Last Week

I was able to go visiting homes again with my friend Rosa and some by myself. We held newborn babies, talked with mothers and prayed. There was also a lady who asked us to come and talk with her. She is having such trouble in her marriage. At first I didn't know what to say, I mostly listened. What she is living is so difficult, yet so common here. I prayed and God gave me the words and she was encouraged and made a decision to not give up praying for her husband.

Later in the week I took a walk with a young girl she is only 13 and has had such a hard life. Right now she is living with some relatives, and her uncle beat her the other day, she had bruises on her arm. Again I listened, she needed someone to talk to. I have talked with her many times about accepting Jesus into her heart, but she has never been ready. I invited her to church, she came and that night she went forward to accept Jesus into her heart. It was so special and the joy that she had on her face I cannot describe. But I know God is faithful and she will never be alone, and now she has hope.

John 16:33 says "These things I have spoken to you that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

Here are my three goofy boys! I am so thankful for them, they bring so much life to my home!

We have had many chicks but unfortunately we ended 6 roosters. So needless to say that we had to find a way to do some eliminating. So we ate the one eyed rooster for dinner, he was a tough little thing, but tasty.

School started for Canaan. Second grade!!! He was excited to get back together with all his school buddies. We are still adjusting to the school schedule. He goes from 7:15-2:10. I am so thankful that my son is able to go to a private school. The teachers at the public schools are on strike and have been for weeks. There is concern that the children will loose this year of school and be required to take it over next year. I can understand the teachers on one hand they are not getting paid and their job is not easy at all. But it is very hard on the children. There is one teacher at the Sandy Bay school who continues to teach. I admire her commitment to the children.

A new life

There is nothing like a new born baby. They are so precious. My friend Heydi called me today to let me know her little boy had been born. I went into the hospital to see her and her baby. He is just perfect.
The Roatan Hospital is one thing I cannot get use to here. It is so different than our hospitals in the states. I get nervous each time I go there.
After delivering a baby all the mothers share one big room with about 8 beds in it, and one bathroom in the corner. Their babies lay beside them in the beds. At that point the ladies are basically on their own until they are discharged. They can have visitors and many of them did have someone there with them. I always feel sorry for those who are alone. There was one fan, yet the room was very hot. The women are to bring all that will need, NOTHING is provided. I went out and bought pampers, juice, toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, and toilet paper for Heydi and Wendy, another girl that I knew who also had just delivered, a baby girl by cesarean.
I was so happy to see them doing well, and will be even more happy to hear they get to go home.

Great is His faithfulness

Yesterday my friend, Rosa, and I went visiting. First we went to a home of a lady who use to go to our church but has made some difficult choices and now is not attending any church. She received us warmly into her home. She has a newborn baby and two older children. We talked with her about life and shared with her from the Word of God. How each day we receive new mercies from the Lord and in that we have hope. She told us how she knew she was far from God and wanted to return to Him. We were able to pray with her.

"Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23

We then went on to another home of an older lady who really enjoyed having visitors. She went on and on giving testimony of all that God has done in her life. It was encouraging to hear her faith. We prayed with her and her niece who lives with her.

Finally we ended up at the house of a dear friend of mine, Dorcas. She is going to have her baby sometime within the next three weeks. This is her third baby, but her first died when he was 1yr old, and her second was a miscarriage. She is an amazing woman who despite all the tragedy in her life she continues with a smile and faith that can move mountains. We prayed with her, her husband and her mother who is there helping them in the house.

I went out of my house praying that God would use me to be a blessing and encouragement to those we talk to, and returned being so blessed and encouraged by them. God is so faithful.

Our Mainland Adventure

We went to the mainland Honduras for a few days. Jordan and Judah needed their passports renewed and I needed my Residency card renewed so off we went.
We started our journey on the Galaxy a ferry that goes from Roatan to La Ceiba. I usually get sick on boats so I took some non-drowsy motion sick medicine. It worked well. I actually enjoyed riding the boat. Jordan got sick and others. But for once I wore a smile.
Our fist stop was my residency card. This took hours of waiting for one man to do all the work for a whole line of people waiting to renew their cards. He was very nice, which helped the situation, after three hours finally we were able to get my card and go.

On to the bus to San Pedro. We unfortunately did not find the bus that Yourgin hoped to go on and we were stuck going on one that was well used. Most the seats were broken and the foam was coming out. (I am not exaggerating) The bus stopped for many other people although it was not labeled a chicken bus, it was. (A chicken bus will stop for anyone and whatever they are carrying with them, even if it is a live animal) We made it to San Pedro in 4 and 1/2 hours. It normally takes 3hours. But we made it. I actually enjoy traveling on the bus. You get to see the beautiful countryside of Honduras. In San Pedro we went to the US Counsel. It is on the 11th floor of a Bank building. Thankfully this time the elevator worked. There we went early and waited in order to be seen by the Counsel to renew the passports. I had been through this before so I went prepared. Coloring books, crayolas, crackers, water, and a game. We even were able to entertain all the other kids that gathered to wait. Yourgin was able to give his testimony to the people who were waiting, there had to be about 30 people. We were in there for 4 hours all together, happily we made it out with everything accomplished.

We then took a bus to Tela. The town is smaller and quiet compared to la Ceiba and San Pedro. We got in a little boat that took us up to a Garifuna town where there was a nice beach for the kids to play. It was pretty, lined with coconut palms and little huts made for shade while you sit on the beach, the water was much clearer than other areas in Tela. The kids enjoyed splashing and swimming in the gentle waves. We don't have waves on the island because it is surrounded by a barrier reef.
After our fun on the beach we washed up and were back on the bus to La Ceiba. We went to a plant store, which was a highlight for me. We bought 4 orange trees and two special flowers. We are hopeful that they will be fruitful little trees. We made it home on the Galaxy and were welcomed by a little rain.

In all we had a special time as a family, we were very blessed to have everything go so well and all of us are healthy. I thank God for all we were able to see and do.