Guinea Pigs & a house built with love. (Thursday & Friday(

Well, I had this all pre-typed yesterday.  I was working off-line (no internet ) & couldn't save it.  I got on the Internet to finish it this morning & I can't find it!!  :( So, I guess I'll retype it & I'm sure I won't go into as much detail.

Thursday:

I was pre-signed up to go to Mi Esperanza.  I wasn't sure what we would be doing there, but it is always a smaller group and it tends to be quiet and more relaxing.  A group of about 12 of us were left there and we found out that we would be Guinea pigs for the beauty school students.  We had the option to have manicures, pedicures, haircuts or colors.

Most of us got manicures/pedicures ($5 tip for each one) and some of us got haircuts and/or color.  A few of us were brave enough to try a new trend: a splash of color in pink, blue or purple!!!  I got a splash of pink, but you can only really see it if my hair is pulled up.  There was a little bit larger fee for that, but it included a wash and blowout.  The Mi Esperanza store was also opened for any who still needed to buy things.  All in all it was a peaceful day.  

Tanya from Mololoa

Oh, as I was trying out my limited Spanish, I found out the lady who was giving me a pedicure was from Mololoa and went to the church where I was on Sunday.  I was glad to know that she was able to take advantage of this training opportunity.  It would mean a better life for her and her family.

Sewing students working on a massive upcycled (from men's shirts) apron order.

Thursday ended with a devotional at the Jesus statue.  It is a large statue on the mountain overlooking the city.  It is amazing to literally be sitting at the feet of Jesus singing praises to His name while we look over the lights of the city.  It is always an uplifting experience!!

Friday:

Today would be another one of my house builds.  Terry had asked me if I had a home that wasn't dedicated to a specific person.  I had one that the plaque said was built by the members of the Hilldale church of Christ.  He had asked me because there was a teenager from the Foundation Christian Academy in Brandon, FL who had lost his father days before the trip.  Terry wanted to dedicate this house to his father.  I told him that it would be an honor to do that.  The boy's name was Jonathan and I had worked with him on other days.  He had been understandably quite, but a very hard worker.  

After morning devo, Terry called all of the FCA students over for a group picture.  He then called Jonathan and me up.  The students knew they were building, but at least Jonathan didn't know about the dedication.  Terry explained that I had raised the $, but the home would be built to honor his dad's memory!  Jonathan gave me a huge hug and I was humbled.

Jonathan

The house to the right is the one we built the day before yesterday!!

WE had so much help, that I didn't hammer until I got to the floors.  I love doing the floors!!

Our hardworking Canadian, Brett

WE had a great build.  There was 20+ teenagers with a few of us older, more experienced builders, so we had lots of enthusiasm.  We were back close to the dump building for an older lady and her family.  The site was nice and flat, but we had to pull up her bean plants to build.  We hated that, but we didn't have another option.  

Maria Candida Martinez-Dulce

As we were getting started, I saw a familiar face!  It was the lady who I had first built for in the dump several years ago.  It was then that I realized that it was the same location, but it looked so much better.  That means that all of our work there has really made a difference.

WE finished our house it record time (about 5 hours) and presented and dedicated the house.  I had a bag of things I had collected and bought as a housewarming present.  We had an interpreter to explain about Jonathan's father.  It was a very moving experience!!  Jonathan, himself put up the plaque.

As we were walking back to the bus, several of the FCA girls gave me big hugs with tears in their eyes.

Hilldale members, not only did you give a family a new home, but I'm sure you helped this young man find a tiny piece of goodness in his father's death.  What a day!!!!

Angels rejoiced on 6/21!!

It was a beautiful Lord's day in Honduras yesterday.  We worshipped with the Los Pinos church of Christ down in the city.

If you have never been to a bilingual service, you should try it.  It is cool even though it can often take twice as long because the service is given in two languages.  It is always a powerful moment when you realize you are many miles away from your church family, but we are bound together in the "One Church" as member worship all over the world. (This was actually a thought from our group leader.)

Terry (that group leader) gave the message today and he brought out a rope.  He was holding that rope and it extended out the window.  He had us imagine that the rope stretched out the window, down the mountain, through the ocean and around the world.  He was holding a small portion of the rope and he put a knot in the rope.  This section, he said, represented his/our life on earth.  The rest of the rope represented the rest of life (eternal).  He went on to describe how today we mostly focus on the small portion, our life on earth and not our eternal life.  It was a great lesson that really got all of us to think.

We sang an invitation and Maria, a Honduran lady responded.  She confessed Jesus' name, and "went down in the watery grave of baptism" to have her sins washed away and stepped out of that grave in "newness of life".  Of course, there was much rejoicing!!  (More about this later!)

The rest of the day wasn't as eventful, so I'll try to keep it short.  This year's Honduras trip is different in that we have groups coming and going the whole time. At this point our group is only about 20, but that will change soon.  We all went to la bodega (the warehouse) and first visited Mi Esperanza.    thewomenofmyhope.org . This is a service mission that educates/trains poor women here.  Please check out their website for more information. We shopped and had pizza for lunch.  Our Florida Keys group will be leaving next Saturday, so this was their only opportunity to have a "chill" shopping day in Valle de Angeles. (Valley of the Angels).

The rest of the us spent the day hanging out at the warehouse.  Diane and I reorganized the warehouse (something we've done many times). Some  partitions are going to be built, so we were moving the boxes to allow room for that.  Brandi, Caleb, and Jose helped us pull some supplies that we would take back to the mission house.  The rest of the group (Pat, Cassidy, Randi, Kathryn, Sarah) painted some trim and areas for Mi Esperanza. Later in the day, the bus with the Keys group came and picked us up.

Sunday is the one day off for the workers at the mission house. (Although Katia was there in the morning to fix our breakfast.) So, that meant we went to a local food court for dinner.

Angels rejoicing:

During our evening devo (devotional), Terry explained that during the baptism he suddenly thought of Luke 15:7: 7 I say unto you that likewise more joy shall be in Heaven over one sinner that repenteth, than over ninety and nine just persons who need no repentance.

This is what happens when Tricky Pat orders black coffee in Spanish!!

Adios!!  House numero uno will be built today!!!

Chilling out in Honduras

Someone put this pic up of me from Choluteca.  I loved it!


 



We found these donated jerseys in a box and decided to have some fun!

(This post is from Tuesday and Wednesday, today we will spend the day mostly picking up the next team at the airport. Diane and I will be money changers.  As soon as they arrive, we will trade $20 for lempiras.)

Our amazing and multi-talented busdriver was able to pack a ton of supplies on our bus.  Everyone else had a seat!

We sent the first group home yesterday, and the interns, Sarah, Pat, Diane, and I stayed back at the mission house.  When the buses got back, we had the task of going back to the warehouse.

t

This was a street performer at Valley of the Angels.  I knew he would do something when I put money in the treasure chest.  I was startled!

We spend the afternoon pulling and loading medical supplies, hygiene supplies and the supplies left over from a previous team.  Dr. Gail Davidson has been coming and bringing teams for years.








In fact, her first trip was Diane's first time.  Dr. Davidson also continued coming and in fact, she established a clinic here and travels back and forth between the states throughout the year.

There is always a soccer game going on at Villa Gracia where we are staying!!

She was going to help us do a clinic, but she was called suddenly back to the states.  She let us have all of her leftover supplies.  Walmart had donated a bunch of meal boxes and we are going to give those to the families who are with their children in Hospital Escuela.






We ended the evening going to the movies in the mall.  It was a crazy experience because you choose your seats on a computer screen like you do when you buy a airline ticket.  Like everything else here, it took forever.  We also didn't realize it, but it was discount night, so it seemed like everyone was there. 







Some didn't choose to go, because our only option was the Brad Pitt/zombie movie.  I did go, and I have to say it was pretty bad, but I enjoyed hanging out with the young interns.  Some didn't go and they hung out and had coffee in the mall.



Today we are supposed to go down to Mi Esperanza, the mission that trains women. (It is housed at the warehouse also.)  The women who are training to be manicurists will practice their skills on us.  They are required to do a certain number of hours.

Pat and Terry Reeves had their first pedicures and massages today!!!!

This little cutie was being babysat by one of the students.  She took up with Diego, our Costa Rican translator!!

Many of you that are close to me probably don't understand why I like doing the extended trip.  It's moments like these.  The 17 of us who stayed behind can get together for devotionals where we sing and learn more about each other.  We learned and sang "Greatest Commands" in Spanish.  I can't sing, but it sounded amazing.  Just a hint of what heaven will be like, except I'll be able to sing well there too!!!!




PJ    xoxo