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. 

Food and so much more

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.