Honduras Missions Trip 2016

Did you let them wear their heads?

by | Jan 28, 2016 |

Today a few of us were blessed to go visit a private Christian school where one of our interpreters wife happens to be principal.  This is not a typical school in Honduras.  This school first of all was a Christian school but also bi-lingual English/Spanish speak. The children and staff spoke very good English and even sang to us a few songs.  The school is from pre-K through 6th grade, and growing.  

What a great experience it was to be able to visit this school and see the wonderful work they are doing with the children.  As one of our team members said, it shows the Hope in Honduras, for change and a better future.  
We began with the pre-k children and they sang us several songs in English after we had told a bible story and sang a song to them.  Videos are below.  
We then toured the school and visited each grade and talked with the children and teachers.  The 5th grade classroom was a lot of fun because they love to learn about the USA and social studies is one of their favorite subjects.  We spent a long time talking about the USA and allowing them to ask questions.   They were a lot of fun.  
Some of you may be wondering about the title of this blog – it is an odd one, but there is a story.  Leslie, our oldest missioner at the young age of 88, is known for coming out with some funny statements.  Most of it due to the lack of hearing that she has but sometimes she just comes out with funny stuff.  One day she thought I said I had lost my teeth.  This particular day we were discussing the uniforms that the children wear at the school.  After Karina the principal had finished telling us about the uniforms, and what they wear, Leslie asked – do you sometimes let them wear their heads.  (See picture below and it will make sense)
Christian school uniforms

We all love Leslie.  
Another productive day on the work front, with construction making progress, and the other areas learning to work in the dark and without power for most of the day.  Not unusual in Honduras.  See Dawns post for more information.  
Until tomorrow.
Blessings 
Entrance to the school
Our team with the Honduras flag and the principal of the school, Karina. 
Telling the kids a bible story

Sweet faces
Leslie with one of the kiddos
Another couple of sweet faces
All the pre-k kids with our group and the teachers.  
Just a face I couldn’t resist
Talking to the 6th graders
The school president. Each grade has a grade president but their also a whole school president, who is a 6th grader.  This is she.  
With the 5th graders who loved to talk about the USA
Optical doing their thing
Sewing adapting to no power and sewing by hand

Found another baby to cuddle.  This one is 15 days old
Photographic evidence of Bob working and not shopping
A family that came through optical getting sunglasses to protect their eyes from the Honduras sun.

VBS & Sewing; Together at last!!!

by | Jan 28, 2016 |

     Today our flexibility took the form of an electricity outage. This precluded the use of our electric sewing machines. So we located our embroidery project (hotpads for the kitchen), moved out of the basement & into a corner of the room VBS is using. I LOVE being so close to the children!!! We had a good day. Several ladies finished their hotpads, many others have the materials and know how to do so.  The kids had Bible stories, games, races, crafts & coloring!  It was a very good day!!

Preparing the Drugs

by | Jan 27, 2016 |

     Seeing the title of this post, you may ask “What? Drugs?” Yes, we have optical, sewing, VBS & construction operations this week. I, however, have been prepping the medications for next week’s mission. I’m thankful for the help of teammates, without whom I’d not have gotten finished. We have inventoried two set of meds, counted several thousand pills and put almost everything back into a storage closet until moving day…. There were a couple of meds that were not as ordered, those must be fixed by Friday.
     It has been a busy couple of days here. We had 6 ladies sewing on Tuesday, 8 today. That keeps us       running everywhere, trying to make sure everyone is learning new and using proper techniques. I don’t know how the regular sewing team gets it done!
       The van is at the mechanics to fix a leak and a sticky sliding door. It was not finished today so we had to shuttle back from the site with a 5 passenger Kia truck. We pray it will be returned to us tomorrow for
     Yesterday evening is a blur. I remember a short conversation at 5pm, a delicious dinner, drug inventory & little else. Where does the time go??
     Tonight we had delightful guests who talked with us about their organization that helps children in Honduras by purchasing the things that are required to go to school. See the previous post for more info.
     After counting meds tonight, there was email to read, texts to return, now a blog post to write (before I forget even more). I’m Done! Everything else must wait until tomorrow.

Day 4 – 3rd day on site

by | Jan 27, 2016 |

Much the same today as the rest of the week.  Optical busy as usual.  Sewing slow in am but much busier in afternoon.  Construction got the chance to work on some painting instead of scraping and sanding.  A welcome break!

Visited with a construction workers family and their sick daughter today.  Things are hard for them and she has been sick for several months.  We will continue to keep them in our prayers and wish for them to see the light at the end of the tunnel with their trials.  
Going to try to post some video snip its regularly of various things through the day. Will post them through you tube.  Below some links and pictures of the day 
We also had a visit from Henry and Sarah who are two Texas natives who have been coming to Honduras for more than 10 years. They live part time down here while they do their work. They started a program called Becas Con Benediciones of Honduras and the general purpose of the organization is providing school clothing and supplies to children who otherwise wouldn’t be able to attend school.  Please check out their web site and read all about what they do and what you can do to help.  It`s a great program, please consider supporting.
Www.becasconbendiciones.com
A few short clips from our mission things happening. 
VBS students

A lovely Honduran girl giving Sandy a neck massage – and every one else sitting around!  Leslie giving her a massage too. Issly was her name.  Such a cutie. 
Issly, Shelley & Leslie visiting
View from church

Bill Scraping concrete
The room we have been painting today – Ron in the picture
Dawn in sewing this week and pharmacy next

Pat in sewing

Honduran ladies learning to sew

Until tomorrow 
Blessings 

Day 3 -Second day on the site

by | Jan 26, 2016 |

Another busy day today.  Construction team continues with sanding and scraping and much more.  The building of the mission headquarters continues.  At times during the day when I find myself feeling discouraged and tired, I turn on some music and remind myself why we are here and the importance of Gods work.  Everyone needs a reminder from time to time.  Stay positive and stay focused.  

VBS has been active and energetic with some great experiences this week.  One of them being that VBS had a child who came and spoke such good English she ended up interpreting a story for the kids.  Our youngest interpreter yet.  Here she is.  

Sewing is slower than usual but still steady with people wanting to learn skills.  Optical busy as ever.  
The construction team got to do a home visit today and see the way that 80% of the Honduran population live. Humbling to all of us.  
Construction pictures:

Yes those are bunk beds we are using as scaffolding.  And yes, sadly I did fall, but I’m good : )

VBS in action

Optical team at work

Sewing

A Honduran hardware store.  Everything behind bars.  No browsing.  

Last but not least for today – our awesome interpreters for the week.  

Blessings.

An update from the basement

by | Jan 26, 2016 |

     Monday held some surprises for us! VBS & sewing started slowly, with 5 & 0 people. Optical was off on their normal bounding pace from early morning.

     The sewing room had time to clean the machines which had been delivered and to finish set up. Our goal this week is to train 8-10 people so they can train others. This means that, once again, our focus has shifted upon arrival. (Last year in Tegucigalpa, the sewing team was asked to make 2 dozen tote bags with pockets for Pastor to give as needed.) Flexibility, flexibility!! We got our housekeeping done as the 1st client arrived. She was followed closely by 2 more. I taught a brand new sewer, & our interpreter, while Pat assessed and started the others on a project. Two more ladies came late in the day; we wil get them going on projects tomorrow.
     My biggest, most welcome surprise arrived at lunchtime. One of my most favorite of our old interpreters, and sometime travel companion, unexpectedly visited the church site! We sat, talked all through lunchtime. He greeted other team members as he saw them. Many of us have worked with him in past years. Best lunch ever! Thank you, Manuel!!
     Afternoon progressed as expected. Optical still at breakneck speed trying to see all the patients still waiting, VBS closed for the day, onto the home visits.
     After dinner was the next surprise. I have not worked at the church site in Tegucigalpa for a few years so had not been exposed to the musical talent in house. Their playing (guitars, drum, saw) was rousing, moving, toe-tapping in 3 languages!!
Well, Monday’s gone. On to our next opportunity.

Day 2 – First day at Site

by | Jan 25, 2016 |

Today was the beginning of our work week at the church headquarters site.  The construction team went to work right away on the various tasks at hand.  Primarily sanding concrete walls by hand and chipping off concrete from the metal ceiling! Hard dusty work but we still manage to have a little fun.  The rest of the teams, VBS, Optical, and Sewing were busy with their various tasks and working with the local people.  

Highlight of the day was being able to do a home visit to a couple of families that belong to the church.  It definitely gives you a new perspective to see the level of poverty these people live in.  Small shacks made of tin and cardboard, and other items such as plastic and sheets.  Two different families, two different stories.  
Our day ended with the construction workers and a few others coming to dinner at the mission house. Pastor Guadalupe and his wife Sandra, and their son Abraham, Superintendent Pablo and his wife Claudetta, and several others entertained us with their guitars and musical talents and Superintendent Pablo even played the saw for us.  Great fellowship with some faithful Honduran people.  
 Leslie & Sandy with one of the families from the home visit


Pastor Guadalupe with a home visit family

Inside home of the second family we visited
Me with 3 month old from second family we visited.


Entrance to one of the homes
Kitchen?
Till tomorrow.  Blessings!

Señor estas aqui

by | Jan 24, 2016 |

Well, Shelley summed up today pretty well in the previous post. The attached video says it all, “Señor estas aqui”.
God is here.
I felt it.
Maybe we all did.

All the Sunday mornings that I have been here with a brigade, we have attended a church service. It always seems to be one of the most memorable times of the week.
And then, we get to the business we came to do.

Day 1 Tegucigalpa

by | Jan 24, 2016 |

Today was a day of worship and set up.  After arriving at the church this morning to worship we were pleasantly surprised to see how much construction had taken place on the third level of the church head quarters.  

Worship was true Honduran style – full of passion.  

My biggest take away from the day was from a discussion we were having with our construction workers and the pastor of the church.  They were discussing how the neighbors didn’t seem too friendly and didn’t like them too much in the beginning, but after years of watching mission groups come through and seeing the work that they do as well as all the relationships that are being built, they have grown to become friends.  Some have even begun to come to church. People often ask why do you go to Honduras.  I personally question whether what I say or do in Jesus name ever does any good and if that seed you try to plant is really growing. It’s when hearing stories like this that I feel hope and comfort that the word of God is powerful and it is necessary that we continue to do these things such as mission trips.  We may never see the fruits of our labors but we have faith.  
Hondurans are very passionate about their worship and really throw their heart and soul into the worship service and their commitment to God.  Something we should all strive to do.  
Fun times are always had with this group too so it’s not all work and no play.  Below are some pictures of our team during the day.  

Last year the construction crew worked on the rebar supports for these posts. A hug was necessary.  

One of our missioners thoughts on Honduran wiring!!  

Masks for construction?  I have no words!

Finally a you tube link to one of the hymns sung today at worship. 
Work starts tomorrow. 

Gathering of the brigade

by | Jan 24, 2016 |

     Well, the rest of the week 1 team has arrived. A missing crew member and fuel mix up fouled our lunch plans. That is why the most basic skill we bring on mission is FELXIBILITY.  We do not always need it but are always glad to have it.
     My day was less eventful than some. After making pancakes for my hosts here in Tegucigalpa, we loaded the luggage & took off to run errands. As I got an in-depth tour of the city, we talked of politics, family, education & relaxation. We ate THE BEST PUPUSAS I have ever had. (If you know me, you know this is what I look for while I’m here; great food!)  My friends showed me a park only a few blocks from the mission house that overlooks a nice section of the city. After that it was, unfortunately, time to say “Hasta luego”, goodbye for now to my friends.
     Rather than having time to be sad, I was pulled into a different group of friends. Six of the team were already at the house!! I had expected them to be waiting at the airport for the delayed plane. We caught up with news and happenings as the optical team prepped for the weeks ahead. As hard as we worked to get ready, as much as we saw each other in December & early January; for many of us it had been 2 weeks since seeing one another.
    The last of the team arrived and was pulled into the scrum. Conversation died out in favor of rest, for some. Others gravitated toward their devices. Song books were distributed by our wise praise master. We sang, we prayed, we discussed itinerary issues. Then we ate!!
   The last bit of the day was quickly over. A short ride to the B&B for the night. (The mission house has a team in residence for one last night.) A distribution of keys, luggage & wifi password is all that was left. Ready to begin.