Honduras

The entire team (and all their bags) made it safely back to Tucson this morning!

Thanks again for all of your prayers throughout this trip.  We all really appreciated you praying so hard on our behalf.

We’ve made it through our first leg of the trip and are waiting in Tegucigalpa for our flight to San Salvador. Smooth Sailing so far…

Next leg completed.  We’re in San Salvador and our plane has arrived.  We should be boarding soon.  Just a few hours from being back in the US.

Sorry for taking so long to update, we just got access to internet.  We’ve arrived here in LAX and should be boarding for Tucson very soon.  Only a quick 1.5 hour flight and we’ll be home.  Thanks to everyone for all your prayers, they have been very evident as the trip home has been very smooth.  Looking forward to seeing many of you soon.

We got to sleep in a bit as we weren’t picked up for the hike until a little after 8.  We piled into the guide agency’s buses and headed to the trailhead.  It’s just a little ways past the turn off for Armenia Bonito and past a few miles and through one pineapple field.  Since Beth and I had been on the hike previously and had heard most of the guide’s insights we hung back at the end of the line with Mike.  It was nice to get to talk to him more about his ministry here in La Ceiba as well as the path he took to get here.  I think discussions like that really open Beth and I’s hearts to the idea of working in the mission field.  It’s definitely something that we’ve been praying a lot about.  I guess we’ll see what God has in store for us.

One of the fun parts of the hike is getting the chance to eat things that you might not have ever eaten or see things you might have otherwise never seen.  For example, there are the ants there that, when squished, smell exactly like a mint leaf.  They are one of Beth’s favorite parts.  Also, the tradition of eating some termites continues.  This time Mackensie, Crystal, Phil, Melissa, Jon, Emma, Miguel and Greg got in on the action.  Although it may sound weird, they taste just like carrots.

At the top of the hike we end at the base of a ~90ft waterfall.  Although it was a little too dangerous to head all the way up to the main pool, the lower pools provided more than enough fun as most of us took turns swimming up to a smaller fall that came over a smooth rock and attempting to lean into the water as it came down.  This was no small feat and it often took the help of a few of us in order to get people into place.  I don’t have any pictures of this but maybe I can update with some later if I get a copy of Mikala’s pictures. For now I’ll give you a picture of a leaf frog we found along the trail and Beth wanted a picture with.

After the hike we headed back into town.  Again, we have to take the main road that runs into La Ceiba.  Sadly today there was a pretty bad accident, with an Audi SUV which, as far as we could tell had taken out the majority of a guardrail on a bridge as well as a motorcycle and bike.  According to those around, there were 3 deaths and we actually arrived as they were bagging up the last body.  It is very tragic, but also very understandable if you were able to see the traffic on this road.  It is a two lane road with a small shoulder.  The shoulder is usually made up of bikes and pedestrians, with motorcycles swerving between here and the centerline to pass cars.  The cars will often go 3-4 wide to pass other cars.  It is mayhem.  I was asking John about driving it and he said that it takes “a mixture of defensive and offensive driving.”  I would completely agree, but would also add nerves of steel to continue at 40mph as cars cut you off, assuming they will avoid you.

We had one last dinner and devotional at the Clow’s and said goodbye to everyone but the Pettengills.  It’s always sad to have to leave as you are finally getting used to just being hot and a little wet.  I guess it’s back to the desert for all of us.  Please pray that our flights tomorrow go smoothly.  If so, we should be back in Tucson by around 10am on Sunday.  I’ll try my best to update if there are any changes in the flight schedule.

Thank you all for all your prayers over this past week.  I know that it is because of you that we were all able to work so hard and have such a great time serving the Lord here in La Ceiba.  Here’s looking forward to next year’s trip!

Day 2 got off to a slow start as our group was a little lethargic in the morning so we were a little behind when Mike arrived.  We split up like yesterday into the medical clinic and two teams for construction.  I again worked at the school with Jon, Mikala, Mackensie and Ross.  Beth worked over at the house.  We spent most of our time continuing to fill in around the wall, but under much more duress as there was no cloud cover this morning making it very hot.  After the next 7 columns were framed we mixed a double batch of concrete and began filling buckets.  Jon and I were tasked with taking the approximately 3/4 full, 60-80 pound buckets over to the fence and across a precariously placed board to then lift them over our shoulder and dump them into the columns.  Each column took about 4-5 buckets so I estimate about 30-35 buckets were carried by the morning’s end.  By this point I was in a complete flop sweat with both my shirt and pants drenched.  Tough, but we got a good amount of work done.

Meanwhile, the medical clinic continues to do amazing work serving the people of Armenia Bonito.  Please pray for Joseph, Donna, Miguel, Emma and Susan as well as Erin and all the other volunteers as we will be doing one more clinic on Thursday.

The afternoon started same as usual with a few hours to kill playing soccer with the kids before Kid’s Club started.  Lots of fun but, again, tiring to be out in the sun.  Beth ended up jumping rope with this little boy who was insistent that Beth play with him.  Meanwhile, I tried to moderate a crazy game of Uno between about 6 kids.

We gathered all the kids that were interested together to start with some singing.  Jon and Susan did a great job and the kids loved it.  It’s always fun to hear kids scream (and I mean scream) praises to God.

We then went inside for a Bible story from Emma.  She had prepared a great dialogue on the story of Joseph complete with a felt board.  The kids were enthralled and I think she kept their attention (and their silence) for over an hour.

Margaret and Elizabeth had then prepared crafts for the kids.  The little ones made sheep, the middle aged made Joseph’s coat out of felt and ribbon, and the oldest made bracelets.  The crafts were a big hit and it’s a great enjoyment to see the kids loving the opportunity to work with you on a project.  They ate it up.  We departed with a small bag of candy which Emma had brought.

We then had dinner at a restaurant in town complete with baleadas.  These are similar to a burrito but with a thicker flour tortilla that is folded like a taco.  You had your choice of any mixture of the following: chicken, beef, beans, cheese and eggs.  They also provided some other authentic Honduran treats.  I think I know what we’ll be making if we do another fundraising dinner in the future.

I’m a little more tired that I was yesterday.  I think the bucket work really took it out of me.  I’m sure the rest of the team is feeling very similar with long, hot days.  Please continue to pray for the health and spirit of the team.  Pray for, as Mike reminded us tonight, that there is a war going on and we are right in the middle of it.  We should expect difficulties, but we should also remember that we win because Christ won.  Also pray for the kids in Armenia Bonito as we will continue ministering to them tomorrow with trip to the river.  Looking forward to that!

The day began early, heading out to Arminea Bonito to see the new ministry site.  It was amazing what has happened since we were last here.  Two years ago, Beth and I prayed with Mike that God would deliver the land to them.  At this time we were standing on an empty field.  Just look at what all is there now:

The building in front is the school building, off to the right is the indoor soccer court and to the left is the medical clinic.  All are still in various stages of construction, but it is simply remarkable to see what God has done here.

We divided into 3 teams: 1 for the medical clinic and 1 each for the 2 construction projects.  Team 1 was working on starting the blockwork for a single mother’s house.  Team 2 continued work on the wall dividing the school from the medical center.  It was hard work, work that sweats through your shirt and pants, fun work though.  Team 1 was able to get the block groundwork done after painstakingly making the first row level off of the footer.  Team 2 aiding in the pouring of cement pillars for the wall and refilled dirt from the excavation for the wall’s base.  The morning went by fast and before we knew it, it was lunch.

It was then that the effort put forth started to catch up to us.  Everyone was tired, but in good spirits.  Greg began to feel a little sick, and rapidly progressed to other symptoms of heat exhaustion.  We first hoped some time in front of the fan and some Gatorade would do the trick, but Erin stepped in and after some quick diagnosis determined that he needed some fluids.  She hooked Greg up to an IV and ended up giving 2.5 liters of fluids!  He is feeling better now and should be fine the rest of the trip, but it was definitely a reminder to me to take breaks and drink plenty.

After lunch, some soccer and catching up with some kids I remembered from the previous trip, I went with John to meet Mike at the airport to pick up the remaining bags.  After a quick scare that we had lost 1 we loaded all the bags and took them back to the dorm.  I know everyone waiting on them was extremely happy to be able to take a shower and put on their own clean clothes tonight.

When returning from the airport we hear that there has been another injury.  Elizabeth, while playing soccer with some of the kids, dislocated her knee cap.  Erin was able to help ice and medicate after she was carried back to the clinic by Phil and Ross.  The ice helped and the swelling in her knee subsided.  She is still sore, but getting along.  I think the largest injury will be that she won’t be able to play soccer or go on the hike.  Please pray that her spirits remain high and she feels that she is still able to serve the Lord the remainder of the week.

English class went off without a hitch (except for the normal craziness of all those kids).  I really enjoy working with the kids one-on-one, it really feels like you are getting to connect with them.  After a quick stop off at the Clow’s for dinner and devotional we all headed back to the dorms.  Showers and prep for tomorrow ensued and we’re all now off to bed early.  Looking forward to another rewarding, yet hopefully less eventful, day.

Sorry for the lack of pictures.  I left my camera in the van this morning and I have no way to obtain the pictures from Mikala’s camera that was passed around today while here.  Hopefully more tomorrow.

One last prayer request for Mike and John.  These have been trying times for the Honduras Team and as men and leaders and husbands and fathers, it is difficult to not have anger or impatience.  With break-ins, car problems, car accidents, having to lay off workers and the general wear of many teams over the summer, there is a lot on their plate.  Please pray that they would continue to be shining examples of Christ both to us and to the people of Armenia Bonito.

Well after quite a trip, we are all now in La Ceiba.  The flights this morning were fairly uneventful.  We had some meals, went through Darkness to Light training (child abuse prevention seminar, very helpful, darkness2light.org), went over the group orientation, and had “Gringo” church.  “Gringo” church is what Mike call their English language fellowship.  We sang songs, had a prayer time, Mike brought us the Word from Romans 8:28-38 (the so-called “Wow” verses) and were able to celebrate communion.  It was really a beautiful time of worship in the Clow’s garage.  It was very refreshing to come together in worship after the travel annoyances.

One issue remaining is that the group of 12 which arrived in La Ceiba last night has not received their bags.  They were expected today, but after a run to the airport by John Clow and me, we found that the bags still have yet to make it to San Pedro Sula.  Thus the bags are most likely still in San Salvador.  Those effected were able to raid the Pettengill’s ministry closet to grab a change of clothes for tomorrow and we’re planning to take their other clothes to the cleaners.  Please pray that the bags arrive tomorrow and for the patient endurance for those who are without many personal items and clothing.  God is always at work, especially in difficulties.  Pray that He gives us the Grace to serve ardently throughout this testing.

I don’t have a lot of pictures yet, but hopefully will get some tomorrow as construction and medical clinic both start in the morning and we teach an English class in the afternoon.  Here are some of the group hanging out at the Clows prior to orientation: