Day 7 “We are weak, but you are strong!”

Day 7

“We are weak, but you are strong!”  1 Corinthians 4:10

The last day. Always a time that our bodies desire a rest and to go home but our hearts long to stay. 

We drove to Panacam, the same place we visited two years ago. Once we arrived we took a short walk through the cloud forest to a waterfall. The water was just as cold and refreshing as before. When I mentioned to Jimmy that his son, Troy, sat under the frigid falling waters for five or ten minutes, Jimmy decided he had to at least match that feat. Of course, I was giving him an exaggerated estimate, not thinking he would take that as a challenge. So off Jimmy went under the falls and waited patiently and breathlessly under the falls...until I gave him the signal for five minutes.

One unfortunate moment occurred when Shannon slipped on a rock and hit her upper jaw (loosening some teeth, I believe), forehead, and knee. She was nauseous and we thought there might be a possibility of a concussion. However, her eyes were not dilated so we assume that was not the case. (That deduction came from the combined medical knowledge of fourteen people who never went to medical school.)

After lunch we thought we would visit the same pottery place we visited back in 2005. But Shannon was not feeling well so we went to the hotel instead. Shannon rested with Eric checking on her frequently. 

Two and a half hours before our next event. This was the first time that we ever had that much time to just to relax.

Tonight we finished our week together at Mizael’s and Bessie’s house for Chinese food, cake, fellowship, and, of course, karaoke. All week we heard about how Caroline and Hannah were star karaoke singers from last year on their trip. They energetically sang several songs and even sang backup to Mizael while singing Don’t Stop Believin’. When we got back to the hotel we checked on Shannon and she was thankfully feeling much better.

__________________

I was asked this afternoon what has been my favorite trip to Honduras. With this being my seventh mission team here means there is plenty from which to choose. But I cannot pick one as each trip has been special and made up of a unique group of people. How can I pick any one of those groups over another when each time the Lord soveriegnly sleceted those who went, met us where we were, and worked in and through us?

This, too, has been another fantastic week despite our weakness. To Him be the glory!

Day 6


“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14


There is a soreness I have experienced every year here where my body aches from either mixing concrete by hand or digging which has always been tempered with the satisfaction of work well done. Then there is the soreness I have experienced today from lifting and swinging children, playing games with children, and then playing soccer that I can say is even more satisfying.

Today was our last day at LP. There was a last minute need to have a teacher substitute in the school. Thankfully, we just “happen” to have several on our team. So Amy and Heather took over for several classes and enjoyed every minute of it.

Jimmy and Eric continued working in the trenches with Josue and Eddy. Another crew went with Angie to help teach P.E. to the Kinder class. Afterwards, we all drove to the same nearby public school to basically play various activities with the hundred or so children. The difference, however, between this school and Academia de La Providencia could not have been greater. But the children were very loving and enjoyed the two hours or so we were there.

Today was also the last day with the school children and our playground soccer game. I love that the children enjoy spending time with us as much as we enjoy time with them. Many are still fascinated with my “removing the thumb trick,” juggling and other silly shticks. I will miss these truly precious children.

We spent the afternoon playing with the Providence children, making more balloon animals (0ver 200 for the week), and throwing the Frisbee.

After work, we all joined many of the staff to play soccer in an indoor facility (with artificial surface) in an outdoor setting. (This was certainly a step up from the other places we played in the evenings that were on concrete courts.) We divided into three teams mixing Norte Americanos and Honduranos. The team that scored stayed to play again and the other team came on the field. A wonderful time despite playing much of the time in the down pouring rain.

We ate a late dinner and finished the day singing worship songs and hearing Jimmy’s passionate testimony and thanksgiving for his time with the workers here. I am sure there were no dry eyes among us.

We did finish the murals or triptych yesterday. We thought of a project that would allow the children to create parts of it that would, when put together, make a picture. The idea would emphasize the spiritual truth that the body of Christ is made up of many parts. Thus we created three icons representing the three parts of 1 Corinthians 13: faith hope, and love. Using individually painted circles (well over 1,200), these were glued together to make the three images below (and will be hopefully mounted soon).

Day 5


A few quotes from today:

• Five from our team travelled to a public school in Aguas del Padre to paint some playground equipment. Angie said, “We turned their black and white playground to color.”
• Caroline shared, “How do I feel this close to people that I don’t even speak the same language.”
• “The staff [at La Providencia] is a family.”—Judy

Lost in Translation: Eric played soccer at lunch time with some of the workers. After a while he needed a break and, pointing to his stomach, he meant to say, “Yo estoy gordo,” which means “I am fat.” Instead, he said, “Yo estoy guapo,” meaning, “I am handsome.” Needless to say, there were several chuckles from the other players.


Photo of the playground before...

And after...

Day 4


“[The God of Israel] will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.” Jeremiah 31:25

This post will be brief as it was a day filled my feeble attempt at swinging a pick axe on some rock-hard clay and has made my arms and body weary. (Should I mention that I did have a three hour break working on the mural and I’m still tired?)

Yesterday, Steve and I remembered a part of teams past where we had a “prayer chair” that we had forgotten to start this year. This fifteen minute time that rotated throughout the day for each member of the team. It allowed us to specifically pray for our time and service, the people here, and many other things...and it gave a fifteen minute break from manual labor. So Amy set up a schedule and a list of suggested items for us to pray through. That list grew throughout the day.

During one of my prayer times today, I could hear the laughter of the children in P.E. class that our team held in the comedor. It reminded me of a statement Robb Wells once made back in 2008 before any children were running around the campus. “When I hear the wind blowing through the trees,” he said, “I can hear the laughter of children.”

Tonight we visited Henry, the accountant for LP, and his beautiful family. He honored us by inviting us to his home for his 38th birthday. He shared how the Lord led him to LP, their heart for orphans, and their dream to hopefully be the next host family for LP. This was a tiring but satisfying day.

Day 3

“Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.”  Colossians 3:11

Another full and satisfying day in the long string of great days over the years here at La Providencia. Four of us helped Tori with art camp. The first part in creating a mural (more on that project in the coming days) included the children painting over 1,500 circles in six different colors; we needed all the help we could get. It was especially beneficial having three elementary and pre-school teachers (Angie, Heather, and Sandie) along with Tori and I this first day. Most of the children speak English but I was challenged in the Kinder class as Lorena, the teacher in that class, encouraged me to give instrucciones (instructions) in Spanish. I must have communicated the correct steps as they finished their batch of circles.

Meanwhile the rest of the team dug footers for the foundation of the school. (You may not be aware that the 70 children at La Providencia are meeting in the downstairs of the all-purpose building until the school building is finished.) They all worked hard swinging the pick axe trying to penetrate the rock-like clay. It was slow, tedious work.

After work, we enjoyed the evening with the staff, their families, and the families at LP. I couldn’t help but notice that during the games we played together tonight, that there was absolutely no distinction between the children who were once orphans and those biological children of the staff. Similarly, there was no distinction between Hondurans nor Americans. All laughed and had a wonderful evening of games, fellowship, food and worship.

One disappointing note: Sandie has contracted some bug and has had intestinal problems since just before lunch. She’s on Cipro and we’re praying she will recover soon. Her faithful husband stayed by her bedside almost all day.

An intense game of team rock, paper, scissors.

Day 2

“My Father’s house has many rooms...” John 14:2

After worshipping at El Ebenezer this morning, we visited the farmer’s market and mercado. We refrained from buying any fruits or the meat (was it fresh?).

Once we finished lunch of tasty pupusas in Aguas del Padre, we partook in our traditional tour of La Providencia. Mizael spoke (while Douglas translated) a bit of the history and of the vision and where LP is today. We visited the second family home where Beatrice introduced her children (Mario, her husband and oldest on, José Mario we gone). She asked the children to show us their rooms and instantly these precious little ones sprinted with excitement to their room. What a wonderful picture of God's grace that “former orphans” could now enjoy their own room.

Another wonderful moment happened as we once again visited the same nursing home we have visited for the third straight year. Judy had a wonderful idea. After gathering the twenty or so residents (almost all of which have been there since our first time with them in 2010) and singing a few worship songs in Spanish, Judy had us blow up many balloons. Her instructions were simple: everyone was to keep the balloons from touching the ground. In a moment, these somewhat docile elderly folks became children before our very eyes. Balloons filled the air. Steve accompanied the joyful chaos with some fun music. Laughter filled the room. One woman was laughing so hard she had tears in her eyes.

Meanwhile, Dave taught us to make balloon animals. But our failed attempts instead turned to balloon hats, which each resident enthusiastically wore. I hope that when I am in their stage of life, that I, too, would be willing to play with balloons and wear balloon hats.

For these folks, who have essentially been neglected, my prayer is that each of them today were remined by this momentary bit of joy of the eternal joy that will one day, possibly soon, have with Christ.

Day 1


“...because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”

We have just finished a wonderful evening under a canopy worshipping and I remain alone  writing this with the crickets chirping in the most pleasant night air. Apologies to all of you baking in the states.

The flights went smoothly and without incident. This has been so rare over the years that I have come to expect some problem to arise in our travels. The only issue that could be remotely considered an inconvenience was while at a store purchasing water and a gentleman in front of us in line who was purchasing hundreds of items for the entire city of San Pedro. (That is an exaggeration.) The time in line allowed us to get our minds on "Honduran time."

Reunions. I love seeing old friends like Steve Sandfort, who has been on five trips with me. We met him and the four from Dallas during our layover in Miami. I enjoyed catching up with him and his ever calming spirit as well as meeting the rest of our team. We also met  Mizael and his precious family. He greeted me with, "My brother from another mother."

Tonight I challenged us all to value you Jesus above all things. My prayer is that this week we would all grow to love our Savior even more.

After our worship time we all bagged goodies to hand out to each of the nursing home residents we will meet tomorrow afternoon.

This has been a good day.

Why "Service Fueled by the Gospel" for a blog title?

The title of this blog came from a phrase that Scott Patty said during a prayer. The thought behind it is that we serve because of the gospel. We love because Jesus first loved us. My hope for our team this week is that we would grow to love Jesus more, and, in response to His great love for us, we joyfully and sacrificially serve the people in Honduras.