Starting to feel like normal...

I'm beginning to think I should've entered the nursing/doctor field. Last week I spent 4 days in the hospital with Joyce and this week I've spent one full morning in pediatric surgeon's office with Angel (he has growth under his tongue which must be cut off), spent an entire morning in the doctor's office w/Joyce while she had an endoscopy, and just now spent an entire morning in the dentist's office with Angel (his surgeon says the growth is caused by trauma occurring when he rubs his tongue over his front teeth and he must have the teeth corrected before he will remove the growth). Next I have 3 appointments at the dentist, one each for Angel, Fabiola, and Mauricio on Tuesday morning, and a doctor's appointment Tuesday afternoon with Joyce to get the results of her biopsy. Since Joyce doesn't speak any Spanish I'm assigned to all doctor's appointments...oh, joy!!!

Will's Update 7/26/11

Yesterday, I experienced a new way of doing laundry.....at least...it was new for me. When Bob and I drill we usually get pretty covered with clay and mud. Actually, I'm the one that is always covered in stuff. It is a mystery to both Bob and I. I just look at a speck of dirt and I'm covered! Bob can go a whole week of drilling while wearing one pair of pants to drill in whereas I go through 2 or 3 pairs! Weird huh? Anyway, when we are finished drilling or just need cleaner clothes to work in, we have to soak the clothing that we used for a few hours or a day. After soaking the clothes, we wring them out and toss them in the washing machine. THIS TIME, previous to soaking, I took the clothes out and hosed them down. After hosing the clothes out I soaked them for a day. After all that, the fun began! I had to hand scrub everything.

It was just me, a small brush, a bunch of water, and a lot of dirty laundry. I started at 8 in the morning and finished at 8:48. It took me 48 minutes just to scrub 3 pairs of pants and 3 T-shirts! Definitely made me appreciate a washing machine more BUT, I also realized how much more I take that washing machine for granted. When "laundry time" hits, we usually think of how much we hate to throw some clothes (usually a LARGE load) into the machine and then have to wait for all of it to wash. Then, after waiting for 30-40 minutes, we think of how much we hate throwing it in the dryer and having to wait another 30-40 minutes just to have dry clothes. Then after all the time is spent waiting for the clothing to be washed, dried, and folded, we want to think of how we could have spent that time doing something else much more entertaining.

While I was scrubbing, all that God continually reminded me of was that I should be VERY HAPPY that I didn't have to use 2 rocks and a creek while spending a whole day out scrubbing in very unsanitary conditions and then having to wait another day or so just for all of my clothing to air dry. That 48 minutes I spent scrubbing suddenly became much, much shorter.

I know things are not great in the States because of the whole debt crisis and other things, but we are all still blessed to be American citizens. Life in the States may get more frustrating but it will be NOWHERE NEAR how some have it here in Honduras. In the States, everyone will still have their microwaves, ovens, stove-tops, toasters, WASHING MACHINES, DRYERS, and other items whereas here....some people have to literally beg or steal for food, wade out in water that they use for drinking, cooking, bathing, and relieving themselves just to wash laundry, and other things.

I'm NOT BASHING anyone but those are just the thoughts that came to my mind. Most of us all grew up with these great things so we don't really know how much of a chore it is just to wash laundry and perform other daily tasks because we have the technology to quickly wipe it out without having to worry about getting dirty. We can just throw the laundry in the machines then walk away. While the machines are doing the work we can go watch T.V., talk on the phone, play video games, etc.

Thanks for reading guys! God bless!

Prayers for Joyce...

Keep Joyce in your prayers...today she had another endoscopy to try to determine the cause of the pain she's experienced since her gall bladder removal. The test only revealed scar tissue from the previously removed peptic ulcer; however, the doctor felt the need to take a biopsy. We will have the results of the biopsy next Tuesday afternoon. Although we feel the biopsy is only precautionary we appreciate your prayers for positive results and for Joyce's discomfort to subside.

Will's Honduras Update 7/25/2011

This week has been pretty busy. As mentioned in the last update we started drilling up in the mountains of Santa Cruz De Yojoa for a young missionary couple of Teen Missions. This past week was full of problems for what was supposed to be an "easy drill". We had 3 gaskets go out on us and then the air compressor during the course of drilling this week. As of Friday, we are at 135 ft. We hit rock so now we have to use the air hammer to break through all of that. The problem is that when we were lowering all of the stem back into the hole after connecting the air hammer, the compressor shut off on us exactly like it did back in February. So now, we have to wait for a technician from Grupo Laiesz to accompany us back to the drill site so he can check it out for us. We all believe that we are VERY close to water, so please pray that we can complete this well for this young missionary couple.

Wednesday night my pastor's wife, Marilyn, is coming down with two youth and they will be joining with an 18 person team from Washington D.C. Please pray for their travel and for the week. I really had a phenomenal time with the Tullahoma Team so I can't wait to see what happens with this new team.

Fabiola and Angel have finished their English lessons as of last Friday. Fabiola, Angel, Pedro, and Cesar will finish their Tutoring at Good seed this week. Rosa was bumped up to third grade because she is starting to excel with her education! Mauricio has been enjoying his summer break....maybe a bit too much! He is really getting a grasp of knowing how to be one of those quick-witted, funny guys that knows how to mess with you. It is so amazing to watch these kids change into what God is wanting them to be. I still can't believe sometimes that He has blessed us (YOU and I) to play such a vital part in the molding and shaping of the lives of these children. He is awesome!

Thank you all! Dios Te Bendiga Mi Familia En Jesus Cristo!

Bad News for all missionaries in Honduras...

The Honduran government has announced the devaluing of the Lempira effective tomorrow from 18.895 against the U.S. dollar to 17.64! That means for every $1000 in donations we will lose $71.00! Of course it also means the cost of everything will be rising as well. And the big fear is that the maquilas (factories) will begin to leave which would put the country in a severe downward spiral.

Frustrations...

This past week we've been drilling in the mountains for a Teen Mission training center. The drill should've been an easy one based upon what we saw of the terrain; however...

For three days we fought the mud pump trying to maintain a prime in it. First we made a new gasket for the intake housing and tried it out (unsuccessfully), next we made a new gasket for the outflow housing (unsuccessfully), next we made a new gasket for the impeller housing (unsuccessfully), and finally we removed the impeller and replaced all the packing glands in the pump. Now, completely rebuilt it is finally working. We quickly made it to 135' before hitting rock which was a good sign meaning we were passing out of the clay layer and possibly moving closer to water. We pulled all the stem and began to use the air hammer, but after 20 minutes it failed. The same problem we had with it before, the same problem the authorized dealer took 2 months to repair.

Now we down again...waiting on the technician to return on Tuesday before we can once again try to complete this well. Pray for us...

Will's Honduras Update 7/19/2011

Hey guys! Sorry it has been such a while!

The States:

I arrived safely back in Honduras on the 15th after being back in the states since the 9th. It was a bittersweet 9 days.

When I returned in April to renew my visa, I was in a hurry to return to Honduras. I wanted to get back to work on drilling, I wanted to be back with Bob and Joyce, I wanted to return to the kids because I was fearing my absence was doing more harm than good in terms of my relationship with them, and I wanted to get to see Alba after having such a wonderful weekend with her prior to leaving.

This time, when I was back in the States, I yearned for both Honduras and Tellico. You never really know how much a place or the people in that place mean to you until you have to leave it. That is how it was for me when I returned to Tellico to see my family at home and of my church. I missed the times of just sitting around a campfire with friends late at night. I missed sitting with Tim, Patrick, Paige, Chris, and others while laughing so hard that I couldn't breath. I missed hanging out with my buddy Brandon for hours just talking about Jesus and playing NCAA Football. I missed seeing my pastor. I missed seeing my little sister Danielle and a lot of other things. However, while back in the states I also missed the new family that God gave me here in Honduras and Alba. I missed hearing Bob's funny but corny jokes, Joyce's awesome cooking and wondering if she was okay, Rosa's goodnight hug, Mauricio's and Fabiola's wisecracks, and I missed being with Alba and the laughs we have over my mishaps with Spanish. I found myself wishing how I could have both worlds...the family, friends, and fellowship of Tellico Plains....and those of which I have here in Honduras such as: the peace in my heart, the family, and Alba.

Even though I had these thoughts (and ALOT more) going through my head....none of the people and things mentioned above surpass the love and desire I have for Christ and serving Him here in Honduras. All I want is to make Him proud. I want Him to say to me one day: "Well done my good and faithful servant!". Everything that I have sacrificed for Him (my family, friends, career, finances) I truly count as rubbish in comparison to Him. He is my everything. He is the ONLY reason why I have all the great memories, my family, and my friends of Tellico. He is the ONLY reason why I have this family and Alba here in Honduras.

I would rather have Him and lose everything....than to have everything but Him.

Now:

Bob and I are currently drilling in Santa Cruz De Yajoa. We are drilling for a young missionary couple that run a missionary school for "Teen Missions". It is up in the mountains and the Mosquitoes there are complete and utter BEASTS!!! Bob keeps saying that they love white meat and I believe him! Makes me wish I had an air-conditioned, biohazard suit! I'm not sure if they exist, but it sure would be nice to have one!

Starting on the 28th we will have a 22-person team. 3 will come on the 28th and they will be My pastor's wife Marilyn Parker (who has known the kids since 2009) and 2 girls. Then on the 29th we will meet up with the remainder of the team and they will be from Washington D.C. Please pray for their travels to and from the country.

Thank you all for your prayers and help. For those of you who support me on a monthly basis. I OWE you a HUGE "Thank You".

Dios Te Benidiga!!!