On June 29th, I left for Honduras to work with/translate for a group from
Georgia. The group’s
congregation sponsors the Christian school in Trujillo. During their time there, the men
constructed a wall for a bathroom so that a watchman can live on the premises because thieves were stealing metal from the school to sell. At the same time, the women were calling students to the multi-purpose room to
write letters and paint pictures for their sponsors. Toward the end of the week, the group held a
VBS for both children and adults. The adults watched a video on the life of Jesus, while the children rotated to stations in which they sang songs, watched a puppet presentation, did crafts, played games and had a snack. On the last day, the group put together a Power Point presentation set to music that was shown in the auditorium. The crowd really enjoyed the presentation. I really appreciated the group’s organization and enthusiasm. They will do great things for the school.
In between the group’s departure and my mom’s arrival, I took
Carmen Garcia and
Osladis Romero to
doctor’s appointments. After 3 1/2 days of running around we were finally definitively told that
Carmen could not be operated on due to the condition of her heart. Though she was initially disappointed, she arrived back in Trujillo in good spirits. My mom and I had a Bible study with her. She believes in the Lord and is open to Him but sees commitment to Him as a big and important decision that she wants to be ready for.
*Please pray that she will continue to study the Word and find the answers she is looking for.
Osladis has
sickle-cell anemia that she is going to have to learn to manage. The results of an extensive blood test came out quite positive, but she continues to have pain in her stomach, the cause of which is still undetermined. She wants to take classes at the local university next month but her inconsistent symptoms make it difficult to do so.
*Pray that she will be able to finish the trimester.
I picked up my mom, Mary, on July 11th and took her to the public hospital where Carmen and Osladis were waiting. She was shocked by the long lines and wait time. Their system is really quite unbelievable. We were both grateful for the health care that we have in the States, but at the same time lamenting the fact that such health care is not available to the Hondurans. Thankfully, Mom’s health was good during her stay.
Because of a donation by Ambria Johnson, we were able to buy beans, rice and a variety of other household items to deliver to the Little Hands families and other widows in the church. Mom also purchased “roofing” sheets for a widow’s home. Her house needs many repairs, so we have our next construction project planned for 2008.
While living in Honduras, Luke 6:30 challenged me to “give to all who ask.” (Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.) When I was living in Honduras, I practiced this, but during my last visit the requests exceeded what I was able to give. There are always people who need health care that can’t afford it, and people who are willing to work but can’t find jobs in the poor economy of Trujillo. As a result, I have a few special requests that I would like for you to prayerfully consider.
1) LeonidasI met Leonidas and his family in 1999, when I stayed with a neighboring family. We spent a lot of time visiting and formed a dear friendship. Leonidas attends the congregation in barrio Limonal. He works as the watchman at a local school and earns little. He often has health problems that keep him from going to work and then, he is unable to purchase the medicines he needs to manage his health problems. For example, one of his prescriptions costs around $35 and he cannot afford to buy it every month.
In the last few months, his daughter, Denisse, was diagnosed with chronic neck pain. She was teaching in a small village that required two busses and a one hour hike up the mountain to arrive. The doctor recommended that she take a year off of work, but her work granted her 6 months of leave. After having rested, she is feeling better but her condition is being aggravated by the walking and constant bending she must do in the classroom. She also has several prescriptions to purchase each month. This month, she needs to go to Tegucigalpa for a check up. Transportation and lodging costs about $265.
*Please pray that her request for a transfer is granted so that she can work closer to home.
2) Jorge
Jorge is a native of Panama who is a missionary in Honduras. He was the first full-time Bible teacher to be hired at the Honduran Bible School (EBH). Recently, Jorge married a girl whose father threatened his life. Because the director of EBH was working in Trujillo when Doctor Tony was murdered, he took the threat very seriously and decided that Jorge needed to leave the state. Jorge never imagined that he would be newly married and jobless. To meet his cost of living, he needs about $150 per month. Jorge has a heart for the teens of Honduras and is currently working with a congregation in that capacity.
3) MarioMario is a multi-talented person. He has a Bible degree, he is studying business administration, he works construction by trade, has a good head on his shoulders and has a great heart. Mario is able to do a lot of things, but because of the poor economy in Trujillo, he consistently has trouble finding work. Many of the construction jobs require that he works on Sunday, which he will not do. He is a great asset to the church in Trujillo but they are in danger of losing him because of the financial difficulties he is having.
He and his wife, Nohemy, are on course to graduate in December 2008. He is concerned because the last year of school is the most expensive and he is barely making ends meet as it is.
His options are: dropping out of school, coming to the States to work, or receiving help until he and his wife graduate (or until he obtains a reliable full-time job)
. That help could come in the form of a start-up fund for a small business or in the form of $160 per month to work with the church. He is willing to work in whatever capacity is needed.
If you have any questions, ideas or would like to give to any of these three special cases, please contact me at
naytay78@hotmail.com.
Mario’s wife,
Nohemy Urbina Torres, is this month’s student of the month.
Nohemy Urbina Torres is a non-traditional student. She is a 31-year-old mother of two who has been married for 13 years. Her family attends the church of Christ in barrio Limonal. She and her husband, Mario, are both in their second year of the business administration program in a private school. She maintained an 82% GPA last year.
