Yesterday we spent most of our day either going to the airport, or coming from the airport, or waiting in the airport! We had two more teams arrive: one from Olathe, KS. and one from Tellico Plains, TN. It's always exciting to meet the new team members and see how they will interact with the villagers.
But the arrival of two new teams meant we had to say good-bye to another team: Our Northern Virginia team left this afternoon and it was a sad departure. No one wanted to leave and we didn't want them to leave either. They had a great, great week of ministry, work, and relationship building; and we hope we see them all soon again.
Please pray for all of our teams!
Friday, July 27, 2012
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Tough day...
Yesterday was one of those days...I left the house early to do the morning bible study with our team and then took them on to the work site. Joyce stayed behind to finish making the lunches and wait for the tutor to watch those children who would not be going to site this day. After getting everyone started working on the first day at the site I had just settled into a job of my own when our tutor called me and said, "Call Joyce; she's been in an accident."
As it turns out she wasn't injured at all and neither was anyone in the other vehicle, thank the Lord! However, at the moment I wasn't sure of that. What I did know was that Joyce was alone in the city, at the sight of a traffic accident on the busiest road in the city, and that she spoke zero Spanish! So, I jumped into the van and started racing through morning traffic make my way to Joyce as quickly as I could. Praying all the way I was making pretty good progress, but it wasn't enough for Joyce who was trying to hold it together at the scene not being able to speak to anyone. When I was about 10 minutes away Joyce called me and said, "Where are you? The police are here and I think they're trying to stir up trouble!"
In a few minutes I arrived on the scene to find God had sent Joyce someone who was somewhat bi-lingual and who was helping her, and within minutes I was able to assure the police we didn't need their assistance...if they get involved they take her license and she has to spend an entire day in 'transito' to get it back, plus pay a fine. God allowed us to escape that! Within another half hour the insurance representative showed up insisting we call the police to get an official report. We didn't want that since Joyce had rear-ended the other vehicle and we knew she would be at fault. Again God blessed us with a nice guy in the other vehicle! He agreed to allow us to fix his car (he trusted us) without having the police involved. So, with the police and the insurance rep. dismissed I could now call our mechanic to tow our car to his shop. Again God blessed us: he was on a call and was only 5 blocks from our location on the incredibly busy road and would be there to help us in minutes.
With our car safely towed away we turned our attention to getting the other vehicle repaired. The gentleman had a mechanic/body man where he wanted to take his car, so I told him I'd follow him there...which we did. His man gave us an estimate that was extremely high (it seemed like a 'gringo' estimate). I was able to convince the gentleman to follow me across the city to our body man and allow him to give us an estimate. (God blessed us again!)
Once there our man, a Christian, gave us an estimate that was less than half of the other guy's and told the gentleman he would start on his car that day. (God continues to bless!) And this may be the best part yet...while our body guy was doing the estimate I was able to share the story of Jesus with the guy whom Joyce hit and he lit up like a Christmas tree when I explained to him he didn't have to "get better" before he could accept Jesus! God gives us opportunities all around us, everyday, in every situation, if we have our eyes open and our hearts receptive!
So, although it didn't feel like it during the day when we look back upon it God was right there all the time!
Despite the unneeded stress and trauma we are able to look back on the incident and see "we were never alone, Joyce was never alone...God was always with us!"
Yes, we're short a vehicle and out of a lot money; but no one was hurt, we got to see God manipulate the events after the accident, and a new hope burns brightly in the heart of Alexi (the guy Joyce hit).! Thank you God for protecting us through everything that comes our way!!!
As it turns out she wasn't injured at all and neither was anyone in the other vehicle, thank the Lord! However, at the moment I wasn't sure of that. What I did know was that Joyce was alone in the city, at the sight of a traffic accident on the busiest road in the city, and that she spoke zero Spanish! So, I jumped into the van and started racing through morning traffic make my way to Joyce as quickly as I could. Praying all the way I was making pretty good progress, but it wasn't enough for Joyce who was trying to hold it together at the scene not being able to speak to anyone. When I was about 10 minutes away Joyce called me and said, "Where are you? The police are here and I think they're trying to stir up trouble!"
In a few minutes I arrived on the scene to find God had sent Joyce someone who was somewhat bi-lingual and who was helping her, and within minutes I was able to assure the police we didn't need their assistance...if they get involved they take her license and she has to spend an entire day in 'transito' to get it back, plus pay a fine. God allowed us to escape that! Within another half hour the insurance representative showed up insisting we call the police to get an official report. We didn't want that since Joyce had rear-ended the other vehicle and we knew she would be at fault. Again God blessed us with a nice guy in the other vehicle! He agreed to allow us to fix his car (he trusted us) without having the police involved. So, with the police and the insurance rep. dismissed I could now call our mechanic to tow our car to his shop. Again God blessed us: he was on a call and was only 5 blocks from our location on the incredibly busy road and would be there to help us in minutes.
With our car safely towed away we turned our attention to getting the other vehicle repaired. The gentleman had a mechanic/body man where he wanted to take his car, so I told him I'd follow him there...which we did. His man gave us an estimate that was extremely high (it seemed like a 'gringo' estimate). I was able to convince the gentleman to follow me across the city to our body man and allow him to give us an estimate. (God blessed us again!)
Once there our man, a Christian, gave us an estimate that was less than half of the other guy's and told the gentleman he would start on his car that day. (God continues to bless!) And this may be the best part yet...while our body guy was doing the estimate I was able to share the story of Jesus with the guy whom Joyce hit and he lit up like a Christmas tree when I explained to him he didn't have to "get better" before he could accept Jesus! God gives us opportunities all around us, everyday, in every situation, if we have our eyes open and our hearts receptive!
So, although it didn't feel like it during the day when we look back upon it God was right there all the time!
Despite the unneeded stress and trauma we are able to look back on the incident and see "we were never alone, Joyce was never alone...God was always with us!"
Yes, we're short a vehicle and out of a lot money; but no one was hurt, we got to see God manipulate the events after the accident, and a new hope burns brightly in the heart of Alexi (the guy Joyce hit).! Thank you God for protecting us through everything that comes our way!!!
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Rivers of Living Water....
Today we finished developing the second well in El Doradito. This well will provide running water to every home in the village. Can you imagine going from a tin/mud shack to a home with a bathroom and running water? God is blessing this village and has a special plan for this group of people...Thank you, Jesus!
Soon this water will be captured in a storage tank and distributed to every home!
Fresh water coming from 130' down!
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Mauricio assembles new beds for new home owners...
Today Mauricio spent a couple of hours working on his own to assemble bunk beds for the children in the latest two homes we've built. He did a great job and you know the kids in these homes are going to thanking Mauricio for a long time to come!
Bunk bed #1 ready for occupancy!
And here's the second set ready for some eager children to jump in!
Yeah, that's right! I did it by myself!!!
Monday, July 16, 2012
Let the new work begin...
This Friday we have the first of three teams coming in throughout the remainder of the month, and so, we must begin working on foundations so they will be ready when the teams arrive.
The fun of digging foundations in the 'cool' Honduran summers!
That looks about right: three leaners and one worker!
Marking out the foundation in front of the 'home' we will replace!
Can't you almost feel the excitement of the family living in this 'home'?
Joyce brings a solution to the mud...
The area around the village water pump had turned into a muddy mess and every time some went for water they ended up have to trudge through the mud to get it. Joyce put up with it as long as she could; and then she took matters into her own hands:
Joyce tells Will & Carlos: "I want two canals dug here for the water to run away from the pump."
I said, "Right here!"
"This can't be here; it has to be level!"
"This way, boys!"
"Put it right here, right next to the cement."
It's starting to take shape!
Another boss shows up on the scene!
There it is, the finished deal! Thanks to Joyce's ingenuity, no more mud when gathering water! Now the water runs off the cement, under the skids, and is taken away by canals under the skids!
Our expanding family...
Two weeks ago the guard at the end of street told our kids that a cat had 4 kittens, but the mother died and now the kittens were starving. They were so tiny they two of them didn't fill up the palm of your hand. Naturally Joyce and the kids HAD to save them! So for two weeks these little tykes have been getting fed, rested, and loved upon on our second floor balcony. Joyce and the kids literally sit out there watch them play for hours on end. As as any of the kids have a free minute they want to know if they can go see the kittens. Next week they will all be leaving us to their new homes! Joyce and our tutor have found all 4 new homes, and so soon enough the balcony will revert to its' rightful owners! Can you see me grinning?
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