Rain rain on my face...

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"

Grow, grow grow

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

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. 

Late night post

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. 

Church construction

His Eyes has a big project to accomplish in 2011. It does not scare me to say that it is way beyond what we can do by ourselves, since anything good done here in the mission applies to that category.

The long story is that the Church with which we have partnered for over 10 years here in Tegucigalpa...where our mission house and clinic are located, has been struggling for years to build a new sanctuary building.

The one they are using was built in 1999, a temporary pole barn type structure that was not meant to last this long. The Church outgrew it many years ago, after adding walls and a concrete floor. Even with the walls, made out of masonite, it is not a secure facility. Every speaker, stand, piece of equipment and folding chair must be removed after every service lest it be stolen. And with five or more services/meetings going on every week...that is a lot of wear and tear on the equipment...not to mention the volunteers.

Having a place to meet where there would be room to expand...both physically and in terms of spiritually expanding with space for more people to attend...would be an incredible opportunity. Right now...if you are late for Church, plan on finding a place to stand for thirty minutes or more, until the kids go to Sunday School....which is overcrowded and has its buildings falling apart as well.

Falling apart? Look at these posts, which are just some of the wood that is not doing so hot that supports the building.

In helping the Church with this new building, not only would it give them and us more opportunities to reach out and minister to the community immediately and otherwise around us...but this would also be an opportunity for us to help the mission as well.

You see, the property we are using for the clinic and mission house is not ours, not legally. It is "borrowed" from the Church, and has been an arrangement since before we arrived here over ten years ago.

In building the sanctuary for the Church, in addition to some other smaller projects that have already been completed, we will get legal title to that property we are using, giving us better long term security for the mission in the future to do even more construction and be safe...regardless of whether or not all of us are dead and gone and the leaders of the Church and mission at that time know about our arrangement or not.

His Eyes is committed to making this sanctuary construction its top priority for 2011. This does not mean that the rest of the work of the mission stops, but all fundraising goals are focused on this one project.

We need your help, desperately in order to finish this project before the end of 2011. The link at the top of this post will take you to PayPal where you can donate via your PayPal account or credit card to the effort.

We are looking to find people to donate 1 or more square feet of the 6,000 square feet we will be building. We are hoping to raise $26 per square foot to get the project fully funded ($1 is for the PayPal fees.) Every foot counts...if you can only donate one, that will still make a big difference. If you could also help us spread the word, letting your family, friends, enemies, acquaintances, and random strangers you run into on the street...so much the better! We need God's help...we also are praying He will use you to be part of that help.

Have questions? Want more information and pictures to help set up fundraisers? Just want to talk about all this? Please, let us know!