Day 7

Today's activities brought back wonderful memories of the earlier trip from 2005-08.

First, we ventured 90 minutes away to Pulhapanzak, a beautiful, 90 foot waterfall. Just about everyone took part in the zip line. This 30 minute journey zig zags across the river and ends with a dynamic run over the falls. Look closely to see Gabrielle to give a perspective of the size of these cascading waters.

But the highlight is still the hike that includes going under the falls. The best analogy of this breathtaking excursion is to climb on moss covered rocks while being sprayed with a fire hose...from every angle.

We even ate at "El Resturante," the first restaurant we ate at in 2005 where Eric Patton unknowingly ate beef tongue.

After a few hours rest, we the played football (soccer) at the same courts we played at ten years ago. The entire staff from La Providencia joined us. 

During the devotion, we needed the evening by praying by name for those we met who impacted us.

All in all, a fantastic day and evening to a fantastic week.

Day 6

Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.  - Proverbs 22:29

I have always enjoyed watching those with special gifts and skills use them to serve the Lord. This afternoon I spent working with Jerry helping build the sound panels that will help reduce the loud echo that exists in the comedor. 

As I watched him effortlessly do his work with care and excellence, I was reminded of Proverbs 22:29. I was also reminded of the other adults on this trip also "skilled in their work." Clay and Sarah both exhibited the most loving care for each patient. Kayla organized and led the VBS with patience and exuded love to the children all week. Josh led not only the youth but all of us with a shepherd's heart. He even gently shared the gospel with a young lady from England who has spent the past year teaching here.

Watching these in action is almost like watching an accomplished jazz ensemble play, each musician uniquely skilled playing a solo at the right moment all the while the surrounding musicians carry on without pause.

Another beautiful picture we saw this week is the comraderie and interaction among the youth. Each has been eager to serve and have shown maturity that I had not seen before. Of course, this has been peppered with plenty of laughs, joking, and games. That comes with the territory when you have thirteen teens together.

Day 5

After dropping off the medical team this morning, the rest of us had time to hike to one of the highest points of the property where a large cross was built. Not only is this a fantastic view of the land and surrounding mountains and valley, it is a beautiful place to pray...although several thought it better to challenge each other doing yoga positions while standing and balancing on the nearby blocks.

Seems a bit wrong to me. Anyway...

The newly dubbed "digging" team began laying the process of laying block. This entailed mixing mortar the old-fashioned way with shovels. This also brought back wonderful (and fatiguing) memories of the many times we have done this the past ten years.

I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Alfredo (center) during this project. He is a quiet, engaging, and confident man with a sly sense of humor. Our conversations reminded me once again that this trip is not about brick and mortar but about relationships.

The panel team began mounting the large sound panels above the windows while building more.

The medical team treated 48 patients, the most in a day thus far.i especially enjoyed watching Clay pray with three of his patients after the examination.

Everyone agreed this was the best day of VBS thus far. The energy of these children continues to amaze. I did get an encouraging word from one eight-year old girl after I had cleaned up her three-year old brother's accident. She patted me on the head and said, "You're going to be a good father."

We finished this evening with another night of worship. A great day all around.

Day Quatro

Each I have become more impressed with each of the thirteen youth that have ventured here. Between the insightful devotions each morning and evening, their energy and humor, their desire to serve, and the improvements they have made even in just a few days, have given me encouragement I need to help serve well.

While the medical and panel/construction teams were at work, the rest of our group began digging an area that will eventually become a place to relax and eat near a future pulperia. We'll be laying block tomorrow. The best part about this work is that it was mostly in the shade!

It went well as we worked in tandem with fun conversation. The biggest obstacle was encountered when we hit a solid layer clay/sand. We muddle through it and received approval from el jefe, Alfredo the landscaper, a man with a very gentle spirit.

After work we all visited a missionary family who also sell chocolate made entirely in country to help support their ministry. Let's just say they should be able to continue their work for a while after our visit. It turns out this couple, who have adopted several unwanted children, Lisa and I had met last year while we were in the process of adopting Gustavo and were very helpful in counseling us in this journey.

Tuesday evenings are traditionally a wonderful family/staff/team evening. Games, singing, laughing are the featured activities.

The evening devotional later was highlighted with everyone sharing about a significant or meaningful conversations that had occurred today. This was another reminder that the work we do, while important, is not as important as the relationships.

Day 3

It's hard to believe that I could feel this exhausted when we didn't even mix mortar or any other manual labor.

The day began early so the medical team could see patients right away. Meanwhile, the rest of us met with the staff and another team from Tampa for the traditional Monday morning devotion. Douglas read from several passages describing the many parts of the body of Christ.

Douglas took the rest of us on another tour of tha campus, filling in much of what I left out the day befor.

By that time it was close to lunch. The VBS Team practiced their skit an prepared for the children that would come soon thereafter. Around 40 children participated. The singing and dancing certainly energized the crowd which was followed by crafts and games.

The construction team began building sound panels under the guidance of Jerry. These will be used to help with the echo in the dining hall.

Another great night of worship and a devotional (from Ben who spoke passionately from Romans 8) and I am off to bed.

Day 2

Sunday began with a wonderful devotion from Anna from Exodus 34:10 challenging each of us to have an open heart to serve this week with the expectation that God will do awesome things through us.

Each year we have the privilege to join with a local congregation in worship. Today we visited Emmanual Baptist Church (Iglesias Bautista imanuel), which is where one of the workers from La Providecia, Henry, attends. A great service where an American evangelist who is disabled preached a fantastic sermon from Luke about the rich man and Lazarus.

Continuing the wonderful tradition of eating at fantastic Honduran restaurants, we ate Villa Verde. Oh those tasty strawberry smoothies!

We then headed to the site. However, the tour at La Providencia took a turn for the worse when I was asked to give the tour as Marco had to meet with some others in preparation for the medical team. I only forgot a few essential details!

Probably the highlight of day was visiting the nursing home nearby that we have been to several times over the years. Several songs were sung together in Spanish with our elderly Hoduran friends. They even tried singing with us during the English songs. Afterwards we decorated them with many festive balloon animals, swords, and hats.

At least seven were there from the last time we visited. I am sure Megan will be happy to hear that two women were wearing her knitted caps from four years ago.

At dinner, Marco, our team liaison and the psychologist for La Providencia, shared a story about a mission trip to the Mosuito Coast of Honduras where primitive tribes live. One manner in which they show honor to visitors is to let them eat monkey brains. Yes, "eat monkey brains." The ceremony for this includes one visitor, in this instance it was Marco, to literally "scalp" the monkey while it is still alive and share the "tasty" brains with everyone else. Not a pleasant story to hear while eating but it did allow us the opportunity to give Marco the nickname, "El asasin de monos" (the Monkey Assasin).

The evening finished with a pill counting extravaganza in preparation of tomorrow's medical team. 

Hannah was confident that there would not be a career in pharmaceuticals in her future.

Day 1 Put on love y otra instructiones (and other instructions)

I sometimes even that which is exciting or exhilarating can become mundane or lose some of its luster when it has become familiar over time. I must admit that the level of anticipation I once had in coming to Honduras has waned a bit after fourteen or fifteen visits. But I guess I could say that about coming home. And that better describes the feelings I have for this trip.

As soon we landed I became excited with the opportunity to see old friends. I look forward to seeing how the Lord will use each of us, especially the youth among us.

The first day of travel has included many instructions given by Josh. "Go here; be back here at a certain time; don't drink the water out of the faucet; and don't flush the toilet paper."

Tonight, after settling in to our rooms at Granja D'elia, Colin Kemp led a devotional from Colossians 3:12-17. The verse or phrase that stood out to me in preparation of our hearts for this week was "above all these, put on love" one more, but ever important instruction for us all.

Prayer in the airport before we leave.

Balloon animal training by Daniel in preparation for tomorrow's visit to the nursing home.