A New Table

The children at Casa de Esperanza were all eating at little tables. Most of the kids had outgrown those little tables. Marc decided to build a table bigger than the ones at which they had been eating and not quite as big as an adult table. He also decided to build one long table instead of several shorter ones. Marc built the table with plans to use some wood dough to fill in some spots, sand it and paint it. All that building was too much excitement for some of the kids. They so wanted to help. And, of course, Marc let them, taking the opportunity to teach them how to do a few things. Oh my. They used enough wood dough for thirty tables and sanded and sanded and sanded. The kids had so much fun. Then it was painted a nice shiny brown. Everyone was so excited. They wanted to take it over to the house and eat off of it long before the paint was dry. Marc would barely touch it to see if it was dry. Everytime, that it was not ready to move, there was just a bit of disappointment. At long last, it was completely dry and ready to move. Everyone wanted to help move it and I think everyone did help move it.

Now at every meal, the kids are enjoying eating at their new table. Aren't they cute?

Terri

Welcome Back to Honduras

Other than my house not being finished and living in the dorm, it has been a welcome back to Honduras week. It has been windy, cold and rainy and we have been without electricity for two days. Last night we unloaded a container in the rain and dark. I was so cold and could not wait to get home into dry clothes. I didn't think a shower was possible because no electricity means no hot water. When we got to Santa Ana, we were so thankful to see lights. I got a shower and shortly thereafter, we lost electricity again. I always think of those who must work outdoors and get soaked and have no water and electricity to which to go home, that have gaping wholes in their walls, that have dirt floors that become mud floors in the rain. People that have no blankets. If they are cold, how do they ever sleep?

This morning we found a tree on the roof of Gayle's house and a broken water pipe that had drained two of the water tanks. We were scrambling to get the pipe fixed. The tree did get removed from the roof and I only hope the pipe is fixed. We discovered these two lovely things, as we were trying to load the truck to get started on a building project. At long last, a kindergarten class room is being built in Miredad Oriente, the upper part of Nuevo Oriental. We had to get people to the airport and the bus station and I had to get someone at the airport. I drove all over everywhere by myself and did very well. I had an errand to run and there was a wreck in front of the place where I needed to park. I went into the next block and parked. I was told I could not leave my car there. A security guard directed me to a place that would have surely been illegal in the states. He spoke no english and asked me how long I would be gone. In spanish I said 10 minutes and took off running. I am sure he got big laugh at the crazy gringo.

I did get to work on the kindergarten for a short bit. Two walls are up.

The electricity was off all day in Santa Ana so the pump could not work to pump water into our tanks. Water ran out at Casa de Esperanza. Hopefully, tomorrow will be back to normal with water and electricity.

It Is What It Is

As we sat in the Houston airport yesterday morning there was all kinds of new year things on CNN.

People were emailing in their new year's resolutions, the best news stories and the worst news stories were being replayed, etc. One list that came up was a list of words and phrases that were being banned because of overuse. On that list was "it is what it is". I cannot abandon that phrase because I live in Honduras. Many times we are told wood for a house will be delivered at 10:00 and it shows up at 3:00. You either live with it and say "it is what it is" and doing something else until the wood shows up or you stress and have a stroke. For example, a container was suppose to be ready to unload today. Of course, it wasn't. It is what it is. Hondurans live like that and it is no big deal. Because I live here, I have had to learn to adapt to "It is what it is".

When we left to go to the states, we contracted some work to be done on our house while we were gone. The walls were to get stucco and the floors were to get tile, and some other improvements as well. Deadline January 1, when we returned.

We had an uneventful trip home, which is always a good thing. I was so ready to be in my house and sleep in my sweet bed last night and see my gorgeously beautiful remodeled home. Oh, the anticipation. We hauled all of our luggage down the hill and unlocked the door. What we found was a very messy work in progress, totally unlivable. We turned around and hauled all our stuff back up the hill and moved into the dorm. Oh well, "it is what it is".

This morning when we asked about how much longer, we were told the classic line right out of "The Money Pit", only two more weeks. Yea right. It is what it is.

Living in the dorm might present a few challenges, but it is what it is. And, I find no reason to complain since I have a bed to sleep in and food to eat.

Terri

Looking Back

Our time in the states has come to an end. We have travelled over 4500 miles in the car. We have loaded and unloaded our luggage 13 times. We have been in 12 different churches, 10 of which Marc spoke in. We have been on two college campuses. We have spent precious time with family and friends. We have used hundreds of phone minutes. Thank goodness for rollover minutes. I have eaten the best Mexican food in Fairview Heights and Columbus and points in between. I have eaten hamburgers and bacon and biscuits. I have been to Sonic and had cokes with ice. I have been to Wal-Mart so many times that I am tired of it. I have hugged my kids and hugged my friends. I have made new friends. There has been girl time way into the night, let's-grab-a-cup-of-coffee moments, lunches with friends. We have shared our ministry with many in churches, in homes, in restaurants and many other places. I have laughed and cried. I have been re-energized, renewed, encouraged. I have my batteries recharged. I have been blessed by everyone with which I came in contact. Today, we went to the best three year old birthday party ever. What fun. Now it is time to return to Honduras and I am ready. There is much work to be done in 2008. And we can't wait any longer to get busy.

This year has been an interesting one to say the least. Our daughter was married. A year ago, I had no idea I would be moving to Honduras. Oh my, the changes that have occurred in our lives. There is absolutely no way to adequately say how grateful I am, for family, for friends, both old and new, and for every act of kindness I have been shown. Thank you is not enough to all of you that email, send e-cards, send books or jergens lotion. The ones that just keep me up to date on news and events, the ones that encourage and pray. Even though it seems inadequate for all you do for me, all I can say is thank you.

Please keep us in your prayers as we travel back to Honduras and as we begin our work again. Please share your prayer requests with me as well.

Terri

Old Barns

As we have travelled the last month, I have taken note of the old barns. From the flat farmland of Illinois to the rolling hills of Tennessee to the Smokies, to the tall pines of Georgia, to the empty cotton fields of Mississippi to the brushy, cattle-grazing ranchland of Texas, I have seen barns. All kinds of barns. Tall barns, short barns, big barns, little barns, fat barns, red barns, white barns, green barns, black barns, metal barns. Personally, I like the wood barns in the midwest more than the metal barns in Texas and Oklahoma.

Most barns of any age at all, and some that are not so old, have seen their share of storms. Some barns have completely crumpled from the storms and are now nothing more than a broken pile of wood. Some barns are tilting and fragile as if the slightest little gust of wind would be the end of them. Many barns, after they have withstood all kinds of storms, are still standing. Oh yes, they show the signs of having lived through the storms. Some are just a bit saggy and their boards are silvered, having aged during the storm. Even though they are worse for the wear, they stand there knowing they survived the storm.

Whatever storm you might be facing, I hope you end up with a few more silvered boards and not as a broken pile of wood.

Terri

Christmas

This year for Christmas we spent less. We shopped less. We made less preparations. We sent no Christmas cards. We got caught up in the franticness less. Even in the busyness of travel, we sat and visited with friends and family more. We listened more. We talked more. I got beat at spades again. We enjoyed that precious time with family and friends more. We had the best Christmas ever. I hope you did.

Terri

Wheeler

We have been in the states for over three weeks and have been in many places, mostly churches sharing our work. I have not done a good job of recording these visits, but we have been warmly received in all of them. Last night we went to Wheeler, Texas, a small town just over an hour from Borger. Unless someone grew up in the Texas panhandle, it is hard to describe just how friendly people from these little towns can be, and Wheeler was no exception to that general rule. Wheeler has a population of around 1000 and it was a cold winter night right before Christmas. There was not a huge attendance, but those that were there opened their hearts as if they had known us forever. Marc always does such a good job with or without powerpoint. Even with powerpoint during only part of the presentation. We visited a while after church and then moved that visiting and fellowship to the diner, the only thing left open after 7:00 at night in Wheeler. As we continued visiting and talking about our work in Honduras, I feasted on a hamburger. The kind of hamburger I was thinking about when I previously wrote that I wanted a hamburger while in the states. The kind of hamburger that only little diners can make. A hamburger thrown on the griddle and cooked just right. Then the buns are thrown on the griddle and grilled. The kind of hamburger that is hard to eat without making a big mess because it leaks. I thoroughly enjoyed the fellowship and the food, and, as always we left Wheeler with more new friends.

I do hope everyone has a Merry Christmas.

Terri