Sunday, February 22, 2015

Tragedy. Perspective. Gratefulness

Last week we had a group from Baton Rouge. 

Friday was one of those days.  My car is down.  Luis's car is down.  Emma vomited all over the store.  A couple of the kids from the group were sick.  Keys were locked in rooms.  There were errands to be done.  And reports to be typed.  We were trying to take care of the sick ones and take care of the details for the day.  It seemed like nothing was really going right.  I did not get back to Casa until almost 10.00.

The group was going to the market.  They were going to do a huge food buy and Nicole had to buy the food for the feeding center.  After the group left and went to distribute food, Nicole bought the food for the feeding center and then put it in her car.  She and Haley were going back into the market to the food court. 
They heard a loud boom and people began to pour out of the market.  Everyone was yelling and screaming and telling her to run.  She really did not understand if the explosion was accidental or on purpose.  It did not matter.  She turned and ran to her car.

A propane tank exploded in the food court, causing a chain reaction.  The food court.  That is where Haley and Nicole were going.  A matter of seconds, they would have been there.  Right there, where it happened.  Nicole was pretty shaken the rest of the day.  So was I.  Just 20 minutes earlier the group would have still been there.

Between 70 and 80 people were seriously injured with 2nd, 3rd and 4th degree burns.  No hospital in Tegucigalpa can handle that many people.  People were taken every where.  Some have already died.  And more probably will.  A little girl died and her mother was so severely burned that she could not leave the hospital for her daughter's funeral. 

Some of the vendors in the market have lost everything. 

Something of this magnitude made me realize that broken cars and keys locked in the room and vomit in the store are pretty minor things.  And, when I finally saw Nicole and Haley on Friday night, I was so thankful to be hugging their necks.

Please pray for all the families effected by this tragedy.

Sunday, February 15, 2015

Two Baptisms In Santa Ana

The last few weeks we have had the privilege of reporting the joyous news of baptisms in Los Pinos and Lomas Diamante.  Today, the joyous news is from Santa Ana.  Two of the Casa kids were baptized, Josè and Jackson.

Josè had the biggest grin on his face.  It was beautiful.






The angels are rejoicing, as we are, for these two precious souls.

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Throw Back Thursday

See if you recognize these kids.  Some of them do not live here anymore.














Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Birthday Celebration

We will have a birthday celebration on the first Sunday of every month for everyone that has  a birthday that month.  I know yesterday was the second Sunday of February, but, oh well.  Since we did not do this in January, we honored everyone who has January and February birthday.  With employees and all, that is a lot of people.


The honorees

Haley was so excited that she did a little dance.  And, it is not even her birthday month.

All of the adults had a balloon.  One at a time, we had to pop them and do what it said on the piece of paper inside.  
Sometimes, I think Doris could be a motivational speaker.

Nicole had to sing.  So, she sang chickie, chickie with all of the honorees.






Matt had to dance.  He asked his sweetheart to join him.   I had to pray.  I love to pray, but I have never done it in spanish.   It did not hurt me to come out of my comfort zone a bit.


 After the games, it was time for the cake and coke.


No birthday celebration would be complete without the honorees getting cake on their faces.




Emma and Olman sure enjoyed the birthday cake,

as did everyone else.


Olman gave the birthday boys and girls hugs.

Monday, February 2, 2015

More Sewing

Donna returned to teach more sewing to the girls.  Every girl got to get on the machine this time.  The girls, especially the younger girls were so excited.  Donna got sick and was sick most of the week.  She knew this was important to the girls and she just kept keeping on.  I do not know how she did it.  But before the end of the week, 14 dresses or skirts were complete.

 Maryuri loves to make faces.  And, she found a perfect opportunity















Rosy likes to look at everything but the machine and fabric while she sews.

Another fashion sew was scheduled for Friday.
Doris was emcee.


















Some of the boys tried to model, too.


Reina wore her new skirt to youth group on Saturday.  Cindy, Ana, and Niyeli had theirs on at church Sunday.  I think the girls are very proud of the things they have made for themselves.