We were floored

Wednesday we went to San Juancito to pour the floor for the Church building there. Lots of rain, 59.5 bags of cement, moving sand and fill material and lots of work by the people from the group and the Church there , and it was totally finished! The rain was welcome while building (and not surprising it rained more when we broke for lunch, and then subsided when we went back to work...and then dumped when we went to leave.

Yesterday was corn distribution supporting the new burgeoning work in Cantaranas. Several people we visited Jonathan was reaching out to through the growth groups, and I was impressed by what many of them had to say about the groups, and the studies they were receiving. Jonathan even had his eye on a piece of property for the future. All in God's timing. God spared us the rain while giving out the corn...and brought it back for our trip back to Teguc. This is the most rain a group has endured in two days that I can remember for quite some time.

What a day

There is no time to go into all the things that went wrong today, but a time of testing and difficulty it most certainly was. What is God doing through all of it? We are not sure, but trust in His timing and guidance:

1. Some misunderstandings in the clinic staff needing a sit-down in the near future to discuss and resolve. Nothing major, but stressful especially for those involved and for us in authority.

2. A physical crisis in another staff member was intially diagnosed this morning pending further testing. This potential situation is both a blessing...and a consequence of decisions made. Emotionally charged through all of this caused much to boil over as she and we also await to see what another confirmation of those test results reveals.

3. The clinic was robbed again today at gun-point. Money and personal property (cell phones, rings, etc.) was taken, lives were threatened, but more importantly peace of mind was taken as well from all involved and subjected to such. The police know some of those involved...but we do not expect to see justice any time soon, or at least on this side of heaven.

Luke 18:7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?

4. Lilian was returned today to the treatment facility where she was staying after returning Sunday to get some tests down at the public hospital...proving a trying time for her, Valerie and Cecilia emotionally, spiritually and physically in seeing her off. We pray that her continued stay there will benefit her in the short and long term, and that God might be glorified through it all.

5. Add to that the CIY group arriving to the mission house today (20 minutes after the robbery much to my shock and surprise) and all that goes along with a new group arriving, it is proving to be a trying time...especially for Valerie. Each individual item by itself perhaps would be enough to drive one to tears and stress, but all four in one day, in a few hours really...it is hard to swallow all at once.

Yet we can struggle with the minutae of the details involved and begin to already shrug off the bigger problems by trusting in God and keeping our focus on Him, and the long term of the work here!

I do not share this to be pitied or seeking to proclaim us as injured. On the contrary...we need prayer and the peace and strength of God to keep going, but we know that through it He will guide us!

Does that seem odd or beyond reason or logic to you? Well then, consider Philipians 4:6-7

"6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

I feel like I have that peace...that makes no sense to my human mind, and I want to pray for even more on days like today. Why?

That God might be glorified!

Made it so far

I am tired.

I got up at 4:30 to get the FAME group to the chapel on time, and they made it without incident, or at least past security without incident, I have not heard after that.

Then we hit Pricesmart (shopping for the group a little...and lunch for pizza) and then to the mission here where we are staying the night, with hermano Julio Corea. It was either that, or drive back to Teguc because all the hotels were full. This way it is much more reasonable, and we got to see and talk to Julio, something we did not get to do with the last group.

So, the CIY group came out and we got back here around 10:00. That crazy airport had almost as many cars parked in it tonight when we got there at 8:30 (supper just before at Baleada Express....talk about irony in a name) as it did at 10:00 this morning.

Shall this end soon with the reopening of the Toncontín airport? Ah, only time will tell but there is hope in many circles that it will be later this week.

Say a quick prayer if you will for our family...I have not seen Valerie nor the kids for more than just a hi or bye for many days now, and hopefully this group with no brigade like activities will give us some more time together at night before the kids go to bed.

Brigade just in time

Today's brigade was a rough one at the very end...the last two patients. It is a much longer story than I care to share at 12:20 AM as I write this (pray God would give me rest...because I am sleeping less than five hours a night for more than a week with work after I get home) but they were very sick little girls, with abcesses (pus, pus, pus and blood...you can see the open sore pictured here on her head) lice, poor hygiene (also note those nasty sores around her mouth), and unforunately probably much, much more. Any wonder we can see how much CHE (Community Health Evangelism) is needed when we do medical work here? There were several other interesting and challenging cases, as well as many opportunities to teach and try to help people long term deal with their health problems, but I am sure for all that were there, these two girls and their mom will stick out in their minds as well for quite some time.





I am stoked, really stoked about Andy Albendazole. Here is a guy who has a great smile, can reach out to kids, and definitely has that rebel side to him that says...."you parasites of society look out, there is a new mint flavoured chewable sheriff in town, and he is packin' 400mg of normal stomach returning power!" I think we should all petition FAME to somehow include this cute guy into future promotional material, how about you? Come on, something this important, we must make our collective voices heard! No word on him and the cutey pictured here, although I do know he solicited at least a couple other kisses that day from attractive young ladies.





Have I mentioned before that our cars take a beating? The Ford limping is still a mighty beast. This picture shows what happens when a leaf spring has taken all it can. Luckily here you can fabricate a replacement without needing the 15 day wait help of the Ford dealership. It still needs more work (emergency brake and something wrong with turning with the 4x4 engaged) but it will have to wait because the Defender has more pressing needs (like pressing in new gasket somewhere...it is leaking oil and the driver's door does not lock...our friend Roberto is stopping by early tomorrow to pick it up to start the fun process. Speaking of early, I promised Julia we could run together tomorrow...at 5:45, so I better get my almost five hours of sleep and get off here!

Day of excitement

Excitement is blowing a couple tires before leaving the city. We arrived several hours late to the clinic brigade site...but God being who He is, we had what we could handle, and in a little more than half a day, we saw 84 patients, and even had time to stop by Zamorano just in time for the hamburger stand to be closed, but most of the group got some ice cream.

Did I mention yesterday the lady we lanced and got a gusher? Here is a picture of the prep work getting her ready. She was feeling much better when we left with the ACE bandage for pressure, and for her vericose veins as well after the bleeding and seepage stopped. Oh, she was probably happy getting rid of the nasty pus filled sore on her leg as well. Even after all the mess with the squirting blood, which in a rural setting can be somewhat disheartening...she was very thankful when we left.

Also last night just so happened a little boy showed up with puncture wounds from a dog. It was a long odd story of sorts, but he was not hurt too awfully bad all things conidered, and they at least came when we had a group here that could actually help him.

The groups staying behind to work at the clinic continue to make big strides in comfort, and usability of the man cave and mission house. They may not make for great blog stories (even though I think so) but man they are making a big impact at the same time as these brigades, just in a different setting.

One down

First medical brigade yesterday went well, God be praised.

I have to run, but suficit to say much was done (and much done by the group of five that stayed behind to work around the clinic!)...two stories that stand out in my mind are the diabetic with 491 on the ol' glucometer and having a conversation with her about even though she has Christ as her savior, perhaps it would be better to take care of herself to be able to continue to work for his Kingdom on Earth before rushing off to join Him...the 271 and very high blood pressure lady and telling her she needed to get right with God now (not a Christian currently) because at the rate she was going...she in fact could be seeing Him soon, and the lady whose puss filled sore on her leg we lanced...and it was a gusher of blood that was worrisome for several minutes.

Whew...and that is just what I can think of off the top of my head.

Pray if you will that God be lifted up, glorified and praised throughout the brigades to come, and for safety in our travels. Speaking of witch, supposedly the airport will re-open here in Teguc by next Monday. Call me sceptacle, but at least there are plans to get it done, even if it is does take more than a week. There are still calls to get the military base in Palmerola up and running...who knows what will come down that pike.

Long trip

Well, we made it safe and sound to SPS, and then back again with the next group (although with all the traffic, it took us an extra hour.) Unfortunately for six of the group, they arrived just tonight...and at 11:something at that. Oscar was there waiting for them for almost three hours himself!

This travel back and forth to SPS is...interesting.

Today we unloaded the corn container, and the group additionally mixed concrete and dug the lovely ditch we need to continue (although a sledge and a pick ax were valiently lost in the effort)

I am not getting the sleep I need. Hmmm, speaking of that, it is 1:03 as I write, and that being in the AM. I should therefore stop working and get to bed.

More corn...and a huge birthday surprise

Corn distribution in Pueblo Nuevo...the pastor decided to divide the big bags up for them to have a greater outrech with it....so we just went to four "close" houses to give corn, and were back fairly early....

....early enough for me to see my birthday present....Valerie got a perm! It has been at least 13 years, but I still maintain she straightened her hair a few months after we got engaged and it has been like that since (16 years ago) but regardless...I have not seen curly hair for a long time. It was probably one of the best birthday gifts she could have given me.

Lindsey, our other intern (Julia the nurse being the other...she arrived Sunday afternoon, she will be working in the clinic) arrived safely on her long, very long plane/bus journey this evening. She will be helping us administer and work with the groups coming in the next month, and Julia will be working in the clinic helping (among other things of course) and honing her skills over the next six months!

Pray our nutty president here in Honduras Mel Zelaya, would come to his senses and re-open the airport here! This ridiculous situation of closing the airport to what is a minimal long term risk and putting everyone at greater short term risk on the roads here driving back and forth from San Pedro Sula is....so frustratingly crazy it should be laughable. And yet, here we are...with groups having problems getting here, thousands of people wasting thousands of gallons of fuel to get back and forth, and many more thousands of people without work, from ambulatory vendors to zany taxi drivers. It is enough to make you want to go....to God in prayer! Lord knows anything short of that seems to have little impact...in general, and with ol' Mel especially.

Back again

So Saturday I forgo to add that Kimberly's missing suitcase actually arrived here. She was happy, as one would imagine.

Sunday we had Church, and then down South a bit for a clothing distribution, some VBS and soccer.

Today, more of the same, different location. Back early enough for those interested to...yes, play soccer.

For them to see the realities of the clothing that the mission gets, how it is used, what is not needed, and how people stampede normally to get to the shoes...is eye opening. So is getting passed by a eight year old with a soccer ball, but in a different way.

Hard to see, process, understand, and more

Going back a few days...I forgot to mention that some of that lovely rain we were getting in Sampedrana was actually in the house/building where the group was staying. That problem should be fixed by the next time we stay up there. Rain indeed was everywhere (on the roof, on the walls, on the floor...not quite as bad as it sounds...but not great either.)

Also present were rocks blocking the road (what better place for a group picture?) that we had to move egyptian style (lassos moving smaller rocks to get the big one to push out of the way)

and of course Tom showing the Honduran kids how to properly assemble a bunk bed, much to their fascination. No cost was charged for the spectators of such engineering feats.

Today was a visit to the hospital to encourage, bring joy to, and pray for patients and their families. It was a growing experience for all of us. It does not matter how many times one has been there, there are always new people to see, problems to see, God lessons in store, etc. I had the pleasure and pain of being the translator for the cancer ward today, the area where the most terminal or critical patients are, and it is definitely heart breaking. One little boy who could not raise his head or move his body, having a large, dirty, tube-like affair jutting from his neck, in an isolated room (where you know that does not mean good things) upon hearing my blurted question that slipped past my better judgement: "how are you doing?" barely eeked out with his little voice "fine." Meeting so many of those kids and parents that are so grateful for such little time, little encouragment are most often times most encouraged by the one thing that we can do that has lasting value...prayer.

After that we did some pre-planned corn distribution in the area around the clinic. It is continually amazing to see such poverty and conditions in an urban center for the country, and yet here is another picture of a house that is almost to the top of the peak near the clinic where this family is living (and we are none to pleased with the looks of those bellies on the twins in the picture). They were very grateful for the opportunity to get the corn we delivered, and the prayer for their family as well. In all we distributed 1,200 lbs of corn today. Praise God!

After that came preparation for youth group, where five of the guys helped rock the house, Seth gave his testimony (as he did in the hospital to many children...as he survived a brain tumor and saw many going through a simliar situation) Steve preached, and then they all played a game...no one was injured in any of the four activities (although I wondered during the game....I suppose me wondering meant though that they were indeed trying as hard as they could)

Back

Sampedrana went great. Much soccer was played, bunk beds built (five total so far) stained, movie shown, more soccer played, and rain, more rain, and a little more rain on the way there, while there, and on the way back.

More pictures tomorrow night...if I get home in time after youth group

Wacky rain day

Wednesday had the group working construction again, this time most of the group moving fill material into the clinic, while two were painting parts of the wall, and two were cutting the wood for the bunk beds we will need to put together when we get to Sampedrana later this morning.


With some rain falling unexpectedly during lunch, it made for an interesting afternoon of work, and by mid afternoon I was able to let them stop to finally get a tour of the property, and a trip to the grocery store. They pressed on to move that fill even with it being more than a little wet from the rain, and even with me having a meeting with another missionary to talk about CHE and how things have gone for them in trying to implement it.




Note also the advances on the clinic construction. Rooms are starting to look like rooms, and thanks to all that fill being carried in yet again, you can almost walk at floor level! Imagine that!

Pray for us in the trip to Sampedrana today and tomorrow. It should be an eye opener in some respects for all of us

Construction

The group completed our wall project yesterday, all focusing to put a base to the containers we had cut up, so they mixed cement, moved rocks, put those rocks with the cement, stepped on red ant hills, and made a wall beneath the wall!

Today, more construction...stay tuned!

Made it

We made it up and back with minimal complications (late getting out due to one left behind bag which is promised to be delivered to our door tomorrow...we shall see) and thus getting back a little past 9:00.

Tomorrow we begin constructing!

SAP, that's me

SAP is the airport designation for San Pedro Sula, which is apparantly where I am going today to pick up the group, which is 3 1/2 - 4 hours from here. I am still not exactly sure when they are to arrive, but I better get going regardless.

So if you read this, say a prayer for us going up, and coming back.

More on the crash.

We went to Cuerpo de Cristo for Church today. I got to talk to Brendy about the crash. Wow, first time in many moons that Cecilia and Valerie have been ready to leave before I was.

I will recap

1. The pilot did overshoot the landing...touching down too late to stop in time. Interestingly, she trusts 100% the Honduran pilots...they know the airport better. Knowing the airport here really does seem to be the key. It is tricky, interesting, but can be done if you know what you are doing, and have been trained.

2. She was not even working...yet. She was to work that plane when it left from Teguc on its way to SPS and then Miami, but for reasons long enough not to be interesting to most of you, she was required to go on the 7:00 flight to San Salvador, and then come over on that plane. She said she was complaining/wondering about why she should have to do that...until after the crash. Had it been just the normal crew on the plane, they would not have been able to get half the people off the plane what with the problems, etc. after the crash. With her and the other three with her, they were able to help in a big way.

She even had to push a lady out of the plane that was trying to leave with her carry-on. "What are you doing? The plane could catch fire any minute! We have to get everyone out! Get out! And then she pushed her as the lady was looking at her like "What are you doing?" Brendy said she told her "you can sue me later, better to do that if you are alive!" If you know Brendy and how fragile/dainty she is, it was cool to hear her tell of taking charge and make things happen like that, while injured herself. Ah, and she said the woman told her afterwords thank you...no lawsuit forthcoming.

She will have to go back soon to try to get her personal belongings which obviously were left there as she was getting treatment (her purse, bags, even her car is still stuck in the parking lot there.)

3. Speaking of her injuries, she sprained or hurt (no fracture) her elbow, hit her head, and hurt her back. She is doing well (arm in a sling) but said her coworkers that were in the first class cabin are in very serious condition (one with fractures in the face, head, swelling, etc. that requires surgery that apparantly they are not able to perform here.

Which makes me wonder yet again...why do the people paying the most for their ticket sit at the front of the plane which is arguably the most vulnerable in a crash?

More on the crash.