Journal entry 18 Monday 7/25/22

Tela Team

LaCampa Team

Time to come home. Again, it is hard to say goodbye. Long goodbyes at the airport are not easy. Especially saying goodbye to our family there; Meily, Luis, Kenia, Greg, Jean, Franklin and his family. The tears come easy. 

But we made it safe and sound. Travel day is always a long day. And the airports do not make it easy. 

So until next time, stay safe, continue to pray for Honduras and for healing. I will continue to keep updates posted through out the year on our team and our next trip!

But those who hope in the Lord

will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.    Isaiah 40:31

Adios,

Journal entry 17: Sunday 7/24/22

 

Our last full day here. Sad but happy to be able to go home too. It has been a long 17 days. 

Today at church, we had service at the hotel. The discussion was on Jacob and how he wrestled with God. How God was the "man" in the story but Jacob didn't know it. And how God became man to show Jacob and teach him. God touched his hip so he left Jacob with a reminder of that night. After that night, Jacob walked with a limp. Our pastor raised a question: How many times have you dared to wrestle with God and God has "touched" you to leave you a reminder?" Those weaknesses only prove to us that God uses us in our weakness. God changed Jacob's name to Israel and he was the father of the 12 tribes; God blessed him. As he blesses us.

After church, some of us went shopping but I stayed back to pack since we are leaving tomorrow. Thank goodness. I was able to get it all into one suitcase! I was pretty shocked I could do it despite the extra stuff I am brining home! Once everyone was back, we went to lunch in Tela at Tela Marina. It is owned by the previous owners of the place we used to stay at in the past visits. We toured the aquarium and the research they are doing for the shore preservation. pretty amazing!

Now time for a siesta before dinner!

Genesis 32: 24-28

So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.”

But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

The man asked him, “What is your name?”

“Jacob,” he answered.

Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel,[a] because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”

Bendiciones,

 

Journal entry 16; Saturday 7/23/22

 

Today marks the 9 year anniversary of my last chemo treatment! No matter how I want to forget this part in my life, I cannot. This is an event that helped make me stronger and a survivor. So I will never forget!

Today, us ladies got to go help the guys on the construction site. It was HOT!. And even though we were only there for about 1 1/2 hours, it was hard work. They did all the climbing. We did all the small stuff, things that needed to be done but with things we could help with. Mostly picking up the nails and scrap wood off the floor and moving the scrap metal.  We did have our first and only injury. Thank goodness the medical clinic staff were there!! haha. I cleaned and but a bandage on it. This lasted about 15 minutes before he took it off and put a bandaid on it! Tough guy.

For lunch, Franklin has us over again to his house. He is so welcoming and brings us into his family. We had conch soup made by Ana. It was delicious.  Also had some fried chicken. delicious. We had everyone around the table, all 20 something of us. One big family. And Yoly made us tre leche cake. OMG, it was amazing. So good. 

We had church tonight at Franklins church. The walls and roof completed. His church is growing and he is being so blessed!

Numbers 6:24-26

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

Bendiciones,

Journal entry 15: 7/22/22

 

We had our last children's ministry today. It was a big one. About 100 kids. There were some wise crack boys that just reminded me that there is always those jokers in every kid group. They were so funny, making faces, cracking jokes, just having fun. When we split the group up and half were to go back to their class, and the other half stay with us, they tried to sneak with us and not go back to class! It was too funny when they got caught. The teachers made us coffee (the drink of choice in Honduras!) and some sugar donuts. Homemade! They were delicious. Sometimes we are on the receiving end of some yummy treats. 

We also got to meet the principal of the school. She is amazing. And so smart. She seems like a good teacher and leader for the kids. She took the time to talk with us and explain about the history of her school. 

They had a cool tree in their courtyard. I don't know what it is but it seems like I am so fascinated by strange looking trees. I think my friend Tammy has gotten me more in-tuned with nature and looking at our amazing world. These trees grow and survive in strange shapes. This shows to me that we are all different but just as important. 

Afterwards, we had some free time, and maybe a little nap tucked in there. While us ladies were spending some down time, the guys were working hard on the church. They got the trusses up on the roof with the help of a big crane! They were able to find someone with a crane and bring it to the work site to help get them up on the roof. This saved so much time and it was pretty exciting to see the crane on the street! Hopefully the roof will get finished tomorrow!

“So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.”

1 Thessalonians 5:11 NLT

Bendiciones,

Journal entry 14: 7/21/22

 

Today was the last clinic. We were at Las Palmas. I didn't see Valentina today. I am not sure if she is still here. I pray she is doing ok. but I did meet some great people!

Maria was one of them. She is 88 yo and she told us her story. It is pretty amazing the things she has overcome. Let me tell you her story.

Maria said that her dad wanted a boy when she was born. When he found out that she wasn't a boy, he told the nurse to just throw her away.  I couldn't imagine knowing my dad didn't want me. How when he died, he didn't' leave her anything, only to her brothers. Her brothers kicked her out of the house and she had no where to go. Then she met a man and they had 10 kids!!!  She said with one of her deliveries, she had to deliver by herself! Then she said once the baby was born, she went to and got a machete and cut the cord. She then got her baby settled then went out to milk the cow! I couldn't imagine having to do this alone!

Another man was a farmer and talking about his work and how proud he was of his farm. Turns out this man was the son of Maria! She raised her kids good. 

another lady was pregnant and had her 2 kids with her, a daughter and a son. When asked what they wanted, a brother or sister, they both said they wanted the opposite of sex of what they were. Mom said it was because they both had their own room and they didn't want to share it!

We saw 131 people at the clinic. While I heard so many wonderful stories, I also hear the not so wonderful and the stories that you can only see in their eyes they do not want to tell. I just pray for them and hope God can work through me to help them with my words and actions.

Colossians 3:17; And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Bendiciones