I'm suppose to be sitting in the Houston airport waiting for a connecting flight to Little Rock. Instead, I'm in a hospital bed in Tegucigalpa. Not a very good second choice. I had emergency surgery in the middle of the night. My intestines rearranged themselves and I was very sick. Not to fear, I am at Hospital Vierra, not Escuela. I am much better than I was 24 hours ago. I am very sad that I'm not going to be hugging on grandgirls in the morning and that I'm not going to see Alison's an Matthew's wedding on Saturday. I do need yout prayers.
Terri
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
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
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
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Because He Lives...I Can Face Tomorrow
This song by the Gaithers was, I think, written in the 70s. I loved it from the moment I heard it. It is still one of my favorite songs. It was sung at both my dad's and my sons' funerals. Because of that it often brings a tear or two to my eyes. But I still love that song.
Some weeks are harder than others. The children don't listen and don't do well on exams. One has a major meltdown. An employee quits. Other people beat you up. Sometimes it is easy to think, what is the point of all of this.
I remember that empty grave and the hope for tomorrow. I remember to withdraw and talk to the God that gives me that hope. I go to church and worship with other believers whom have that same hope.
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. And another week. But, I pray this new week, will be a bit more kinder to us than the one just passed.
Terri
Some weeks are harder than others. The children don't listen and don't do well on exams. One has a major meltdown. An employee quits. Other people beat you up. Sometimes it is easy to think, what is the point of all of this.
I remember that empty grave and the hope for tomorrow. I remember to withdraw and talk to the God that gives me that hope. I go to church and worship with other believers whom have that same hope.
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. And another week. But, I pray this new week, will be a bit more kinder to us than the one just passed.
Terri
Friday, May 21, 2010
Grades
The first quarter grades have been received. We were less than pleased.
Rosy and Antonio (Fito) were the only two that had good grades. Two out of sixteen. Not so good. Some of the kids squeaked by with barely passing grades, but most of them had horrible grades.
There will be no letting up on homework and studying in the foreseeable future. Please pray for the kids as they try to grasp the concepts being presented to them.
Terri
Rosy and Antonio (Fito) were the only two that had good grades. Two out of sixteen. Not so good. Some of the kids squeaked by with barely passing grades, but most of them had horrible grades.
There will be no letting up on homework and studying in the foreseeable future. Please pray for the kids as they try to grasp the concepts being presented to them.
Terri
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Today At The Dump
Anita, our neighbor, gets up and starts cooking the food to be taken to the dump every Wednesday morning around 3:00. Three o'clock in the morning. Ugh! She prepares the beans and rice and has it ready for Marc to leave at 9:30. Anita has a huge servant heart. She does things for this community and for other church members on a daily basis. She has been wanting to go to the dump with Marc. Today was the day she got to do that.
Anita is a prim and proper older lady. She probably does not even own a pair of slacks. She gets up and cooks in a dress. She went to the dump in a dress today. After they arrived at the dump, she got out and, without hesitation, crawled up in the back of the truck to serve rice. Dress and all.
She was deeply touched by the people she saw at the dump. She served each bowl of rice with a smile on her face. It was a very calm day serving today. Marc thought it was like Grandma is here and we are behaving.
We are so thankful for all Anita does for the church, the community, and the dump ministry.
Terri
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Stacey
For the first couple of summers after Casa de Esperanza opened, we let everyone come and work for a few weeks or months. We decided the children needed more stability that people coming and going. Last summer we tried to put together a long term intern program. That program consisting of committing to Casa de Esperanza a minimum of one year, not being paid, but paying to be here, working six days a week, spiritual and emotional maturity, and several other requirements. There were several people that met some of the requirements, but a year committment and paying monthly to be here knocked a lot of people out of the list.
Last summer we had two young women apply. One decided she could not make a year committment, and the other one we decided to offer the position to and she said she thought she was applying to another ministry.
Karen and I have prayed and prayed about a long term intern. I know God's timing is perfect, but it seemed this was never going to happen.
Last September, while in Tennessee, we met a young woman that was wanting to come for the Thanksgiving work week. I was taken by her immediately. She said she did not have the money to come. Marc told her if God wanted her to come, the money would be there. She left the meeting and shortly returned and said someone was willing to sponsor her fully for the trip.
She came in November and, as so many people do, fell in love with Honduras. She began to ask about possibilities for longer service. We told her about the intern program and she said she was interested.
Again, Karen and I prayed. And prayed hard about this. At the same time, Stacey was praying, too. She says she has been praying to be on foreign soil as a missionary since 1994. All the prayers came together and we accepted her as our first long term intern.
Stacey has raised what it will cost her to stay here, but not what she feels she might need for some of those extra things like personal items and a meal out now and then. But she came anyway. Came in faith that God would provide
Stacey arrived today. Today is her birthday. I think her 34th. She said it was the best birthday she has ever had. We ate at Popeye's as a birthday lunch and then came on to Casa.
In the morning, Stacey is leaving with me at 6:00 to learn the morning run to Rosy's school. She said driving in a big city is not her favorite thing to do, but God sent her here and she is willing to do whatever needs to be done. Karen and I both are looking forward to having a little bit of our workload lessened.
We at Casa de Esperanza feel like many prayers have been answered.
Welcome aboard, Stacey.
Terri
Last summer we had two young women apply. One decided she could not make a year committment, and the other one we decided to offer the position to and she said she thought she was applying to another ministry.
Karen and I have prayed and prayed about a long term intern. I know God's timing is perfect, but it seemed this was never going to happen.
Last September, while in Tennessee, we met a young woman that was wanting to come for the Thanksgiving work week. I was taken by her immediately. She said she did not have the money to come. Marc told her if God wanted her to come, the money would be there. She left the meeting and shortly returned and said someone was willing to sponsor her fully for the trip.
She came in November and, as so many people do, fell in love with Honduras. She began to ask about possibilities for longer service. We told her about the intern program and she said she was interested.
Again, Karen and I prayed. And prayed hard about this. At the same time, Stacey was praying, too. She says she has been praying to be on foreign soil as a missionary since 1994. All the prayers came together and we accepted her as our first long term intern.
Stacey has raised what it will cost her to stay here, but not what she feels she might need for some of those extra things like personal items and a meal out now and then. But she came anyway. Came in faith that God would provide
Stacey arrived today. Today is her birthday. I think her 34th. She said it was the best birthday she has ever had. We ate at Popeye's as a birthday lunch and then came on to Casa.
In the morning, Stacey is leaving with me at 6:00 to learn the morning run to Rosy's school. She said driving in a big city is not her favorite thing to do, but God sent her here and she is willing to do whatever needs to be done. Karen and I both are looking forward to having a little bit of our workload lessened.
We at Casa de Esperanza feel like many prayers have been answered.
Welcome aboard, Stacey.
Terri
Monday, May 17, 2010
Allowance
Every week, the children receive one lempira to give at church. Everyone has to give that one. It is not optional and not open for discussion. At first we had some that tried to hide it and not give. Now, they willfully and cheerfully give that lempira to God. On paper, they receive nine more lempiras. We keep a chart with everyone's name on it, and when they misbehave we deduct one lempira at a time. We cannot deduct two or more for one offense. If they have a really horrible week, and some do, we can only deduct nine times. We never start deducting into the next week's money. The following Sunday afternoon, when on paper, most have a clean slate for the next week, we give them what they have left and open the store. They can spend everything they have if they desire. And most desire.
Our drinks cost too much for them to buy, so we now have some smaller drinks that cost six lempiras. They really like it when they can buy a little coke. They buy gum and candy and cookies. It is a fun way to spend Sunday afternoon.
One week before we went to the beach, we didn't open the store. We told them they would have double to buy snacks for the beach. Some had a sackful of one lempira stuff. They were so excited to be able to buy that much.
If they loose a school book or break a pencil on purpose or use their shoe laces to make bows and arrows, Karen deducts that as well. And she tells them exactly what is for. Trying to teach responsibility is a difficult thing.
Ever once in a while, Marc will say, if you can say ten lempira in three weeks, you can go to the movie. Or a while back, if you can save twenty lempira in the month of April, you can go to the waterpark. Not that 10 lempiras pay for a movie or twenty for the waterpark, it is just the fact that we are trying to get them to think of the future. Not just a little coke this afternoon. When they earn the outing, Marc pays the rest of the cost. Brayan, Antonio and Pamela always save theirs quickly. For the waterpark, Daniela and Ana saved theirs along and got to go the waterpark yesterday, too.
Most of the ones that did not get to go to the waterpark, were not upset. They were perfectly happy drinking their little cokes yesterday. I always ask every child, if they want to save and they just see the immediate gratification of that coke or cookies. Some will never learn to save, like Nohemy. She wants that drink and she leaves smiling her big toothless grin.
The ones that went to the waterpark yesterday did not buy from the store. But their money was saved for next week. Brayan is already making plans to buy a larger coke.
I hope some of them learn to save a little, once in a while.
Terri
Our drinks cost too much for them to buy, so we now have some smaller drinks that cost six lempiras. They really like it when they can buy a little coke. They buy gum and candy and cookies. It is a fun way to spend Sunday afternoon.
One week before we went to the beach, we didn't open the store. We told them they would have double to buy snacks for the beach. Some had a sackful of one lempira stuff. They were so excited to be able to buy that much.
If they loose a school book or break a pencil on purpose or use their shoe laces to make bows and arrows, Karen deducts that as well. And she tells them exactly what is for. Trying to teach responsibility is a difficult thing.
Ever once in a while, Marc will say, if you can say ten lempira in three weeks, you can go to the movie. Or a while back, if you can save twenty lempira in the month of April, you can go to the waterpark. Not that 10 lempiras pay for a movie or twenty for the waterpark, it is just the fact that we are trying to get them to think of the future. Not just a little coke this afternoon. When they earn the outing, Marc pays the rest of the cost. Brayan, Antonio and Pamela always save theirs quickly. For the waterpark, Daniela and Ana saved theirs along and got to go the waterpark yesterday, too.
Most of the ones that did not get to go to the waterpark, were not upset. They were perfectly happy drinking their little cokes yesterday. I always ask every child, if they want to save and they just see the immediate gratification of that coke or cookies. Some will never learn to save, like Nohemy. She wants that drink and she leaves smiling her big toothless grin.
The ones that went to the waterpark yesterday did not buy from the store. But their money was saved for next week. Brayan is already making plans to buy a larger coke.
I hope some of them learn to save a little, once in a while.
Terri
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