Thursday, February 16, 2012
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Monday, February 13, 2012
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Sunday recap
Worshipped in El Carrizo! Jeremy saw Maria! (and her new home). Swam in the ocean! Ate at Pizza Hut!
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Day 3 recap
Brantley and Jerry Blanchard, as well as Dr. Bob Matthews are workhorses. Whether it involves carrying mescla, laying block, lifting heavy loads overhead or fitting channel block, their skill-set on the worksite has been admirable and appreciated. John and Greg continue to cut any length, size or shape of block as needed. The Flores house is now prepped for a roof and floor! Hallelujah! We enjoyed sunny skies and a steady breeze as we fellowshipped with the locals of San Lorenzo throughout the day. Jeremy and Obed (translator) shared a message of love and grace and salvation to a group of teenage boys during lunch time. Greg closed this awesome day with a heartfelt devotion. God is GOOD.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Day 2 recap
Upon arrival in San Lorenzo, Baldwin continued his tradition and constructed a wooden cross on a hilltop overlooking the Flores homesite. Yes, we then truly completed our second 5 courses by 12:15 today. (Team 1- eat your slow-working hearts out). We then enjoyed a leisurely lunch followed by a soccer rematch. In a tense battle under a blazing-hot, cloudless sky, Honduras defeated Estados Unidos by a final of 4-3. Charlie Barham was offensive MVP for los Americanos while Mark Clary played a stellar goalkeeper under a constant barrage of Honduran shots. Our day culminated with an amazing worship service in Colonias Unidas. "Rolls" Royce was featured on drums, with our frend Nelson on bass and "King" Saul on guitar/lead vocals. It was a powerful service and we now go happily to sleep with the echoes of amplifiers still ringing in our heads.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Team 2, Day 1
Groupo Dos
Team 2 gathered at RDU for a 6:00 AM flight on Wednesday morning to begin their journey to Honduras.
The Last Work Day for Team One
The last work day of any mission project is always the best and saddest day of the trip. This day was no exception. Joyous satisfaction for a job well done. Great sadness at leaving the beautiful friends with whom we have shared work, worship, play, laughter, tears, baffled looks at words spoken in a different language, and looks of triumph when through hand and facial gestures, pointing, and lucky guesses at words and/or pronunciation we manage to break through the language barrier in the language of love. Here are the things we will remember:
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Tom and Keith on the roof - the rest of us were demasiado grande o demasiado gordo; Mike Greene reminded them that the pressure was on because no matter how beautifully and carefully the block is laid it is all for naught if the roof leaks.
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Joel, Dennis, and Mike pouring the floor - a stream of boys commanded by Renaildo carrying five gallon buckets full of concreto; the same boys laughing with pride and delight when they realized they could carry two buckets filled to the rim if two boys carried the buckets suspended between them on a big stick; having to tell the boys not to fill the buckets too full because Mike and Joel were killing themselves trying to pick them up and spread the concreto; Mike and Joel noticing Renaildo laying down pretending to be sleeping in the corner of the new house he had picked for his hammock.
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Kristen and Rachael playing, singing and coloring with the children in the church - a foretaste of heaven
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In the quiet and privacy of the old house with German, the family patriarch - Bob giving German Ed Vick's cowboy boots sent by Laura Ann; Steve and Egla witnessing to and reading scripture with German; watching the power, passion and love with beautiful young Honduran woman Egla layed open the scriptures and encouraged German to accept Jesus
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Washing the feet of the family - Egla reading to the family as the whole community watched and listened the scripture from John 13 where Christ commanded the disciples to wash each other's feet; the team members washing the feet of the four generations of the Flores family who will be living in the house we built with them through this glorious ministry of Baptist Men from great grandmother to two year old great grandaughter; giving thanks to God for Wiley Jones who suggested we do this after we left Colonia Unidas last year.
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Blessing the new house - All of the team members, workers and family members laying hands on the new house as we prayed, blessed and dedicated the new Flores home
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Granting the keys - Bob presenting German and Reina with the keys to their family's new home; the family opening the front door and entering the completed house; Dennis holding up Reinaldo so he could hang the beautiful new cross which was the team's housewarming gift to the family in the place Reinaldo had chosen.
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Handing out tennis balls, gum, and candy to the children and ladies - enough said.
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Dennis explaining to seventeen year old Fransisco through Egla how proud we all are of the leader and Christian example he has become in the church and community in the past three years since we first met him and promising him that we will return again to this special, special place to help him continue the work.
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Tearful goodbyes and hugs.
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Pastor G - listening to our teacher, mentor, job foreman, pastor, and beloved and respected friend speak with us in private on the van before we left El Carrizo, and praying for our safe return to our families, friend and church and thanking God for us, our families, our church and our work.
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One final, beautiful evening of sharing our experiences at devotional in the mission house in Choluteca.
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This was the day the Lord made for us --- we rejoiced and were glad in it!
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Till next year in Choluteca,
Team One
Rachael, our Rookie of the Year
Rachael wins Rookie of the Year award, over Bob. She was a great addition to the team and the kids of El Carrizo fell in love with her.
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