The Heat Is Back!

Greetings fellow journeyers!

This past couple of days we have been back in the oven. The ocean breezes shifted from the North (which is from the opposite side of the island). All chances of any fresh air get caught up in the dense forest as it comes over the coral mountains of the island and before it can get to our side. Thankfully we are a little more adjusted to the climate than we were the first week here. That combined with our learning to slow down a little bit has helped us to survive this week easier than our previous two.

This last Thursday, the thermometer inside the school read 97 degrees; with the added humidity all tape and glue began disintegrating and things literally begin falling off the school room walls unless they were stapled or tacked in place.

This is a picture of our 4th grade class room, taught by Mrs. Sheila Benson. All of the classrooms are very similiar with a teacher-student ratio of 10-12 per class. We currently have two Kindergarten classes, a 1st grade class, second grade, third grade, fourth grade and a larger class with combined 5th & 6th graders. Only a very few pursue education beyond sixth grade in Honduras. In fact, the next level is referred to as "college" instead of Jr. High or 7th grade as in the states.

The classrooms are basically wooden cabins with large vent windows (no glass). The students are loud, but very hungry for learning and basic attention from the teachers and staff.

To be welcomed as a school in Honduras, we support the government Spanish speaking school by providing the English department they can not provide. However, the Spanish school gets first choice of class time, and of course, they chose the morning hours. So our classes run from 1:00pm - 5:00pm - the warmest time of the day.

The heat does not seem to effect the students, just the teachers! Especially the white, male, chubby ones! (There are two of us.) The students run outside for recess and play very competitive soccer, jump rope, run foot races, all the typical elementary school recess activity - just done in heat that can easily cause heat stroke. In fact Terry had to make an emergency run up island on Thursday to assist a little girl who had passed out and collapsed due to the heat. She was swimming in the ocean at the time, but the water is so warm you can easily get dehydrated while swimming. The island men carry 5 gallons of drinking water with them in their boats when they are out for the day fishing and/or diving for lobster or conch. That's five gallons per man!!!

We are blessed to currently have four island teachers on staff. This is Shanna pictured here, providing a little extra tutoring during a recess break for the rest of her 2nd grade class. Each student is tested at the beginning of each school year to determine which class they will be placed in. Our second grade class has students ranging from age 7 to 12. This is not at all seen as a negative problem, as all students are not able to start their schooling at the same age. All of the classes intermingle well during the recess time - there doesn't seem to be near as many cliches as you would see on the typical american school elementary playground.

Speaking of playground - we do have one piece of equipment - a "boat-like" structure that was paid for and built by a short term mission team earlier this summer. The fourth grade boys love to climb on it and have imaginary sword fights like the pirates of old days. (Boys will be boys wherever they live!)

The greatest assest we offer as a school, is the total freedom we have to read Bible Stories, teach about Jesus and have audible verbal prayer times with the students. The students eagerly respond to the Christian love and are on the front porch of the school thirty minutes before school begins each day hungry for more. What a blessed opportunity we must not miss!

Thanks again for your prayer support as we continue to find our balance and niche where God can best use us in this ministry. Please keep us informed of your personal journey by posting a response on this site or just sending us an email; which will enable us to return some of support you are sending our way back to your circle of influence.

We love you and think of you often. We thank God for you every day!!!

Henry & Terry

Two weeks down - 11 to go!!!!

Thank God for ocean breezes! With my earnest appreciation of earthly breezes I have also realized a deeper desire for the fresh breeze of the Holy Spirit within me. Just a light breeze makes all the difference here on the island of Helene. Without a breeze, it is literally hard to breathe, and I find myself becoming listless, lifeless and unfocused on purpose. When a breeze begins to float in off the ocean, immediate refreshment is experienced – which leads to a burst of energy (as much as energy bursts in a 56 year old body) ensues allowing me to get back on track with the endeavors of the day. After being on island for two weeks, I am beginning to identify some prime locations where the breeze is more likely to be found; and that is where you will find me on a stifling hot, humid, breezeless afternoon.
What a parallel to our spiritual life sustaining

breeze of the Holy Spirit. Without it unfocused, lifeless efforts are produced. With it joyful, refreshing fulfillment is found. I will divert and allow Holy Spirit and yourself to take this as far as needed in your life.
We have made peace with the monkey “Poncho” – as you see in this picture of Terry holding him. He has decided our little neighborhood is safest refuge on the island.

This island’s culture seems to have no understanding of the term “pet”. All animals are looked upon as a food source (cattle, pigs, Iguanas, seafood), carbon based security system (dogs & chickens), work aide (horses & some dogs) or a pest. All of the above are expected to fend for themselves as far as eating, sleeping and healthcare needs. Therefore, they are allowed to graze freely from one end of the island to the other. There are no cattle/horse brands or dog tags to identify the owner – everyone just seems to know who each animal belongs to. (Part of the high-tech “island grapevine” communication system!) The only thing owners provide for the animals is a regular supply of fresh drinking water – which seems to be enough to bring them home periodically each day and every night. What a change from the American Pet Industry that takes in millions of dollars annually on pet clothing, toys and other non-basic items.

My interior clock is finally beginning to slow down a little bit. I am beginning to notice some of my surroundings through the sweat. The stars at night are miraculous with no shopping mall parking lights, etc…… to dim the view. Also the multi colors of the sky and sea are breath taking; especially so during the sunrise hours. So many hues of blues and greens give almost a kaleidoscope view of the landscape. So much beauty among so much poverty.

This week begins my experience in the school. Last week there was no school due to Honduras Independence Day holiday. I will be helping half of the time in the first grade class and the other half in the fourth grade class. Pray for extra measures of patience!

Terry continues to learn more about Island Healthcare and we both are continuing to focus on building relationships and trust with the Island population. Continue to pray for God to increase our love for the islanders during this time period.

Thanks for your spiritual support during this time of spiritual stretching for both of us. Please pray that our minds, eyes and ears will be open to catch all and every direction Holy Spirit provides us with.

We constantly remember you and thank God for you in our prayers.

In His Love,

Henry & Terry

Greetings From Helene!!!

Saturday, September 6th, 2008 at 12:30pm. Safe on the ground on the island of Roatan, Honduras.

After security clearance by the government of Honduras - a two hour non-air-conditioned ordeal - we had officially arrived for this new chapter in our life's journey with "Papa".

Mission Dirctors Larry & Sheila Benson met us at the airport and the adventure began!!!

Thanks to a loving God who heard your prayers on our behalf, we have survived our first week on-island. That was not a “given” by any means!

We happened to step off the plane on the hottest day of the year, only to have the following five days increase in heat and humidity. The culprit was the lack of any type of wind or air movement. It seems all of the air flow was wrapped up in the Eastern Caribbean Tropical Storm activity. We are thankful we did not receive any of the bad weather associated with Hurricane Ike; but, just a little ocean breeze would have been appreciated during our first five days. On our sixth day the cooling winds of the Caribbean Sea finally made their way to our shore…..and the Health clinic……and the school…..and more importantly to our cabin – where we could finally get a little sleep. It is difficult to sleep when the thermometer reads 92 degrees with 85% humidity at midnight. We have learned the “rotisserie” method of sleeping – that is where you sleep on your right side until the fan dries you out, then you turn to allow your left side to dry; and repeat the process every fifteen minutes throughout the night.

Enough about the weather – we count ourselves truly Blessed to be here at this time and place in our lives. We have found ourselves almost in a “zombie” state of mind this first week – partly due to the heat; partly because we were finally here after months of planning, praying and dreaming (with many of you); and partly because life seems so surreal to us right now. We are housed in what I could best compare to a fancy KOA Camp Ground Cabin. We have electricity, running water and our own personal toilet!!!! Right down the “path” from us are total families who have none of that. They basically live in shacks on stilts and have to carry in drinking water on a daily basis and live in this heat with no fans. We have never lived this close to extreme poverty in our lives. However, the expected hopelessness that normally accompanies extreme poverty is not as evident as you would expect.

The typical islander is extremely friendly and appreciative for any assistance given. The leaders of the island come from a Christian background and a huge appreciation for the shared life of true community. Each of the six communities on Helene (a new one was added earlier this year that is simply called “New Town”) have their own church, store and boat transportation system.

These communities are not much different than the typical American small towns. Not all individuals choose to follow the teachings of Christ, though most would claim to be Christians, if asked. A large part of our focus will be on basic discipleship and practical training in living for Christ within a community of Believers and also in making a living to support their own ministry and mission endeavors in the name of Christ. We won’t always be the teachers…….many times the islanders will be teaching us!

We expect our second week to go much smoother as we begin to adjust to heat, culture and basic communication skills on an island that sometimes speaks English, sometime Spanish and sometimes a mixture of the two combined with Caribbean terms and slang. We covet your continued prayer support as these 55+ year old brains are not yet operating as efficiently as needed.

Terry has already made her first late night emergency run that included stepping over a tarantula, jumping over a large blue crab; and literally “walking the plank” to the home of the hurting individual. You will have to ask her for full details when you get the chance.

My first day in the school was partly spent chasing away a black and white spider monkey named “Poncho” who runs loose on the island. He has learned the school kids usually have snacks on their possession – and loves to chase them until they throw something good to eat at him.

Please specifically pray along with us that God will give us a deep love for the islanders. We desire to see beyond physical need and circumstances – right into their hearts and help mesh them into the very heart of Christ. To help that to fruition – we must first live it for them to witness. Our desire is “To be used of God to sing, to speak, to pray - - - To be used of God to show someone the way.”

Our next post should be next Saturday, September 20th.

Representing your heart as we Serve our Lord together,
Henry & Terry

Less Than 24 hours!!!!

How do you pack effectively for a time period that may be a minimum of 3months but could be a maximum of 16 months?? Give us a month and we can probably tell you how not to do it!! Ready or not here we go – we juggled everything several times to end up with four large bags that weigh between 45 – 50 lbs.; two smaller “carry-on” bags that weigh under 25 lbs; and two personal items (ice cooler back-pack for Terry and shoulder bag for Henry). We are now ready to leave early Tomorrow (Sep. 6th) for the newest leg in our life journey together with God. We are both excited & fidgety; honored & humbled.

We have known from the outset this was a “backwards” mission effort. Instead of us being the missionaries going to “save” the mission field – God has confirmed to both of us that we are the mission field going to the true missionaries who are experiencing God daily both personally and as a community of Believers .

We need a fresh perspective on Godly living and how life on a daily basis within a context of true Christian “community” looks. We have read about it in the New Testament all of our lives – but have not been able to find it within the American culture. Maybe, as some writers claim, the Western culture is too independent to allow true community to function. Or maybe, it is just our own attitudes and expectations that have limited our search for true Body Life. I have a feeling it may be a mixture of both opinions – so pray with us that our spiritual sight will be sharpened, our self-centered attitudes will be pruned, and we will be extremely teachable during this time of internship.

Thanks so much for your spiritual support and bits of Godly wisdom – please continue to send both our way! Our next communication will come from the island of Helene – but please be patient, as it may take a week or two to wait our turn for access to the internet.

You are Loved!!!
Henry & Terry

Nothing Is Small In God's Eyes

We were in Dallas this past weekend to hear a favorite writer – Paul Young. His first book – The Shack – has been #1 on the New York Times list for 14 weeks. It will be out in Spanish soon and movie deals are in the works. Paul impressed us with his unassuming humility, genuine spirit, and very funny sense of humor. It is hard to understand why many in organized religion are threatened by him. His small endeavor to “just write down his thoughts for his six children” has changed lives and challenged most to start thinking differently about spiritual relationships. As you see here, he’s just a little taller than me – not big in stature at all!!

Then on to Austin to visit an angel that is only with us for a short time unless a miracle happens. Cooper is my great nephew and has GM1.

Cooper is 14 months old and is small for his age. We had seen him at his birth through the NICU window, but this time we were able to hold and hear him coo and laugh....here he is visiting with Henry.


God is sovereign!! His plans are big, but he chooses players in His plan that the world would judge weak and small. Like Cooper, I am so thrilled to not be small in God’s eyes!

- Terry