His Eyes Honduras

Quilt it!

2012-02-13T20:28:00.001-06:00

Two of the women in the group are making a point to help with the sewing ministry...making some new cutting tables (that can be easily stowed almost like a tray table in an airplane when not needed so as to not take up valuable space in the small room...very clever!) or also helping Dora and the women with some quilting skills.

Some of the basic skills, but also using the same basic base pattern to make over ten different quilt overall patterns. See? They make bigger squares of the smaller squares, and then can re-arrange them to form different overall patterns for the quilt. Very cool. Dora was very excited, as she has a standing order of 25 quilts for the mission, but before today...she was not sure she would ever know enough to pull it off.

I arrived early this morning to find several of the women already working on planting what we bought on Saturday (they started both down at the man cave, as well up near the parking area...more pictures tomorrow on that.) They did so well, and so fast, we went and bought another 35 plants today...to finish what was already started, and to start some climbing vine type plants on the back fence wall of the clinic...they look beautiful and add extra protection as well (they come with lovely thorns all over them if you get “too close.”) We also bought some annual seeds to plant.

The work on the ceiling raising continues...I’ll try to post some pictures tomorrow on the His Eyes Facebook page...the frame is taking shape, but it is a much bigger job in some ways than originally thought, with us needing to make extensions to the plumbing, electrical, and since we will, in about a month or so, get some ceiling fans, have to make some changes to the lighting positions in the different rooms to accommodate them. Already though, even dusty, messy, and with no ceiling tiles...seeing the difference is already very impressive.

Tomorrow...supposedly unloading another clothing container. Between all the above, the continued work on the Tegucigalpa sanctuary project (both a crew on the roof...contracted by the job instead of by day and another crew working on the walls) and the clothing container...should be a busy day tomorrow.

higher calling

2012-02-12T22:04:00.005-06:00

We have a somewhat unusual group here this week...several different projects going on, the biggest of which is the raising of the false ceiling of the mission house. The idea was something we have toyed with for a while...I mentioned it to a group last July, and soon enough, a couple members from that group spearheaded putting together people to come and make it happen.

When an eye exam is not just an eye exam

2012-02-07T21:40:00.000-06:00

A long day, Valerie sits down and tells me about the few patients she saw this morning before leaving for Bible study. She promised to see no more than two...a third was walking up, but lived close enough they could come instead tomorrow (she is not scheduled to see any patients on Tuesdays.)

Soon...a 26 year old woman made her way in the crowd...with a huge, huge black eye.

Patient number 3.

Yes...huge should be there twice...Valerie repeated the word with emphasis describing it to me.

At first she tip toed around the reason and instead Valerie asked her basic questions about health, about how long ago she got the black eye, if everything else with her vision/eyes was normal, making sure there was no other damage, etc.

But it was indeed spousal abuse. Her husband is from Teguc, but she is from Santa Barbara.

When Valerie asked her to read the letters on the chart came the next big surprise...."oh no, I have never been able to see well, I can't see any of those."

26 years old...never had an eye exam, and turns out she is a -13.00 in her right eye and -9.00 in her left. For those that don't speak optometry lingo...she couldn't read the big E on the chart....in other words, she needs glasses...desperately. Corrected...she will be 20/40.

She was...pleasantly surprised to be able to get glasses. That is putting it mildly. We will be able to get the lenses for her from another ministry in the US that helps us with such cases (www.godseyes.biz)

Valerie prayed for her about her living situation, and beyond. She is staying with someone in her husband's family right now, but is preparing to head back to Santa Barbara...with their two young kids, to get away from him.

The clinic work...is not just an easy "exam process" for the doctors, staff or patients. I am not sure I can really describe what it is like to walk into that situation day after day. The only weak analogy that comes to mind as I sit here to write is like walking into the ocean.

As you walk along the shore, get your feet wet, venture in...you see the beauty, how it all comes together, the clear water. But if you let your eyes wander or stop paying attention...it will knock you around fairly quick.

I pray God continues to guide the staff and volunteers at the clinic, strengthening them from the waves that can bring focus to what they are doing, but be overwhelming also. Peace, His words, His actions....for His glory.

Construction update

2012-02-06T16:45:00.000-06:00

Time for another update on the Church building process.

This is a long row to hoe...and becoming evident as we progress.

The roofing process alone is probably going to take another two weeks, and requires a minimum of six guys at that. You can see here why it requires so many guys and yet goes so slow...we rigged a zip line of sorts to shuttle the insulation and roofing sheets from the container side to the roof itself. Getting the insulation in place, and then putting on the roofing sheets more than doubles the time required, and makes it more difficult...but insulation is a good thing in the long run. The zipline is a rather creative way to speed things up a bit...but still is a complicated slow process. We will still need to buy scaffolding for the long term (to handle the soffets, guttering, the interior wall work and ceiling, electrical, fans, lighting, etc.)...we will be looking into that this week more. Renting them given how long a process this will likely be will not be cost efficient, and at least we will have the scaffolding whenever we need it in the future.

At this speed...we will not finish by June, but with the funding we have we can not go any faster. It is encouraging to all to see the work progressing...but at this rate we will likely have to stop and wait at the end of March (with some help from the groups coming that month.)

Join us in praying for some guidance on this, and of course the funding to continue at a faster pace. If you are so inclined, for newer readers, the link to make a donation pasted here works via PayPal...just add in during the process that you want your donation to be used for the Tegucigalpa Sanctuary Project, and we will start putting it to good use straight away.

Imagining the building done for the 20th anniversary service is something I am sure all of us here would love to see come to fruition, especially as I looked upon the columns for the current pole barn building this Sunday during the service and seeing the continued toll the termites are taking.

Sitting to God's glory

2012-02-01T18:06:00.002-06:00

Last week with the group we went out to Talanga first to do some paperwork with the mayor’s office and to see the Church building and to stop by the TV station to find Jose Luis doing his program again, discussing more of the physical needs of the mission/Church/TV station there. After a time consuming, but extremely successful time at the mayor’s office (God’s provision...no doubt there) we moved to Cantaranas to work with Jonathan distributing corn, talking with him about how things are going with the baby on the way, about how they have taken three, and now four, more people into their household, and about the physical needs of the Church there...it struck me that in the midst of constantly trying to address everything in the mission, get things where they need to be, built, etc. and how overwhelming that can be...that almost exclusively when I am talking to these guys they never address their own personal needs first, if at all, when asking for help.

Things like...a guitar to not have to do worship a cappella, amps, speakers (the list for music ministry...is unfortunately quite long) battery back up for computer protection in Channel 15, more programming for the TV station (where do you get Spanish Christian videos to use?) and the list continues.

We also got to see some coffee sorting in Cantaranas...being done to use these beans as seeds for more future plants. It takes longer to do it that way (minimum another six months for the seedling to be ready to plant in the ground)...but when you can get the beans for free, it is certainly cheaper. We won't rely on this method to get all our coffee property planted...but every little bit helps.

And we saw again that sitting in the car while the group distributes food still provides you plenty of opportunities to get to know people and talk at length. The people though tend to be of smaller stature, but not all the time.

What you can’t see in this picture is the equal or greater number of kids on the other side of the truck. They were chatty...wanting to know everything from where the corn was from, to talking about school and Jonathan the pastor, to question how every piece of plastic or bump in the Ford was used (turns out that if you have never seen an air vent before, you think it has something to do with changing the gears.) Good times.

No matter where you go...you minister....whether just asking for a guitar instead of seeking personal gain, sitting in the truck, doing paperwork, or sorting coffee beans. Scary and reassuring at the same time.

Changes come, sometimes whether we want them or not

2012-01-25T07:30:00.000-06:00

While the group was working on the construction aspects today, Oscar and I unfortunately had to skedaddle on out to Talanga. We had been having difficulty there since late last year after the completion of the Church building. That came to a head in late November, and we had to take steps to replace the pastor there, mostly related to a lack of reporting, financial accountability, and completing projects, but there is also unfortunately much more to the story that is best left in God's hands. We have been working to this end since then, and after the prior pastor abandoned the work ahead of what was planned, via Jonathan we found Jose Luis to take his place...unfortunately for him pretty much starting from scratch, and missing some of the equipment/supplies that were supposed to have been there.

When we arrived, it was to try to encourage Jose Luis and find out how we could best help him as he gets started and settled in, and as we were getting out of the Ford (which we took to also transport some rice and corn for the members of the drug/alcohol rehabilitation center who have been helping try to watch over the Church building in the mean time and can most certainly use the help) we heard Jose Luis on the air...receiving a call from someone asking for prayer and for Christ to change their lives and to follow Him.

Very cool.

This pastoral change is not one we were seeking, but God seems to be blessing us with this new man to guide the Church into the future, seeking His will through it all. Right now Jose Luis is the interim pastor, but in terms of making that a permanent move...well, we shall see!

On making our way back to Tegucigalpa we stopped to see Jonathan in Cantaranas, to see the coffee plants that Hill Climber coffee is purchasing for the farm in San Juancito. These plants will not fill the property totally, but are a great start to the several year process of getting that property producing.

We also wanted to stop to take measurements for the planned Church building there. The Church members want to do as much of the labor as possible to build their own building, but need a hand along the way, and right now that would be...the rebar for the footer. They want to buy the concrete and sand, as well as band together to get ‘er done. We are going to see what we might be able to do to give them a helping hand.

While there we also saw the newest "pet"...Oscar’s piglet. He bought a male and female pig to have the piglets and try to make some extra money for his family, but all of the rest of this piglets brothers and sisters died, making a loss for Oscar instead of a gain in selling the other piglets...so instead of a breeding business, it looks like Oscar is going to end up with a fridge full of ham and pork chops sometime soon.

The piglet was being well taken care of by their pet dog who has been sleeping with him. The only problem is the piglets missing tail...apparently the dog likes a little pork in his diet as well.

Truss and obey

2012-01-24T23:42:00.000-06:00

This week we are blessed with a group from Sherwood Oaks Christian Church, a team of guys here to help get to work on the Church building here in Teguc.

A long journey starts with a single step...or single purlin as the case may be.

Getting the columns up and all that entailed was...interesting, and involved more swaying than a full course luau.

After trying some other ideas, we had to rent the crane shown here for two long days. Cranes charge by the hour. At least they did not charge us for lunch. But finally they got up...along with a lot of help from ropes, cables, etc. and us pushing, pulling, and in general laughing giddy with the thought of something falling on us.

The group has been focused on getting everything level, square and plumb after getting those columns and trusses in place. We of course would not want a building wavy, round, or pear.

In addition, the purlins need to go up for the walls and roof as the other first big steps to stability that has been all Monday and Tuesday (they did some corn distribution on Sunday afternoon with the Church in the neighborhood.)

While starting everything was literally a bit shaky...with every passing hour, things are taking shape more, and are just encouraging everyone working on the project.

The view will forever be altered as this continues to go up and becomes opaque...but in a very visible, God honoring way! We have enough funds to get everything under roof, but still need to raise quite a bit of funding at the $26 per square foot to get all the interior work done that will soon be ready to start. Please join us in prayer about raising those funds...our goal is that with enough funding we could finish the building by the Church’s anniversary in June!

We will need lots of financial help, prayers, and physical help if that is to come to pass!

Peace Corps be with you

2012-01-19T16:43:00.003-06:00

PC HQ in TGU

I have been hearing a lot lately from potential groups coming from the USA, unfortunately not for the kinds of questions as normal due to some recent headlines in papers there.

It was announced a few weeks ago that the US Peace Corps would not be bringing in new volunteers in 2012 to Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala while they re-evaluate the situation in the respective countries. Some of the wording, statements, etc. were purposefully vague...some not so vague, but through all of it it smacked of a political ploy as well.

To be sure, Honduras, along with many countries has its fair share of problems. It has been repeatedly suggested that this “pull out” is due to security concerns here (I suppose for the same reasons then in Guatemala and El Salvador.) While that may play a part, I highly doubt that is the only piece in their decision making process.

If you are thinking/praying about coming to Honduras as a tourist or in a short term group, I would like to take this time to encourage you to come on down.

Peace Corps volunteers live a much different life than short term people that come in groups do...often living alone in different communities, with differing levels of supervision, and not always have the best rules imposed on them for healthy living. Being youth-filled exuberant and exploring types and of sometimes seeking more worldly pursuits...this is not always a good combination when it comes to the joys and challenges of living in a different culture anywhere really.

We are not seeing any change to our safety conditions where we work and live, the same conditions that have greeted teams in year’s past. If you leave your camera sitting on the ground while you are chatting away...expect it to be gone, but as to anything more serious than that, we have never had a problem.

To be sure, the world is not always a friendly place, but we also take precautions that the Peace Corps does not, especially when it comes to having the groups here working with us. Those include many good sense rules, such as no leaving by yourselves, no going out at night, and staying in areas we know well, with people we know well.

Of course...safety is not guaranteed no matter where you go, but we have never had an issue with groups, and do not anticipate any in the coming months either. If that situation were to change, you would hear about it right here...but the situation is not such that I anticipate such a change either.

The change that needs to come, as a wise brother pointed out, is that with the Peace Corps gone, all that more work that needs to be taken up by Christ’s Church!

Building begins!

2012-01-11T13:02:00.001-06:00

Recognize that? It is part of the Church building being put together! Woohoo!

It is not that I doubted this day would come...it is just so weird to see it actually here.

To be sure, much work was done on the building in 2011...literally tons of work you could say, but to see something that is designed to be above ground of the building is just really encouraging, even if we are just getting started....there is so much left to do.

Monday and Tuesday Oscar hired 10 guys to unload the entire container...the cranes set it upright, but could not move it, and to get the crane out...we had to unload. After it was unloaded, at least they could then put the container where we wanted it, so that is a silver lining.

The heaviest pieces will sit outside while they work across the fence to put them together. The rest is being relocated back in the container for safe keeping, since it will be weeks or more for us to get to needing them...that plus they are taking up the entire man cave right now.

What is with the container hanging off the end like that? Well, you might notice this is a 45’ container versus the rest of our containers that are 40’. So when it came to placement, we could have less of a walkway between the two containers on top, or hang over the clothing container/wall below. I thought having the overhang would be kind of cool, you know, to save up to have a big chandelier hanging there, to class the place up a bit.

Your $26 per square foot is certainly still needed as we hopefully hit this ramped up phase of construction, if the funds sustain it, but not for any chandelier...no worries there. We can not rely on groups to do everything, and before the first group comes on the 21st to help, we need all these guys working to get the prep work done so that we can do as much as possible when they get here. Maybe, just maybe we might be able to get the walls up then, After that comes...well, everything else (roofing, windows, floor, interior finishing, tiling, electrical, plumbing...you are starting to get the idea, right?) That can be done fairly quickly...if we have the funding to make it happen.

How about it? One square foot of the building paid for with your $26...right here, right now...or later as well:

If you want to go more than $26...you are more than welcome, there are specific projects like the stage, baptistry, sound booth, usher's room, each of three office spaces, and more that can be sponsored, just let me know.

The container came out fairly well in the whole dropping process as you can see, but to be sealed in the future it will require some cutting and patching. No money to spend on that right now either since the priority is to get the building done first. The fix will require cutting out the damaged sections and putting it their place...something else, not sure what yet. Maybe windows? Maybe just other metal? Maybe a patchwork of the doors from the containers we still have? Time will tell.

Kind of like seeing how this giant jigsaw puzzle of sorts will go together in the building to house the God sized jigsaw puzzle that is the Church.

Exciting times are ahead...we ask also for your prayers for safety for everyone working physically on this project, as well as spiritually for us and the Church as we know that such a great tool for use for the Kingdom will bring reprisals from the enemy.

Pyrrhic

2012-01-10T16:04:00.002-06:00

Yet another reminder that being fluent in a language does not mean you know every word there is...as I learned one in Spanish and then English.

I was reading a brief article on the minimum wage negotiations here in Honduras (they do this every year, or are supposed to do so...that is an entirely different conversation) and the representative for labor was talking about how the current minimum wage is not being met by 64% of businesses (not sure where he found that statistic), mostly included in that being micro-enterprise. His point was that the current wage must be enforced by the government...otherwise negotiating an increase on the minimum wage would really be pyrrhic (pírrico) as that percentage would likely increase.

That was a new one to me in both languages. You can somewhat gather the meaning...something costing to the point of negating or outweighing the perceived benefit.

Origin...Pyrrhus, king of Epirus who sustained heavy losses defeating the Romans. Upon being congratulated for a victory in the Battle of Asculum he reportedly said “One more such victory will undo me!” He lost many of his officers, friends, luggage, recruiters, etc.

It occurs to me that sometimes I so heavily focus on the tasks of the day, that I miss life in general, losing the little joys, talks with the kids, health, and peace. Over time, that seems to be like a pyrrhic victory, and something to contemplate for sure.

Life and death

2012-01-09T17:19:00.001-06:00

We are getting a new neighbor at the clinic. The neighborhood next to us is changing its small black tanks to get water for this larger (although smaller than other neighborhoods) tank that will feed directly into their homes. Always nice to have a quiet neighbor out your window. The streets around the block though are all torn up and inaccessible until they finish...the main drag is still open however. The Church has to park their buses elsewhere...no access to the parking lot for...well, already about a month...at this rate probably a few months more. When it is done though...it should revolutionize the neighborhood and I would imagine further reduce the number of water trucks to come passing by daily, no one will mind that...except the water trucks.

Thursday while we were unloading the clothing container we got word Neris’ dad died. He was at the clinic regularly (he sold newspapers) and Jana spotted him walking on the road as we were driving up to the clinic that afternoon. It was quite a shock, as death can often be.

I am not a fan of wakes, or visiting homes after a death, although it is a very much respected custom here. Sometimes you have to stuff your personal stuff and just go. Since we were already up there with the container, Jana and I went down to see Neris and pay our respects. When we got there, there was a crowd in front of the Church, and a taxi. Neris lives just down the block from the Church, but you can not drive a car there with the roads torn up for the above mentioned project.

I found Neris and gave her a hug...then realized her dad was inside the taxi. It was a rather chaotic scene, not helped when a few dogs tearing after each other causing us to scatter for cover from them fighting. Then the body was moved to a pick up truck...down to the main gate of the Church, and then inside. It really was very different than what most people would expect after a death in the first world, but very normal here. No autopsy was done (Neris took his BP, something over 200, even with medicine) and the death certificate was completed with just asking what they thought he died from, I did not hear who came to “prepare” the body for burial, but that is how it is done, in your home or such. Cotton balls are often used to prevent swelling and dry ice sometimes in the casket for the smell. Most burials are done within 24 hours of death mostly for the smell and bloating. You buy a casket elsewhere, do it all yourself or find someone who knows to help. (Oscar has “prepared” more people than I can count.) Most cemeteries at least dig the hole for you...but not all. (FYI...if you are wealthy enough, you pour cement on top of the casket before throwing back in the dirt, to deter grave robbing.)

The body was left there for some time while people gathered around to just look. Loved ones were nearby sobbing/crying...a very physical and draining process. Eventually a sheet was brought in...but people lift it regularly to take a look.

Death is a part of life here...so regular, so common, and not clean, sanitized, or protected. If it is not someone you love...you gather and stare, almost gawk. If it is someone you love...it is devastating. We are all praying for Neris and her family in this difficult time, thanks to those that would join us.

Keep smiling

2012-01-08T13:55:00.003-06:00

I’m smiling.

You might not think so when you see what I am about to write, but we are jumping ahead to the end of the book, if you will.

Yesterday the planning and scheduling was done to unload the Church building container on the clinic property. We had spent lots of money fixing the road, coordinated the crane, working with the customs agent, trucking company, and shipping company. All was set.

There was a plan in place on the property where to put the crane, how to unload the container, and where to put it.

Easy right? Not so fast.

The crane took quite a bit of time to get set and prepared. After one attempt in its location to lift it and put it where it was to go (on top of the container wall) seen here...he decided the crane was not up to the task...even though the reported total weight of the container and contents was supposedly ~48,000lbs, and the crane was rated for 80,000. We paid extra for this crane for its heavier capacity...but for not.

So, they repositioned the trailer/container and the crane to just pick it up and sit it down, we could pay again later to pick it up when unloaded to put it on its perch. Not ideal, but ok.

And then...as he was picking it up, the cables on the crane on the far end snapped.

Upon snapping the container fell down, and then onto the crane. The crane operator saw what was coming and jumped out...injuring his knee in the process, but no one else was hurt,

not by the cables, the container falling, running for cover, etc. It could have been much...much worse. Even with their careful setting things up...not much you can plan for on the cables breaking. Not only could someone have been killed...the falling container has relatively not damaged the crane, nor somehow did not hit the semi, and from what we could see from the open door did not damage the building pieces...although we won’t know for sure until we get it there to see for sure. The container itself will have two or three big dents in its side.

So...after much wrangling and using the crane some more...the semi was able to leave, but he left the chasis up by the clinic (said he could not turn around) and the container...sits on the crane.

They are bringing another crane tomorrow to try to sit it down and then move it to a temporary location for us to unload, also allowing their trapped crane to leave as well.

God has a plan. I don’t get it right now, but I know...I really know...there is a reason for all this.

Additionally, struck by that sinking feeling you get when you see a container falling over and the aftermath...I was also struck by what a beautiful day it was, and what a beautiful evening it became as we were there until after 7:00 with all this.

Sometimes you laugh to keep from crying...like when I was thinking about being Yoda and just using the force to pick the container up and move it...or then pick it up off the crane...or then pick up the semi to to get it out...you get the idea.

But I can say that through all this...I’m smiling. Not for what I know or see...but for Who I know.

Definition of preaching

2011-12-26T17:46:00.001-06:00

I have heard the cliché about sermons... “your life may be the only one someone ever hears.”

Sometimes at Church sermons fade one into another, they make a long term impact, may lift us up for one week or further our understanding, and sometimes I struggle from one week to the next to remember what was said.

One stands out to me this year however, and it was just supposed to be an introduction to a sermon.
The senior pastor at a Church I was visiting in the US was walking on stage to introduce the famous, distinguished, successful guest speaker, and went from stage right to stage left apparently searching for the appropriate microphone.

As he went from one side of the stage to the other, taking only a few seconds, someone in the vast sea of people yelled out “Are you lost?!” His intent...not sure, seemed an oddly irreverent and slightly disrespectful thing to say, but I do not know his state of mind, but it sounded playfully derisive.

As I reeled from someone shouting something like that out, the pastor, still walking on stage right, and with the slight laughter from the crowd dying down after a second or two, said...

“No...Jesus found me a long time ago. So, no...I’m not lost.”

You probably had to be there...but the sincerity of his reply to the jab struck me. It seemed genuine that was the first thing that came to his mind to the question...and so that is what he answered.
He went on with his introduction, and a powerful, charismatic, emotional sermon full with pictures that pulled at heart strings followed. I remember...but I remember that first ~~sentence~~ sermon even more clearly.

That I continue to remember this with great clarity almost two months later reminds me of an important lesson: what we prepare to say, what we have memorized sometimes sounds as such. How we react to the minutia of life, who we are in those moments are the sermons that impact for more than just a short time...and sometimes one minute or a few seconds of our life can stay with someone for years, their entire life.

Yippie yi yay...ghost Santas in the sky

2011-12-13T07:30:00.000-06:00

While out with the group, some shopping observances struck me as interesting.

First off was walking past a section of the grocery store I seldom visit...the carbonated beverages. I can remember early groups visiting us and seeking out their favorite taste only to be left with a few basic choices (Coke, Pepsi, Sprite, 7-UP, and Coca-lite) Now...you can get A&W, Dr. Pepper, Cherry Coke...the list (as you can see) goes on and on...up to and including Inca Cola, which I thought was only available in South America.

This is also evident in many other areas of baking, goodies, snacks, etc. Shopping in Teguc (if you have the money for some of the rather pricey items) has certainly changed...not to the point of shock inducing number of choices...but even a gluten free section was spotted. Getting back to drink choices...some interesting tastes in those familiar aluminum cans I have yet to try is Aloe Vera juice, or Chrysanthemum juice, also available at this same store.

Another area in which I have little interest for personal purchases....Hair extensions have apparently taken off here as can be seen in this young woman.

We asked this industrious bagger at the grocery store how many she had...I believe her answer indicated something to the effect that she had lost count.

Claro is our cell phone company, so when I see something promoting a new plan, service, etc...I take notice. This display was at the nearby mall, and I had time to stand while I waited for Jana to purchase something at the Espresso Americano. We nicknamed Santa’s little helper Trixie...I won’t get into why, but try as I could I could not figure out what the point of the display was...at first I thought this must be where you get your picture taken with Santa, but that was not it. Maybe it was to get your picture taken with “Trixie” but we did not bother to find out. Outfits like this for women promoting everything from alcohol, toothpaste to, in this case, cell phones, are unfortunately very common. And FYI...the promotion they were touting...ah, not really worth it.

And this is how I figured out the previous spot was not to see Santa. Here he is, just behind Trixie, all is normal...wait. What is wrong with Santa? You’ll have to click on the picture to get a good view of what I saw...Santa was white. Not Caucasian mind you...white. Like...painted white as a ghost. This may be common, but I have never seen such a thing before here...or anywhere else I have been. Santa looked like some kind of horror movie Santa. For $4.50 you could get a picture with him...and although the campy aspect of it was appealing, I opted for this clandestine picture instead (notice I did not crop out the security guard, so stationed to prevent rogues like me from snapping unauthorized pictures.)

You never know what you are going to find out shopping...Inca Cola, rainbow hair, Trixie, or Ghost Santa.

Normal day

2011-12-12T17:35:00.001-06:00

It was a regular, normal food distribution day.

We went to Cantaranas...as we were arriving, Jonathan was heading to the vegetable farm, asked us to go with him. Then he took us in to show us the new tomato plants they are trying out...trying out to see if they work well before we put more money into a larger crop.

He also introduced us to the family that is now watching over the property, a family of eight (father and one son shot both in the last seven years) now living in our small little wooden house...that house still without a bathroom or concrete floor. The house is necessary because without someone living there...things start to disappear.

Jonathan found them and offered them to place to live and some work.

When we first met, immediately she said... “I know you from the eye brigade this year!”

After the introduction and giving her the corn, my time was spent mostly talking to Jonathan about the tomato plants, the future, what to do, the possibility of a community garden on the property, the bathroom that needed built and more. I did not get to chat much with the family.

But Jana did. She found out that the mother of the family, Adelaida, had been praying that very morning to meet someone from this “mission” that Jonathan had talked about, to know that this is where she is supposed to be, that it all made sense what they are doing and how they are living, etc.

God answers prayers...and when you are the answer to someone’s prayers...in a brigade, giving a smile, a prayer...or just showing up with a bag of corn, people notice more than you might think. Kind of an encouraging...and scary thought eh?

Unloading by the grace of God

2011-12-12T14:39:00.000-06:00

We unloaded the container of medical and construction supplies, rice, milk project appliances, pews, and so much more...last Thursday. It is good to see all those supplies coming off, including the eighteen thousand pounds of ceramic tile for the Church building in Teguc. Lots of work, but to see so much of it go into service straight away is very cool, especially since I was there to help watch as it was packed. So many people had a hand in that container’s items, the packing, the moving, the unloading.

I know we have had pictures of the Ford in action before, but never one taken from such an angle, pulling up a semi. It was not my favorite thing to do, but it had to be done. Had he not been low on fuel he might have made it up in one shot and spared me from taking the time and 10 gallons siphoned from my tank to get the truck started and then help pull him up, but such is life.

Once we got the container to the clinic...I noticed just how “interesting” this particular shipper was for its choice of prime vehicles/tires.

Wow. This is not the shipper that is normally used for the clothing containers, so I expected perhaps a change or two in the procedure, but not an eighteen wheeler with 18 bald tires and 9 of them or so flat! Not to mention the fiberglass damage on the cab...it has seen quite the life apparently.

We prayed God would get the container to the clinic.

He did.

Encouragement through painful memories

2011-12-10T10:40:00.001-06:00

I was remembering Soren’s accident a few years ago, and how just seeing the image makes me cringe, uncomfortable...and the thought of if I had been there and actually seen it happen...too much to bear.

He could easily have be killed when that big communion table came down on his head, the same head that was hitting the tile floor before getting slammed by the table (took two guys to pick it up off of him.)

I was not there that morning. I did not witness it. I felt helpless and that I could do nothing.

Our Father watched Jesus suffer for hours...tortured, pierced, and ultimately killed. He did it all for His glory, to save us from the crushing sin in our lives.

A good reminder for me that...

If you have a problem, if no one else can help, you can find Him, you can go higher as a member of Yahweh’s team.

He knows what you are going through, can sympathize, and can help in ways that seem so far away, so inconceivable, or impossible.

Rain rain on my face...

2011-12-06T17:27:00.001-06:00

It is only Tuesday, but it has been a rollercoaster week already.

1. Group arrived on Saturday, no problems and ready to work!

2. Sunday Church service at ICCC in Tegucigalpa was full as usual (when are we ever going to get that building done!?)
3. Halfway through the service, I was called aside (as God would have it, my seat had been taken and I was standing at the back of the Church with no room to sit...good thing as it turns out) as Gerson was frantically looking for...somebody. Somebody happened to be me, they needed someone to drive ambulance style to the hospital, as Silvia was bleeding profusely. No problem. Right before that Claudia had asked if we could go soon up to the clinic to get a bp cuff for another Church member. Well, scrap that because that person passed out, possibly a stroke, so we needed to get her to the hospital ASAP as well. Shuffle people around in the truck, and away we went. Long story short...Silvia had very high blood pressure (and did not know it.) Despite the very long lines at the emergency room, she was attended and home in a few hours...she started bleeding again the next day and came to the clinic for follow up care. I have still yet to hear how Rufina is doing.
4. We left after Church to visit some friends, Juan and Leandra first who had their home burn down in late October, trying to pick up pieces and rebuild....and God is blessing those efforts, but it is of course a long row to hoe as it were.
5. Then we went to take some food for Delmis and her family. We no more than pulled up and she was crying and coming back to the house from frantically trying to find her 14 year old daughter Doris....missing for 24 hours. We took her to the police station, she filed a report...but nothing expected from the police. We visited Monday to give her some furniture and odds and ends from the man cave only to find out that the daughter is in Olancho with some supposedly dangerous people, and it is still unclear if she went willingly (not uncommon for guys to sweep in and take a young “woman” to live with them) or not. Delmis is wanting to go after her if she can find the money to get there and back, as well as someone who knows the area to go with her to find Doris. While she is gone of course though she would have to leave her other seven children unattended, all of whom live in a house smaller than my office...with one bed (before we took them more furniture that is.)
6. Group helped a ton on Monday and Tuesday on work on the man cave. This is a small group (a family of four actually) and this was a great way to use them to catch up on some much needed work there that had been neglected for the past six months or more. Every time I catch up on cleaning/organizing/distributing in that sort of process it hits me how much we really need a “warehouse manager” full time. God knows best though, and for now this is how we have to play catch up.
7. I went to a town hall meeting at the US embassy today, mostly as executive director of His Eyes rather than for any personal reason, in case there was important or useful news or other happenings at the meeting. As usual I found myself listening during the “question” time to people that seemed to want to show how much they had to say rather than actually ask a question or get useful tips/help. I also saw these embassy employees trying to do what they can, but sensing inside myself that they were of only minimal help to me, us, the mission...if I wanted to try to grab someone’s attention and plead my case for help, I needed to take that to God. Not to say they are not helpful, not necessary, not able to get anything done...but it just seemed like a good reminder of where our priorities should be when we are not sure where to turn. I felt sorry for the embassy staff who is expected to divulge whether or not they have the bay islands under surveillance, answer for every visa denial without the facts, somehow answer how to fix Honduras security issues, etc. mostly being asked questions about which they have little to nothing to do with finding solutions or are part of their mission.
8. No word on when our trusty policeman Hernandez could be back at the clinic. With all the controversy in the police department right now, it does not look good, and that is not good for the clinic and patients.
9. Dora's daughter Noli, after being hit by a car and via God's provision not being seriously hurt, is now waiting for another ultrasound to see if she will need surgery or what will need done with an unrelated health issue...if not for being hit by the car and needing the first ultrasound, they would not have known about this other condition/problem.
10. Still waiting for the medical supply container (with many other supplies for the mission and sanctuary construction project) to clear customs. We are in debt to the carrier for at least $640 for demurrages (ah, a word you only learn if you have to deal with customs/shipping containers I think) and not sure when we will unload, plus praying it makes it up the hill, we have enough help, everything gets put away well, no breakage...you get the idea.
11. And to add to that, the good news/bad news is that the Tegucigalpa pre-fab sanctuary made it to port yesterday. We pray it does better clearing customs, that the crane to unload the container (we had to buy this container) can be secured, and it all comes together with no problems.

Overwhelming just fails to sum it up. There are some other big things going on as well that I am not presently at liberty to discuss...as you can imagine, even more overwhelming things...just don’t leap to any drastic conclusions from that statement, some things are just not for blogging.

And this sounds like a good time to reflect on Jars of Clay’s “old” song Flood (a song that I think can be interpreted at least two different ways depending on where you are in life, or sometimes both ways at the same time):

“Calm the storms that drench my eyes
Dry the streams still flowing
Cast down all the waves of sin
And guilt that overthrow me

Lift me up - when I'm falling
Lift me up - I'm weak and I'm dying
Lift me up - I need you to hold me
Lift me up - Keep me from drowning again"

Change, shock, and the yawns of a great trip

2011-11-23T23:24:00.001-06:00

I’m back from the USA. To describe these trips on behalf of the mission is difficult. Some people assume it is some kind of vacation, some who know a bit of what they involve smile sympathetically, and others genuinely inquire what it all entails because it is kind of a strange concept. So, let us go through a list of what it normally entails:

1. Work! Try to juggle the day to day responsibilities that I still have to deal with whether or not I am actually in country, being in the US means trying to fit in as many meetings, presentations, speaking times, etc. and is hard work. To be quite clear though...it is good work when you can get it. That is after all the reason I go! We have never done a furlough, and I believe only once have I ever taken a vacation back to the USA during a surprise trip a few years ago to go back for Christmas for a week.

Otherwise when I am back it is all about thanking so many that give so much for the work to continue here, to try to meet new people to expand what God is doing, purchase some things the mission needs, sell some coffee products, drive quite a bit (see more on that below) and squeeze in some moments to see family or other fun things when the schedule happens to allow.

Speaking of happening to allow...one day during this trip Valerie and I squeezed in some time for a celebration of.... birthdays/anniversary/Valentine’s, & I suppose Groundhog Day just to round it all out, getting to stop for our first time ever at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, followed by the equally regal pizza buffet in Martinsville at Gatti’s. We are nothing if not a study in contrasts it would appear.

Did you know the LOVE statue is the original? By artist Robert Indiana, in Indiana. Cool.

This particular trip to the US, which ended up being 3 1/2 weeks had one week in ATL for the National Missionary Convention (see our cool booth here), a couple weekends for mission fairs, a variety of other meetings, and preparing a bit for and then helping load the FAME container. Whew!

2. Change, and that is probably what strikes me the most...from one day to another, you wake up somewhere different, are going different places, experiencing different things, and getting some decent amounts of culture shock mixed in with just the changes that being gone from sites you have known bring.

People asking for money at street corners...standing in traffic actually, is so normal here, that I was quite surprised to see this woman (hard to get a good shot even as a passenger) in handcuffs with her cardboard sign confiscated by the police on the scene.

Other changes/shocks noted this particular time around, some also experienced in prior years as well...

---Sunsets are actually visible phenomena, and usually amazingly beautiful
---water that is safe to drink from the tap everywhere...and despite that it seemseveryone buys tiny bottles of water, which is usually tap water from somewhere else.
---oh, and restaurants give you free water in a glass...with free lemon too!
---police pulling people over for speeding all the time (in a one hour period I counted eight people pulled over driving near Indianapolis), made me homesick for Honduras ;-)
---discounts at the grocery store all the time for things going out of date (like produce, doughnuts, breads ,etc.) all of which were still good for many days afterwards!
---weather changes...sometimes several times in one day. I never have to check the weather at home!
---darkness until 8:00AM? That is madness and hard to fathom that I actually functioned in such an environment. Weird.
---people seem so safe in the US and yet...more worried about losing what they have than in the comparatively dangerous Honduras, but not really taking time to enjoy such stuff or those they love.
---still no shortage of people that when they hear the country of Honduras have no clue where it is, and with a brief conversation I start to see those “looks” again. How do I explain in 5 seconds at the checkout line when someone asks why I am buying enough cereal for a bomb shelter?
---plenty of opportunities to speak Spanish in several communities we visit, which is always a neat experience and testimony.
---there don’t seem to exist many curves on roads in the USA. It is such a pleasant surprise to have to actually turn the wheel when you drive! (I still managed in two weeks in Indiana to drive almost 1,500 miles)

3. The BIG change is getting used to hearing a few people call me Trevor instead of Felipe. I honestly did not go into life planning to go exclusively by that name, it is really just an identity of where I live, how I live, and what I hear day in and day out for eleven months or more a year. For those that don’t know how this came to be...Phillip (translated Felipe) is my middle name, a name that honored my grandpa, a name that was his middle name and one that he used to such exclusivity that many that knew Phil Colby their entire life did not know Phil was “just” his middle name. I won’t even mention here what his first name was...he never used in my lifetime, so neither do I. I don’t hear well anyway, and so I have decided that instead of trying to keep an ear for both names...I’ll just stick with Felipe, which came about in the first place my first trip here many many years ago and just stuck. No Hondurans call me Trevor, they have known me for almost fifteen years as Felipe.

I am sure many people think this whole Felipe “thing” makes me even more crazy than they previously thought, or that it is silly, or whatever they might think...but there was no real thought to it, it just gradually happened. Some people still call me Trevor...but even when I used Trevor I got all sorts of other names as well.... “Travis” “Tree-vor” “Travor” “Arnold” “John Cena”...I have heard it all.

I tried to get my nephew, who is still learning to talk, to call me Felipe. It came out “pee-pe”.....I liked it. Better than pee-pee at any rate. But thinking about it in general...sometimes it is just good to be called at all.

Hopefully John Cena does not mind the comparison (seen here I throw a kid in the air, prompted by some of the kids first calling me John Cena and when I may have indicated that I could in fact be him...they asked me to prove it. Throwing kids around seemed to be a good idea at the time.)

I took this picture while we were at the art museum...I took it because it described to me how God keeps us going here in Honduras from a certain perspective. You might not be able to see it, but I am being held off the ground by many thousand plastic people with arms raised. The reality is that people much more spiritual that myself, more holy, smarter, wiser, more humble, better in just about every way I can imagine are those that through prayer, work, suggestions, time, effort, and so much more than I’ll likely ever realize all work together being used by the Dad we have in common to keep me up, as I fully acknowledge day after day I would otherwise fall flat, repeatedly if not every day sometimes it would seem. If I stand...it is not by my will, but His that be done!

Oh...another thing noticed in the US...many people still don't know Bimbo is in fact a bakery, the largest baker in the USA. That shirt (MLS soccer team by the way, purchased at one of those amazing Outlet Malls) was a huge hit in the art museum.

break that calloused heart

2011-10-26T13:21:00.001-06:00

I would like to think that I am smart enough to know when I am getting scammed. But alas, sometimes you just don’t know.

Case in point. I dropped the group off Sunday at the airport and as I came out, a man speaking English came up to ask me a question. When he figured out that I spoke Spanish, he changed over quickly. He said he had been living in Houston, and just got deported, and needed bus fare to get back to Trujillo, where he was from originally. I have heard that sometimes the government gives deportees bus fare when they arrive, but not all the time. Not knowing if that is true, or if it was something they did that particular day, I gave him some money...not the full amount for the ticket, not much money at all, but to help him along. It seemed the right thing to do, but I wondered nonetheless.

I was back picking up Jana for her year here serving with us on Tuesday...which is great big huge awesome news...and waiting across from the airport to swoop in and pick her and Valerie up. This same man, not initially recognizing me, came up and started his same story...and as I smiled back at him, it dawned that he had already seen me, so he shifted into... “uh, well, the bus to Trujillo leaves so early in the morning, I decided to stay in a hotel, leave later” ....and so he continued. It was not a very good cover story, but he at least was quicker thinking on his feet than some people I have met.

The point being...your heart must get somewhat calloused to move through the day seeing constant need, or at least I feel like it is a necessary callous at some point. But...that callous needs to be broken at regular intervals. Sometimes that means you make a huge difference in a life that really needs it, sometimes you get taken advantage of, but that is just a hazard of some kind of loving. Loving also means interacting with people at some level to figure out when you should open up and when you need to shut it down. That is not easy, takes time, and in the long term energy and provides some level of stress.

I don’t have it figured out much past that. When do you self preserve to be able to keep moving and when do you open your heart a little again? I for one though am hit and miss at figuring out those times, but bouncing off those around you, those that know you, would certainly be a place to start...as well as prayer for guidance in those times.

Brief missive on daily living

2011-10-22T07:52:00.002-06:00

A variety of things caused me to sit down and write a bit about living here in Tegucigalpa, addressing what is and what is not available here:

1. There is postal service. In nicer neighborhoods the postman comes right to your buzon (mail slot) and those that live where having an identifiable address is difficult you can get mail at a PO box. The postal employees here do not number what they do in the US, but they are around and working. You may not get mail promptly, you may find the mail opened before you get it, it is fairly expensive etc...but it is possible.

2. You can get most of your mail and errands done via the internet. I pay everything from electrical bills, land line phone, internet, cable, vehicle registration, insurance, water, cell phone and credit card bills via online banking. Many of the statements I get via email as well.

3. If you pay ahead...you get a discount. Sometimes you might have to pay six months or a year in advance...but if you can organize your budget to do so, many services offer a 5-10% discount for paying that way.

4. X specialty food...affirmative. Not everything, but most of the things people crave or want seem to be here in one store or another. Of course not absolutely everything is available here...but the availability of “foreign” food is much improved over the past ten years. You may have to pay a premium (although...sometimes surprisingly not the case), but if you want pickles, Newman’s own dressings, sushi fixings of all kinds, extra virgin olive oil, fancy chocolate chips, Dr. Pepper, Ritz crackers, wide variety of cereals, etc...you can find it in one place or another.

5. Movies. We have movie theaters. They don’t bring down every movie, but the big ones get here...often the same day they open abroad (to cut down on pirating) and in at least one occasion (the last Narnia movie) came out here before the US. Prices are under $6, usually half that or less, but even for 3D.

6. Cable/internet...you can get whatever channels you want here from Honduras and abroad. Our cable coverage is not the most extravagant, but we still get over six HD channels from the US, movie channels, a Vonage type US phone line, and fast enough internet via cable to easily use Skype or for those interested, use Netflix, etc. If you want to learn a foreign language...our cable company has at least five foreign language stations available as well. If you don’t live in the big city, and even if you do, you can also go with a variety of satellite providers for cable...some can get you decent internet speeds as well, but can be more pricey.

7. Restaurants...you can get great local cuisine, foreign food, and over ten chain restaurants from the US as well...from McDonald’s, Burger King, Little Caesar’s, to Chili’s, TGI Fridays, Applebees, KFC, and more. Some even offer interesting fare available only here, or offers that are better than what is available in the USA.

8. Grocery stores. Wal Mart is available...the same but slightly different. There are super stores, and even a couple Sam’s/Costco type stores. The quality of service and ease of use rival what I am used to abroad.

9. Pharmacy...this is arguably better than the US because you do not need a prescription for very much except for controlled substances, etc. Prices are generally lower but if you want anything from glaucoma meds to an IV to an IUD, no problem, just walk up to any of the plethora of pharmacies available.

10. Basic utilities...you can get electrical, water, sewer, and trash pick up in nicer areas, where you are also going to pay more municipal taxes every year. Even the clinic has a trash truck that passes by every week, a kind of water service which sort of works (and even in the nice neighborhoods...you only get water filling your obligatory cistern a few times a week at most), but no sewer line there yet.

11. cell phones...iPhone, Blackberry...and the list goes on of what you can either buy or bring down. The plans may vary from what is available in the US, but you can get 3G service in major areas and even send texts and call abroad...often cheaper than you can call across town. You can even get Chinese phones that will work with two sim cards so you can have two different companies chips at the same time, and phones that will not just have a radio...but an antenna to watch TV as well.

12. Hotels. You can go as expensive or as inexpensive as you dare. The Marriott, Intercontinental and others can get you into a room anywhere from $80-500 a night depending on what room you want.

13. Traffic. Sure, rush hour stinks. Many major cities have bad traffic, no surprise there. But for most of the year, if you want to get around during the day, it is not problematic, and once you learn your way around (GPS...not really) you can even avoid problem areas (accidents, protest marches, construction) and there is even a twitter feed here that people use to alert others to traffic problems as they come up.

14. Appliances. You pay a premium here almost always, but if you want your Frigidaire, Whirlpool, etc. appliance, you can find it here. Maybe not the exact model you want, but a wide variety for sure, and prices occasionally can rival what is available in the US. There are also brands not normally seen in the US that are smaller for more average sized Honduran homes (smaller fridges without being dorm sized, washing machines in tiny and interesting packaging, etc.) You can get AC units, TVs as big or small as you want (even with 3D now), etc.

15. Vehicles/fuel. You can bring down your big V8 gasoline vehicle from the US, some do, and you can even buy some of those here, but for the most part what sells here is diesel vehicles, and a wide variety of models from manufacturers. We have all the normal US fare along with old and new brands not seen in the US (Peugeot, Citroen, Renault, Chinese brands like Cherry and others which often copy older designs from other manufacturers and use “licensed” engines from Isuzu, Toyota, etc.) Finding a small car here that gets 50-60 mpg does not require a hybrid...and with diesel, even many SUVs can get 20-30 mpg. Fuel prices...as of this writing, diesel is about $4.20, and the gasoline you would put in a vehicle (lower grade is available cheaper than this) would be about $4.70.

This list is long...but not exhaustive, I was just trying to give a feel here, because life can sometimes be portrayed as slightly different from this above admission.

Sure...some things are different, some things can be frustratingly slow, or fast, or just different, especially for many just moving here, but in my mind that is to be expected for anyone who is considering moving to another country. As you can see though...for those who have access, which can vary from being actually cheaper to what they are accustomed to more expensive, access to many of these services can be close, to right on, to what they were elsewhere.

Livin'

2011-10-15T23:46:00.001-06:00

So many people have aphorisms about life, snappy sayings that sum it all up. Most of those I pick apart and find rather lacking. Life is so much more than a catching saying.

I snapped some pictures recently...just some interesting observances from life here. Perhaps only interesting to me, but this is my blog, so....

We were practicing some futbol last week when Soren spotted these rather odd floating squares in the sky. You can see two of them here (if you blow up the picture...on either side of the palm in the middle) the other was out of frame. What were they? No clue. I presume some hot air balloons, but we just looked, remarked at the nice view, and went back to futbol. I decided Soren does not need an eye exam any time soon, and remembered that not everything has to make sense or be explained. Sometimes, you just move on down the road.

When the last group was here we were at the kid's with cancer ward playing with and praying for the children when I met Valery. I told her she was in good company with that name. For the process she is enduring, and I am not just talking about the medical treatments involved, her spirits were remarkably good. Meeting someone with the same name as someone you love in a dire situation in the hospital...certainly gives you an ever changing and different perspective.

I was running errands when I walked out of a store and there was a protest march right in front of me. My first reaction was... “ok, so to get to where I want to go, I’ll have to...” Yes, my first thought was not being upset or scared, or worried it would turn violent...I was just thinking how much of a detour I would have to take. I know protests are not a way of life for many people abroad, but they are here. You get used to them, you expect them, and while I am not planning on joining them, I understand the reasons behind them much more now than I did before...although there is always more to learn. This picture was taken on my detour. Ice cream salesman usually flock to these marches (captive market!) so I am not sure why this one was still on the bridge.

Just a few blocks from the bridge...Christmas decorations going up in the median. Colorful, nice, cheery...my first reaction here was “Wait...won’t someone steal those ornaments? Maybe the guards from the nearby buildings will watch over it.” Walls guard most things of value here that are not nailed/glued/cemented, I look forward to seeing how it fares over the next couple of months.

On a side note...I did not get a picture, but picked up at the store I was visiting when I took this picture a several month supply of Life cereal for Valerie and the kids. Cereal here is not often cheap, and definitely Life is not normally available. So finding it for $2.65 a pound was a very special treat for them. I was surprised by that...and the remarkable amount of costumes (some quite objectionable) and decorations for Halloween there in a country that for the most part considers Halloween evil.

The kids near the aquarium at a nearby Chinese restaurant. Those are some very big fish in a relatively small tank. Did you know that Chinese food is extremely common here...very cheap (plates may be $7 or so, but that “plate” of cashew chicken, fried rice with meat, chop suey, etc. can be a meal for two to four people. We ordered two plates, ate our fill, and still had leftovers for the next day’s meal for all of us. Also, every Chinese restaurant I have ever visited here is owned and operated by a Chinese family, usually doing the accounting and cooking, with Honduran wait staff and/or guards.

PriceSmart here has sold doughnuts for some time. I have never been tempted....until last week. I finally saw the price: $3.75 a dozen. Since we had already decided to have a snack with the kids that afternoon... I reasoned that a dozen doughnuts would be cheaper than any snack purchased elswhere for all of us. We picked the kids up from school that afternoon, we went to our dream spot for building a house overlooking the city and had a snack. I have to say...those doughnuts are brilliant. If you get a chance, I recommend those with the sprinkles. It was also brilliant to see the city (and from behind see the turbines near Ojojona generating electricity...it really is a nice view), feel the breeze, let the kids run with no safety worries, and day dream a little about a home that we could not afford.

So, remembering what I said to start, I guess my catchy saying on life for this post would be: Life is like a doughnut...you can focus on the hole, what is not there, or eat what you get and enjoy it, remembering not all have sprinkles and that we have in abundance so we can share.

Mix it up

2011-10-13T09:08:00.004-06:00

In helping the World Mission Builders group with their construction work for the Church in Talanga, I ran some errands Tuesday (they needed a big, huge coffee pot, and wanted to buy a water cooler/heater for on the job site breaks) and got them some good deals. I was doing those errands while Valerie was at her Bible study which she regularly attends on Tuesday mornings. It was nice to get to run those errands (including some work on the medical insurance for the staff, etc.) but nicer to get to have lunch with Valerie...especially on the 20th anniversary of our “going together.”

Hard to believe it was 20 years ago in many ways...and I can still remember where that decision was made, where we were sitting, etc. So long ago...but the feelings and relationship is so much more, so much stronger than it was then. Marriage now being a not-so-good reflection to our marriage with Christ and being together for eternity...if the human form can be so good, just imagine how good the perfect relationship can and will be! Woohoo!

But I beautifully digress.

Wednesday I rented a cement mixer for them as well to help pour the foundation and the floor. Currently there are only the three guys in the advance team plus Oscar, our intern Lucas, Celeo, and other volunteers (including today quite a few guys from the Church in San Juancito) and the mixer certainly sped things along given the scope of the project (the sanctuary will be roughly 28’ x 80’)

By the time I got the supplies and found a mixer for rent here in Teguc, and actually drove out there keeping the mixer in one piece...it was lunch time, but after lunch we got half the foundation done, and they expected to finish the rest tonight, doing the floor Thursday and Friday.

Their construction techniques are certainly different from what we normally do here in Honduras, at least so far, but WMB has constructed similarly designed buildings in over 90 countries...designed to be sturdy for earthquakes, storms, etc. and it is interesting to get to see something designed to such a degree to serve in so many different locations start to go up. It will be an exciting couple of weeks, I will post more as progress is made when I have time.

Our welder friend here is using more eye protection than I normally see. What protection you say? Hard to see here, but he is using his left hand to hold a rectagular black piece of glass, one that I am guessing he pulled out of an welding mask at some point. He was working on putting the doors up on the bathrooms and Channel 15 building.

Here is the hardware store dropping off just a few blocks for the building on the conveniently located neighbor's empty lot. And as you can see, they have been getting quite a bit of rain here as of late. It makes for an easy source for water when mixing concrete when needed...and apparently a good biosphere as they found a turtle living in this little “pond.” We are praying that the rain won’t impede the work on the building in the coming week and a half!

Spiritual post it notes in my brain

2011-10-08T11:59:00.000-06:00

1. I have not ready all of Crazy Love...somehow though I stumbled upon this paragraph from the book:

"The fact is, I need God to help me love God. And if I need His help to love Him, a perfect being, I definitely need His help to love other, fault-filled humans. Something mysterious, even supernatural must happen in order for genuine love for God to grow in our hearts. The Holy Spirit has to move in our lives.

2. A quote from David Livingston (missionary to Africa in the 1800s) "People talk of the sacrifice I have made in spending so much of my life in Africa....I never made a sacrifice. We ought not to talk of 'sacrifice' when we remember the great sacrifice which He made who left His Father's throne on high to give Himself for us."

3. I heard a song in a movie recently. Again, my first thought when I actually read the lyrics were of a beautiful song to God who opened our eyes through no part of our own...no acceptance, no smart move or acknowledgement on our part, just God being God:

Golden leaves looked brown to me.
The world had less color without you

Shapes in the sky looked plain to my eyes.
The world had less color without you
I know plenty of people with eyes closed
they don't see you like I do
Darling I do

Notes on the keys meant nothing to me.
The world didn't sing without you
Birds in the trees fell silent for me.
The world didn't sing without you.
I know plenty of people with eyes closed
They don't see you like I do
Darling I do
Darling I do
Darling I do see you.

4. And thinking of that I think of a post I was spurred to put on Facebook after the outpouring of seeing "RIP" posted in regards to someone who died this week, someone who it is generally believed not to be a believer (but of course not totally known...that is left to God only to know 100%) and that song reminded me of those feelings of my breaking again:

"RIP...only those who rest in Christ rest in peace. My heart breaks more hearing about those who have presumably died without His peace...and I pray for those who do not have it, that Christ would enter those hearts and work His miracle of grace, mercy and love."

5. I deserve to rot in hell for my sins. God gave me mercy and saved me from it by punishing Jesus on the cross for my sins.

Even still, I had no perfection to fulfill His law, but rather was completely imperfect and do not deserve to spend eternity with Him. God gave me grace, Christ lived fully the law in my stead.

Being a sinner, I do not deserve to be loved by a perfect Heavenly Father. But God chose to make me His son, and chose to love me anyway.

So how am I? I am better than I deserve.

Amen!

Tract or speech or deed we testify

2011-09-30T22:27:00.002-06:00

Today Oscar and I (Juan came along...for fun) went to Zamorano to see about bidding on a used tractor that was to be in decent condition, the idea being it could be a big help on the coffee farm in Sampedrana.

When we got there...we saw the tractor and I thought “decent” must be a figure of speech. The main problems I immediately noticed was the age, the number of hours (about 3,700) and the rear tires that would need replaced. It took me just a second longer to see that instead of a tractor seat that the modified, highly complex seating position was in fact a folding chair.

Oscar got it started up (a new battery included is worth probably 1/5 of the starting bid alone) by using a key for his truck, and we checked the PTO worked, drove it a bit...and then realized there was no way to turn it off other than popping the clutch, which is always a good way to make life interesting on a tractor.

So, we placed a bid regardless. We will see if it comes to our benefit or not. Given our past experience with auctions, I am very comfortable that if it is ours to have, we will get it, otherwise, I know it was not to be. No pressure. Perhaps there is a newer, 4x4 tractor out there somewhere just waiting for us...you never know!

Making good use of the trip, we stopped back at the nursery where we had purchased such good plants for such low prices back in July to purchase another $20 worth of plants to keep things going on the property since some of the seeds we have planted have not worked out so well (donated seed packets that expired in 2009...some work, some not so much...but we keep using them!) Some of the staff at the clinic had a few minutes...and boom tackled digging holes and otherwise getting dirty with the 40 plants we bought. I wanted to get some of these in the ground since we are still in the rainy season, although that will end in a little more than a month, and they can grow quite a bit before then and be good to go through next year.

And we are taking a small leap of faith again and hiring Miguel (some of you know him from the clothing ministry and helping with groups in the past) who is now a pastor at the Church (non-salaried) and has been without work for several months. It is not a full time position, and just until late November as a trial, but basically looking for him to help not just upkeep but improve the grounds, as well as be there in the mornings to help with devotionals and just be there to serve as a greater tie to the Church and get people plugged in there, and help fix anything that breaks, etc. So getting more plants in the ground to be watered, fertilized, etc. now is good. We might see if he can get weeds cleaned enough that we could actually plant some grass as well. Imagine that! After November we will have to evaluate the possibilities of him perhaps helping even more, if we can swing it financially will basically be the question.

Oscar and Juan were telling me today that people/patients not only comment on how nice the flowers look, but that they have seen people pose for pictures with them, and Valerie remarked at how many people love to stand out and see all the butterflies they attract. People come because they are sick, they have problems, etc....we provide help sometimes in more ways than we think or plan. Life is like that...some things you do not even think about are being closely observed by those around you. Are we giving God glory and shining light and beauty into the hearts around us?

Something is brewing in Sampedrana

2011-09-30T00:09:00.000-06:00

Each time we go to Sampedrana, I always get at least one surprise.

This time there were a few in store.

Today we went to see the road going in to our new/future coffee property way up the mountain with the bulldozer that was most generously provided by a donor. That was cool, and a little overwhelming to try to have the vision to see what the road will look like when actually done.

As we made our way up to where the road was beginning, we noticed that the second bridge is now being built in Sampedrana! For those that have been there, this would be to cross the river just past where the soccer field is located. As we drove through the river which was “slightly elevated” I can tell you...the bridge, while small and seemingly undersized, will be most welcome, for vehicles, but also for pedestrians including all the children trying to get to school crossing a 1’ wide log otherwise to traverse the rather scary looking river after anything such as a slight rain.

Standing in the middle of a beautiful, foggy mountains looming in the near distance, cool breeze hitting me, along with the gentle roar of a diesel engine...view, it hit me just how wonderfully odd, weird, and just overwhelming the whole thing was.

The owner whose property our road is crossing was guiding where the bulldozer should go, all we had to do was stand and watch.

Those around tried to point out to me where the road would go, how nice it would be, how wide, and how (with the route they selected) we would avoid any major hills or problem areas, but all I could see was a road being made...and no road in front of that. I really lack that vision that road builders need apparently.

We met with Alfonso again, who is going to be Gender’s co-pastor and also overseeing the work on the new ~30 acre coffee property we have to use. He will start on Tuesday. We are hoping to find some investors to help us get at least half of the property planted with coffee as soon as possible, as it will take three years to start producing. Having that property producing coffee will mean opening quite a few doors for the mission...helping the Church help itself in terms of supporting its pastor, providing for future building needs, and helping the mission in some of our construction and Church planting goals as well. We have some ideas...but at this point those are just ideas how we would use those funds as soon as that property will start contributing.

Getting back to Sampedrana and talking with Gender we were noticing the chain link fence that is only up on the fence next to where he parks the Land Cruiser. I asked why...people throw stones, and continue to break the windows. I asked how he was doing, how the Church was doing...he said the Catholic Church just down the street came again to complain about the Church services they hold on Sundays...they are too loud, and if necessary they plan to go to complain to the civil government because that is just too much noise at 9:00AM on a Sunday. We asked what happened, and I believe he said he gently reminded them of Acts 5:29 and is waiting to see what else might come of this. I suggested that if they can not make a joyful noise inside the building, perhaps go on parade every Sunday morning. Hmmmm

I thought our Church service was long in Teguc...he reports that although he only preaches for 25 minutes, the services are regularly 2.5 hours long, because everyone wants to be there, to keep singing, to keep the service going, spending time together (sound like any other place you have heard about?) They have a service on Friday nights that is just for teaching, and that goes for two hours...and no one sits in their chairs yawning, that in fact most of the two hours is because everyone has so many questions and wants to talk about what they are learning. Gender has been focusing on the family unit and fortifying and strengthening that as a basis to those Friday evening times.

Despite what all of us would say are challenges (I won’t list all those here) God’s Kingdom will not be stopped. The Church continues to add to its numbers, from the teaching those in the Church receive they go out and put it into practice.

The new Church building just finished last month? They don’t have enough chairs. They bought more chairs, and moved the front row closer to the stage...and still, not enough chairs, it is standing room only in the back. Already some are talking about how in a year they will need a bigger building, or what will they do? Good problems to have, good problems indeed. Just sitting together today, Gender was talking about how having the new coffee property will be great because eventually all the coffee on the property will have to go...needs for Sunday school rooms, counseling rooms (he briefly touched on the huge need there) a small area for a clinic...what a vision.

And speaking of visions, as we left back for Teguc, between the rain and the sun....this picture does not do justice to what God was painting, the sin bathing our current coffee property, the river, the greater Sampedrana area all in sun while we were in the shadows. Quite often if we are looking for it, God has something for us to see. Sometimes in how we should react with our hands...but this time I got the idea and just smiled, said thanks Dad, snapped the picture, and kept driving.

Just a few clinic stories

2011-09-15T17:16:00.000-06:00

Here are a few interesting stories the clinic staff reported in August.

Reina reports that through our offering pap smears at the clinic, a patient with CIN was detected (pre-cancerous) and a patient with acute cholecystitis.

Lourdes reports that it was such a great month for her because she met and worked with the optometry interns Danny and Jusinte, and that meeting them was a blessing for her life to know that there are still humble, nice and gentlemany people out there.

Marlen reports that during the devotional time two patients signed up for the Bible study!

(The squemish should not read this one) Ledin reports that she identified a patient that had a parasite that was supposedly eradicated or at least it is rare to see it here for her...ascaris lumbricoides and that she had worms coming out her nose and mouth.

Prayer requests

2011-09-14T17:32:00.003-06:00

Have I ever just come out and shared prayer requests here? I should do that more often.

Here are some of our personal ones to start:

1. We are praying about buying a house here. We have been praying and thinking about this for quite some time. Recently we thought we might be able to raise the down payment, and perhaps find another Church to come along side us to support us and use that money to pay a mortgage payment. What will happen? Not sure, but we are praying that God would open the doors, or close them tight, whichever He would have done.

2. That we could find somehow to relax from time to time. Work is good...rest is good too, and something we neglect often. With so much to do, more than of course we could ever do on our own, sometimes you get in a good way wrapped up with what you are doing...and forget to rest. This is a good thing...for a time. After a while, whether you think so or not, you need to rest. So we ask for somehow to rest...but for God to be merciful in providing that time (you could ask to rest...and God give you Dengue fever to have a nice week in bed resting and relaxing. I know we need to rest, we are trying to do so, so I am not looking for a rest like that...if you get my drift. Like praying for patience, always add "and be merciful in helping me with patience" otherwise you might just get someone or something that tries and "helps" with your patience growth more than you were aiming for. Yeah.

How about some prayer requests from the staff at the clinic?

1. Dr. Reina asks for her health.
2. Marlen asks for her finances, for her sons Isaac and Jareth, and for her entire family
3. Neris asks for her spiritual life and finances
4. Dr. Camilo asks for a sister that will be operated on for a cyst in San Felipe and protection from God for our physical security
5. Lourdes asks for her life and home, for the clinic so that the Lord would be in reality moving and we would show that we have a fear of God and search for the truth and that the truth would set us free.
6. Leonel asks for his spiritual life and his studies.
7. Ledin asks for her whole family that they would be with Christ, supernatural things for her spiritual life and healing for her body, and to be a spokeswoman for Christ to have the freedom to proclaim wherever the good news of salvation.

I'll be back later this week with some interesting stories from the clinic staff from their work in the month of August. Very interesting, and more prayer request filled, sorts of interesting.

Talanga trip

2011-09-09T06:54:00.000-06:00

We left Wednesday with the group to assist a little in the construction on the Church property. The fill is done, the property now higher than the other low lying areas, and our main job was to help with the columns for the building that will house the TV station (Channel 15) and the bathrooms that will be needed for the Church...but also for the team that will be here for over two weeks in October to build the Church building.

Helping with the columns meant digging the holes, putting together all the rebar, and mixing as much cement as time allowed. The group also dug a trench for the sewer connections, etc. It was hot, it was sunny, and we drank lots and lots of water.

Wednesday evening we went to a home Church service, the first one for this home for a family pastor Celeo is trying to reach. It was very cool...and right when we got there it rained quite a bit making conversation for a while a little more interesting.

The family seemed very happy to have not just the pastor that they were expecting but another 15 or so sweaty weird looking people also join them in their home...and in good Honduran hospitality, served us all drinks and snacks before we left.

Then we went back to Channel 15 for supper and left Justine, Danny and Carol to guest host a youth program for two hours (along with the regular host of course.)

You can see here that the regular host is taking phone calls while on the air. We don't have the capability to put the caller's voice on the air...so he just talks to them on the phone and his side of the conversation is what everyone else hears. Somehow...that works.

Thursday...more work in the morning, and in the afternoon a “día del niño” (kid’s day) celebration with games, a Bible story, trying to do a piñata (rain kept us under the tarp...with Justine here telling the kids about Christ using the "evangecube") and gift bags for all the kids that came, and then in the pouring, cold rain we gave quite a few of the kids a ride back to their homes before heading back to Teguc.

Bolts ahoy

2011-09-07T07:19:00.000-06:00

2011-09-05T23:45:00.001-06:00

More to come tomorrow on the work on the Church building being done by the group, but I wanted to just give an update tonight that we are doing some more planting of seeds and carrying for that already planted with the group here now after a good clothing distribution done yesterday (San Juan del Rancho providing more huge lemons for some great lemonade today.)

We found some climbing flowering plant seeds in those brought by one of the groups this summer, and will be planting those tomorrow below the wall pictured here. (Pictures of those to come...perhaps in several months). We also see Soren standing next to some seeds that were planted back in July by a helpful group that are coming up and looking great with colorful flowers. Plus the flower bed in front of the clinic in the shade which is doing quite nicely...despite the ants around showing great appetite for a few varieties of the white flowers. Jonathan took many varieties of the vegetable packets today to see if they will grow in Cantaranas...partially to test the seeds, partially to test the property to see if it still has blight. Some of the seeds (the packets are expired) do well, some nothing at all, so him trying a bit more of a professional test will be good to see for more work behind the clinic.

It is hard to show how much some color and beauty really improves your view...in more ways than one of course. While I was discussing the merits of such work with someone in the group, I saw patients looking, smiling, pointing and talking about some of the plants and flowers while they were waiting just outside the clinic.

Finding such beauty in our neighborhood can be hard sometimes. Putting some effort into the property in this way is just one more way to show people we care about what God has entrusted us, and it helps encourage us as well.

We found more cherry tomato plants, actually just one huge plant that has branced out in three different directions, growing near the clinic as well, the group harvested more than a few, and then cleaned up the area, picked off and then transplanted some hopeful new plants, and then we bought some metal to stake them to encourage more growth. We never planted those on the property...they just grow. They have a reputation here for being a kind of good weed, as most people that have them do not plant them. Oscar even calls them the "poop tomato" as when he was a boy they were called that because that is how they were "planted" by those people and animals who ate them depositing them in other locations. That they are my favorite kind of tomato only gives him greater pleasure in bringing this topic up on a regular basis.

Music day

2011-08-31T11:59:00.000-06:00

A few lyrics from songs we have been listening to as of late have been sticking in my mind, I thought I might share them here with you:

"Satisfied Mind" (version I have is by Johnny Cash)

How many times have you heard someone say
If I had his money, I could do things my way

But little they know, that it's so hard to find
One rich man in ten, with a satisfied mind

Once I was waitin', in fortune and fame
Everything that I dreamed for, to get a start in life's game

Then suddenly it happened, I lost every dime
But I'm richer by far, with a satisfied mind

Money can't buy back, your youth when you're old
Or a friend when you're lonely, or a love that's grown cold

The wealthiest person, is a pauper at times
Compared to the man, with a satisfied mind

When my life has ended, and my time has run out
My friends and my loved ones, I'll leave there's no doubt

But one thing's for certain, when it comes my time
I'll leave this old world, with a satisfied mind
The other is a song we played at Church on Sunday, and to my dismay I could not find the chords online. I am not going to join some website just to get them out there, so instead I thought I would just take the work that my brother Jesse already did so that we could play it...and post them here. The chords are for those interested...the lyrics for all of us.

STARS WILL FALL
VERSE 1
                            G                             Bm
Whenthere's no breath in my lungs to scream
                        G                                C
And there's no strength left inside of me
                           G                               Bm
When there's no light that my eyes can see
Em              C         Em               D
I will say Your name, I will say Your name

CHORUS
      C                       G
And stars will fall like rain
                                       C                            G
All the Heavens and the earth will start to shake
                                     C                           D
Every mountain will be moved and cast away
                                     C          D
At the mention of Your name
                                     G              Bm
At the mention of Your name

VERSE 2
        G                              Bm
When hope is a long lost friend
            G                                      C
And the broken that was meant to bend
            G                                    Bm
Lift the wounds that were never mend
Em                 C        Em                  D
I will say Your name, I will say Your name

CHORUS
      C                       G
And stars will fall like rain
                                       C                            G
All the Heavens and the earth will start to shake
                                     C                           D
Every mountain will be moved and cast away
                                     C          D
At the mention of Your name
                                     C          D
At the mention of Your name

BRIDGE
C D             G   C
Jesus, I cry, Jesus
C D             G   C     D
Jesus, I cry, Jesus

CHORUS
      C                       G
And stars will fall like rain
                                       C                            G
All the Heavens and the earth will start to shake
                                     C                           D
Every mountain will be moved and cast away
                                     C          D
At the mention of Your name

CHORUS
      C                       G
And stars will fall like rain
                                     C                            G
All the Heavens and the earth will start to shake
                                     C                           D
Every mountain will be moved and cast away
                                     C          D
At the mention of Your name
                                     C          D
At the mention of Your name
                                     C          D G Bm
At the mention of Your name

What a zoo

2011-08-25T11:42:00.000-06:00

Before the kids headed back to school schedule time on Wednesday, we made a trip together for the first time to see the zoo up in Picacho. After waiting a while for someone to let us in the door, we spent over an hour looking around.

First up, the snake house. Always good to see a sign outside on how to treat snake bites before you go in...I suppose. I love the last line..."If you don't know how to apply a torniquet...then don't."

Take a look at some pictures, but pardon the chain link fence, no plexiglass in this zoo.

An owl.

Plenty of buzzards around though, especially in the deer habitat, apparently eating quite a bit of their food. They did not seem to mind. Much like this deer, many animals came up to the fence as it would seem many people feed the animals.

Also seen...many signs saying please don't feed the animals.

You've heard the expression pacing like a lion in a cage? In this case...a tiger. Poor thing looked very forlorn.

When he moved...the buzzards took off, lest they make for an easy lunch or play toy I guess.

The famous Jaguar. He was trying to get to the jaguar on the other side, said jaguar missing part of his ear and front paw...supposedly from one jaguar trying to eat the other.

And then there was the taxidermy. Not really sure what the story was there, but we took a few pictures anyway...Cecilia especially excited.

Other animals at the zoo...monkeys, ocelots, more funky birds, crocs, racoons, anteaters, peacocks, parrots, turtles and more. Quite a treat to see animals otherwise not seen here even in the country...all for the price of $1.50 for all four of us.

Not sure what this scene is supposed to display, but the kids liked it anyway.

Cecilia endorsing the croc over the bird...for some reason.

Soccer stalled, Church engaging

2011-08-22T11:11:00.001-06:00

Two items to cover in today’s post. I’ll answer for you on whether or not you want the bad news or the good news first.

1. Pastor Jorge from the Teguc Church stopped by on Wednesday to chat about a few things. Unfortunately the closing of the soccer field was the downer of those topics. While renting out the field brought in some funds, it also brought in some rather colorful elements of the surrounding communities, especially at night. I have some questions personally on how this was all handled/administered, but the long and the short of it is that people were getting robbed...not just those coming to Church but in the neighborhood right next to the Church, fights were breaking out, drugs were being used, vandalism has been a big problem on the Church’s property (remember one of the reasons we needed to fence off the clinic property?) which is not just from those guys, but they were doing their part for sure.

Not having their fence/wall done has not helped matters. We had been working with them to finish it, but they lost interest and changed focus, so we stopped taking groups to help (as was our agreement...when they work on it, we will help work on it.)

Saturday they tacked up a temporary wall to just try to keep the drug users and other recreational vandals and site visitors out, and removed all the bleacher seating and roofing, as well as placed the rocks in the pitch to keep it from being useful even if they break the chain link fence to gain access. I told Jorge that when they are ready to get back at it, we would be there to help...but he was not sure when that might be, especially as that is not a decision he gets to make by himself.

Field being closed...avoids most of the problems that up until this point they have not found ways to avoid (some solutions potentially could have been...finishing the fence, having a guard/supervisor making sure everything is on the level, banning offenders, etc.) So, the pitch will be closed at least until next year. You might have figured out this means the Church itself can not use the field either...a big sacrifice as Jorge pointed out. The wood and roofing for the bleachers are stored for the time being, hopefully they will come up with a solution that will suit them, as well as the greater community sooner rather than later.

I post this because there were quite a few people involved helping us help the youth get that soccer field established a few years ago, and then the soccer ministry, and I know they plus others will want to know of this, prayerfully, temporarily discouraging news. Pray the Church can find a way out of this mess and into being able to use this great tool at least for the Church itself, and potentially again as an outreach to the greater community.

2. Anniversary service at Cantaranas yesterday.

The Church still just has a lean-to next to the house Jonathan rents (for their housing/clothing store) so somehow they were able to borrow the mayor’s office first floor to use for this service, which included guests and well wishers from all the Churches His Eyes supports (Talanga brought a big contingent in Celeo’s packed pick-up, Sampedrana brought the very full Land Cruiser, and nearby San Juancito) plus the band from the Tegucigalpa Church came, plus a full bus of 45 people, the Churches planted in Danli and El Bosque via the His Eyes Talanga Church were there, and even others I did not get to meet. (You will notice in the picture everyone moving their chairs wherever they had to in order to get out of the very hot afternoon sun.)

Three years having the Church there...wow. Seeing them dig the footers for their building on the property we bought, and starting to make their own block to start building next year, is encouraging.

(Here is a shot of people gathering around to see the Church with help from San Juancito put on a drama about Christ entering the life of a murderer who was in jail.)

Seeing us have an anniversary service where we did an eye brigade almost 11 years ago, in a place at that time that was so remote we had to stay over night (the currently paved road was a cratered mess...took many hours to get to Teguc) and had no clue a Church would eventually be planted...was eerily cool. Yeah...God is like that.

Here is a picture of the building when we did the brigade so long ago...quite interestingly, in the middle of the picture is our Honduran friend Patti, who was helping on her break that day, and just happened to be back from Spain on vacation (she works there and has for several years...easier to get there without problems than the USA) to go with us last night to the anniversary service.

Show me state

2011-08-19T14:05:00.000-06:00

Today is our weding anniversary, reason for celebration, and remembering how hot it was that day 16 years ago. I did not notice the heat...but I was told that our best man (my brother Chad) had to sit down to keep from passing out.
That reminds me that when you are doing something you love, sometimes you can block out what some might see as inconveniences, and in some cases, actually embrace them. Interesting I thought.

I thought I would pull out an old picture of us. Right here on the computer this will have to do, only being 11 years old.

Believe or not, that is where the new clinic is now sitting somewhere up in that green, the road that the buses use would be up there as well somewhere in that empty field...you get the idea. There was not alot there back then. Where we are standing is just below the milk project and mission house building (which was being built.)

I was thinking about our song, More Than Words, as it is our anniversary. The fact that the lead singer of Extreme is a believer was apparent to me before I found out (another use for the internet of course.) Just listening to many of the lyrics from this hard rock band made it clear to me...the struggles for authenticity, for living out faith, failing, finding forgiveness, doubt, the direct quotes from Scripture....I could recommend some songs that will make you cry for those interested. Yes...from a hard rock band that is not Christian as the music industry defines it by any stretch of the imagination, and has a fair number of not-so-spiritually inspiring songs as well.

Anyway..."more than words" is how God wants us to worship Him. In our marriages, in our relationships with each other, with Him. (Titus 1:16, James 1:22, and more) I think of my Granpda...who later in life told me as I would leave to come back home to Honduras "I love you" knowing it might be the last time we saw each other on this side...I had no doubt he loved me before that. It strikes me now that I don't remember him saying it when I was young...but he did not need to do so. I knew. He showed me. God does that too.

"More than words is all you have to do to make it real, then you wouldn't have to say that you love me....cause I'd already know."

I remind groups of this all the time that lament they do not speak the language....preach the Gospel, use words when necessary.

May God use us to proclaim His love to those around us, no matter where we are!

What a trip!

2011-08-15T14:12:00.005-06:00

Two days...harder to sum up in a blog than any two days in recent memory.

Wednesday the 10th we left for Sampedrana with the group from Christ’s Church, plus pastor Celeo, Jonathan, and two brothers from San Juancito. We arrived and set about to get the new Church building painted for the inauguration service later in the evening.

The sheer fact that a Church building is completed is in itself a testimony to what God has done in that community...our involvement was essentially that day painting and what we contributed through Hill Climber coffee. Essentially they took this year’s payment for the coffee and along with much more other fundraising and work in the community, put together the funds and labor to make it happen.

That is exactly what our goal is in planting Churches...help them become independent financially but still work together and advance the Kingdom spiritually. We did not expect a new building to go up so quickly in Sampedrana...and I am extremely happy to have my expectations shattered.

With a group of 11 plus the others making the trip, the painting was surprisingly done in a few hours, including a great color in the front and some rather good trim work.

The five joining in the celebration

It was a good thing as well, since there were baptisms scheduled for the afternoon...five total as it turned out, plus quite a few family members.

The baptism site was just a short walk from the Church property from the back side up a marked path to the river and its rather... “cool” water.

The service was to start at 6:00pm that evening, but I saw people arriving from before 5:00. Once things got started...after a few songs the children moved to the old sanctuary building for a children’s party that the group organized. They probably did not think at that point they were going to give a party that would last over two hours, or include the craziness of trying to celebrate with a piñata in such a small space with over 70 children and quite a few spectators, but they pushed through and did a great job.

This is before the carnage of the piñata incident.

I am happy to report that the piñata gave its all for the children.

Having Roxana there to translate certainly helped in crowd control.

They had games, songs, a lesson, actual puppets, and plenty of time :-)

And this was just some of the crowd "observing" the children's service/party. The door was shut only after all the children that were there for the service were crammed in...we knew that more children would come afterwards that we would not be able to handle...but I did not expect so many adults watching as well.

In many ways...there were two Church services going on at the same time!

Here is a rare picture...the ability to get all three of the His Eyes pastors on stage together, this particular time singing a special song on the occasion of a Church member’s birthday (seen at the bottom of the picture receiving one of many hugs from others in the service as he waited up near the stage.)

Oscar brought the message for the service, although from this picture you cannot see that since by that time I had given up standing and finally sat on the floor. Sitting on the floor was very cool....it was nice to see that the Church is going to need to fill that building with more chairs than they previsouly had space for in the old building.

Fortunately there is plenty of space yet to fill with new chairs!

Attendance in the new building was over 100...plus those that still dare not darken the doorstep and instead observe from outside (see below.) All told between those inside, the children, and those outside...over 200 people, which is just amazing.

The service was over...well, started to be over after a few hours or so, with the celebration turning to tamales and some starting their walk back home (some walked five hours...and had to leave at night because they had to be at work early the next morning.) and Gender reporting that he did not get to bed until 12:30.

(This picture does not show those "observing" from across the street)

The next morning...we visited the site for the new Hill Climber coffee property, purchased by some friends from the US. Over 30 acres, climbing from about 5,600’ to probably over 6,000’ as it reaches the peak of the mountain. Right now it looks like just light overgrowth, so seeing the potential there is hard, but looking like next door to brother Escoto’s coffee plantation helps envision what it could become. This is relatively virgin property. The family that owned it has not farmed it for many, many years...and I am fairly confident we are the first non-Hondurans to ever step foot there.

Our next step is to get a road carved out to get easier access, which should be a relatively easy process, except that is for the guys that will have to do it, and see about how we might be able to get the funding (potentially some short term loans from friends of the mission) to start getting the three year process of waiting for coffee to produce to where we can start harvesting. Clearing the property will be easy enough...having the funds to pay someone full time to watch over and care for the property, etc. will be another matter, but it is so beautiful, so peaceful...so high! The potential is high as well...remembering what the Church property looked like five years ago and what is there today...I pray God would guide that property to help further his Kingdom in a different but equally valuable way in another five years.

San Juancito

2011-08-10T06:59:00.000-06:00

Markers color our world

2011-08-04T00:16:00.000-06:00

Today...10 years ago we lost a close friend (Stan Nicholson), a classmate of Valerie’s that was very active in the work here. Reverberations still ripple through our lives from his life, death and work. We still miss him, but know His timing is perfect despite what we might humanly think/see.

August 1st marked 11 years for us living in Honduras. Time flies...oh how it flies.

Finally let go of the hand sink from my grandparent’s home this week. Jorge needed it...we did not. I was trying to keep that tie to the past, but it was time to let it go. I was glad it is going to get used immediately...but somewhat jealously sad that I won’t get to use it in the future and think of Grandma.

Cecilia’s first trip to Hospital Escuela today. She did alright...it is a tough scene, and for her first time, she did very well. The orthopedic ward was hard...visiting the kid’s with cancer ward was much easier for her. What God is doing in and through her...so exciting.

Thoughts jumbled and spilled out, and yet...strike me as related. After midnight here, time for bed...will try to post more later this week on the what else is going on in our parts....lots going on indeed.

Its on

2011-07-26T23:01:00.000-06:00

Long story short...we thought today's brigade would end early. We had to cancel our original location and try to find a new location...last Saturday. We contacted our missionary friends at Living Hope ministries (www.livinghopehonduras.com) and they quickly helped put together an option at a school in a neighborhood just outside Tegucigalpa for today.

We put it in God's hands...and He took it much further than we would have imagined. We even left this morning thinking we would be back early. There were many kids at the school...some number I heard thrown around was 300 in the morning and 400 in the afternoon. That made for a packed house for the morning and matinee sessions of the group led VBS. The kids were very much excited and engaging with the group.

Speaking of excited and engaging...the patients were as well. Gracious, anxious to learn what was wrong (and what was right!) patient when we had to cycloplege, and quite a few were surprised with the students/doctors offered to pray for them. If you count all the students we did school screenings for as well as exams, and regular patients seen from around the community...in terms of numbers it was probably some sort of record.

The only record that really matters was that left of our testimony, and the seeds planted that Living Hope will be patiently tending in the short and long term future. God bless the work done today in His name, to His glory, through the myriad of works and workers He brings together for His Kingdom!

How do you say?

2011-07-26T07:34:00.000-06:00

Until you make it

2011-07-19T21:46:00.000-06:00

So, I have been behind as of late on the blogging scene. I have been behind on quite a bit as of late. Groups being here have a tendancy to do that. Not only do we have daily activities, but also some of the other "regular work" that must be done one way or another. Blogging, while therapeutic...falls by the wayside.

We are group-less until Saturday, so I have a bit of time in between meetings (Oscar, Valerie and I met for three hours today...and it went by like it was a fraction of that) getting vehicles fixed and prepared, planning the next three groups, etc.

No one has complained, but I neglected to get an email update out for July. Had I somehow made time for that...I was contemplating visiting some helpful phrases I have heard over the years that have helped me greatly, encouraged me, or the like.

I may indeed expound on that there...but in doing over a month straight of groups and all that gloriously entails (rabbit trail...not sarcasm there, having groups here is so incredibly encouraging, helpful and important in several ways to the ministry it is not to be overlooked here, or anywhere for that matter...they in many, many ways give Glory to God) one continued to reverberate in my mind:

Fake it until you make it.

It might seem odd, it might seem wrong...but I can personally attest that it works.

We all struggle, we all falter, we all screw up. No news there.

But when you find yourself in a place where you know what you need to do...but can not quite find the strength to do the right thing, or the better thing, or the thing you know God is telling you to do, sometimes you have to ignore what you feel, and just...fake it until you make it.

Still confused? The next time you are sad or upset, and just seem stuck in angry town...just smile. Smile for five minutes. Not because you feel like it, but you know that being happy would be better than where you are right then. You'll be surprised at the difference.

I know the amazing work God does when we pray for the sick in the hospital, when we minister to those that desperately need food. Over time however, that can be tough to keep doing, one after another. For you it might be knowing the difference a kind word can be to a difficult co-worker or just getting up in the morning to a job you don't really enjoy. Moving when you don't feel like it though...it seems like God uses those times to really shine a light into your own heart through the very people or thing you are trying to do. Kind of like..."Son, don't you get it? You're feelings might shift like the tide...but I am The Rock on which your life is to be based."

When the words don't come naturally, but you know they are there and need to be spoken, or done...might I humbily suggest you fake it until you make it.

Happenings around the clinic

2011-07-01T21:43:00.000-06:00

So with the CIY group departing Wednesday...we also had the Hazel Dell team arrive.

This meant that we got to see a lot more construction take place on Thursday and Friday. I would be remiss however if I did not share this impressive, if not somewhat sad, photo first.

Valerie sees some whoppers at the clinic, but this is the biggest pterygium both of us have ever seen by far. She referred this patient for surgery...you might not notice but her other eye also has one that is, although not super advanced, probably ready to be plucked as well. The concerning thing is that with her other eye so advanced...removing the pterygium might result in some scarring. Valerie has been on a tear as of late...seeing 15 or more patients a day at least twice this week. To say that is tiring given her other responsabilities, etc. is quite an understatement.

The construction work done by the group includes moving a ton (figuratively...literally probably quite a few tons) of more fill material into the Church building foundation. That is a big help...and a big team to get 'er done as well. Also a small extra corner of the drive was paved to help facilitate the semis that bring the containers onto the property the ability to turn around easier and safer.

And the last item on the construction list was the landscaping. Fortunately someone in the group is a master gardener, and that was a big help in placement and selection of what we wanted to do.

The little area near the man cave got some ground cover (each plant about $.55) and three trees...a lemon tree, a star fruit tree, and a cinnamon tree (cinnamon trees=most expensive tree we purchased at $16) Up near the parking lot of the clinic...two mango trees, and behind the clinic, two avocado trees. Right in front of the clinic, some more ground cover for a bright spot by the ramp to get into the building. The reason, besides the obvious beautification, is for shade on the buildings and cars in the future, and of course, to produce something we can actually use. The ground cover will hopefully not only be quite colorful, but help us eventually not have to deal with so many weeds.

Leaving today, we were getting some nice rain again. The combination of less dark skies with sun near us and the darker skies in the background and rain...in various states of sprinkling to slightly heavier rain produced a quite unique image, so I stopped to snap a quick picture.

Ups and downs

2011-06-25T21:53:00.001-06:00

Today we went to a village where it was our first time taking any activity...our friend Jorge Irias (working with Gerson who also came with us in one of the Church's cell groups, and a pretty good welder who fixed the Ford's broken tailgate on Friday) has family in this area and set it all up for us. (the picture at left shows an exciting game of "red light/green light" which was quite the hit...with parents as well as the children.)

When we first got there...there were quite a few kids, but not many adults. It was somewhat remote, so we thought more people might show up later, and did the VBS and started playing games with the kids until noon when more people definitely showed up.

It was about this time that I noticed how eager the kids were to listen to anything I had to say (or anyone in particular) even readily obeying when I merely suggested they group hug on one of the group members (who was quite surprised.) Then Jorge suggested to them that I might in fact be John Cena...a WWE wrestler. From then on...I was John Cena. There were even a few opportunities given to show my wrestling skills with some of the children, which they enjoyed greatly.

We then went on to play some futbol. Not exactly an organized game...starting with roughly 20 Honduran small kids versus about 8 bigger teenagers from the USA. The play was good, engaging...but ultimately not fruitful in the goal department for team USA. We had Honduran girls join in with us...adding to the virtual scrum forming around the ball at times, but in the end....9-1. Basically...we held out the game until we scored, and then somehow declared victory and ran off the pitch.

The adults were so enthralled with the VBS...with the games, it was amazing to hear them laughing and paying attention...and later to see how much time they took to look through all the clothes. Many children, when not asking me to pick them up like a wrestler, were asking if we had to leave, and when we would be back. Cool stuff.

It started out as a slow day, a bit down....but ended on a very high note....and we pray that note be to God's glory.

Talanga progress

2011-06-24T06:32:00.000-06:00

We took the group yesterday to Talanga for a food distribution. Upon arrival, we got a rare glimpse (for us) of seeing Pastor Celeo doing one of his programs on Channel 15. I asked him later about a way to track how many people watch the channel, and among other things...when they talk to some people that watch the channel and he says "I host a show," he gets reactions like "you look much different on TV" and "are you sure?"

We got to see some of the new equipment in use as well...the VCRs are for signal modification for sending the signal from the station to the cable companies (I don't get it, but it works) and the new audio board that a group donated in April. They were very happy not to have to do the complicated dances and using electrical tape to get the same effect.

Sorry about this picture I can not flip, but it shows one of the houses where a cell group meets from the Church. The painting was done on one of our computer table parts...all in all I thought it a very good use of a table top. Romans 6:8 is the verse in the corner mentioned. With no Church building as of yet, these home Churches/cell groups are very important to the strength and growth of the Church.

Olivia is an intern that is with us for two months. Yesterday she was in my group during the food distributions. Apart from the new ticklish boyfriend she has in her arms here in front of the TV station, she was growing a bit by me forcing her to translate for the group during the food distributions.

It may look like we are in the country...but this is only a few blocks from the central park in Talanga. Apart from one main street that is mostly paved, most of the streets are in various states of disrepair...including the road in front of the future Church building home. Add rain to the equation and it gets even more interesting. All told yesterday we visited over 20 families...including one woman who saw us passing by and stopped us to pray for her (she was sick) reminding us that we are making an impression even when we are not aware of such.

Sampedrana visit

2011-06-23T19:04:00.000-06:00

Despite the fact that the tailgate fell off half way up the hill...the road still is pretty nice to Sampedrana.

The bolt breaking was rust and wear related (no surprise there) not the smooth flowing road.

Otherwise the drive up was pleasant, and without much in the way of bumps. I could get used to that....but I won't.

We had lunch, another delicious PB&J day, and got to work...this time tackling a problem with the mission house: The rain and humidity given the location is causing the bottom floor of the house to have a musty odor, related to water filtering up next to the building. Our first resort is having the group help and dig a trench out next to the wall. They did everything we were anticipating before the day was up...only we were thinking it would take two full days! We are hoping this will work, but if the problem persists, we have some other options to make it more livable and less habitable.

As you can see...progress is being made on the Church building. Praise God! It is so encouraging to see it going up so quickly. Hill Climber coffee and the work of so many brothers and sisters there in Sampedrana have made all this work possible. We are anticipating the inaugaration in early August with a very special group that will be here. Starting to see how big the building will be is encouraging. I am hoping we see them dealing with the problem that the building is not big enough in a few years!

We had a chance to take a look at some coffee property while we were there. Hill Climber coffee's profits are tied up in last year's purchase of the property in San Juancito, but this could be a possibility for a purchase with some help from some friends in the US buying it as investment that could be used for the mission. If this purchase comes to fruition...we could have 35 or more acres to clean, prepare and try to find the help for planting the coffee (just buying the plants costs over $1,000 per acre.) The waiting period between planting and first harvest in three years takes patience, finances, and lots of prayer.....

...and we have all prayed so much for the Hill Climber coffee property originally purchased several years ago. Here you can see Gender and Oscar looking at the coffee there. In the foreground is some of the newly cleared and planted coffee...good quality stuff, being cared for, and anticipating a future harvest there as well. That property is only 1.5 acres, but it is making a difference. We should make from the smaller harvests including next year's enough to pay for the property already! Seeing the work, the patience there...and what could be with the resources for the larger potential property...the benefit long term to the mission is exciting!

Random picture time

2011-06-19T23:57:00.000-06:00

"Christ is my live."

It may be incorrect grammar, but I think I like the inadvertant message implied.

"Christ is my life" would be very personal and defining what is important to me. Christ is my live...kind of helps keep your mind on living for Him, which is more outward focused.

Valerie has been offering work to some of the women she knows in the community lately after a donation came in for just such a purpose. Instead of coming for a handout...they come to work and get paid. It is not a full time job, but the pay helps some, and they get to decide what food to buy, or how else to use it for their families. They get self respect for working...and we get extra work done around the property. That is the definition of a win-win in my book. We are hoping this might be something we can do and continue for a while, God willing.

The mall construction continues. I got this shot of City Mall from the airport upon picking up the group. Scheduled completion last I heard was in the first quarter of 2012. The massive amount of dirt being moved can been seen from another vantage point...it is as impressive as you can imagine from seeing how far down they are going.

And one good mall deserves another...or so it would seem.

Premier Mall being built on the other side of the city. Progress had been slow for some time...but they seem to be coming on strong as of late. Not sure when it will be completed, but it sure is looking huge already. The road in front of it is in disarray undergoing its own construction, and hopefully they finish the road first, as it is already a traffic nightmare most of the time....without a mall crowding a few thousand or more people inside.

Ok, it is late and this picture is upside down. Blogger is not helpful in offering a way to rotate pictures, so you get it upside down. No matter.

I ran another short marathon a few weeks ago. No pins and paper number to attach to my shirt...but instead this sticker.

Are they using stickers instead of the old traditional method elsewhere? It was quite a pleasant surprise for sure.

Soon we will be working on the landscaping around the clinic a bit more with groups.

But before we get to that...we get encouraging news...this tomato plant growing in the select material laid down near the container wall. No one planted it...and yet, there it is. Hope for intentional growth to come!

CIY team arrived

2011-06-19T09:09:00.000-06:00

Summer group time is here. We are blessed to receive groups throughout the year, but typically they are more crammed into the summer season.

The CIY group arrived Thursday and will take us until almost the end of the month...a long trip!

Saturday we ventured to Guasucaran, a long and interesting trip past Ojojona. The people here are always so grateful for the help, in this case a clothing distribution while the group put on a VBS activity (along with holding as many babies as possible for mom's to be able to shop easier.)

Not only was the road a little wet and...interesting, but we also got a little rain while there, and then some fairly dense fog on the way back.

Can you see Oscar in front of me?

It was pretty cool to see fog like this on a mountain during the day (this was around 1:30PM) as usually it is more in the early morning or later at night. It was not bad enough to cause any real driving trouble...especially on this road where relatively few dare to travel.

Friday was a construction day...we tackled more of the Church sanctuary jobs...in this case moving fill into the area to get it level, and sealing one of the septic tanks. As you can see, with the rain we have been getting the primary tank fills quickly because it is so incredibly rocky. The backup tank will handle most of the load for leaching and longevity of use (hopefully 10-20 years before needing cleaned.)

What the day produced

2011-06-01T23:46:00.001-06:00

Today was...rather busy.

We left Teguc at 8:00 after a few smaller errands in the morning (one of which...luckily I had a few pens to resupply the clinic, all of whose pens had seemingly run dry on the same day) on our way to Talanga. We had a scheduled meeting with Pastor Celeo to hear more about how things are going with Channel 15, the Church, the upcoming construction and fill the property requires...you get the idea, it was a full meeting. Here we are in the set/reception area of the TV station (currently a rented house.)

The "production studio" is behind the blue curtain in a very small area. We have a long ways to go to get up to the production quality we want to set...but God is already using the channel in some amazing ways. Celeo told of us of one man calling in to confess a sinful lifestyle, (he was more specific) and how through the Channel he had been touched to change...he had been considering suicide..he was disgusted with himself, and they were able to minister to him. Another young man...a 15 year old called in to share he was an alcoholic, seeking forgiveness, and they are reaching out to him to come to the Church meetings for further talks. One more and I will stop...a young girl in a similar situation called in, wanted to know what to do to receive the Lord...they got her contact information and where she lives Celeo knows another pastor and they were able to put the two of them together.

(here is an outside view of the house...complete with sign to let people know. A pulperia down the street has been sending small offerings...not because they want ad space, or they are even believers, just because they want to help)

The channel is still not producing enough economically to be self sustaining, nor to pay salaries (for Celeo as administrator and pastor, and his son who is currently doing all the programming and daily work on getting everything ready for airing.)

So we are praying along with Celeo that the ad revenue would improve, along with our efforts to try to get him the equipment they need to keep moving forward. We need things like battery back ups (power fluctuations...which are hard on equipment, are very common) cameras, audio/sound boards, other misc. equipment and programming for creating ads, program bumps, etc. One other big move we are considering is trying to find a local container to set on the Church property and convert into the office/set space/production facilities. It would be safe, have enough space, and minimal work to get it "installed." That would save on rent, safety concerns, etc. We shall see what God has in store.

You'll notice a theme throughout our day. Upon leaving the house, Oscar pointed out an Almond tree...something we had been talking about on the way there was what trees to plant around the clinic for shade and production. He is not sure how you harvest almonds...and get them in one piece for roasting however.

Below...we went to at least see a very cheap piece of property that would be in a residential neighborhood (in the future...at this time it was interesting enough to require 4x4 and an interesting sloshy/sliding drive at that) but that we would be looking at to produce crops to provide some employment and generate some support for Celeo and the Church. Price is right...and very close to town, but not sure what will happen here.

We talked about the successes, the struggles, and opportunities the Church is facing. Life is tough, no surprise there, and life in communion as a body is no different. But the overall snapshot is positive...of course! The fill on the property for construction this fall should be done by the end of the month. Having that new building will make a huge difference in the life and activities that the Church will be able to do. For that big step...October can not come soon enough for them.

We went back to Teguc a different route to be able to stop in Cantarnas to see how the tomato harvest is going. Slow but sure, and Jonathan is putting quite a bit of work into it. We negotiated with Wal-Mart here locally (they came out to see what we were doing, inspect the goods, talk turkey on pricing, etc.) and in addition to smaller sales elsewhere it appears they will make some purchases as well (at a higher price than we get elsewhere.

The small house for the person watching over the crops is done, and with the added electricity...he can actually see what he is protecting, lest some grow legs and walk away in the middle of the night. What you can't see is that Oscar and Jonathan, on their own, have started experimenting in a very small way to see if cabbage will work as the next crop (it is appearing to do well) and the Avocado trees they invested almost $150 of their own money to try to get back to life. They are big trees, and look to be producing, but there was concern they were going to die. So...when we sell avocados, your orders will help pay them back first, and then generate even more for the mission.

You don't see a picture here, but Oscar and I also took just a few quick minutes to harvest a big bag of mangos from the property...everyone else has had their fill for the time being, and the trees were still full. We took all we could, and left the bounty left to ripen.

What you will see is another experiment of Oscar's. Reynaldo sold him some green pepper plants, again, to see if we could use them for the next crop. They are green...they are peppers, but this was not exactly what Oscar had in mind. Sufficit to say...I am the only person they know that is interested in picking them. I was happy to oblige.

As you can see...they grow well there, some of them were pretty big. Too bad the market here for spicy Jalapenos is fairly small.

Then we made another brief stop for Oscar to pick up plantains to sell from his and Jonathan's farm near San Juancito. They mostly sell them to friends who have small stores or who want to sell them from their homes...buy at 3lps per plantain, sell at 5-7 depending on the size. They still have quite a ways to go to recoup their investment, but are hoping in the long term it will produce some economic help for them both. It is already producing some employment for Santos (in the background) the co-pastor in San Juancito and a few others...all of whom are very grateful for the work they know is more than just a simple farming exercise.

All this food around us and somehow all day we did not find time to eat lunch we were so behind on our schedule to get back to Teguc at a decent hour (something about picking our kids up from school by 3:00)

Almonds, what looked like it should be a rice farm, a tomato or two, mangos, cabbage, jalapenos, and plantains...that is a lot of produce to see in one day....glory to God!

Hey now, hey now, our would be king is back

2011-05-28T11:01:00.000-06:00

The politics of the whole situation are too unfortunate to get into in any great length here, I’ll just say that it would appear that Mr. Zelaya is coming back to town without any fear now of any charges being brought against him for the alleged misdeeds he participated in while in office.

The fact is that with an agreement signed last week, at the rumored insistence of the US government amongst others, Mel Zelaya is expected back today to Honduras.

Given we live so close to the airport, where he is reported to land, yesterday and today have been a little more interesting than usual. I kind of feel like it is my duty to get out there and see what is happening.

Yesterday after wrangling through traffic to get the kids from school (took me an hour all told), and checking traffic reports on twitter (social media trumps regular media here in this regard...specific twitter account created just to report traffic problems in Teguc) I decided to go out for a run to see what was happening already, almost a full 24 hours before his supposed arrival (~noon today)

I ran through a crowd of several hundred making preparations already...some with tents where they were planning to sleep. They had materials for a stage (for a reported speech later today) and quite a few news cameras and other vehicles in the area, one of the sides of the road blocked from then until the crowd is expected to clear this afternoon...for about 24 hours. The nice part is...that as a runner, that meant I had free reign of an otherwise busily travelled road.

Today, people were gathering from the early morning, with more of the road closed...the entire length of the airport. I went out to run again to get a first hand look at what was going down, at least in the morning. I am not superstitious, but I wear whatever is up next in the rotation, however I folded and put away my clothes. To go out running in a sea of red and black wearing opposite party colors of white and blue...well, I am sure I would have received stares anyway, but it seemed my presence did not go unnoticed. Most people just questioningly stared, I was listening to R. C. Sproul podcasts, so any insults or other comments I think I was, only occasionly, getting were nicely filtered out.

Those having to fly out of the airport today...you can only enter walking via the North entrance. I am sure that for any groups or people not familiar with the situation without any guidance would be either lost or at least intimidated. Continental has already landed, as far as I know flights are continuing as scheduled.
There were people gathering from FFAA as well as coming from the Anillo (both sides of the airport) walking to Plaza South of the airport near the end of the runway. If you wanted to get free water...it was somehow being provided. If you wanted to buy hats, shirts, flags, etc. with Mel’s image...no problem. Entrepreneurs had set up selling food, whistles, and other odds and ends.

A slight political aside...I would say 1-5% of those there, a very small number, were proclaiming themselves with the Liberal party...almost everyone was with the FNRP (Frente Nacional de Resistencia Popular...a communist/socialist group that flirts with becoming a political party but mostly just seems to be unhappy with everything and everyone...except for the most part Mr. Zelaya.) This picture shows one of the many posters plastered on the walls in front of the airport...reading “From the front to Socialism, welcome comrade Zelaya”

Those not in FNRP colors or garb, and there were quite a few out and about on the streets not right in front of the airport...were in their Barcelona jerseys for the big game this afternoon.

I had to be a little careful where I was taking pictures, and of course these pictures are not the best since I was running...and using my phone camera instead, but for the most part most people were just getting started and I was not feeling I was in any real danger. The fireworks, literal and figurative, and more will likely come later this morning when his arrival gets closer. Helicopters were already monitoring activities overhead, there were some political chants, but most people were either walking around, or just waiting.

In the streets around the airport where cars could travel, there were also many with flags for the FNRP and trucks carrying people to get them close enough to get to the event. For the most part it seemed that those not interested in all this...stayed home or stayed elsewhere in the city, where traffic is reportedly clear and with no problems...at least at this point. Buses and cars lined the streets around the airport...buses that are from all around the country that brought people in for the marches. How they paid their way here...is a good question. Within a few blocks however, traffic was clear.

Will he stay? Will he stir up more problems? What will this mean for the political and international relations for Honduras? Only time will tell. It is not likely to be boring, that much is likely.

Grow, grow grow

2011-05-25T17:57:00.001-06:00

I stopped by the clinic today to do a little communicating, drop off some supplies, get some things prepped for tomorrow (pastor's meeting being held in the mission house starting tomorrow.) The pastors meeting is a quarterly meeting that all the Christian Church pastors in our brotherhood come together to edify each other, some study, to hear what God is doing throughout Honduras, and share ideas, etc.  After the pastor's meeting, that group plus some more will be there for a planning meeting for the CIY international conference in January, so that place will be hopping from Thursday through Saturday.

Progress on the Church foundation is currently at a standstill. The wall for leveling purposes is mostly done...we still need more fill however. We are waiting for the fundraising to continue, and hoping some of the groups in June and July will help with some of the fill work as well as sealing the septic tanks.

Of course...the main thing we are waiting on is the building. Of the 6,000 square feet we are trying to raise...we are short a couple thousand yet to be able to get the building here. That is a big chunk of the $25/sq ft cost...but there will also be quite a bit of interior work to be done as well that will consume much of the budget.   One thing at a time though...or as my granpda used to say..."patience Prudence."

We bought some top soil for planting some trees on the clinic/mission house property. We are looking to have some groups over time plant some of the trees during the rainy season so they will take well. We want to have trees that provide some variety, produce fruit, and of course some shade.

We are thinking avocado, mango, maybe a palm or two, perhaps jicarro,...anyone have any other ideas you think we should consider? We will probably try to buy trees that are already a few years old to hasten the process depending on cost and availability.

Take a little time

2011-05-23T16:46:00.002-06:00

Last week was rough personally. So busy, I could even notice it creating tension between Valerie and myself. Not good. Both of us were just too busy for our own good. Blogging...fell by the wayside.

How about a few bullet points of things going on:

1. Had to stand for at least fifteen minutes at Church on Sunday again...increased seating capacity, so needed. Progress made on the leveling for the foundation of the new building. Fundraising being spurred by a few very generous individuals, but struggling otherwise. We are thinking of borrowing from the mission's general fund if necessary to try to get the down payment made on the building to get it here.

2. Cecilia saw my old California Raisin figurines and exclaimed "oooooh, M&Ms!" I think she needs an eye exam...and a history lesson.

3. An opportunity seems to be presenting itself to buy property in Sampedrana for more coffee production to support the Church there and the mission...praying how to proceed there.

4. The above opportunity that bore fruit in Cantaranas...is now bearing tomatoes. Harvest starting this week, praying and looking for good outlets where to sell the tomatoes, and connections for future crops (we will have to vary crops between plantings to prevent disease, land overuse, etc.) In less than six months that property is making a huge difference for the mission and Church there.

5. Work in Talanga continues with the TV station. Power outages take their toll on equipment however. We are seeking new cameras and most importantly battery backups with good voltage protection. With the arrival of some new equipment, we are also praying about finding a good used shipping container here that we could transport there for use as a secure studio on the Church property site.

6. Laurie continuing to develop the Milk Project...keeping busy and looking to be even busier as an outreach to the community, with ideas to expand even more. Her leadership there takes a big burden off the rest of us...and is certainly providing for ways for the MP to be bigger and more impactful than it ever was before. A very good thing.

7. Investigating options to get filtering system for drinking water (versus buying bottles) for the clinic and mission house. A Godincidence that sparked it might make for some initial cost...but could be much more convenient as well as less expensive in the long run.

8. Overwhelmed with the sheer amazing number of God driven things happening here...makes me smile...and at the same time think I need a vacation. Would love to have one here, but when in the house I have a magnetic relationship with the laptop that seems to prevent me from unplugging my mind from taking a whirl in the tornado of ideas and possibilities. The kids will get to go to the US this summer, which should be...very interesting, not sure when Valerie or I, or both, will get out and about somewhere, but looking forward to it, while still relishing in being here and getting to participate in all this God stuff being driven around us as well.

9. Smile, even if you have to fake it...you just might end up enjoying it.

10. Ten seems like a nice round number...picked up our latest intern on Saturday. She will be here for two months, working on Spanish by living with Oscar and family. Good to have her, already putting her to work today. While at Oscar's, he showed me his lime experiment. No wonder why he and Jonathan are doing well with their plantain/pineapple/ and now cabbage/beans property....he is growing his lemon tree in an old 55 gallon drum with no dirt, just kitchen scraps/organic material....and in a short time, it is already several feet tall...and producing limes. I'll have to get a picture next time I am over.

A few pictures

2011-05-15T08:44:00.000-06:00

Faith filled Friday

2011-05-14T16:37:00.002-06:00

Fridays are always a big day for groups. Visiting the hospital is never easy, and the stories we heard, the children and parents we met this time were no different. God gives us the words, the strength, and obvious to me the will to want to enter those wards, talk, pray, etc. Of all the ways I feel inadequate to the task at hand, that one is one of the biggest, and conversely most rewarding in seeing our seeming failure so appreciated, so coveted, so valued. The irony of that mixed with the strong emotions of heart brokenness, anger, frustration and more make those visits hard to really process...as if you could not tell already. One thing is for sure, people around Honduras that find themselves in the public hospital are so grateful when we go.

Then came a lunch with the clinic staff, all the group with all the staff. A chance to mingle, to share, and eventually to ask some cross cultural questions that had probably been in the staff's mind for many years, like: "What motivates you to come here to Honduras?, What keeps you coming back?" and more. It was a good eye opener in several respects for all involved.

Then food distribution with the Teguc Church. My truck mostly went to new homes, many the leaders from the Church did not even know exactly where they were located the people were so new to the congregation, some in a brand new area/neighborhood for outreach (including one house with over 20 children by a "few" family members") and more than a few with some interesting characters to see on the streets waking around.

All told...a good day....and a hard day. Days like this I am assured God has us here, He gives us peace, patience and strength...because otherwise I can see there is no way I could in any way do any of this. To God be the glory!

2011-05-13T15:33:00.002-06:00

I had no time for pictures yesterday, so this will be words only.

Yesterday was quite the busy day. We had already planned on doing construction with the group...but nothing quite like what we ended up doing:

1. Moving materials and furthering the work on the Church building foundation. That work is coming along, hopefully to be done in less than a few weeks. Then the next big step would be waiting for enough fundraising to be able to get the building here...we are praying to that end that it would come soon.

2. Painting...evening up some of the faded work on the mission house and man cave, via the donated paint we got from the US and Oscar’s magic mixing powers (he buys the dye and mixes it by hand.)

3. Unloading a mid 30,000 pound clothing container. Uh, that one was not on the list of things to do, but in God’s timing that is how it worked out. Actually for us it worked out well, because any later day this week would have seriously cramped our schedule. The work was brutal...even though it was not terribly hot, unloading, storing, etc...took a lot out of everyone. But no one complained, and everyone really worked their heart out since we had a time constraint on getting it unloaded, which we accomplished in about two and a half hours.

4. After all that, we worked on some of the ditch to route water out of the property in front of the man cave, pouring some concrete there, and more painting.

All in all...a very productive, and in a good way tiring, day.

Sampedrana...that's where we chill

2011-05-12T08:07:00.000-06:00

Quite an extraordinary series of events...we set off with the group on their first days here to work in Sampedrana. Normally we give people a few days of acclimating to the country and culture before such a trip, but that is how it worked out this time.

Tuesday the group helped clearing out the massive rocks in the new sanctuary building that the Church is building. Those...were some big rocks. Later we moved more than we probably should have in the Ford up to Gender's house that he is building for use in a retaining wall.

The progress on the building is quite impressive given that they only started less than two months ago, and of course are working with tithes and offerings from within the Church. Open market coffee prices being what they are this year...that has certainly helped.

Also we took half of the group to do some corn distribution. No hour long walks or more this time around, we stayed pretty close to the homes that were near the road. The reactions to receiving the blessing of a visit, some corn and prayer vary so much, it is amazing.

From the family on the right, not involved in the Church, that does not quite know how to take it all in...to the woman that rushed back out to see us with a bunch of bananas to say thank you, and the man who pulled out chairs from wherever he had to for the entire group to sit down and feel welcome.

Having pastor Gender with us was great, to make that connection again why we are all there.

I took Gender down to the hospital (his brother has been fairly ill) and on the way down we picked up a woman along side the road...quite a ways from Sampedrana. I jokingly asked if he knew her....he did.

We talk about the change in Sampedrana...but that change and impact extends beyond there...he said that everyone on the mountain knows that when is coming down the road in the Land Cruiser that "there goes the pastor!" Daily life, how we live it...we touch people all the time that we do not even realize.

Coffee is still a mainstay in Sampedrana...this is the entrance to someone's home there...the only path to get to the house is just wide enough to get through the coffee that otherwise surrounds and hides the house from view.

The rainy season may not be totally in full swing in Tegucigalpa, but we got rain both days we were there...and you can see the growing coffee exploding on the bushes/trees.

The beauty of Honduras...this is at the Church's neighbor's home.

Reminds me of Acts 5:38-39

2011-04-29T11:34:00.000-06:00

I am feeling a type of righteous anger. Maybe.

During one of my running routes, I go by this big, huge, extremely expensive building being built by the Mormon Church. The price of the property astounds me...but then the retaining walls, the building itself, the cost for the labor for all those involved...numbers are hard to grasp sometimes, but I am relatively comfortable just in contemplating how many millions are involved, assured that it is more than a couple.

Then I think about the rough row to hoe that we are having with the fundraising for the much smaller, more purposefully built, and by factors of ten less expensive building for ICCC here in Tegucigalpa. The work is slow...we are praying to be able to finish before the end of the year, and it is not looking good at this point.

Righteous anger? The Mormon Church continues to build very nice, very expensive buildings in prime and expensive tracts of property around town, and around the country, at impressive rates, sometimes working around the clock.

Ah, but my timing is not my own. God’s timing is perfect, and while I might feel the human eyes and expectations on me...my anger is misplaced, because I want to see things progress like they do for them...but the reality is I should want things to progress as God desires. I should be focused spiritually...not allured by their physical work, and very proficient fundraising abilities.

It may be hard...but when I look at that building, I think what I should be doing is focusing on what God has given me to do, and resting in his timing.

So, the last two groups have helped in some of the construction, we are still basically trying to get the foundation ready...leveled and ready for the building when it arrives...which will happen when we have enough funds to get it here. Still quite a bit left to go...both in the foundation work and the fundraising, but...all in God’s timing. In the meantime, we economize, and do what we can as we can to prepare.

One of many

2011-04-22T08:13:00.000-06:00

Not much time to post...but this is just one of the many families the group met yesterday doing corn distribution in Talanga. My group went to an area just outside town, called Agua Blanca...and then we drove on to this...well, I don't know what you would call it, but it has a name, Jalaca.

The woman third from the left had 13 children...first seven girls, then six boys. One of her sons is on her left...we gave him a bag of corn as well...which he and his self described "partner" with her 8 month old son were to take back to where they live...a three hour walk up the mountain. To the woman's right...her grand daughter that she is raising.

She said she owns nothing...she rents the property they are using, and has a few chickens from which to get eggs, but otherwise...the situation looked dire to human eyes. The corn was very much well received, as were we. They have had Church services outside her home in the past with Pastor Celeo.

When we offered to pray and asked for prayer requests...she initially could not think of anything, until reminded of her poor health, so she asked for health for her and her family.

Look to the Son

2011-04-20T06:40:00.000-06:00

Having a group during holy week is, well...just different. When most everyone here in Tegucigalpa is on vacation and planning to leave for the beach...we have been working on construction on Monday and Tuesday, and have activities planned for the rest of the week until they leave on Saturday.

Most of the work has focused on lending a helping hand to the sanctuary construction...leveling the first part of the building, more footer work, and helping us sort and pack clothes, shoes, belts and purses, something we have been quite behind on as of late.

The construction on the sanctuary continues...but still a long way to go on the fundraising there before we will see walls go up...you can still make a big difference there as always...$26 per square foot via PayPal (see the donate button below) We are still praying that we will be able to finish by the end of the year!

In addition...we have been thinking about ways to help keep the clinic cooler (it is reguarly over 90 inside the building.) We had some skids, a couple tarps, some electro panels we were saving, and then used various rocks and other items for holding it all in place. Not sure how much it will help, but the thought is that hopefully it will provide at least some insulation, and at least a slight temperature reduction. That will have to do for a while.

Holy week is what we consider usually the hottest week of the year. While it is warm, the temperature has really been moderate considering that. As you can see from both the pictures however...the smoke that is traditionally hanging over the city this time of year, is definitely here. Forrest fires, brush/yard fires, normal pollution, changing wind patterns...they all add up to a thick haze that has cancelled more than a few flights over the past week or so (mostly in the early morning.) You can see the late day sun here in this picture...such a rusty red color, and with such haze you could look directly at the sun without it hurting your eyes.

Food and so much more

2011-04-15T07:48:00.000-06:00

Yesterday we went for a food distribution in Cantaranas. Pastor Jonathan organized that we visited families that the Church had not visited before. I liked the idea of visiting all new people, people I did not know.

Wow, I had no idea what God had in store. Every family we visited not only had great physical needs, but obvious spiritual needs as well (and this is just my group in which Jonathan's wife and another Church member went with me...let alone what Oscar and Jonathan's group experienced.)

We visited this family with burros in their front yard...where we talked much more with the seven year old boy than the mother. This boy was articulate, full of energy, and plenty talkative. He talked a great deal about his desire to leave Honduras, to see everyone leave Honduras...because, "everyone is dying here...the news is always about people being killed", about not wanting to ever speak any English (and then learning to say hello and good bye right there), great appreciation for the bouncing ballon and his desire to be a TV personality (when queried...he would send back video tapes for those still in Honduras rather than still live here.)

We visited this 73 year old woman and her 89 year old "husband." She had been released from the hospital even though still suffering from great chest pains. Terminal? Hard to tell...but it is quite possible. She could hardly sit up...but found the strength to come out and wave goodbye to us when we left. The 89 year old man had only one hand and was trying to help her as best he could...he looked like he could use quite a bit of help as well.

And then we came up to a house...no one answered us at the gate, so we let ourselves in, the woman with us knew the woman of the house...but still no answer, even with the front door open. So...we let ourselves in, only to find this 15 year old girl, with barely a pulse, alone and barely conscious on a bed. To the point...we had to check for a pulse, which was barely there. Eventually she awoke enough to answer a few questions, but not move in any way. She supposedly lost her vision eight months ago...but is a long time diabetic. I asked her if she was in school before she lost her vision...she was in the 2nd grade. As you can see from this picture...her vision loss (which is everything gone but light perception) is at least initially caused by these rather bright and extreme cataracts. Even in the dark room (without the camera flash) it was eery to see.

We gave food....we prayed. But ultimately, these stories, these lives, and more, are for the Church in Cantaranas to help, via the Holy Spirit. But we can also continue to pray and help.

Speaking of help (see big picture below)...specific designated help from the US helped us buy the tomato property...and now with seed money also sent...the crop is sewn, and coming along nicely. Not without problems of course, but looking for a June harvest. Jobs provided for many in the Church, and eventually funds to provide for the pastor and needs of the Church, as well as a rent free location to build a small house for someone (maybe pastor Jonathan) to watch over the crop as it nears maturity, and some food for those that need it...exciting stuff. Thinking of 12,000 tomato plants and all involved with taking care of them....much more than 12,000 people in Cantaranas and all involved with ministering to them...overwhelming, in a good way.

Late night post

2011-04-13T00:46:00.000-06:00

Finding time to blog when groups are here is...difficult, as you might notice if you look at the time stamp for this entry, as I write at 12:35AM.

Always plenty to do...triple that or so when groups are here. Still...it is oddly energizing and encouraging. Getting to see different things than normal when groups are not here, getting out more...well, let us take a look, shall we?

We did a clothing distribution in Nuevo Armenia on Sunday afternoon. Cecilila and Annia translated for part of the group doing work with kids outside, when I saw this very excited girl on the inside. I don't normally, but I asked if I could take her picture...she was just so happy!

And then I look at the picture and the women on either side of her...they look happy as well! It certainly was not for the rather warm weather they were enjoying that day...I wonder what it could be?

The group has helped Monday and Tuesday with construction, as well as more clothing related house cleaning and organizing items...much appreciated. This group is from a Church that sent us a container of clothing a few weeks ago, so having that connection is very cool, and having them help organize, stack, move, and see where the clothing they donated, they packed, goes...a little beyond words.

Construction...helping here with the foundation of the future sanctuary building. Fundraising is still slow...we are praying we can pay for the building soon to get it down here, get it up, and then tackle the slower inside finishing work. We still need your help to get the word out! As always on the blog...there is a link to donate via PayPal at the bottom. You can see, the foundation is slowly coming along...that level property line there is not so level, thus us building this foundation wall and getting fill to get us to where we need to be.

Jonathan came by on Monday to get some clothes...with plantains in the bed of the truck. The endeavor between him and Oscar to provide funds for him to live on monthly is slowly taking off...these 600 plantains were for buyers here in Tegucigalpa.

So...if you need any plantains, say 500 or so for "chips and dip"... let us know...local delivery only of course.

Brick by brick

2011-03-31T13:34:00.000-06:00

It has been a while since you all have seen an update on the clinic fence construction progress. It was all done, spare for the modifications to the gate to get into the property. As you can see from this picture...the gate has been modified.

It looks designed to be safe and secure...as well as for security to be...safe and secure.

Now all that is left is to find our other welder friend to rig up the system to have it work with the garage door openers we have for added security (not having to get out of the vehicle to lock it or open it) That should come soon. It looks good, no?

And just in time...as its first test was with the clothing container that was unloaded yesterday. We still have some internal modifications to make to how the semis back up and unload, but the gate worked fine in allowing him to get in, and get back out.

You will notice that there is still a few feet clearance with the truck pulling in...that was by design. Better to have plenty of clearance than to have to do it over again.

And one of the most exciting things that you can actually see now is....the foundation work on the sanctuary for the Teguc Church is taking shape!

This picture might not stir all of you the way it stirs me, as we still have a long way to go...but now you can actually see where it will be, and at least I can start to picture it in my head when it is built. I can almost taste it...it will mean so much for the Church, for His Eyes, and for the Kingdom! The personal pressure and load this whole project is for me to carry is beyond words...and to see it get a little closer to reality is very humbling and just makes me want to pray to Christ even more to see it all through.

All that earth moving, labor, blocks, concrete, etc. was made possible by donations....$26 per square foot is what we are raising, and we still have many feet left to raise. Please pray for this fundraising process...pray how God might use you as an individual, through your Church, work or school, and telling others to help us get to our goal of 6,000 square feet as soon as possible! The link is right here for those that want to help...and all of us involved with His Eyes would appreciate so much, so very much, for each and every square foot that gets us closer to our goal!

Quito Bonito

2011-03-28T21:43:00.005-06:00

The 18th-25th Valerie and I were in Quito Ecuador.

I have to admit that Ecuador was not on my dream list, which is quite long, for vacation destinations, but it was a unique situation combining cheap airfare offered on sale, good friends who really were interested in going making expenses split for most things, an awesome yet somehow cheap place to rent for the week...and the general need to get away.

And the equator proved far enough...about as far as going to Houston from Teguc. Yes, the equator passes through Ecuador, which if you did not know it...is Spanish for equator. Proof positive...here Valerie and I are standing in both hemispheres. I really think they should have had a toilet on either side so you could see the water go different directions. Surely that would be a huge photo op.

I am posting a few pictures here with some captions...another 100 or so pictures are on my Facebook page for those really for some reason stimulated.

It was much more interesting than I could have imagined...the sites to see, the place we stayed...including what was next door to us, the weather (nice to be staying at the equator but at over 9,000') the volcanoes, the hot springs, etc.

(here we are above Quito...at about 13,500' You can't see Quito in this picture because of the clouds, but it is in fact there.)

But mostly it was great because of...the fellowship, the friendship, and the opportunity to rest, the kind of rest we rarely, rarely get...to actually turn our brains off from ministry and just try to refresh. Valerie especially continues to need great amounts of rest, and she got more sleep in that week than I sometimes get in two or three. Still...she could have done even more. Pray for continued renewal and improved health.

(Did you know that Panama hats are actually from Ecuador? Did you also know that they do not make any clothing items in Ecuador that fit me, including said hats?)

Not sure how financially...but we really should do that more often. Part of a health plan or something...mental, physical and spiritual.

(I am sure how they financially can sell diesel for $1.04 and gasoline for $1.48...something to do with actually producing it yourselves in your own country, and selling to other countries that don't. I'll be remembering that the next time I fill my vehicle here with diesel at $4.08)

Talanga brief update

2011-03-28T13:38:00.003-06:00

I don't often get into in depth updates of the ministry work here in this blog, but less than two weeks ago Oscar and I met with Celeo Archaga, pastor of the Church His Eyes supports in Talanga, to talk about what we could do to help him better (he has been struggling...to the point that his family had no food to eat from day to day) and what God has been doing through him, and the ministry in Talanga. I still will not go into huge details here, but here are some highlights: 1. Through the Church and the ministry of the TV station we own and he administrates in Talanga, Channel 15 Dios TV, almost daily people are being added to the Kingdom...and most of those being men, which is very unusual here. 2. Upcoming 14 baptisms planned for Talanga...8 in El Bosque 3. El Bosque is an area outside Talanga by about 1/2 hour...where Celeo and Jonathan have helped another man, Oscar, start another Church...no resources, no property, etc. except for their personal help and some clothing ministry support (money and clothing.) The Church there has 24 members...all new to Christ and the Church. 4. Another ministry started via Talanga is outreach in Danli, with again no support...24 people weekly meeting, 6 actual members. 5. Cell Group near Talanga in Agua Blanca...18 adults, 23 children involved! 6. The TV station is still marching towards financially being not only self sustaining, but starting to provide for salaries and pastoral/Church support. A slow road...but getting there. 7. The TV station could have opportunities to reach out (via cable...we have no over the air signal or tower) to nearby cities in the future...which could be huge in a variety of ministerial opportunities. It has already provided ways to get toknow many different pastors and Church bodies in the surrounding areas of Talanga. Sometimes our mission sets priorities...things we think we can accomplish with the staff, finances, and supplies we have. Planting a few more Churches, seeing the TV station expand, etc....those were not on our list. I am still not certain how we move everything forward day to day. But one thing I do know... God's list rules.

Is it well?

2011-03-27T20:23:00.002-06:00

I am unusual I think. I like to know what I am singing...what are the lyrics saying? I mean...what do they really mean? And...who wrote it? Was there a reason why? So today we sang at Church the hymn "It is Well With My Soul." It seems to me that when I have heard it sung...people seem to belt it out more than other hymns, well, unless we are talking Amazing Grace (another blog for another time.) When I read the lyrics though...I find truth that is not often otherwise agreed upon: We have a guy saying basically...."in good times or bad times that are outside of my control (lot), whatever comes my way...God has taught me to say that it is fine with me." Bad times are fine for us? We quote Romans 8:28...but usually when we want to feel better, not when we want to think of 8:29 and realize that for our good to be made more like Christ can include quite a bit of life's crap to make us that way. Some hymnals have three verses, some have the whole kit and kaboodle. Here are the total lyrics: It Is Well With My Soul When peace like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well, with my soul. Refrain: It is well, with my soul, It is well, with my soul, It is well, it is well, with my soul. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, Let this blest assurance control, That Christ has regarded my helpless estate, And hath shed His own blood for my soul. My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought! My sin, not in part but the whole, Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more, Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live: If Jordan above me shall roll, No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life, Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul. But Lord, 'tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait, The sky, not the grave, is our goal; Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord! Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul. And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight, The clouds be rolled back as a scroll; The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend, Even so, it is well with my soul. Horatio Spafford So...who is Horatio Spafford? Why did this guy write this hymn? This hymn that strikes at the heart of how we are saved, what are goal for life is, and how to handle whatever comes our way? Here is what I found after a quick internet search, you can find much more (including an interesting talk between his daughter and Elisabeth Elliott): Mr. Spafford was a successful attorney in Chicago. The great Chicago fire did him in financially....he was heavily invested in real estate. (His only son had died before the fire as well...at age four.) While trying to figure out details, he sent his wife and four daughters ahead of him to England, selecting that destination because Spafford was wanting to see/hear Dwight L. Moody preach there. He changed their tickets, he was not sure why, but the ship they were travelling in was hit, and sunk in 12 minutes...over 200 people died. Spafford's wife was rescued, unconscous found floating in the ocean, but all four daughters had died. Had he not moved their ticket location...they would have been directly where the ship was hit and all likely would have died. She sent him back a wire..."Saved alone." On his way to meet his wife...supposedly after passing by the very location where the tragedy happened, he wrote the lyrics to the song. He went on to eventually live in Jerusalem working with a mission, and had two more children with his wife, and eventually died of malaria. Re-read the lyrics...can you see a different light to accepting what comes your way? Can you see a father waiting in faith to see his children again at God's side? Can you see someone so focused on his sin, his separation, and Christ's every movement that made reconcilliation possible...above everything else that might be going on around him? No wonder it is a classic...a real life story, a life exuding faith, and an exhortation to us all.

Questions abound in the air, answers require hard mining

2011-03-16T15:25:00.004-06:00

While the NECO FCO group was here, I took over at the clinic for Valerie one day and she went solo with the group to out past Lepaterique. Why? Long story, but I was supposedly going to need to have cell and internet access that morning.

Did I need cell and internet access? No, but I sure could have used Valerie to be at the clinic.

I know I am my Father's son...because He has a twisted sense of humor like mine sometimes. I saw patients from 8 until 12:30 straight...no break. And not one of them was a normal patient. Advanced glaucoma, a 20/30 patient who turned out to be plano -7.25...the list went on, like these brothers. I took one look at them and knew they were high myopes (nearsighted) but I had no clue...both over -11.00 and with a "mere" 3.00 or more diopters of cyl. Good grief. They both were prenatal and had developmental problems as babies. Best corrected...20/80. Yikes. Ugh. That sucks. They struggle to see, to do well in school, etc. and due to factors beyond our control...they won't see any better than that (those developmental issues caused some problems.)

I hate not having the answers, not being sure, or being sure and not being able to fix the problem. I want to know everything, fix everything, be sure about everything. Everyone does, right? Anyway, most of those patients I had to have come back the next day for Valerie to double check me. I knew it was the right thing to do, but it is just frustrtating to not know everything.

Good thing I am not a doctor...then I would really feel like I should know everything.

Hmmm, maybe that explains a little more about some doctors I know.

That is just one example...I have these sorts of struggles in matters relating to administration as well: Someone is accused of stealing...did they do it? Do we fire them even if we are not sure? Do we need to make a pastoral change at one of the Churches? How do we continue to fundraise for the sanctuary project in Teguc since it does not seem to be going well? How should we start working to do what we can? How can I help X without hurting?

Questions abound. People seem to think I have the answers. Yikes.

As I finished with my last morning patient...the staff was preparing for the devotional they do with some books we got donated from the US. Valerie was not there, I was clueless, but they carried on regardless. I got to sit in while Doctor Reina led the devotional, complete with Bible verses hung on the painting there in the waiting room. There was interaction, and everyone, even the nursing students who really don't have to particiapte, was involved.

It was good. Good for me, good for all of us.

The wall/fence project continues. While the major work is done, and the property at the clinic and mission house is now more secure than ever...there are still some other smaller projects to be done.

Like...part of our fence are the three containers put in a row. Seeing what you are doing 120' from a door can be hard. Carlos installed a few lights per container...making it down right office- like.

One more major project to undertake on the fence project and then I think we can say we are done for the moment. Changing the gates to get into the property...already underway, pictures to come later.

Casabe...airport style

2011-03-10T15:08:00.002-06:00

I know there are some people that do not get to visit TGU (the airport...aka Toncontin) very often, and even then quite a few that never walk through the basement of sorts that houses different expositions from time to time.

I saw this latest exposition while dropping off the group Saturday and decided to share with the rest of you the information shared...all about Casabe (bread made from yuca.) You can click on the pictures to get larger versions if you want to read in español, otherwise I'll translate the highlights:

The display starts with the history of how black slaves came to arrive in Honduras, in the first decades of the 16th century.

The Garifunas as an ethnicity came about in the first decades of the 17th century...the product of a racial mix between African slaves and the Caribeans from the island of Saint Vincent, where they took refuge, as castaways and from slavery.

In 1797 the Garifuna were expelled from Saint Vincent and taken to Roatan, arriving on April 12th. They then expanded to live all along the coast of Honduras. Today, they live in small villages in 47 different communities. Population figures today are aproximately 250,000 people.

Making Casabe is traditional and widely utilized on the North coast of Honduras, mostly for personal consumption (not necessarily for commercial production.)

All these slides and investigation were done by the Honduran Institute of Anthropology and History, primarily because many arts like these can be lost over time.

The Garifuna diet is distinct...principal foods include yucca, coconut and fish.

Foods made from yuca are offered in religious rites, such as Dugu, Chugu and the so-called "bath of the soul."

Garifuna harvested yuca consists of two varieties...sweet yuca for making daily food and bitter yuca from which is made casabe.

Harvesting and planting yuca in this culture means using a system of allowing the land to be fallow for a time to be able to continue to use the land over and over for the same crop.

The men prepare the land, the women sew, take care of, and harvest...reflecting how important women are in this process.

Yuca was domesticated by precolumbian cultures, and the black africans, during their stay on the island of Saint Vicent, in addition to taking on other cultural norms also learned the process of cultivating and preparing yuca.

The women dig up the bitter yuca, taking it home where they peel it, and then wash with salt or fresh water, then grate, starting with small pieces and finsishing with the big pieces. The resulting dough is left in tubs until the next day, where it the dough is put into the body of the ruguma that hangs froma beam of the roof of the home.

In the lower part of the ruguma you place a stick that twists "the snake" squeezing out the dough until it is dry. The juice that is extracted is poisonous for domesticated animals, but...it is used to make a special condiment.

The yuca paste or pasta is put into the cernidor to get the flour that is used to make the casabe.

Very early in the morning the oven inside the house is prepared to get the heat where it needs to be...taking about two hours. Then, the flour is spread on the "comal" while using your hand to give it a circular form with a special piece of wood specifically designed to smooth the surface and leave that side golden brown. Then you turn it over and add finer flour, and finally with a knife you cut off the outside edges and divide the "pie" into two or more pieces.

La Batea is a type of tray made of cedar or oak, made in different sizes. It is used for washing and peeling the yuca, as well to store the dough and yuca flour. It can also be used to store grain, washing and other uses.

Some of the instruments used for making casabe are made by men...and some only by women.

The "Rallador" (grater) or "eggui" is made out of wood, generally cedar, made of varying dimensions that depend on the need, but in the same general form.

A piece of rectangular wood is selected in which women or girls add small quartz stones, in a circular form starting from the center of the board. If the stones are not laid in a circular form, the grater won't work very well on the yuca.

The Ruguma...or "snake."

The ruguma is made from a spiny bush called "balaigre" (basketweed) that grows in the mountains.

From the balaigre you only use the bark, which you pull off with your mouth, or a knife, allowing the strips to dry for two days. Then you stitch together the snake, starting at the head and working the body in a circular form, that measures more or less two meters in length.

The ruguma is an indispensable instrument for making casabe, since you have to squeeze the dough to grate the yuca and it is only made by artisan men.

The Cernidor or "ibice"

This is also made from balaigre, much in the same way the ruguma, but you stitch together the strips in a cross pattern, starting in the center working your way out to the edges, making it into a circular form. It measures about a meter wide and is used to refine the yuca flour.

To bake the casabe the Garifunas have adopted a comal from the lid of a 55 gallon drum.

The colander is made of cedar wood and a fine wire mesh and is used to add flour to the casabe while it cooks.

The Baisaba, roughly translated "broom or carpet beater" is made from a special kind of palm, and looks like a broom and is used to give the circular form to the casabe and clean off the flour residue.

Pictures to show some of the process.

More pictures of how you make the ruguma.

Team update

2011-03-10T06:50:00.003-06:00

Eye brigades continue this week, the group doing some very good work and being very thorough, seeing the mundane and just people struggling not being able to read, to disease and long term issues.

Yesterday was Aguacatal...some very interesting cases, including this woman who was recently released from the hospital after thieves broke into her humble home and proceeded to not only take what they could, but beat her up in the process.

We also always ask if people can read when we start their eye exam, mostly for the elderly especially in the rural areas, who often did not have access to any schooling when they were growing up. Unfortunately yesterday we found a 13 year old who could not read...which sparked a discussion with the grandfather who brought him, and then with the director of the school there who was helping us.

We talked about how there are legal punisments, but that they would likely not be inforced there. In addition...she said that many kids in the area do not go past third grade, estimating that 25-50% of children there never graduate from the 6th grade. Add that to the other plethora of problems that surround education here in Honduras.

Why call them "coasters"? They actually move pretty fast

2011-03-07T22:03:00.006-06:00

Highs are great, lows not so much. Mix the two and you are left a little punch drunks sometimes.

I’ll buck a trend and start with the low...a big low for me, and for the mission. The group that was scheduled to arrive next month and help us with the foundation for the future sanctuary building for the Church in Tegucigalpa cancelled today.

That hurt big time I’ll admit. Kind of like running and someone clotheslines you and you just fold up inside. I found out just as we were having a great time over supper with the eye team from NECO FCO that is here this week (more eye brigades.)

I have to admit that there are some lows amongst the highs there as well. We were in Cantaranas today, and the group performed to a high level...they worked well together, worked well with and for the patients for Christ, and we put people before numbers or anything else we were doing to a level that is not normally seen here (taking time to explain to people what they have...or don’t...how to handle it, how not to handle it, etc.) I have been doing the chief complaint portion of the exam for the last several brigades. It is an important step I suppose, it helps guide the rest of the exam, it helps those down the line to know what to look for, what to fix, what not to fix, etc.

But...I am human, and I admit that as much as anyone that I like to get a little more involved than just asking a few questions. I want to get to try the perkins tonometry, the portable slit lamp they brought, to get a closer look at the CD of the woman with glaucoma and some botched surgeries, just to get to do some ret, or even working in the dispensary. But the great fact is...I’m not needed there. I’m just stuck doing chief complaint.

And at the same time...I know that is garbage thinking. I know that scripture humiliates me, and I think that is the proper word when we think about what it means (free from pride and arrogance for one thing) from Romans 12 and I Corinthians 12....which can be boiled down to in this case: do what God has for you to do, and do it in love. I think I heard one guy say something like “I must go down, He must be lifted up.”

I had no time to take pictures today during the brigade once we got started. We were busy. Seeing every patient at chief complaint does have one advantage...you see what people come in to get, what they need. No one came in just asking for a check-up, all of them had one reason or another for being there specifically...some very specifically and with urgency in their voices. The total number of people seen...is not the important thing, but we were busy from when we got there until we left...late, but again, with a higher purpose.

Jonathan and the brothers and sisters of the Church there in Cantaranas have continued work on the tomato property that God has blessed His Eyes with through friends in the US who purchased the property...the plants have been purchased and are growing in the nursery, while the property is prepared with the herbicides, the rototilling, the irrigation all being laid, and on, and on it goes. Has it been easy? No, but again, all this is with a higher purpose...to find ways for the Church to maintain itself, to provide people ways to serve their Church body, to earn some honest income, and to provide for the needs of the Church extended body, pastor, and eventually the general mission of His Eyes as well...all to the glory of Christ Jesus. Jonathan reports two baptisms from the Church last week...and the small donation received from the brigade work today will be used to make blocks for the Church building they are slowly putting together.

Sunday afternoon with the group we went out to El Tablon, a first for us, working with Celeo who met a small Church and its pastor there through the outreach of Channel 15 in Talanga. Turns out...the pastor there is actually his cousin, which neither knew. The Church building there is so small...we had the clothing distribution in the larger nearby pulperia, a first to be sure for us. Celeo told me on Sunday that several people in the past week had Christ enter their hearts through the ministry of Channel 15 and the Church God has planted there through His Eyes!

And, the money that was donated for the wall project on the clinic mission house property is still paying dividends...Carlos is working this week installing electricity in our wall/storage containers (as well as fixing some other lighting issues in the man cave and mission house that are long overdue.)

I struggle to keep up...which is not even honest, I surely can not. Up and down we go...it is quite a ride. If it becomes my ride in my mind...the wheels go off the tracks. It is His...mission, His work, His body....His ride.

I feel wholly unworthy, and then I read something that just screams at me...James 4:6...But He gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud...but shows favor to the humble.”

He gives us more grace...which is a good thing, because I most certainly need it.

Please join us in prayer over the foundation work for the sanctuary in Teguc...we want to begin and complete that as soon as possible, and will need more help now to be able to do that...as well as the rest of the project of course. Every one of those $25 square feet of the building do add up, and will help us one way or another to get to that completed building even sooner.

Go where you are sent

2011-02-21T23:58:00.002-06:00

Eye work today was supposed to be in a new community...but God had other plans. We ended up at the last minute (well...late last night) changing plans to La Venta.

I was praying for God to direct us...but being honest, we were not anticipating seeing hardly anyone, and had a backup plan including seeing Talanga, and souvenirs in the afternoon.

We did not even unpack the truck with the glasses. After all, for just a few people, we could dispense from the bed.

Yeah...96 patients later, we got back in time for a tour and supper.

96 patients? But surely they were all routine. Yeah...not so much. There was the 102 year old man who had no glasses, but already had lost an eye to a wood chopping accident involving an ax. A young 20 year old the group diagnosed with keratoconus. The woman we chatted all day with that was from the Church...she had 17 children, and not one of them supported her but for her 30 something year old daughter...who is blind and helps her clean the house. Despite all her personal/familial troubles...her biggest concern was building a newChurch building there.

This little boy though just about had me in tears.
I was just the guy at the front of the line taking down the chief complaint. I was not really looking at him, but listening to his mother tell me that he had congenital cataracts, and that the public hospital did not do his surgery until he was 5. I saw he had his school uniform on and asked his mother how he was doing in school...thankfully his motivation and intelligence was not held back by his vision problems...and with a good teacher (which is the subject for another post...why he was not in school that day to begin with...and the not-so-good educational battle Honduras seems to constantly endure) he does very well and seems well adjusted.

I looked up at him, asked to see his glasses, and then asked him to look at me....which you see here above. He had nystagmus, he was not using his central vision to look, and the glasses he was given were frosted in his "bad" eye. Now, I don't know much...but I just knew...we could not help him, not the way he really needed.

We ended up giving him something high powered for distance vision...he said it helped.

But...I was still wrong. We could pray for him...be there for him...be honest and forthcoming and just care for him. Sometimes you may not be where you think you should be, but you have to do what you are given to do where you are.

We went to leave and some of the sisters in the Church fired up their mobile little microphone system and started shouting out some thanks...to us, to God for sending us, the glasses, the drops...for the help the community received in general. They wanted to know when we would be back. The woman seated in the picture is the one with 17 children...singing praises to God.

Thanks be to God to have this forum to shout out some praises to Him as well. A day overall reminding me just how important is to constantly remember how worthy He is of all praise, and honor, and glory...forever.