Today was our day “off” however we still had a very busy day.

We started the morning by watching Honduras in their World Cup soccer game against Chile. It aired at 5:30AM! Unfortunately they lost so it was a sad day in Honduras. However the kids were probably happy that they didn’t have to go to school until 9AM. Can you imagine post-poning school in the US for a sporting event?!

We came back for breakfast and hung around the house to organize and inventory the team supplies. We saw Melanie off and heard that she boarded on time. We miss her already!

Then at 1:00 we piled in the car and headed to the WATERFALLS. It was one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen! The pictures shown are of the first level but two more tiers of falls were above and many of us hiked up to them. Some of us jumped from the top into the beautiful, cool pools below. We finished up with some juicy watermelon that Gloria sent with us. What an awesome day. Our God is an Awesome God.

 By the way…in response to your comment Gran Van, We have been typing the text of the blogs at night and adding the photos in the morning because for some reason the photos don’t upload fast enough at night. So if you read a post without pictures, check back the next day and they will probably have been added.
Love to all of our family members!

Hola Amigos!

       Today, we took a trip to the White Dove School in Santa Clara. We were greeted by the sight of new classrooms which had been constructed through HAF last summer. Also, a bathroom with running water and the beginnings of a church are under construction. We observed the children ‘learning Spanish in an English school’ as the director likes to say. At present, there are 3 classes with 6 students apiece: Pre-K, Kindergarten, and First Grade. They were all excited to tell us their names and ages in English! Then we played with bubbles and frisbees, until it was time for lunch. The children were happy to call us all ‘teacher’ and ask for a ‘balloon’ and to tell us ‘Thank you’ in English! It is so wonderful to see how the Lord has been working in these children’s lives as they are learning in such a nurturing environment!

        After lunch, we took a tour of the town with Ardyn, who has been teaching at the school this summer, and to see  the other construction projects from last summer. This includes Amalia’s home where 17 children and adults live in three small ‘houses!’ Also, the BioSand filters were observed in nearly every household, and we heard from several people that the cases of diarrhea in the children have dramatically decreased since their implementation. Gloria a Dios! Then we heard the vision for the White Dove School with dreams for all 12 grades and a University. God’s light is shining through these missionaries as they struggles to fulfill his calling!
        At dinner tonight, we celebrated Pablo’s 20th birthday! He has been a true blessing this week in our communication with so many people!
        We pray safe travels for Melanie as she travels back to the states in the morning.
        At 5:30 AM, Honduras plays in the world cup…some of us may be getting up to watch…Go Honduras!
     
 Hasta Luego!
      

Hola,
It was another blessed day in Honduras as our group ventured to the beautiful village of Montenita.  

The village was very well maintained and it was easily discerned that the people of Montenita take great pride in what they have, a serene spot on the hill, and do not dwell on what they are lacking, electricity and material goods. Upon arrival, the children were at recess and our bubbles and beach balls undoubtedly added to the bedlam.

While some members of our group prepared fluoride and de-worming treatments, others played amongst the highly energized students. After recess, we distributed the banana flavored de-worming medication to the children who were neatly divided into three classrooms. The children of Montenita very co-operative and took the de-worming medication and fluoride treatment without resistance.

After a brief review of dental hygiene, the children went back into the classroom and we, alongside Maynor, Pablo, and Vilma, toured Montenita assessing the latrines, observing the justas, and sampling water. The four HAF funded latrines were in excellent condition and the recipients were both grateful and gracious in welcoming gringo visitors. 
Compared to the traditional Honduran hornia, the justa stove is safer (external exhaust) and more practical (even heating).

We obtained water samples from the villages main water tank, and from two homes in remote locations of Montenita in order to asses the level of contamination in this picturesque mountain village.

Lastly, we visited with the women of Montenita who craft impressive hand-stitched tortilla cloths. In partnership with HAF, the cloths and bags are sold to consumers in the United States.

We wrapped up the evening with a short tour of the hospital for a few in our group and much fellowship at the ranch. Corey gave Maynor his first guitar lesson and he was very quick to pick it up. We sang lots of songs and had a delicious dinner of fried chicken and papas fritas. Gloria is a gift from God!

 
Hasta Manana!

Hola!

Today was pretty low key. We started at Martha’s Sunday School in Santa Elena. We performed a sketch of the story of Jesus and the disciples who caught fish when they tried the other side of the boat (John 21). We “caught” bags of colored Goldfish crackers and then passed them out to the group. Corey, Brittany, and Megan sang a couple of songs and the kids sang songs for us as well. All 150 kids were fed a meal which was funded by Martha. We played for a little while and returned to the ranch. A relaxed lunch and extended siestas followed.
In the afternoon we visited the meeting of the Agape Promises children. They meet each Sunday and have a lesson and meal.
We went to La Cosecha for an evening worship service that proved energetic as always. The power went out in the middle of the sermon, but the pastor continued speaking and gave praises for the light of God that was still present. A generator granted power for the rest of the service.
After church, we returned home and had an impromptu kitchen raid. We gave Gloria and Sandra the night off because we had lunch leftovers and we knew we would be home so late. It was fun to have our late night snacks of tortilla chips, salsa, toast, cheese, peanut butter, and fruit.
All in all a great Sunday…time for bed.
Enjoy the photos below:

(Left to right): Corey as Jesus, Brittany and Megan as the “other disciples” and their catch of fish, and Melanie as Simon Peter

The “guitarra” was very popular and many of the boys wanted to play with it and have their photo taken with it. Corey was happy to share and even showed them a couple of chords.

Many of the kids at Martha’s Sunday School playing with the beach balls we brought.

The older kids at the Agape Promises meeting on the front porch of the new kitchen that was finished last summer. Funding for this kitchen came from the Foundation.

Some of the younger Agape Promises children posing for a photo while finishing their assignment.

An adorable girl loving on Roxanna following the Agape Promises meeting.

A lovely drawing that Vilma made for our favorite couple of leaders.

The 5 children that live with Jose Maria on the ranch. They have been a great addition to our times of relaxation on the porch. We found clothes from the donation pile to fit each of them and they look adorable in their new threads.

Hello blog followers! I’m writing to tell you about a particularly moving portion of our stay in Q-town.
This morning was consumed with ministering to the people of Tejeras Village. Tejeras is a community of homes directly alongside the highway a couple of miles outside of Quimistan. Our goal was to share God’s love with as many of the people in the town as possible and we accomplished that by taking bags of rice and beans (2 lbs each) along with pamphlets about our Agape Foundation and “Making Peace with God”- by Billy Graham. With the help of our tireless translator, Pablo, we were able to communicate that we were visiting them because we love them as Jesus loves us. We also were able to conduct a “mini-census” that covered things like the number of men, women, boys, and girls in each home. The questions also included the number of people that work, attend school, attend a church, and whether they had light/water/latrines. We wished that we could clothe each of the children and provide substaintial food for all of the families, but we tried our best to show compassion through baggies of soap/shampoo and lots of balloons for the kids.
Each of us left with the haunting gazes of malnourished children and their exhausted parents fresh in our minds. I know that these images will encourage me to continue to support the Agape Mission. These children of God do not have worldly blessings, but rather struggle daily to find their next meal. However I take comfort in knowing that we all can build up treasures in heaven and will one day be together in Christ. I hope that the photos below speak to you much more eloquently than my words.
Love, Brittany

The first gentleman that we “censused” who lives alone in this home. He obliged Melanie with a fotografia.

A boy with one of our “bombas” in a typical dwelling of the Tejeras community.

This little girl was napping in a hammock outside with Mom close by her side.

The girl in this picture was home alone to care for the young children while her parents were working. She did not know how old she was.  We later found out she was 8.

A boy waits as his mother collects water to carry home for cooking and laundry.

 A family carries water back from the river.

Another boy carrying water. Note how small he looks compared to the speeding cars on the highway.

This lady has water and a large bag of recyclable plastic bottles. Many people collect these bottles and turn them in for cash as a means of income.

Our day began with a journey to the most remote village which we will visit, Nueve Esperanza. The medical brigade has been making monthly trips to the village, but this was the first time that missionaries had tagged along. Dr. Constantino set up shop, letting Brittany and Pablo assess patients while Maynor and Corey filled prescriptions.  Brittany was quite excited to sign her first prescriptions as a “doctor” in Honduras! (She is currently a 3rd year medical student in the states).

 Meanwhile, Sonja gave a tour of her school  to Melanie, Sam , Roxanne and Megan. Slowly but surely, the children warmed to the team, beginning to play with bubbles and balloons. Water balloons were the discovery of the day. Both children and adults loved to play with the “bombas de agua!”

The day was deemed a success when over 40 people had been treated and smiles were on every face. To God be the Glory!

We ate lunch next to a river near the Guatemalan border while watching Vilma and Dr. Constantino swim in the natural hot springs. We did not swim, but most of us soaked our feet for a while in the cool water.

After arriving back in Quimistan, the team aided the esteemed cook Gloria in feeding 50 children in Tejeras- a neighborhood of peole that live literally off the side of the highway. The children were silent as the food was blessed. After everyone received their first bowl, they were allowed further helpings until the enchiladas were gone. Many of the second and third helpings went into containers to be shared with the rest of the family. The experience was at once heartbreaking and heartwarming; the children were polite and respectful in the face of so little!  As always God’s grace can be found among suffering and the images we missionaries take from that scene will spur us to continue to strive to help our brothers.

We ended the evening with our intimate group of six enjoying some fellowship at “the ranch.”  We gathered on the porch to sing, ate a dinner complete with homemade flour tortillas, and portioned bags of rice and beans for our evangelism project tomorrow.

Buenas Noches!

After a beautiful sunrise, a delicious breakfast of ‘pancaky’, a glitch in the banking system (which only frustrated the team leader as the team was waiting at the ranch), we finally departed to the “Road to Teo”.  This was a first for the majority of our team and a treat to be sure. The ride along and up into the mountains is beautiful.  The view of the valley below a testament to God’s creative glory.

Although all schools are on vacation this week, we were met by the majority of the school children who readily received their anti- parasitic meds and the fluoride treatment.  During  a reminder by one of the mom’s and Maynor of the importance of good dental hygiene, our med student did random oral checks…..we, they, have a long way to go to teach this concept into daily habits but we are on the path.

Following the treatment, we were guests to an incredible meal by the women of the town cooked on a Justa stove (pictured below).

Following the meal, the older adults toured ten of the homes who have the new stoves, asking some questions to assess performance and satisfaction…..all owners are thrilled with the lack of smoke in the home, use of less wood, and the ability to maintain an even griddle.  The town leaders chose to assign  many of the new stoves to asthma suffers even building one woman with sever asthma an annexed kitchen with a Justa stove.

The youth of the US and those of Teo had fun playing beach ball bust (kicking a beach ball can lead to just that:); jump rope, bubbles, and a sketchy translated version of ‘Red Rover’….the translator was with the stove tour group.

Another item, the board has tasked us with was to do some water testing.  We easily got two samples from homes we visited but when it came to obtaining the sample from the tank, Juan Jose eagerly jumped on top to get it for us.

Words can not convey the gratitude of this village to now have ample running water for all 105 homes.  Sr. Juan told me that on some days, the power of the water flow has been know to blow a pipe which then needs repair…..but he smiled as he told of this ‘problem’.

Following our trek to the water tank, Vilma demonstrated her new skills of checking blood pressure with the new equipment Maynor had delivered to her that day.  I am glad to report that it was at the bottom of the hill that she took my blood pressure and not at the top…or it may have been over the top.

Relatively speaking, we had a very uneventful arrival to Honduras and a safe trip to Quimistan.  Along the way to the ranch, the newbees were WOWed with the beauty, especially our ‘home away from home’.

After our first of many delicious meals cooked by Gloria, an orientation meeting, and some unpacking duties, the youth led by Sam took a motor taxi ride and toured the back roads of Q town.  They were inspired by all the new sights, the multitude of dogs, and the smiling children – two small boys were watching older youth playing soccer and looked as if they were at a feast.  The Norte Americanos enjoyed the shouts of ‘hello’ in English by many.

They visited the future home of our dear Sandra which will be built this year we hope.

We are off to Teo tomorrow and excited about serving our Lord and being served as well.  Now it is time for a good night’s sleep.

How to capture in words all that transpired today?  The events are easy enough; the emotions, not so much. 

We started the day with a refreshing trip to the waterfall outside Quimistan.  Sam stayed in town and took care of some business.  The waterfalls were beautiful, and everyone enjoyed the adventure.  We dropped Tracey and an interpreter off at the Compassion office to find out about sponsoring Reina Isabella, a young girl she had connected with at the dental health training earlier in the week.  Disappointment.  The girl’s family situation is highly suspect and it is unlikely that she can be sponsored.  At the least, attention was drawn to her plight. 

After lunch, Martha brought in the children from San Francisco, a small community on the other side of the suspension bridge.  Riccy, Arthur and Jenny’s sponsor child, preached a short sermon to the children.  Pride.   After a short Salvation Bracelet VBS with them courtesy of Arthur and Jenny, they were allowed to pick out toys and clothes from the supplies we had left. 

While this was going on, the rest of us headed to Tejeras, the highway ministry started by HAF for the squatters who live near the dump, for another eyeglass clinic.  For some reason, only a handful of  “customers” showed up.  However, the children were in abundance, and our teens enjoyed playing with them and giving out balls, bubbles, and smiles to these, the poorest of the poor.  Happiness.  Pain at their situation.  One young boy ran slap into a post, raising an instant goose egg on his forehead.  It was evident he didn’t belong to anyone there, as no one jumped up to help him.  Finally, someone carried him back to his home, kicking and screaming.  Soon enough, he returned for his share of fun and food.  We fed them all a delicious Gloria meal and packed their “take-out” containers full with food for another meal.  Then we had the children line up for a buffet of school supplies.  Frustration.  Language difficulties made distribution difficult, and we could only hope that all had received what they needed.  One older girl, who had always been first in line for everything and made sure she got everything possible, hung back while the rest were leaving.  When all were gone, she came up to me.  Cynic that I am, I expected her to have her hand out, but instead, I received a warm hug and a shy smile. Love. Satisfaction.

 As we were leaving, we discovered that our transportation for the next day was in question, and we had to rethink our plans. We didn’t have a truck for our luggage.  Panic.  After dinner, we gathered together all our bags and trunks and discovered that, miraculously, it would all fit in Sam’s Expedition.  Relief.

 Later, we gathered on the porch for our devotion.  Arthur shared his story, an amazing tribute to his family’s faith and strength as they escaped Communist Russia, fled to Israel, and then landed in Canada.  Tears.  A late night trip to the cemetery with Pablo to visit his mother’s grave.  Suyapa died of cancer last year.  Pablo told of his hope to become a doctor so that he could help those in pain.  Commitment.  More tears.

Guilt that not more could be done, that we have so much.  Pain and concern over what we leave.  Commitment to continue and spread the word.  Love, mostly love.  But then again, that’s what Agape is all about.

The group started the day with a hearty breakfast of eggs, spicy sausage and the very popular flour tortillas. Cook Gloria arrived at 4 am in the dining hall to have the tortillas ready to serve hot and fresh at 7 am. Gloria and Sandra are a great duo in the kitchen.

Thirteen members of the team traveled to Texoxingales (aka, Teo), a small village in the mountains next to the Honduras/Guatemala border. The 90-minute drive to the town was beautiful though the steep drop-offs were a little scary. Approximately 120 kids attended the VBS program at the Pena elementary school in Teo. Arthur and Jenny led the salvation bracelet program and did an awesome job. The team was blessed to have their energy and charisma for sharing Jesus’ love with the children. Each child received a bracelet with 5 beads, each telling part of the salvation story.

Several of the men (Ted, Sam and Jeff) hiked up to the top of the mountain in Teo to see Guatemala. The three men watered the hillside of Guatemala – at least they thought it was Guatemala.

Also, while the team was in Teo, a Justa stove was built in the Pena school lunchroom in just a half of day.

 
by Jeff and Abby Ray