March 31 Back to School

We had the joy of accompanying Judy and Randy Lundrigan from Schools of Hope back up to one of the schools today while they met with some of the children and their parents from the Sponsorship and Scholarship Programs. They were not expecting as many families to show up as did because this is Semana Santa (the week before Easter). 

The classroom we met in was just packed. Judy and Randy are really admired and respected by the local Hondurans. You can tell they have a special relationship.

This young girl just loved the camera. Between Claudia and myself we must have 100 photos of her alone.

Everyone then wanted their pictures taken. You could tell how honored they were to be photographed with Judy and Randy.

Victor was hiding from Randy....they were joking around with each other. Randy won the game by his size but Victor won the running game (running away from Randy).

Some of the older kids sat on the sidelines. I'd say they wanted to be participants as well by the smile on their faces. Randy has a special gift with the kids.

Judy took advantage of Semana Santa to explain the story of Easter and Jesus' death on the cross and what it means "to be saved".

The meeting was over but many of the parents just hung around and chatted or watched....just like Newfoundlanders! 

I wonder what was going through this mother's mind?

This young girl will probably be a really good photographer some day. She immediately wanted to take my picture as well. 

Proverbs 29:18 KJV "Where there is no vision, the people perish; but he that keepeth the law, happy is he." Thank you Judy and Randy for having the vision. Again, what a blessing to be invited to re-visit the school, the children and their parents.

For more information on Schools of Hope visit www.schoolofhope.ca or CLICK HERE to be directed to their web site. You can help Schools of Hope with your prayers or even through financial contributions such as donations or sponsorships.  Click Here to be directed to their "How to Help - Schools of Hope" web page.

March 30 A Day as Tourists

Today we were not scheduled to visit with any of the Missionaries until in the evening so Derm and Viola acted as our tour guides and took us around Tegucigalpa and the Valle. We headed to the market in Parque Central which is home to St. Michael Archangel Church. Because we are close to Palm Sunday (which is the time we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and marks the day he makes his triumphal entry into the City of Jerusalem and the people lined the trees with Palm branches) there were many merchants in front of the Cathedral selling Palm tree branches and wooden crosses.

We next headed up to El Picacho City Park which overlooks Tegucigalpa. There is an awesome view over the City. 

We ran into another Missionary who was taking a group of students from the United States on a tour of the Park. She had time to share some of her story with us. 

Our group shared Communion in one of the lookouts prior to proceeding to the huge statue of Jesus Christ that the park is famous for. We were in awe of the size of the statue and for what the statue represented. Jesus was overlooking Tegucigalpa with His arms spread out inviting the people to "come unto Him". 

Our driver quietly sat and prayed and worshiped at the feet of Jesus as did we all.

After we left the park we dropped in on a really good friend of Viola's and what a reunion. Your heart would melt at the love between two good friends who had not seen each other for several years. Viola wants to take Nuvia and her family home with her and Nubia wants Derm and Viola to stay in Honduras!

Then we had lunch at restaurante Asado's El Gordo on our way to El Valle where we became real tourists and visited some of the gift shops. 

Every where you go, there are armed police or security. I am not sure if it makes you feel safe that you are protected or unsafe that you need so much protection.

We did a little shopping in El Valle after which I sat at one of the cafes, had a coffee and people watched while Derm met up with one of the local business owners who was a good friend of his and while the others continued to shop.  Alvin Anderson from Manos Extendidas told me on our first day that all Hondurans stop around 3:00 pm and have a cup of coffee. I took Alvin's advice. 

We met with the three groups of Missionaries for dinner in the evening. It was a blessing and an honor to be in the presence of such visionaries who have gone to "the uttermost ends of the earth" to do the work that God has laid on their hearts.

March 29 Hospital Visit

Our hotel is just around the corner from the Presidential Palace. Whenever any dignitaries are expected at the Palace, the roads are shut down and the National Policia man the road blocks which delayed our departure slightly this morning.

We eventually met up with Jim and Francis Martin from Honduras Ministries who took us to one of the Government sponsored hospitals called Hospital Escuela. The team includes several other women who weekly visit the pediatric inpatients and their families. The children are fed while they are in hospital but often the family has no means of getting or buying food so the Team brings in food for them. While distributing the food they also have an opportunity to pray for many of the children and their families. If you would like more information on their Ministry, Child Sponsorship Program, Skill Development Program or Hospital Visitation Program  CLICK HERE to be directed to their web site.

Jim and Frances (on the left) speaking with Maria and her daughter Valerie!

As it happened, Nellie Anderson from Manos Extendidas was also at the hospital. See the Blog for Tuesday, March 27th for more information on their Ministry or CLICK HERE to be directed to their web site. She goes in weekly to visit the mothers of newborn babies. This was heart breaking. Many of the mothers have no clothes for the babies, no blankets, just nothing. Nellie and her group of women do up bundles for the mothers which include a blanket, a sleeper and a few diapers. We (the visitors from Newfoundland and the Honduras Ministries team) were able to accompany Nellie. The two Mission groups jumped right in and went to work. Some greeted; some prayed; some changed babies; some took pictures; some distributed food.

A friend of mine, Nicole, just had her sixth baby. I always refer to Nicole as a woman made to be a mother. I happened to be in Minneapolis when she delivered the sixth baby and had the pleasure of watching her love on her baby and how her husband and other kids interacted with the newborn and each other. You could just see and feel the love she has for her family and her family for each other. The thing that struck me the most today was how disconnected from their newborn babies many of the new mothers seemed to be. The babies were just bundles on the beds. Few were held unless being fed and many mothers had not even chosen names for their new babies on the day of discharge - which was about 3 days old. I could only pray that some of Nicole's love could cross the miles and penetrate the hearts of these new mothers. But you know, you could see a softening of hearts as the groups dispensed the blankets, food and gifts, Bibles and prayed for the young mothers and their babies.

Jim and Francis have pulled together a powerhouse team who prepare the food and distribute it to people along the corridors and to the children's parents in their rooms. In between patient rooms, Jim was able to enlighten us more about Honduran Ministries.

Again, you just have to be there. The hospital is old and well worn. The hallways are lined with people waiting to be treated or waiting for family. Many have traveled for miles without food or water. Many have not been able to contact family to tell them where they are. One young child (15) was ready to go home with her newborn and had not been able to phone anyone to say she had delivered her baby and did not know how she was going to get back home!

The hearts of Missionaries like Jim and Francis from Honduras Ministries and Nellie from Manos Extendidas do not see the mountain. They see they can help one person at a time and one person is better than not helping anyone. With great people like these Missionaries, their work, and their prayers, they will help shape a new Honduras in years to come!