Culture Shock Re-Defined!

(Houston's summer rains bring out the fierce crawdads and brave crawdad hunters!)

"Voluntarily choosing to leave a peaceful, relaxing home where everything happens stress-free, as expected, on a regular time basis - - - moving to a chaotic, loud, stressed-out home where everything happens when someone else decides and without any warning." What does that definition describe? Insanity . . . Stupidity . . . Masochism? We choose to think of it as willful culture shock!

Moving from our quiet residence and nearing retirement roles in Tulsa to an extremely active children's home in the Houston area as Houseparents for young boys has been much more of a culture shock than we could have imagined. Much more so than our months spent in Honduras! Thus the delayed updates to our blog site. We are just now getting adjusted physically, emotionally and spiritually to our newest chapter on our journey.

Now, with school out, we have our boys to share life with 24/7. (Be careful what you pray for!!!!)

Our new family is extremely healthy and on-the-go. Most of our boys have some form of ADD & ADHD diagnosis, which tends to increase the intensity level of everything we do together.

These boys are basically very loving and accepting - especially considering how many times adults have let them down during their young lives.

Monday we are beginning our "Summer Program" which can best be defined as 10 weeks of day long Bible School that will keep us on the run and, at the minimum, well tanned.

A couple of our boys are returning to their birth families this month. (bitter/sweet emotions) We are told to expect two or three new boys to be added to our family this summer. (mixed fear & excitment)

Boys And Girls Country has a great reputation in the greater Houston Metro area. The children, as a whole, have all of their physical needs taken care of three times over. But, things do not replace love - and that is why we feel called here at this time in our lives.

Please be praying that our boys' tender, moldable hearts will receive the seed of Christ's love during our time with them this summer. They are so easy to love!!!!

Please also pray for our physical endurance as we attempt to keep up with our gang on bikes, skateboards, up trees and wherever else the wind blows!

Mostly we covet your prayer support for our ability to hear God's voice as we lovingly deal with and develop close-knit relationships with these little men. There is so much potential in those smiling faces . . . . but also way too much pain, fear and bad family experiences hidden behind those smiles of Brandon, Austin, Jared, Jacob, Michael, Harley and Kiewan.

Please keep us informed on what is happening on your journey this summer.

Foward on our journey,

Henry & Terry

Onward on The Journey

Wow! It's been 90 days since our last posting.......how time flies when you are unsure of which direction to proceed.

Six months ago we were certain of our direction - knowing it was God directed and therefore must be long term in essence of time. (The more I learn the more I realize how much I don't know!) The door to Honduras has closed.........and finally after 90 days of checking on many, many doors of opportunity, we found one Divinely opened. (Another one of those "God things"!)

We are now Houseparents for up to eight young boys at a Christian Children's home near Houston, Texas.

We were so tied up in the organized church when we raised our own children.......to the point of ignoring some of their needs in lieu of supporting church programming and traditions. That has left some guilt scars and regrets that cannot be erased. However, we are hearing God say - "I still believe in you........you are not expected to be perfect........just love them as I love you - now take this second chance and have fun with it!"

And that is exactly what we are planning to do! It helps being part of a group of like-minded Believers who are also Houseparents along side of us. There are a total of eleven cottages on campus; so there are ten other sets of houseparents who have the same heart and desire for God and His children. We are looking forward to learning and loving so much!!!!

Boys and Girls Country (BGC) is a working ranch that houses up to 88 children plus support staff, houseparents, horses, cows, pigs, goats, sheep and rabbits - but no chickens! :-)

Education is the key focus at BGC. The children attend area public schools and can earn priviliges to participate in various extra curricular activities such as 4-H, athletics, band, etc....... Privileges are based on scholastic and attitude grade averages. If the child remains with BGC and graduates from High School, they are gifted a college education at a Texas university of their choice.

High School Grads also qualify to move to a second campus that focuses assistance to college and vocational living. This gives a "home" to return to during semester breaks or when home on leave from the armed forces; or some needed structure when begining their first job of a new career.

This is a picture of the fishing pond located on the second campus. This gentleman is one of the other House-Dads from our campus. That is his baby in his arms, as many of the other House parents have their own children living with them.

By the way, there are currently two House parent couples who are from Central America! How does God do that? I know He loves to smile and laugh with us!!!!

Personal Disciplines and Spiritual Life are also major points of focus at BGC; which are the primary roles of the Houseparent team. Each cottage has a houseparent team that consists of a married couple and a single adult. We all live in the cottage with separate living quarters - just think of the Walton family on the old TV series "The Waltons" - several generations sharing one large home. Terry & I work eight days on and then have four days off - during which time the Single parent (Aunt Victoria in our case) is at "home" and keeping things running smoothly.

We hope to learn much from Victoria, as she already knows the boys and has great relationships in place with them and their birth families. What a blessing she will be for us! We hope we can be the same for her.

This is a poor picture of the swimming pool on campus - two years old......and in the background the new community life building that should be completed early summer. (The old one was a casualty of Hurricane Ike last November.) We are told summer is like twelve straight weeks of Vacation Bible School - 12 hour days of programming in every area you can imagine. Houseparents are strategically involved and extremely glad when school starts back up in the fall. Pray for endurance for these old bodies of ours!!!

I will get back on a regular schedule for posting updates ........ no less than monthly. We hope to eventually introduce you to our new family (first names only) so you can be in a better position to pray and make suggestions as we continue along this path of the journey.

Thanks for your interest and support! Let us know how we can best remain involved in your life!

Loving God and loving You,

Henry & Terry

Home Is Where The Heart Is

"Welcome Home".......was the message so genuinely expressed to us by several friends at the Tulsa International Airport. (Wish I would have been awake enough to think of snapping a picture.) Such precious friends who have endured our journey in searching for "home" over the past three years.

How do you define "home"? When asked - "Where is home?" - what is your response? Is it contained within a material structure or a geographic area? Does it refer to other humans who share the same DNA and bloodline? That seems to be the information most people are looking for when asking that question.

I remember when that information did adequately describe "home" for us. We were wrapped up in our own God honoring little world, safe and content to self describe where, what and who "home" was. Boundaries were pretty easily defined as to what we were and were not responsible for.

However, after several years of "life challenges" and spiritual maturation our definitions of many things have changed, including what, where and who home is. The previous definition still remains as part of our view of home - but it has expanded greatly to include so much more. The most critical part of our definition of home is centered around the experienced presence of the Spirit of Christ.

Wherever we sense the Spirit of Christ can, and has, become home for us. Some times that can be sensed in a group setting - such as some Believers who do not understand our language (or us theirs) but, none the less, make us feel at home in their time of worship through warm smiles, genuine hugs and authentic spirits of Christ-likeness.

We have also experienced "home" when God has crossed our paths with individuals who have decided to live their life solely for the purpose of sharing the love of Christ in ways that are appreciated and welcomed by the less fortunate ..... such as a former Jazz Musician who now serves as an "unofficial" administrator for a dozen schools in the Honduras mountains - allowing God to use her as a conduit for others to give and provide basic educational needs such as paper, pencils, books, chalkboards, chalk, etc.......including a new toilet and paint for the school building. Also, a retired nurse who was burned out on the public heath care industry and moved to a Caribbean island to retire - only to start a community health clinic in her kitchen that has now developed into a large clinic/hospital dealing with 60+ patients every day. Then there is the couple who were business professionals turned full time pastors when they decided the religious rat race was no better than the corporate one - moved to an island for early retirement and are now the developers/directors of an endeavor that supplies the only drinking water available to an entire community of indigenous people....and more dreams on the horizon!

These situations and people all became "home" for us in the time God allowed us to share life with them. We continue to remain open for whatever, wherever and whoever Christ allows us to share life with. We are praying our "home-front" will continue to expand - for that is where we have experienced true fulfillment and purpose - sharing life with Christ-minded people on a daily basis, together serving those who are less fortunate.

We hope you had some great memory making and life-enriching experiences with those who constitute "home" for you.

We pray His Peace and Love will continue to infect all you come into contact with in 2009.

Happy New Year from our "home" to yours!

- Henry & Terry McCray
(pic of our grandchildren Kyle & Kendall)

Heading Back to T-town.

Our three month missions exploration to Roatan ends tomorrow as we fly back to Tulsa for the next leg of our journey. We are not sure what God has in store for us or when that may, if ever, become totally apparent. We are continuing to learn to lay back in His hands and enjoy the journey ....... we still have too many times when we find ourselves attempting to take over and just have to sigh and say - "Sorry, Lord.....old habits die hard.....please continue your work within us in your time and place."

As we look back over this past three months it is amazing to see how Holy Spirit has used every step along the way to knock off some of our rough spots and mold us more to His image.

Our first two months were spent in Helene, Roatan, Honduras - which God primarily used to slow us down from the "rat-race" pace we have lived in the U.S. for the past 55+ years. We learned from some Godly islanders what total trust in Christ looks like. We wish we could say we achieved that - but at least we are in process. It is amazing how many things we manipulate in our own lives and ask God to bless it.

Also on Helene, we learned from the islanders how much less we can live with. Less "things", "stuff", "transportation" other than our feet. (for Henry - less food and sweets!!) We also began to enjoy less time apart, less stress, less godless distractions, less religious expectations. Less focus on "doing" and major focus on "being".

For whatever reason, we were not lead to stay or return to Helene. Instead, we sensed God's leading to attend a Spanish language Emersion School on the mainland of Helene. After three hard weeks of homework and memorization we finally graduated Spanish Kindergarten!!! :-)

More importantly we began to sense the hearts of the hispanics on the mainland. Living in such poverty they were more content, fulfilled and thankful than we have been most of our lives in the States.

After "graduation" we returned to Roatan to help in a Mission Health Clinic and a Mission group who is providing water (physically and spiritually) to the newest residents of the island. Our hearts warmed within us as we spent time with these precious people. Most have such a firm resolution to Christ, family and neighbors. We were able to experience "community" at it's purest form.

Once again, for whatever reason, doors are not open at this time to return to Roatan. So ..... we remain committed to go through any open door Christ provides. At this time that means returning to Tulsa to look for doorways of minsitry. We think that may lead to ministry with Hispanics, but will not attempt to place limitations on Holy Spirit's plan of action.

So.....we head back to the states with trepidation, fear and trembling. We do not want to squander or lose the growth we have experienced over the past three months. Translated: we do not wish to re-enter the "career race", the "horde it for security" mindset, the "less time shared" structure of most U.S. married couples, the "compartmentalized mindset" that separates all areas of our daily lives. I'm sure most of you don't deal with those problems, but it took two full months on a desolate island for Christ to cleanse us and redirect our passions and priorities.

We are trusting Holy Spirit to place us in the midst of others who are "like-hearted" and will be willing to allow us to grow with them in the journey of Christ-like living.

Therefore, our journey continues . . . want to come along?

Blessings and Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Henry & Terry

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

Watch Out Copan - Here We Come

We depart tomorrow for an intense month of “Emersion Spanish Language School” in Copan - on the mainland of Honduras. I really do not totally understand what that truly means……some of it seems exciting and some of it seems to be a very tough challenge. We pray Christ will be evident in all our actions, what we say and in how we treat people.

This comes at a perfect time for us to pull away and spend quality time with God and each other on the subject of 2009. How should we invest the next year of our lives? Spiritual, emotional, financial and physical concerna will all need to be worked through at the deepest level. Of course, at the base of it all we know that “we can do all things through Christ” – it’s not about our strength – it is about His!!!

There are two enormous needs here on Roatan that we are specifically praying about:

Both of these projects are located in what is called “La Colonia” (the colony). These are Hondurans from the mainland who have been displaced by the massive mud slides over the past several years. Literally thousands of acres have slid down mountains into the rivers and disappeared with their homes, all of their belongings and even some of their family members.

Roatan currently provides much better chances of starting over and acquiring an entry level job that pays $6 per day. (Almost double what they were making in the banana and pineapple fields of the mainland.) Hundreds of families have moved here and built an entirely new community – La Colonia. They simply move onto an available space on the side of a hill; clear the space of all fauna with the exception of four trees, which become the four corners of their new home. Then they purchase tarps, wrap them around the four “cornerstone” trees to create walls, tie one over the top to create a roof and move in to live. These are whole families – Father, Mother and usually three to four children under the age of ten. As they earn more money, they slowly purchase lumber, tin and other building supplies and build a more permanent structure around the small “tent home”.

However, there was no infrastructure whatsoever in place, until God led a couple of people into action:

Nurse Peggy (http://www.clinicaesperanza.com/) had been operating a Health clinic out of her garage but quickly became overcome with all of the life threatening health needs. The greatest need was the huge mortality rate of newborns. Land and monies were donated and the first stage of a full service Health clinic and birthing center is nearing completion. She now averages over 60 patients each day – five days a week. And that is only in the first floor out-patient clinic. Those numbers are bound to increase when the second floor birthing center is opened in the near future. (They are looking for a Nurse Manager to organize and oversee the staff and day to day operations of the birthing center - Terry?) Peggy, early on, diagnosed the leading cause of illness and death in La Colonia was all related to contaminated drinking water. The children would haul 5 gallon buckets of water over a mile uphill, where it would sit in the open and become infected by bugs, dogs, chickens, etc……until finally consumed.

Enter Henry (such a Godly name!!!) Zittrower. Henry and his wife moved to Roatan for retirement – of which God called him out of. He developed a game plan, created a network of support and began drilling wells and running water pipes (pvc). Aided by several church work groups from the states; U.S. Navy sailors; and other retired ex-pats on Roatan, the work was quickly accomplished. They are now in need of a third well and a large holding tank for water pumped – plans are in motion. This group, “Living Water For Roatan” (http://www.lw4r.com/) has totally equipped, trained and handed over the day to day operations of the fresh water operation to local residents. Each family pays a small amount for the fresh water piped to their home – those finances pay the local staff member salaries as well as add up for future maintenance needs. LW4R is now dreaming of building a “community center” where local children can participate in a multitude of options from computer classes to personal tutoring to organized sports (futbol & basketball). They are looking for a general properties manager who will oversee and plan the ministry agenda; as well as equip, train and discipleship future local leadership.

These people in La Colonia are extremely friendly, warm and open to new relationships and life views. They are mostly Spanish speaking only – and their smiles will melt your heart. They are looking for real answers to the heavy issues of life and are open to listening and learning. They left their old ways of living (culture) behind and know they must adjust to become a permanent fixture in a strange land. This promises to make them extremely open to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ - via - new personal relationships with Christians who themselves demonstrate a intimate personal relationship with our loving God. Our goal at language school is to learn enough conversational skills to clearly communicate Christ’s love and acceptance.

We are told we will have internet access at least once per week while in Copan. We will do our best to keep you informed as we continue our journey.

Know that your prayers and spiritual support are needed more now than ever!
We love you and look forward to seeing most of you when we return to the states in December and January.

In His Love and Service,
Henry & Terry McCray