Origami

As people come and go, we see lots of different talents. We have had people visit that were magicians and did magic shows for the kids. And math teachers that worked with them on borrowing. I thought we had seen everything until last week when the group from Walnut Creek was here. Dan was a master in origami.

The kids often take their church contributions and make rings. Dan quickly showed them how to make t-shirts. Brayan liked his so much he thought about not putting it in the offering plate. He unfolded it and learned how it was done in reverse. Later in the afternoon, he showed some of the other kids and some employees as well how to make t-shirts out of paper. Everyone that folded a piece of paper into a t-shirt was quite proud of their handiwork.

Terri

The "It" Ingredient

We live in a society that praises beauty and youth and having the figure to wear a bikini at age 40 and beyond. No matter how great the figure, no one who has ever had a baby needs to be in a bikini. While those stretch marks represent a beauty all their own, they need to remain unseen. I digress and that was an unsolicited opinion. Nonetheless, it was stated and I return to my original thoughts. Even here in Honduras, a third world country, we see people wanting to be more beautiful and your youthful. All of this chasing beauty and youth is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. Nothing under the sun can be gained from this chase. And, yes, I admit, to a degree, I am guilty of this chase.

On Fox News this morning, there was a teaser for a later segment. The teaser was about the "it" ingredient. The solution to make all people beautiful and young. I only heard the teaser. I did not stay around for the actual segment on what the "it" ingredient might be.

But, let me tell you about the real "it" ingredient. The "it" ingredient I am talking about is Jesus Christ. When He is your lord and savior and all troubles are cast on him, your hope and faith are placed in Him, you will be beautiful, inside and out. You will have eternal life. Not here on this earth, but you will have eternal life.

That is an "it" ingredient worth chasing.

Terri

The Rains Come Down And The Floods Come Up

Hurricane Matthew did not dump the predicted rains on Honduras. But the amount of devastation in this country is great.

Here in Santa Ana, it rained three inches Saturday, three Sunday and two yesterday. It has rained unendingly, without even a brief pause. The rain should continue today and move out tomorrow. Everything is wet. Even the air is saturated. Inside our house, our clothes, bed linens and towels feel damp as we use them. People who don't have good houses have everything they own soaking wet, not just a little damp. They are bound to be cold.

The pictures in the paper yesterday showed flooding and damage in every part of the country. Many pictures showed people in waist-deep waters trying to get their belonging out or some food in to their families. The pictures were heart-breaking.

Roads continue to worsen with huge potholes and washouts. I can't see there being enough money to every get all these roads fixed.

There is still four to six weeks of rainy season left. The entire country is weakened and vulnerable to further damage. Many crops are already ruined. Prayers are still needed for this country.

Terri

4:30 P.M.

It is a dreary, blustery, cold day. It has rained most of the day, but so far only 1 1/2 inches, a far cry from six to ten. The electricity went out from 3:00 - 3:30. Nothing new here. That happens at least once a day. I haven't checked the forecast since I finished my shift with the children, but I am hoping it is not going to be as bad as first predicted and that we are not being lulled into a sense of false security.

For a short time this morning, it almost quit raining. I let the children go out and play before lunch. That was kind of selfish. I was thinking about how difficult naptime would be if no one had run and jumped and burnt up some of that endless energy. It worked. It was raining hard on that tin roof. It was cool. The boys laid down and went right to sleep. So did I. It felt wonderful.

Thank you for your prayers. Lets keep them going.

Terri

Saturday

It is 6:00 a.m. and the heavy rains are just starting. Predictions are 6-10 inches of rain today. Please keep praying for everyone in this country.

Terri

Highway To The Danger Zone

As I have mentioned before, the heavy rains have taken a toll on roads and bridges. There is a section of road that has partially fallen near the bottom of the mountain that we have to drive down everyday. There is a lot of construction there. Maybe they are repairing or shoring up the mountain to prevent future damage or maybe they are busy down there to make us think they are taking care of the problem.

Morning traffic is not fun without a construction zone. But with the work area, traffic backs up terribly. I am leaving around 5:45 to get Rosy to school. So many people are in a huge hurry to get to work or to school or wherever busy people are going. Traffic backs up further up the mountain the later it gets and most traffic coming up the mountain is moving slowly. This is a two lane, blind curves, mountainous highway with no shoulders as we know them in the U.S. There is about a 1/2 lane on each side that are called shoulders.

At certain points down the mountain, several people decide they are in too big of a hurry to sit in line and creep down the mountain. They jump out of line and drive on both side of the creepy line. Most of them are racing down, similar to the Indy 500. When they meet oncoming traffic, they do one of three things: 1) they try to squeeze back in and most drivers staying in line aren't welcoming the cutters back in, 2) they get off the road or drive in the 1/2 lane on the other side of the road, or 3) they stop, further backing traffic in both directions. Sometime it is unbelievable how many cars can be squeezed across those two lanes.

As cars were racing past me and driving off the road to avoid collision and stopping, "Highway to the Danger Zone" was playing in my head.

I am amazed every morning at how daring some people are. I pray there is not going to be a head-on collision. Since I stay in line, I feel sure Rosy and I are safe.

Regarding other news in Honduras: Hurrican Matthew is supposed to hit here later today. More than likely, we will be safe. Our houses are built on a solid rock. But with the devastation and the rain-soaked land, hundreds or thousands will lose houses and possessions. Some houses are already precariously balanced because of previous rains. There is always a chance of injuries and loss of life when this much more rain falls. More roads and bridges will likely wash out. The devastation will be great.

We will probably lose electricity, internet and phone service. You will hear from me when it is restored.

Please, please pray for this country.

Terri

Two More Houses

Our California friends arrived Saturday and Monday. Monday they built a house in Ojojona. The house they built is for a family with three children. They had been living with the with relatives way up in the mountains. The dad of the family is a meatcutter and had been having to ride a mule down the mountain for four hours to work. At the end of the workday, he had to ride the mule back home. Obviously, that did not allow much family time. Their new home is close enough to his job that he can now walk to work. The oldest child was in school and the two youngest ones were at the job site. They were excited and wanted to help. They were much too little to help. Upon completion, the little girl did grab the broom and began to sweep up all the sawdust.

The house that was built on Tuesday was for one of the families whose house was washed away in the recent floods. It was up a steep, steep, steep slope. It was a hard site to get to. Once the lumber and tools were on the site, the house itself was not too bad. It was a rewarding day to help this family who had lost so much.

Both families were very appreciative for their new houses.

Terri