Friday, May 30, 2014

Pizza Outing

There is a group that works with David Logue.  They are from Ohio and they come every year for more years than I have lived here.  Mike and Katy lead this group.  Every year they treat the kids to pizza.  It is always a fun outing.

Fernando was especially excited about this outing, as today is his birthday.

One chose not to go, two were sick and four were in trouble.  We loaded the van with 16 kids and Emma and I pulled out of the gate at 4:00.  That was when we were scheduled to leave, so we were right on time.  We got to the Pizza Hut at the same time as the group.

After we were seated and Pepsis were ordered for all the kids, I told everyone not to let Baby Josue have to much of anything because his stomach is so delicate.  There was laughing and talking and everyone was having fun.  We really do feed the children three times a day, but you would have thought they had not eaten in a week the way they inhaled the garlic toast and pizza.

John shared a dessert with Antonio.  It was Fernando's birthday.  I told him I would buy him any dessert he wanted.  Guess what he chose?  The sundae extremo.
And he ate the whole thing.  I am glad I am not on duty tonight.

We got everyone back in the van and hit a major traffic snarl in Loarque.  Can you imagine giving kids as much pizza and pepsi as they want and then sitting in a nonmoving vehicle for an hour.  Trust me, you do not want to imagine it.

In spite of the traffic, it was a great evening.  Thank to Mike and Katy and their team for treating the kids tonight. 

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Dump Day 2014

It is 8:00 a.m in Honduras.  In about an hour, Matt and John will load up the dump food and head to the dump to start feeding.  Today between two and three hundred people will be fed a hot meal of beans and rice.  The ladies that cooked that food started cooking about 3:00 a.m. this morning.  They do this every week, all year.  Sometimes in the summer, they do it 2 or 3 times a week. 

The people that work in the dump work long hard hours to maybe get enough recyclables to earn $10.00 a day.  They appreciate that food.

Just behind the dump, is a poor community called Buen Samaritano (translated is Good Samaritan).  Many of the people that live here work in the dump.  The average salary in Buen Samaritano is between $75.00 and $200.00 a month.  But many make as little as $40.00 to $50.00 a month.  We put $50.00 worth of gas in the car yesterday to go to the beach.  And, some people are trying to live off of that for a whole month.  I do not believe that can be done.

In November, we opened a feeding center in that community.  Matt oversees the feeding center.  Every Monday through Friday 200 children are fed a hot meal. For most of these children, it is the only meal they receive each day.  How could a parent that makes $50.00 or $75.00 a month have money to buy very much food.  The moms often thank Matt for providing this meal for their children.  No mother wants to see her children go hungry.  There are two women employed at the feeding center.  They, too, start their day about 3:00 to start cooking for these children.  They each make $10.00 a day.  Matt would love nothing more than to give them a raise.  Matt has everything set up where the tortillas are made by a person in the community, thus boosting her income.  He buys wood and water from people in the community.  Everything that can be purchased in Buen Samaritano is purchased there.   Matt has started Bible study with the two employees.

In 2009, Trey Morgan started the first dump.  That first dump day was more successful than we ever imagined.  Every dump day since then has been very successful.

I am praying today that this dump day is just as successful.  God still wants his hungry children fed.  It costs about $200 a week to feed at the dump.  It cost about $400.00 a week to run the feeding center.  Would you please consider sponsoring the dump for a month at $800.00 or for a week at $200.00?  Or would you consider sponsoring the feeding center for a week at $400.00, a half week for $200.00, or a day for $80.00?  No gift is too large or too small.  Any amount will be appreciated and keep these hungry people fed..

Donations can be sent to Honduras Hope    P.O. Box 9222    Columbus, MS 39705 and marked dump fund.  If you would care to comment on Trey Morgan's blog so that we can keep a running total, go to treymorgan.net   If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me, Trey Morgan or Nicole Fitzgerald.

Thanking you in advance for your generous donation again this year.

Terri

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Playa Guayaba Dorada

Two weeks ago, when Maria was here, we found this nice secluded little beach.  A beautiful little beach.  It was kind of late when we got there, so we did not stay.  But, I really wanted to go back.  Today is one of my last days off before groups start coming.  Nicole and the girls and I decided to go to the beach today. 

Nicole made some sandwiches and I took care of the drinks (water, tea, and soda).  We had fun riding down.  Every time someone said beach, Emma Kate said "agua." 

We stopped to go to the bathroom and, even though we had drinks, we found some ice cold Dr. Peppers and Nicole and I just had to have one.

We got to Playa Guayaba Dorada about 11:30.  We convinced the girls we should eat first.  They were not too keen on that idea, but we are the adults and we prevailed.
Haley really want to sit on the sand for the picnic, but since there were tables and chairs, we prevailed again.

It was low tide.  I mean really low tide.  There were shells every where.  Everyone had to pick up a few shells.



Finally, we were ready to head for the water. With it being low tide, it was a long walk to the water.





Haley was, by far in the lead.  And the pure bliss on that child's face when she reached the water.

The girls played.






We found some interesting things.



As the tide started to come in, there were so many shells washing in, that it was really hurting our feet.  We walked back.  Haley and I hunted for more shells.  We found some brown and white striped ones, some pink ones, some with a tiny gray stripe.  She liked the teeny tiny ones.  I liked the bigger ones.  She would say, "Oh, grammy, isn't this a beautiful one."  Or, "I just love this one."  It was so sweet listening to her.

Haley said I don't think I have ever been to as beautiful of a beach as this one.  And, we did enjoy the beauty.










We enjoyed the beauty of the beach and the beauty of being together.  What a wonderful day off.


Saturday, May 17, 2014

Moving Forward

This year has been a strange one.  We have seen some victories.  Some baptisms.  A few other good things.  It has also been a year of shocking losses and disappointments.

As we move into the summer many things have changed in the ministries of Casa de Esperanza and Honduras Hope.  Many things have remained the same, too.

The board is overseeing all activities of Casa de Esperanza and a sub-board will be created to oversee the activities of Honduras Hope.  The elders of my churches and the elders of Matt and Nicole's church are being informed of all decisions and changes.  Trey Morgan, Bobby Moore, and others who have been influential in this ministry are being consulted as well.  Every decision is being prayed over by many people.

The biggest change for Honduras Hope is that Matt and Nicole and John will run the groups this year.  Nicole and I think we have personally talked to every group leader by phone.  If, somehow, we missed you, please let one of us know.  Both Matt and John are experienced working with groups.  Nicole has great organizational skills and is organizing each group.  I will be assisting in any way I can without sacrificing my duties at Casa de Esperanza.  Dorian and Luis will be working for Honduras Hope and with the groups.  I am glad they are part of the team again this year.  I cannot imagine a summer without them.  Karol and Kelin will be working with us when they are out of school and Daniel will be working with us, too.  All of these folks are experienced workers and have worked with us for many years. 

Some problems have arisen.  We are dealing with problems one at a time as they arise.  We do expect to still encounter a few more problems.  We have a wise board and wise elders guiding us.  However, none of these problems affect the groups of the safety of the groups.

Christina Gillim is returning to Casa de Esperanza.  We are excited that she is coming back.

One of the things that has not changed is the continued need for donations to run these ministries. 

The children at Casa de Esperanza still need to be cared for, fed and educated.  There are some special needs children here and their expenses are more than the other kids.  We do not want to have to cut the care for any of the children.  Please do not stop your contribution to either Casa de Esperanza or Honduras Hope.
The feeding center is currently feeding about 200 children a day.  For most of these children, it is the only meal they eat each day.  We are still feeding each Wednesday at the dump.  The funds we collected last May to run these two feeding programs are gone.  In less than a week, Wednesday, May 21, is the annual dump day.  Please pray hard and make a sacrifice or two and give to this worthy cause.  We need this dump day to be as successful as the ones in years past.  Please do not let these little one go hungry.  I am pretty sure that God still wants his hungry children fed.


Matt and Nicole are under the oversight of the elders of the South Baton Rouge Church of Christ in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  John is under the oversight of the elders of the Southern Hills Church of Christ in Abilene, Texas and I am under the oversight of the elders of the Borger Church of Christ in Borger, Texas.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.  You can private message me, or contact the elders of any of the above mentioned churches, or a member of the Casa board.

If ever we needed your prayers, financial and emotional support, it is now.

Thank you for being faithful supporters of this ministry.

Terri

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Sites From Yesterday

I have a friend visiting.  I am glad for her presence this week.  She is crying with me.  Praying with me.  Letting me talk all I need to talk.

Yesterday was my day off.  We headed south.  It was a lovely day. 









Great company.  Great food.  Great views.  Great day.