Back In Roatan

THANKSGIVING - may our hearts be drawn to the Grace, Joy, Peace and Love of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ who remains constant no matter what life may throw in our path.

Thankful Greetings from Honduras. We have returned safely to the island of Roatan from our three week crash course in Espanol on the Honduras mainland. We both graduated Kindergarten and can now recognize (sometimes correctly) our numbers, colors, family names, various verbs & nouns - but only in present tense. Which turns out to be not so bad, since Christ admonishes us to live in the present and not worry about the past or future! Additionally it takes most of our faculties to determine each morning where we are currently at - let alone where we have been or where we may be in the future.

This is the home of our host family in Copan --> Honduras (where we attended school). We found out later how well off we had it, with our own bedroom and bathroom - and Hot water!!!! We spent most evenings sitting in the two rocking chairs on the lower porch - doing homework and visiting with the extended family of our hosts. They were all so gracious, warm and accepting.

<-- This was our church “home” while in Copan. We could not understand most of what was said or sung, but the Spirit of Christ was extremely evident through their smiles, hugs and spirit of acceptance.

There were many needs in the Copan area (as in most of Honduras) but we did not sense God opening any doors for us to investigate and consider.

Returning to Roatan was almost like returning home. Seeing familiar faces and surroundings and immediately refocusing on work to help others - Terry in the health clinic and Henry getting better acquainted with La Colonia residents and doing some maintenance around the clinic - now that’s a scary thought!!!

Last night we were invited to attend a pre-school graduation ceremony. There were 80+ graduating Colonia Kindergarteners with over 400+ in attendance (standing room only). Henry Z. (director of Living Water 4 Roatan www.lw4r.com ) was asked to speak and serve as the “Elder” for the ceremony. The Hondurans place a high value on education - as most fathers, uncles, and grandfathers were in attendance to show their support. Each family member brought a gift for the grad of their family. Children are fortunate to receive a single gift at Christmas - though many received 10-12 gifts for graduating Kindergarten. Most of the gifts were books, paper, pencils, crayons, etc......to encourage further education. We were told that half of them will remain in school through 6th grade; and less than 10% will complete high school (9th grade). Mostly due to the necessity of helping their family by getting a job instead of continuing their education.

Here is a special family that I met yesterday morning up in La Colonia. Isaac, Daniel and Josue (left to right) live with their mother, baby sister and step father in a 10 x 10 “tent house” on the side of the mountain. The step father works on deep sea fishing vessels and is gone months at a time.

Josue is 14 years old and graduated from 6th grade last year - but had to halt his formal education in order to take a job and help care for his siblings. He delivers five gallon water jugs from the valley up into the Colonia, on his back. He also does much volunteer labor for neighbors who need help in various ways. His family has no running water or electricity; so every evening for entertainment he reads the Bible (by oil lantern) aloud to his family. When asked what his favorite scripture was this week - Jose quoted Jesus speaking in Revelation 22:12 & 13 “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Then he asked me what my favorite verse was and I responded Philippians 4:4 “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” I then went into a rather lengthy explanation of what that means to an older man who is attempting to climb these mountains and trust God with the unknown future. He responded - “That is all well, however allow me to correct you - that verse is Philippians 4:13.” Of course, he was correct - “and a child shall lead them”!!! No Sunday School, no Wednesday night youth group, no formal education - just Josue, his Bible and the Holy Spirit. It is rather humiliating - and challenging to my own walk with Christ.

This is just one small section of La Colonia. Josue's family lives up above the homes you see in this picture. The green "tent-house" blends in completely with the leaves of the trees.

This has all been built and inhabited mainly over the past two years. Most of the residents left everything to move from the mainland, including extended family, old sources of income, and traditional relegion. They seem to be extremely open to anyone who is willing to share life with them and their families.

We are still praying for God to provide means and clear direction where we are to invest our lives for Him in 2009. Please continue to pray with us.

It would be an honor for us to hear your opinion and insight in this matter. Thanks for all of your prayer and emotional support over the past three months. We are heading your way in ten days!

In the love of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Henry & Terry

Life In The Mountanins

Honduras life on the mainland continues the drastic contrast we found on the island of Roatan. On the mountain sides you see inhabited "mud" huts - literally made of mud, straw and sticks; down below in the valley is the village of Copan with very nice hacienda's and casa's. It seems to always be an existence of extreme's in Honduras. Either you have everything the average medium income American has (car, hot water, electricity, pure drinking water, cable TV, indoor toilet, telephone, cell phone, kitchen appliances, etc.....) or you have nothing but a mud hut, the clothing on your back and maybe a burro.

We are in our second week of Spanish Language School and have never felt so confused and helpless in all our lives. I'm not sure how much Spanish I will absorb, but I am learning a huge lesson in humility as I am constantly the source of poor communication and misunderstanding. Everone is very supportive as we all just laugh and go on. We both have been assigned a professional tutor who works with us individually four hours per day; but most of my learning has come from walking around the village and visiting with neighbors. Sophi has especially been helpful (picture). She wants to be a teacher some day, and has been doing a great job practicing on us!

What has been most amazing this past month, are the individuals we have met who are quietly going about as ambassodors for Christ - loving others on a daily basis wherever life takes them - and all without official "sanction" or salary from a religious group or organization. On Roatan is Peggy and Henry (past posting); and here in Copan we met Ellen, who is a retired Jazz musician that has fallen in love with the Honduran children. She walks weekly up into the mountains to visit and support local schools. These are all one room school houses (usually inside one of the families homes) that contain from 30 - 60 children of all ages 5-12. Most of these schools have one teacher with no books, no paper, no pencils, no chalkboards, and of course, no computers. All they have is a parent or community member who has a heart for education and the children. Ellen raises funds to provide books and other basic school supplies. She has sold all she owns in the states (except for a couple of violas in storage in Seattle) and willingly lives a paupers life - and says she is more fulfilled and happier than ever before in her life. It has been our honor to accompany her on a couple of outings - with more to come.

Did I mention Copan is in the mountains? Actually, it is in a valley surrounded by mountains. But, it seems everywhere we go is up hill. How does that work out??? Our host home is only one block from the school - put another way - it is 127 stairs from the school. (picture) The village sits at 6,000 ft above sea level with the surrounding mountains at 8k - 10k. The evenings are refreshing to me (Terry translates that as cold). We are approximately 5 miles from the Guatemala border - so both cultures are present in the village shops and markets.

We are thankful the tropical storm/hurricane that was headed for Roatan pulled a u-turn and returned to the carribbean. Thanks for your prayers and support. Roatan did receive some heavy wind and rain, but nothing compared to what Cuba received . . . twice - going to and coming from Honduras!

God seems to have embedded the Hondurans of Roatan on our hearts. As many needs as we are witnessing on the mainland - our thoughts continue to return to "La Colonia" on Roatan. (see previous posting) Pray with us that all concerned will be given confirmation and clear direction. At this point it looks like we may cut our language school time by one week to spend an extra week on Roatan before returning to the States.

Once again, we are greatly indebted to you for your prayers and spiritual support - however, we are most indebted to Jesus Christ for His willingess to allow us a part in His love and affection to others. We recently purchased a "Santa Biblia" (Holy Bible) and are having fun learning new expressions (in Spanish) and a deeper appreciation for all Christ has provided. You are a big part of that!!!

Still in love with Him, you and each other!!!!

Henry & Terry