fix), and the Defender survived the AC repair. Whew.

Oh ,and I did have time to pray and talk to God while I waited for the guys from the shop to show up and take a look at the carnage...so it was all worth it. Believe it......or not!

Upon these walls

Well, yesterday was my once a year splurge into pizzas. As you can see, we purchased quite a few pizzas (a special prize to you if you can count them all), and then had a few in the parking lot as we watched a movie in the back of the Musso (cheap date night), and we plan to give away a few and otherwise feast on pizza for our meals until they are gone. Valerie will soon be leary, but the kids and I won't tire soon of them.

In the midst of running around today getting the Ford from one shop and taking the Defender to another, we happened to buy supplies for construction with the upcoming group. So, I got some good pictures of the newest (at least to us) method for construction, the "electro panel". Seen here in these riveting pictures, the materials snap together somewhat like a big fancy and not as much fun lego set, then have the concrete stucco applied later via a pressurized sprayer to get the end result...a pretty tough wall (at least...it seems pretty sturdy when I slam into it repeatidly to see if I could break it).

This material is easy enough to install that we could probably do it with groups. So the idea is to test this out building a warehouse in Sampedrana and seeing how well it holds up to what we need it for. If all goes well, we would end up building the new clinic out of the same material. Looks pretty interesting eh? We are hoping to get to visit some homes built out of the same stuff sometime soon via some architects that buy from the wholesaler as well.

The Ford is fine for now, but I got to crawl on the ground to look for some seriel numbers on the ever so necessary starter motor to buy a new one on eBay. It seems that we will need one soon, and getting one here is only going to happen through the Ford dealer, and that means if you can even get one, the cost would be...rather high. eBay done, and a new starter purchased for $115 (much cheaper than anywhere else I had the great fortune of looking).

One other item of note. Wal-Mart is making a huge push here, at least in Tegucigalpa. Their brand of service, etc. in the stores they already own, and more of their big style stores are being built. Among their posessions is a a supermarket chain called Paiz, and I saw this last night, basically promoting the "new"brand here in Honduras in products "you always use with a better price." Valerie and I chuckled to ourselves, but it is a very slick advertising for what is commonly known in the US as Wal-Mart's generic brand and trying to place it in a higher level here.

Has the world gone topsy turvy?

First of all, this is going to be a weird post...even for me.

1. I heard someone use the word blatherskite. Not since my days of Darkwing Duck I had heard that. Minor occurance I am sure we would all agree.

2. Then my father sends me a picture, and then tells me the story. I was not expecting that his trip in Las Vegas would end up with him meeting a few members of the Temptations. Ok, that is odd I suppose, but then him telling me he took the chance to sing with them...in the airport, ok, that is pretty, well, weird. I am sure I would have been...feeling something if I would have been there.


3. And after my joking of late about my Presbyterian background and their form of baptism, (the idea of naming the downstairs shower "the extreme Presbyterian baptism" has been bantied about) my father sends me yet another picture, this time of a real (dig dig) baptism, a Presbyterian baptism (no membership cards were presented, but I think it is safe to trust him on this one) at Adams Mill in Indiana. Proving once again, no matter what some people have told me (yes, for real)...being Presbyterian is not wrong in and of itself .


4. And on a spiritual side of things, I heard a sermon on Sunday(and quite by Godicidence heard the prior sermon on this topic preached two years ago on my mp3 player the next day) talking about the nature of John 3:16, and the translational errors that are reflected in almost all modern translations. It would take too long to go into in this forum, but it is enough to say that the Greek has the verse reading "In this way God so loved..." going back to prior verses, and basically showing that verse to be qualitative not quantitative in God's love for us. It requires some thought, study, and further explanation, but it is quite helpful in understanding the context and meaning of the verse that so many in the world can quote but do not really understand. The sermon is not up on the website yet, but when it is, it is worth a listen (or two). Look for the title "A Lesson On The Kingdom Of God (Part 4)" at http://www.unionchurchhonduras.com/ sometime after this post hits the fan.

Lazy, not-so-hazy Sunday

Ah, it strikes me right now as I have spare time that I have neglected the ol' blog. Why you ask? Principally because I have been pretty busy with a group, and without any positive feedback about posting while groups are here for a more in depth look, I have just been away while the group was here.

We took the Ford in yesterday. Hopefully just solenoids, but the starter was acting up, and I understand that if the starter is kaput...the truck will not start even popping the clutch. As that was the case presented to me, I decided that might need to be fixed sooner rather than later.

I noticed today while putting air in all of the Musso's tires that none of them would pass muster in the US of A. Good thing I live here. Since it does not see as much off road action lately I am not planning on new tires any time soon. (we really should be planning on replacing it in the future...because it only does not see action because a five seater for mission duty is rarely big enough for us now-a-days...and even without groups is not big enough for Valerie to get the entire mara* in on her way to the clinic. When the Ford is out, I use the Defender, and vice versa. Sometimes either is not in great shape, and that hurts. Fortuitously, this has not happened yet when something of its particular calibur is required.

We played at Union Church today. It is always fun...I hope the audience has fun in worshipping as well. Now if I would just practice in the meantimes like I should, my fingers would not be sore by the end of the service. At least I still had the knack to whip up a song for the prelude yesterday on the piano.

I am sure I will have something to say with some relevance at some point in the week. Consider this my lazy post of just general stuff. I feel better getting that off my fingers, don't you?

*mara being a Spanish word used in reference to a gang, in this instance used to refer to the gaggle or gang of people that we pick up on the way to clinic on a daily basis. Routinely there can be as few as 3 people in the car to as many (and with much greater frequency) 9-10.

Praise God

When I hear positive things about the work here, or what I am doing, or what Valerie is doing, I immediately think one way or another "wow God, you are doing some amazing stuff." Sometimes I hear those same things but just in reference to what we are doing, as if it comes from us.

Then I read Galatians 1:24 last week when getting a flat tire fixed (praise God for that time, for the flat, and for the fact we have not been getting many flats of late...although between the two Fords there were six nails in four tires in the past month....again praise God they waited patiently to be taken out until the time was right) where it says "And they praised God because of me."

The context of that statement is pretty interesting, but for right now...I question myself, and all of us little Christs out there....is that something you deeply desire to be able to say? I cringe when people praise us, and just the thought of someone praising God because of me is encouraging, because, after all, if anyone deserves the praise for any good we are doing, it is definitely only God.

So, just like that hokey Disney ride I went on oh so many years ago: If you liked what was done here or through me, that was God, and if you saw something bad or just stupide, then that was me. Give credit where credit is due, and that means only to God! Woohoo!