Giggles, Paint, & Prayers

 WELL.....since my last blog I received the time off for my trip to Honduras  WhoooHoooo!!!   I have attended my first pre-trip meeting, written my prayer letter and am in the process of mailing it out...and the most exciting part of my preparation came unexpected.....

Last Monday I was honored to attend the Honduras of Life board meeting where Pastor Yobani Alas was the guest for the evening. (he was in the US for three weeks visiting churches etc.)  As some of you may know Yobani is the pastor of the Fuente' de Vida ministry in Taulabe' Honduras...this is the ministry that Honduras Fountain of Life partners with.   When I first arrived in Honduras in 2008 he was the first person I met.  I had mentioned in a previous blog that he asked me then if I spoke Spanish...I sheepishly replied no but with his normal exuberance he proclaimed "We  will teach you"!  I still can't speak Spanish!! LOL  Anway,  Since that first meeting I have come to admire this Godly man who for 25 years has served the people in the mountains of Central Honduras...he has continued to listen to God and when at his darkest times he never gave up his faith.  During the meeting he recanted many stories of how God has used him and the ministry and how he never lets an opportunity pass without sharing the love of Christ in either word or deed.  He has helped to plant 60 mountain churches, open a home for the elderly and widows, continues to be head over the Hogar de' Ninas that is home to girls that are abused, malnourished and come from terrible backgrounds, and the Fuente de Vida school.   He spoke of starting a work and eat program, similar to Lord's Acres here.  Where people would help to work the gardens, in exchange for fresh vegetables

 "Feed a man a meal and he will be satisfied for a day, feed a man's soul and he will be satisfied for life".  That is one of his mottoes and one that Honduras Fountain of Life follows.  We can go in and buy food, build buildings and hand out things of material nature (HFOL does help when necessary)  but they have chosen to build relationships with the community and the ministry in Taulabe that has stretched over 10 years. 

People often ask me what I do when I go and I have to answer with a chuckle "I play"...  :-)   I play with the kids in the playground of the school where 350 students attend the Fuente de Vida school and another 300 attend the Compassion International School.  They love to laugh at the goofy American who can't speak Spanish & who calls them monkeys but also trust them to use my camera as they take pictures of themselves and of me.  I sit on the porch of the Hogar de Nina and color, or just sit and rock with a little one in my lap, or become the arms that catch  a giggling girl when they jump from the edge of the pool.  (we usually take the girls of the Hogar swimming while we are there)  I hate to wash dishes at home but I could wash dishes all day beside my sweet friend Elvia.  All of this while reminding them they are loved and not while I am there but when I come home to the US.   

On previous trips I have helped to sort the mercy closet that is home to shelves and shelves of clothes that are available to those in need; paint the hogar and school; host a women's retreat for the teachers of the school and workers of the church; assisted in medical clinics and taken photos, handing them out from an instant printer....whatever is needed to be done.  

We often go with a "plan"....and it is often tweaked or changed, depending on what is needed when we arrive but this year it is my hope to have "Art Day" for the kids at the school.   When I came up with the idea I imagined finger painting with the Kindergarten but it has blossomed to possibly spending time with each grade.   We have not settled on a project yet but we are searching Pinterest and other sources for ideas.  

Please pray for me and the team of 20 others as we prepare for our journey in July.  Pray God will give  us direction on where to go with the Art Day idea....or lead us in other directions where the need might be.  Whatever it is..we are there to serve as Christ came to serve us. 

Stay tuned!!!   

It's the little things

I have often said that it is the little things in life that make a difference. Earlier this week I found that to once again  be true.

 I still have not gotten the "ok" for my time off in July.  I found myself a bit discouraged and wondering if maybe it isn't the time for me to go. I even questioned if I really wanted to go. 

The enemy is so good at spreading lies and bringing us down and that is exactly what happened!

Later that same day I was checking out patients when one of the Spanish  interpreters approached the desk to assist a family.  I saw the mom and older sister but what I didn't see, but heard, is what made the difference.  There were younger children in front of the counter laughing, giggling and speaking in Spanish.  The little boy was requesting a sticker for a "nino." Their giggles took me immediately to the front porch of the hogar.  Of course I want to go!!!  Who was I kidding?  My heart is longing to hear the laughter there.  It is longing to hear the school children on the playground beg to have their picture taken and fight over who will use my camera & then hysterically laugh when they see themselves on the screen. Yes! Yes! Yes! I want to go!  

It is indeed the little things that matter, that make a difference.  The laughter of a child is undeniably one of those things.   

I New Adventure is Blooming

Since I traveled to Honduras for the first time, I have learned that when I leave,  I never know when I will return again.  It is always God's timing and when it all comes together I know then that it is the time to return.   

As some of you may recall,  my last trip was February of 2013.  I went with a group of ladies to minister to the ladies of Fuente de Vida Ministry in Taulabe.  This year the same type of trip was organized and many of the same ladies that I went with last year returned again. However, due to starting a new job in November, I was not able to go with them.  It was hard to stay behind and watch my friends return without me but I was with them in heart.  

So now,  just like the spring flowers are starting to bloom, so is the idea of me returning to Honduras.  I have sent in a request to be off July 11-18; I am waiting for the official approval.  It is hard for me to not become excited prematurely but I know in my heart that it is the right time for me to go.  I also know prayer is an accentual part of the trip; from the beginning to the end it is with the prayers of many friends and family that I go.   

Please begin now praying with me:

1) That I will be permitted the time off
2) That God will start, even now, to prepare my heart
3)  Pray for the team as it starts to form that God will bring 
     us together to serve our friends in Taulabe.

I have a feeling this is going to be an amazing adventure!
     

He is EVERYWHERE!!!

February 1, 2013 

God was EVERYWHERE today!!!

The  moment my feet hit the floor this morning I felt at peace.  All the anxieties and worries that I had felt over the last couple of weeks had disappeared. 

We arrived at the Asheville Airport at 5:45 and began unloading our crates and luggage.  Jeff hauled all my stuff to the Delta counter where Kelly was already waiting.  We said our goodbyes (which are always hard) and he rushed out to move the car and head off to work.  I stood in line filled with excitement and a bit sad from our parting.  I few moments later Debbi arrives and behind her are her sweet hubby Michael AND my hubby!!! It was just what my heart needed a second goodbye!  

As our troops started to arrive one by one and the crates and luggage began piling up there was a man waiting  behind us, we offered for him to go around but he was happy to wait.  It turns out that he had been visiting Camp Kanuga in Hendersonville and he himself ran a camp in Washington.  It was a pleasure to talk to him as we were processing our things.   

One by one we weighed our trunks holding our breath that they were the required 50lbs.  God's hands were on the scales and our weigh in was successful.  We had planned to have to pay $45 each for our second checked baggage.  The night before Jim found out that because he is 'special' he can check in with up to 8 guest and they do not have to pay the fee!!!  What an exciting savings!!!  Kelly was flying stand-by and got THE LAST seat on the flight to Atlanta...another whoot whoot for God!!

One of my little fears that I had was that I was going to have to try and lift my luggage up to the overhead compartment.  By the time we boarded our plane in Atlanta there was no more room in the overhead compartment....cha ching....I left it at the door for it to be loaded under the plane!!!   

I just felt like God was carrying me through every phase of the journey thus far the peace that I woke up with continued to follow me through the morning.  As I walked down  the aisle searching for my seat I heard someone call out my name...as I searched to find the source I expected to find one of my team members who had boarded earlier but to my surprise there sat Jim & Julie Nelms!!!  Jim and I had worked together at State Farm over 10 years ago.  Jim is who introduced me to Grace Community church and he and Julie now serve on one of the islands off the coast of Honduras.  I was so excited!!!  I could not believe that they were there!!!  My heart was already happy but it almost exploded!  Thank you Lord for such a wonderful gift.  

 Big Sigh.....EXHALE....GRIN....Smile....Awesome God!!!!

(L-R) Mary Dean Beland, Me, Jim Nelms, Jlulie, their son & Pastor Jim

He Speaks in Honduras, the beginning

In January 2008, my first trip to Honduras, Pastor Jim asked our team if anyone would like to give their testimony at the service that night.  As is very normal for me I immediately replied NO WAY....there is no way in the world that I am going to stand on the stage of a church and look into a sea of faces and expose my heart.  

That day we traveled up into the mountains to serve in a medical clinic people came from miles around...walking....just to see a doctor.  We took photos of people and printed them right on the spot (via a printer hooked to the cigarette lighter in the truck)  Some of those people had never had a photo of themselves and were so happy to have that 4 x 6 photo.  We played games with the kids, painted little girls finger nails and just had an amazing time.  There was joy all over that mountain side.  

The whole time we were there in the back of my mind I kept hearing the Lord tell me to give my testimony.  To which I would once again reply with I can't.  Finally by the time we came down off the mountain I submitted & agreed but only if He would give me the words to say. 

It was the first time that I had ever shared my testimony publicly and honestly I am not sure what I said but I know that the Lord gave me the words that night.  I looked out into a see of faces and in the midst of the brown eyes and dark hair I saw smiles from light colored skin, friends that truly knew me and knew my heart.   That trip was the beginning of a journey for me.  I realized on that trip how much God  loved me despite my failures and short comings. Have I believed it every day since then? No way....there have been times when I have totally forgotten it all together but as time has gone on He gently reminds me that He will never leave me nor forsake me....that He is for me ....and that He gave it all.  

Call this a teaser but that is where it started 5 years ago....that brings us to 2013 and what He taught me this time...FEAR....I learned that I am a very fearful person but  he proved to me over and over again on my  journey that the fear does not come from him ....that He is in control.    Stay tuned to hear how my fear was proven wrong and where God was on my journey.

 

The home  for girls lit up at night

Like most people, I look forward to Fridays...the end of the work week and the start of the weekend. 

However,   the work week ends for me tomorrow & instead of Friday marking the end it is the beginning of my great adventure!

I am excited, nervous, apprehensive, anxious, and did I mention excited?

It has been such a wonderful blessing to watch God build this team of ladies.  What started as myself and Debbi has now grown to a team of 6 ladies & Pastor Jim.  We all have different gifts, talents, fears & insecurities but isn't that what makes a great team? 

As I have mentioned before our idea is go and refresh, encourage & lift up the teachers of  Compassion International. Funte de Vida school, and the ladies of the Fuente de Vida hogar las ninas. (Home for girls)  But I know God has something much bigger planned....bigger than we could even imagine and that is what I am looking forward to the most...sitting back and letting God be God.

Please pray for us as be meet tomorrow to pack the footlockers & duffel bags that will carry the items we will be taking.  God has blessed us with 40 Bibles and devotional books, we will also take hygiene products donated by many folks in the area....clothes and items needed to care for the girls at the home. Please pray that exactly what needs to go will fit!  Also pray for good health & safety for our entire team.  And finally...last and most definitely not least that we will be open to the Holy Spirits leading.  That we wouldn't be so wrapped up in our own agendas that we miss what he has planted for us. 

Thank you so much! I look forward to sharing with you when I return on the 8th.

She's bringing sea shells....

I feel like a different person from the one who posted the blog entry last weekend.  I am revived, refreshed and ready to fly!  This week I received encouraging notes & counsel from friends;  they were definitely messages from above.  Don't ever think that God doesn't use you because you never know what a kind world, encouragement or even a smile will do to make a difference in someone's heart.

Our 'team' met again last night to review our plan.  It was so exciting to see how pieces of the plan are starting to fit together.  Although we have a 'plan' we were reminded to be flexible.  (Big SMILE inserted here) you never know what will happen, that is part of the great adventure.

Today I was able to mark several things off my list.  My task is to get the journals that we will give the ladies (they will also receive a bible and devotional book

I believe I mentioned in my previous post that we are going to be making boxes with mosaics on the top.  We will be using broken plates, marbles, and I am going to be taking sea shells.

I have bags and bags of shells that I have collected over the years.  Today I was going through them selecting ones to take to Honduras.  One of the bags was marked "Beach Trip 2004" .  If you had told me 9 years ago that I was picking up shells to take to the Central Mountains of Honduras I would have not believed it.  Indeed His ways are not ours.