Summer Begins

Summer began for us on May 11 and runs through August 2 this year. I know you are looking at your calendars thinking summer does not begin for over three weeks. Do they operate on a different calendar in Honduras? No, we use the same calendar you do.

Our summer begins the day the first group arrives and ends the day the last group leaves. This year a small group from Middle Tennesse State kicked off the summer with a month long trip. They are building and distributing food. What a blessing they are. Young and energetic and full of the spirit.

In June, our good friends Rick and Linda Willis will bring a small group from Tupelo. I am so sad I will miss the group completely. As the group from Tupelo leaves, one from Columbus arrives. These are the folks that began this journey with us in 2001. It is always exciting to have them here.

Blaine Tucker and his youth group from South Baton Rouge come next. That group will be joined by Nicole and Haley, our friends the Ellises, and a family I have fallen in love with the past year the Hubrights from Atlanta. A few days after that group gets here, the awesome folks from Overland Park, Kansas arrive. This group is a second time group and has been a huge encouragement to us.

As OP leaves, a first time group from Lafayette, Louisiana comes. I love to see first time groups. One day later, Wesley Thompson and Perry Jinkerson from Starkville. Can't wait for this group either. We have been partnered with Starkville for a long time. They always come ready to work and we do not disappoint them. With them also will be coming a couple of gals from Fairview Heights, our sending congregation. Until July 24 some groups leave and some individuals come to work with a group or two. Vickie Cubillos and her daughters are coming. A small group from Borger. Borger always brings a small group, but what they lack in numbers, they make up for in spirit and willingness. Our friends in Topeka are not bringing an official group this year. How I will miss Ruthann and Gary. And Jerry. But 12 of their folks are coming on their own at various times during the summer. Maria Phillips is bringing a group from Jacksonville. A summer would not be complete, without Vickie, Maria, Lanetta, Shauna, Mary and so many more. Glad you all are coming.

To round out the summer, Trey Morgan is bringing 46 from Childress, Texas. A big first time group. We already love Trey and his lovely wife Lea and their boys, Rickey and Angie Husband and Randy and Haley Allen. Can't wait to meet the rest of this group and see what God has in store for them.

Each group is unique and brings its special talents. Every group is hard working and exciting and fun.

Please pray for the groups as they travel and as they go to work building houses, distributing food, feeding in the dump, sharing the good news of Christ, visiting in the hospitals, playing with the kids at Casa. What the groups accomplish in the summer helps to keep an ongoing work here. In addition to all the work they do, each and every team member encourages us. We are encouraged as we worship in english, spend time with old friends, make new ones. We end the summer with renewed energy every year, the shot in the arm to keep us going.

Praising God for each group and each member and all the work that will be done in God's name the next 10 weeks or so.

It is going to be another great summer in Honduras.

Terri