The Great Shoe Adventure

The high school kids go to school of an afternoon.  The shower, eat and do chores right before they go.  According to Ana, she took her whole uniform, including shoes into the bathroom and put them on one of the toilets while she showered.  She finished her shower and her shirt and one shoe was there and nothing else.  I have a huge suspicion what happened, but can't prove it yet.

We looked for the shoe and for some pants.  We finally found some pants that were too big.  Elvia basted in a hem and did a quick tuck in the waist.  That took care of the pants.  There was one pair of new shoes in the office.  I went to get them.  They were a tad big for Ana, but I thought they would do for today.  She said she could wear 2 pairs of socks and if she had to, put paper in the toes.

After she left, went through everything, including the trash, looking for those pants and that shoe.  All I found was the shoes I had taken from the office.  I was stunned.  What did Ana wear to school.  Sisi's shoes are too small for Ana and Sisi's shoes were there. 

When Ana got home this afternoon, I asked her what shoes she wore.  She said these.  I looked at the shoes.  They looked like the one shoe of hers she had, but the inside was different.  Her shoe had writing inside and the ones she was holding had no writing inside. 

I began to think that maybe she had Reina's shoes, except that Reina was at school when Ana left.  I asked Reina where her school shoes were and she said she did not know.  I said look for them.  Then I asked her what she wore to school and where they were.  They were beside her bed ready for in the morning.  I said why did you tell me you did not know where your shoes were?  And she said, because I have 2 pairs.  Well, I did not know anyone had two pairs. 

I still think Ana has Reina's shoes, but both Reina and Ana denied that even though Reina did not know where her other pair was. 

I threw up my hands and said how complicated.

I still think I know who took one shoe and the pants, but that remains to be seen yet. 

Don't you wish you lived with a bunch of 14 year old girls?  It is really fun.

I am pretty sure Ana has Reina's shoes and I am pretty sure

Helpful Haley

Haley has a very sweet personality, knows Spanish well, and loves what we do in Honduras.  She is helpful in all sorts of ways to all sorts of people. She is a personal translator for some people.  She goes to the dump frequently, but is never allowed out of the back of truck.

She likes to go to the house sites and help build.  She even has her own pink tool belt.  And we all know that girls with their own pink tool belts rock.

Haley has helped translate in the hospital.   She got scared in the orthopedic ward and led the group out and asked where the new born babies were.  When the nurse replied, Haley led the whole group to the new born babies.

She told me one day that she even led a "mawket gwoup".

One of her favorite things to do is to help in the store.  If one of the Casa kids is not with me, she says, "looks like it is just you and me tonight, Grammy"  She is very good at getting drinks out of the refrigerator and candy and chips off the shelves.  She has even tried to write the sales in the book.  That works with a small group, but not quite so well with a large group.

This summer I decided I would put something on sale every night.  Many days, Haley has suggested what we need to put on sale.  I started calling her my marketing manager. 

It was a lot of work to put something on display every night and then take it down.  Many, many times Haley has helped with the display.  She is never around when it is time to take it down.  She can't stay awake that long.

One night she did the whole junco display.

One night after I carried the Lenca pottery out and had it set up, Haley put flowers in the vases.  It certainly added a needed touch.

Last night was the best, though.  I called it Christmas in August and put all of our Christmas items on sale.  Haley asked Nicole for a Santa hat to wear.  She was really wanting to get into the spirit of the sale.  Nicole did not know where a Santa hat was so Haley wore the Christmas tree skirt, as well as helping with the display.

She did help with the display, but she did not touch those angels on the top shelf.

I love this girl, her sweet attitude and her helpful heart.

Mid Air Collision

Saturday afternoon is normally a peaceful time.  I love it. 

Yesterday was no exception.  The weather was pleasant.  The kids were playing.  No one was arguing or fighting.  It is such a pleasant sound to hear kids laughing and playing.  I was enjoying every second of it.

Any and Yair were in the swings, both having so much fun.  They both got to going crooked about the same time.  And crash.  I heard the swings hit.  I saw blood every where.  Yair's mouth was bleeding profusely.  I know a mouth bleeds heavily no matter how small the cut and was hoping it was small.  I put a wet compress on it and stopped the bleeding enough to see that it was way too deep to not do anything about.   I grabbed my purse and off we went to the local hospital. 

I was holding Yair's hand and he was calm.  A pretty female doctor that was very kind and calm walked in and he went crazy.  He was screaming and crying, before she said a word or touched him. She looked at the lip and said he needed stitches. She deadened the whole lip.  It took three people to hold him down to get two little stitches in.  I think he might have been speaking in tongues.  I certainly did not understand what he was saying.

In less than an hour we were back home.  He is on antibiotics and ibuprofen. 

So much for the peaceful Saturday afternoon.

God Works In Mysterious Ways

I have always heard that you should be careful what you pray for because you might get it.  Last year we prayed for something and were shocked at the answer we received.  Just recently, God answered two prayers in a way we did not expect.  I am not comfortable sharing these publicly, but it you want to know, private message me and I will share them.

I will admit I am tired, very tired now.  I was looking forward to Randy Mcadam's group visiting Casa today.  I love for groups to visit us.  I was looking forward to showing them around and showing them how some of the kids have improved and some of the improvements we have made since they last visited us.

But, I was also hoping to squeeze in a short nap between church and their visit.

Well, I have certainly squeezed in a nap or two.  Or more.  I am sitting here in the hospital with Jackson after he had an emergency appendectomy last night (really early this morning).  I think I am sleeping more than he is and he is taking pain meds.  I am not.  And sleeping in a hospital chair is usually not easy, but I am so tired, it has not been a problem.

I am not happy that Jackson had to have emergency surgery, but I am thankful for a day or two of slowing down.

June Newsletter

Casa de Esperanza

Making a difference, one child at a time

P. O. Box 9222

Columbus, MS 39705

cdehonduras.org/casa.acklenavenue.com

Amigos de Casa,

I am running a bit behind. That is getting to be the norm, not a norm I like, but nonetheless, the norm.

We are having an extremely dry rainy season. So far, we have had sufficient water, but who know how long that will last. Please pray that we have plenty of water and/or more for rain. I know, I know. Some of you folks would gladly send your rain our way.

May began with a trip to the beach. We had not done this is three years and some of the kids had never been to the beach. It is so much work to prepare for this trip and to clean up after we get back. Every second of the work was well worth it because everyone had so much fun. We were riding along on the bus and we start seeing the tilapia farms. Cris starts shouting, “ la playa, la playa” (the beach, the beach)

 Bathing beauties

Of course, May is full of Mother's day programs. There were seven this year. We met ourselves coming and going, but someone made every single one of them.

May and June brings the return of groups. Groups get a lot of work done for us and they bring a lot of fun.

Work on the wall has resumed.

This wall is a lot of work, but for the security it will provide for the children, it will all be worth it.

Mark Connell's group came and made cotton candy and popcorn. There were lots of smiles that day, both the Casa kids and the group.

Tim Hines' group took us to the zoo in Sabana Grande one Sunday afternoon. We had fun and this was a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. We had a real Honduran experience on the way home. The bus broke down and we had to change buses. I was a nervous wreck as we had to get from one bus to the other on the highway. Everyone had to hold an adult's hand. The big kids grumbled about this, but they lived through it. I was able to breathe a big sigh of relief when we were all safe on the other bus.

The Griffiths were here in June for more sewing classes. Doug taught the boys some bicycle repair.

Book bags were made and even most of the boys joined in the sewing this time.

We are blessed to have each one of you as part of this ministry. Please, do not stop praying for the kids and the staff. There are constant battles to be fought.

Thank you for the generous one time donations that many of you made. It has helped our financial situation greatly, but we are not out of the woods. If you are interested in making a one time donation, please contact me. We still have many children who not sponsored. If you can sponsor a child on a monthly basis, please let me know. You can also remember Casa de Esperanza with memorial and honor donations.

Casa de Esperanza

P.O. Box 9222

Columbus, MS 39705

casa.waytogive.net

If you have any questions, please contact me by email any time.

terriltindall@yahoo.com

Please feel free to share this newsletter with whomever you think is interested.

Again, I thank you for your generous donations and prayers.

Terri

Brayan

Today is Tuesday, my suppose-to-be day off.  Nicole needed to translate in the clinic.  I took the girls.  We really had a lot of fun, which I hope will be another blog in a day or so.  We also combined a lot of fun with a lot of errands. 

I have not done errands with two small children in a long time.  It takes a long time to get Emma in and out of the car seat.  More potty breaks.  Potty breaks with those two could easily be a whole blog or a whole book.  They needed a shower after they ate ice cream.  As fun as all of this was, I was exhausted. 

We stopped at Casa before going to the Mission House.  Someone had stolen money and no one would admit it.  I was tired and frustrated.  Can no one deal with these issues but me, especially on my day off.  I definitely had the makings for a good meltdown.

We got to Ojojona and dinner was already being served.  I still had to ready the store for the night's business.

This week everyone, every where is out of school.  Matt asked Brayan to work with the group and he gladly accepted.  It is good to see him every morning and night.  He saw me down there trying get things ready.  He came down to help. 

I was in the store until devo started.  I went back up there feeling like that meltdown could happen any minute.  After a few songs where I could really praise and worship, Robert said we had a guest speaker tonight.  Brayan was going to share his story.  Meltdown time arrived.  I started crying before he said a single word.  I cried the whole time he spoke.  And, I continued to cry long after he finished. 

Robert asked him to stand in the center of the room and everyone would pray over him.  I jumped up and rushed to where he was.  He hugged me and I hugged him while someone said a prayer for Brayan. 

Thank God for a life that was changed.

Bravery, Or Not So Much

I am a woman that lives by myself in a third world country.  I drive in Tegucigalpa (admittedly, not for the faint of heart).  Many people think I am brave.

Except for Kim, a few of the Casa kids and my kids, most of the people have not seen my reaction when a little mouse gets in my house.  Every time I hope that my screaming will scare it to death.  So far, that has not happened.

And, a dead one is not any better than a live one.  Perhaps a dead one is better because I can up to Casa and Josè will come down and get it out for me.

One mouse ate himself to death on one of my favorite sweaters, truly the sweater to die for.

The other day a bold little mouse was running all over my office, while I sat here working.  After my initial screams did not give it a heart attack, I sat here yelling at it to leave my stuff alone.  That did not work either.  I went to get Josè.  We looked and looked and never found it.  I think I might have seen Josè chuckle a time or two.

I can handle many things, but please not another little mouse in my house.