Pato, Pato, Ganso

Today was a day of mixed emotions - we had to say goodbye to Ardyn, who returned home today after being in Honduras for almost a month. We hope she had a safe and uneventful trip home!

While Roxanne took Ardyn to the airport, and Maynor, Jacobo, and Gloria to purchase supplies for the future teams in San Pedro Sula, the rest of the team (6 of us) went to Santa Clara to work. Guillermo’s house is almost finished - the walls are done, the roof is on (and what a fine looking roof it is!), and today, we helped to clear out the house of general debris in preparation to put in the floor early next week. Shirley and Jenn also mixed cement for the walls - first Otoniel (literally) slaps cement on the wall and smoothes it out. After that dries, he will put on a mixture of some chemicals that makes the walls white which allows them to be painted - kind of like stucco. They do this for the bedrooms, and leave the living space with brick walls. It looks awesome.

We also helped with the building of the classroom for the kindergarten in Santa Clara. Deirdre and Sam, George, and Cecelia assisted Lencho by mixing cement, applying mortar, and laying bricks. They were able to lay four rows today! Great job! It seems that tomorrow they might get to the section where they will have to allow for the windows - exciting to see it go up so quickly!
Before a delicious lunch of bean soup, Deirdre and Cecelia taught the children the Canadian (and sensible!) version of Duck, Duck, Goose (Pato, Pato, Ganso) - watching the kids hustle to get their spot so they weren’t “it” was hilarious, especially when that “kid” happened to be Deirdre or Cecelia!

While it looked a lot like rain on the ride home from Santa Clara, and there were some very threatening clouds overhead around dinner time, it seems we were spared the torrential downpour that we experienced yesterday. Tomorrow is another day of hard work, and we are excited to welcome four new members to our team - the Livingston family! We can’t wait to have you join us!

A Note about our yesterday....8 July 2009

Today, the team was split into two groups of four with one group going to Santa Clara to work and the other remaining in Quimistan to work at the kindergarten.

Ardyn, Cecelia, Deirdre, and Sam (lucky Sam) headed up to the top of the mountain with the local support staff first thing in the morning. They spent the day moving bricks, mixing mortar, and building relationships with both the adults and children. They even visited some homes in the area who have needs and may be considered for future projects. Since today was Ardyn's last working day in Honduras, it was very special and also a difficult day as she had to say goodbye to all the friends she has made over the past month.

Roxanna, Jenn, George, and Shirley started helping at the kindergarten early in the morning as well. There were two Hondurans on site when we first arrived and our job for the day was to dig the trenches for the foundation of the new kitchen. What a hard job it was! Using pick-axes, axes, shovels, and a machete, the trenches were dug by the end of the day! We couldn't have done it without the hard work of Roxanna and George and the most welcome addition of our two friends Nelson and Rigo! We discovered that not all of us have the gift of "labor" and it was duly noted!!!

Tonight, we had BIG PLANS! We were going to watch the US/Honduras soccer (futbol) game at one of the local dining spots in town (El Fermin)! Our plan was cut short when the electricity failed as soon as we arrived. But we were fortunate because the site had a backup generator! Whew! but we soon found out that the generator did not (or could not) also run the television! After a short time, the electricity came back on and we were happy. It was already half-time and no-one had scored. In just a few minutes, 3 actually, we lost electricity again. After waiting for another long while, we decided enough was enough and we returned home to the ranch. How disappointing! And depending on your viewpoint you might be happy or NOT that the USA defeated Honduras 2-0!

An excellent day was had by all! We're tired and hot but thankful for the opportunities to be of service and to share in the lives of our friends.
Buenas noches

Shirlita

The seventh day of the seventh month of 2009.

Today the mission team worked together to assist local masons in moving bricks from one location to another, yet again. It was approximately 900, 12lb bricks we toted, and 1300 ceiling tiles. As well, we had the privilege of watching the local masons as they finished the roof of Guillermo’s house. (Hurrah- it looks wonderful...Good Work Team!!!)

This is the smoke of the Justa Stove coming out of a neighboring house,

providing a healthier environment for its occupants.

Today’s story is one of hope, inspiration, and true Christian value. Experienced by the beautiful ‘CC’ and ‘Canada’, this heart-wrenching tale comes from the luscious, mountain village of Santa Clara, Honduras.

Before embarking on this story-telling journey, we shall rewind to adventures of the past, in an effort to clarify some main details.

Yesterday, we went up to Santa Clara, to assist the local teachers, in the kindergarten. (Or pass time, as Roxanne went to SPS to pick up the newest additions to the mission team.) While we were there, we noticed one of the young men standing watching us. ‘El Abuelo’, as we like to call him, explained to us that this boy has had a rough upbringing, does not attend the local high school, and is known to be somewhat of a troublemaker. ‘El Abuelo’ offered him a job chopping shrubs and grass on the side of a hill. The young man (TYM) accepted the job offer, and spent the morning with his machete, clearing brush from the rocky hillside. After we had finished in the classroom, us two girls took to the shade under a large mango tree, as we waited for the local masons to provide us with some more work. After some time, we were given the job of moving a pile of wood from one location to another (something we got quite used to doing during the last trip)...TYM, as we were working, took rest under the shade in which we had previously rested, and proceeded to watch us work. In the spirit of making light of the awkward observations, we jokingly asked TYM to help us move wood. Not wanting to be known as lazy, in the eyes of the pretty white girls, TYM assisted us in our job. As long-winded as that may have been, hopefully you have a good enough understanding, to comprehend the significance of the part that follows.

Today, our missions team packed up and headed for Santa Clara. The two of us had the pleasure of joining 'El Abuelo' and another team member in a garbage-picking adventure. (A.K.A. we picked up garbage.) As we went about our business, TYM sauntered up and continued to observe our every move. Again, we asked for his help. This time, before he had the opportunity to act, ‘El Abuelo’ told us that he had never helped before, thus we should not expect him to be of any assistance. To all of our surprise, especially that of ‘El Abuelo’, TYM picked up a garbage sack and joined as we walked the town’s streets, cleaning as we went. This was a rather rewarding experience, and we were able to spent the rest of the day playing soccer and working alongside TYM. We left Santa Clara in the mid-afternoon, with the feeling that we had made an impression and impact on this boy’s life.

Today was an exceptional day, in that we were able to see a change in TYM’s actions, and we hope and pray that he will continue to develop to reach his full potential. We very much look forward to tomorrow and the days to come, to in turn, observe our new friend as he goes about his daily activities.
Written by Ardyn. ;)

What we have been up to between teams

For ten days or so between teams, two youth and I have spent our time building relationships.

This day, we took these kids on their first picnic....our first in a cow pasture. And swam and played in the river.

Another day we purchased food and put together clothing and evangelistic packets and visited several poor families.

We were more blessed by these shared experiences than our Honduran friends, I know.

First part of second team arrives safely

Good morning, PTL! Yesterday, the 6th of July, with the aid of a local friend who drove for us, the first part of our second mission team arrived safely into San Pedro Sula and back to Quimistan. The flights were smooth but the Delta team was diverted for a few fly overs due to wild horses blocking the runway. Definitely different than the military who were blocking the runway in Tegucigalpa.

Today, we are up and about ready for a day of construction work to continue on a home, classroom and kitchen. May everyone we encounter see Christ in each of us.

More with photos to come later today.

In Christ, Roxanne

United by the Same Blood

This is part of our mission statement but today I was reminded of how important this truth is.

The foundation has had a growing relationship with the Pacheco family for years. Pablo, Sr. has served as our translator; Pablo, Jr. was in the Agape Promise program and has served as our translator; and 5 years ago, Carmen Suyapa was diagnosed with breast cancer and HAF came along side to support the family financially so she could receive chemotherapy. Throughout this time, they have been faithful to befriend us, support us, and love us. And we have had the privilege to return the same to them.

In the past year, Carmen Suyapa has had several brain tumors growing which were non-responsive to radiation treatment and was loosing her battle against the disease. Cecelia and I went to visit them yesterday morning but Carmen had slipped into a coma. Kneeling at her bedside and praying for her and the family with tears streaming down my face was a privilege for me.

Later that afternoon, she went to be with the Lord. Alleluia! What a gift to know she is whole and without pain in the presence of our God! As we met with the family, it was amazing to see that in the midst of our grief, the knowledge that we are united by the same blood and will be with Carmen Suyapa for eternity provided strength and comfort.

So today, Cecelia and I attended our first Honduran funeral. Although we did not know what to anticipate, we trusted that our presence and representation for HAF would be of comfort. But the true comfort is our unity through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.


"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:37-39

Alleluia! Thank you, Jesus.

Roxanne

They come hungry but leave filled.

Every Friday on the side of the highway in the yard of a church member, 50+ children and adults receive a nutritious meal of chicken, rice and vegetable soup funded by HAF. Cecelia and I have the privilege of going last night to help feed this precious children.

Their favorite question was "Quiere mas?", Do you want more?, and bowl by bowl those who were hungry became full. Gloria, our cook, is a wonder as one small portion of rice was left in the pan.

We prayed and I told them of the plans to have Vacation Bible School with them on July 12. They anticipate it with much excitement.

I anticipate with much excitement seeing them again next Friday with another bowl of soup to nourish their bodies, a smile to nourish their hearts, and our Savior to to watch over them.