Not Done Yet

Well it's been exactly a week ago today that we attempted to say goodbye to Honduras and get on a plane that would take us "home." The idea that we'd ever be able to say goodbye to Honduras is a joke and the effects live on. I think we all came back in a state of tearfulness for several days afterwards at the mention of the word. We still have raw places and in Kelsey's words "I don't think there's been a single day since we've been home that I haven't had to wipe at least one tear off my cheek." Ditto. I think most of the rest of us would echo those sentiments. I told Kelsey last night...you know there's a blessing in crying alot, it means you loved alot! As I've had some time to think about that I think I learned a bit more about my own definition for joy. See because somewhere down deep two things reside in my heart at the moment...a deep grief over having to leave those sweet people, and a tremendous delight in having been able to share the time we shared with them. I think in it's truest form that's what God's joy is all about. To let the burden of the hurt in this world coexist with His ability through you to help lift just a bit of it. It's faith and fear in the same place. It's sorrow and delight beside each other in a heart. I think joy is knowing they don't coexist forever, but for now you will not forsake one for the other. Could we have chosen not to go because we knew how badly we'd hurt when we came back? Absolutely (well I could have because I knew how badly it hurt the rest of them didn't so much know yet.) But could they choose never to go back, sure! Ask any of them and without a doubt most of them would tell you they'd board the next plane that God allowed them to get on to see those sweet people again. Somewhere deep within that is buried my new hearts definition for joy and for living like Jesus on this earth. I will feel the weight of what's going on around me, but I will do my part to help it not be so heavy for someone else wherever God has me at the moment. I will shed tears and have cherished memories over exactly the same moment in time. I will live in this world, and be an active force for His kingdom in it, but know that it doesn't exist forever.

I don't know all the lessons we will learn over the next several weeks and months as God uses this trip to mold and shape our hearts differently. The lessons don't end after 10 days that's for sure, your heart reverberates with those smiles and those memories for far longer than that, and somewhere in the middle of all of that God still whispers and at moments speaks boldly that this one undistracted time of service to Him has a billion lessons within it for life right here right now. We're only just beginning to learn them and we'd ask for your prayers as we try to fit 'er in right where we are for such a time as this.

A part of my heart will forever be in Honduras and I don't know all of what that means exactly. God will show me, no doubt. For right now this is a way that I can continue to process through and try to fit in what I learn and feel and see in Honduras and not only share it with you, perhaps moreso to allow God to speak through these memories to me. So I will continue to journal on here every once in a while from now on. Feel free to read them, comment if you so choose, skip over them, whatever God leads you to do.

Let me share one other thing before I close this one. I have been so touched by our young people who went on this trip. Kelsey asked last night what kind of training she would have to have to be a missionary cause she wants to go to Honduras after she graduates, and if you'd watched her heart on this trip, you'd believe her. Delaney is ready to move there now and quit school as it's the Honduran way and work in a childrens home. Brian Vaughan wants to move there right after high school and do the one year internship at Good Shepherd orphanage. Davey mentioned one night in devo how he wasn't sure what God was leading him to do but how this experience had opened his eyes. Katelyn Dye commented on how this trip was something she needed to do and how she felt it would make her a better missionary here in the states. Those are only a few of the teens that I've had the privilege of sharing a few minutes with over the past week or so...and so there are more stories. They have touched me though in deep ways. What a blessing to be 14 or 15 and get to see people who've given up everything they know to serve Jesus in a faraway place where they've had to make some serious sacrifices but will tell you everytime that they are far beyond blessed!! God is raising up our young people to live lives that are not spiritually whimpy and I'm convicted by that to live a life that doesn't look spiritually whimpy either. I am sooooooooooooooooo proud of them and wait with eager expectation to see what the Lord will do in and through them!

Alright will close this one for today. Only 51 weeks till we get to do this again. I will be going back this summer for a week probably by the grace of God, so please keep that in your prayers if you would please. Thank you all once again for all you've prayed us through, supported us with, encouraged us by, and walked beside us through. It's as much your journey as it was ours. Love you all!!

Day 8 Update

Well while this is a 10 day trip we'll spend two of our days traveling including tomorrow so this will be our last work day update for this precious journey we have traveled. To say that there are some sad moments as we prepare to leave doesn't do justice, but we are also ready to see faces that we miss a bunch and get to share our stories and experiences with you.

This morning we went to see the Baxter Institute, the school where they train preachers from Central and South America. It is such an amazing work. They run a free clinic there and see hundreds of people each day. They are involved in various community service and are extremely mission oriented. Some of the Baxter students in fact came last night and gave a presentation about a mission project they were intending to participate in in Mexico. It was touching to see this team of people who came together at Baxter to become ministers share their vision for planting new churches in other parts of the world.

From there we traveled to Mi Esperanza, which stands for "My Hope." It is basically a womens training center where they offer free classes to the ladies in several trades. They can learn sewing skills, cosmetology, interpersonal skills, and computer skills. After they graduate from these classes they have the opportunity to apply for a loan to start their own business to be able to support their families. It's a giant step in the right direction for a cure instead of a band aid.

The highlight of the day was going to Hospital Escuela. There were so many sweet children there, several of them without momma's and daddy's there to hold and be with them. So many momma's there waiting for their children to get well without money to perform the necessary operations. It was so sad in so many cases and as I knelt down with Gary and Wayne to pray for a precious little guy who had a tumor in his stomach, I was reminded that we are so blessed to be able to have medical assistance and the resources to be able to access it when we need to. I was also reminded that we did nothing to deserve that, and the only difference between us and these sweet people is the location where we were born. I thought about my gorgeous little nephews that I adore as I looked at his sweet face and thought about the horror of sitting beside a bed without hope of your child getting better...a helpless feeling for sure. His mother told us that he needed an operation and she didn't have enough dinero (money). We prayed with her and as we knelt down together, I prayed in English and this sweet momma prayed quietly beside me in Spanish and none of us were able to hold back the tears. She was begging God beside us to make her baby well. So many stories similar to mine, but I have only mine to share. Those you love will of course have touching experiences waiting to be shared.

After that we went to the Valle of the Angels to shop for just a bit at some of the artisan craft shops. It is neat to see their native trade products, beautiful woodwork and pottery and many other things that they have handmade.

Went to Santa Lucia Resort for supper tonight for our last supper in Honduras. The food was wonderful and it was a nice wind down from the week. It has been a joy to share this time together.

We ended the evening at the Santa Lucia cathedral having our devo. The singing was phenomonal and it was a terrific summation of all we've shared in just 10 short days. We are ready to bring a whole bunch of you back with us next year.

So many lessons, so much to process, so many things we pray will be changed forever. We leave tomorrow from here around noon and will get in tomorrow night to Columbus about 10. Please pray for safe travel home and for heaven to hold our hearts as we leave. Thank you for covering us with prayer and for encouraging us from your knees and through your words here. We do love you so!

Day 7 Update

Today was a jam packed busy blessed day! We slept in a bit this morning and breakfast was at 9 am. BLESSING #1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We all needed it and were so thankful by the end of the day when we were pulling back up the mountain at 7 pm we knew God worked that sleeping in business out for a reason.

We started out our morning heading back over to Casitas Kennedy orphanage, that's the one where they've taken the kids off the streets and attempted to give them a safer place. Several of our team members have commented how they basically took them off the street and replaced it with a street system behind walls. They are so underfunded and do not have the resources necessary to correct the problem as of now. It would mimic our childrens services system in a lot of ways. Sad sad situation, but we've spent 3 days there now and to say that our hearts are attached doesn't even scratch the surface. There were a few who just stole our hearts. Ask any of the guys who worked on the playground about Ruben or Walter and you'll not find a dry eye. So you know those two little guys had the working their way in thing down pat cause they made it into our guys hearts in BIG ways!! Poor Mark and Sherman can't decide whether they love me or hate me after all these tears and my encouraging them to come do this. :) They'll be ok in a few days. Course there are always parts of you you hope never fully heal because you want this raw exposed vulnerable desperate self to stick. It's so much more who you know you were meant to be without all the pretense we get comfortable in creating. I think that's why it's so refreshing to be here, cause you are who you really want to be here...more selfless, more compassionate, more just MORE!!

Anyway at the orphanage, the first lady of Honduras showed up to thank us for what we are doing/have done for her country. The playground was completed and it looks MARVELOUS!!!!!!! I mean state of the art, top notch, beautiful. The most beautiful thing was to walk up and see kiddos playing on it with beaming smiles on their little brown faces. Ohhhh!! There are few feelings in the world that match up to some of these, truly!

After the orphanage we went to a poorest of the poor village to hand out food. We each took two heavy bags worth of beans, rice, tomato paste, sugar, and a few other items and started a trek up the mountain to pass them out to the homes. We got quite a workout there for sure! The mothers were so delighted to have food for their babies and their were smiles and tears. One of the sweetest parts of this experience was that the children walked with us all over the mountain, and by the time we got back to the bus there were probably 50-60 children that we had accumulated along the way. I remember at one point looking at Kay and saying is there a sweeter feeling in the world then when these little people walk up beside you and grab your hand. They don't care if you're dirty, they don't care who you are or what you look like or what you can do for them. You have hands, and they want to hold them. That's about what it boils down to. They show love without knowing why or how much or how deeply it touches core places in us. In return I pray that our hands have indeed held them with the touch of Jesus, that has certainly been the prayer.

After passing out food bags we traveled to a childrens home called Good Shepherd. It was a breath of fresh air to say the least after several days at Casitas. It is amazing. These people have a beautiful story, they are from Louisiana and they tried for 9 and a half years every infertility treatment possible and still could not have children. They went on a short term mission trip and their hearts felt led in huge ways, went home decided to let the emotion of the trip wear off and if they couldn't let it go then they would investigate it further. That was almost 10 years ago and 143 children later. They had just pulled in as we were there from a little mission trip to Nicaragua and as they were pulling up the lane these sweet children went running towards the car shouting mama, daddy! What a joy to our hearts, they are loved and it was obvious. They wouldn't want to be anywhere else. That was a grand finale for the day and a precious reminder that God's blessings always come hundredfold when we obey what He asks us to do.

Will close for now the bus is leaving in 20 minutes and we have another crazy full day! We love you all and so appreciate your prayers. Please pray for this leaving business...a part of your heart doesn't come back it lives here. Karen V and I have decided we might forego our flight home! :):) Love you.

Matthew my love,

Do I ever miss you!? Oh yes, yes I do. So I’m absolutely sure that you did a wonderful job with your play and totally blew everybody away. What a great Jewish guy you make. Ha. I’m looking forward to watching the video with you, but I super wish I could have been there. I’ve been praying for you all day-- all week in fact. I didn’t get to get online Tuesday when we went to the mall, and I tried to call your casa but it was busy. Curses, I know. Coke has a new meaning and importance, as well as water and shade. Ha, look at me all working and sweating, or, as Cyrena says, glistening. Ha. I’ve built three houses, (obviously not by myself, but hey, it sounds way cooler than ‘I hammered a few nails and carried some boards.’) helped build the play ground, made cement—Honduras style—moved and rearranged rocks, painted finger nails, blown bubbles, kikled.. (keee kuuhld) yea, we’re not sure how to spell that, but we did kikle a lot. Haha. Ooh the things I’ve done. You’d be so proud of me. Oh wow.. It’ll be so cold when I get back home, and it’ll be tons weird to see kids and not have them run up and grab your hand. Ooh the kids here are just dying to have someone or something to hold onto and love. It’s crazy. Unbelievable. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to describe everything to you so that you’ll really know what it’s like. You’ll just have to come down here with me, Matthew darling. Hehe.. I have tons to tell you, way more than I’m sure that I’ll ever be able to get out. I’m ever so grateful for the notes each night. They’re gorgeous. Keep praying for me, love. I’ll see you in a few days. I love you and miss you so incredibly much. Tell Jarrod and Adam that I miss them too. Thank you thank you thank you. Sleep well. Night darling.

As always,
Katelyn



Dennis,

Did you get my message that said, and I quote, “Yes, yes, yes, get on that bus and meet me at the airport!” Call Chuck right now!!! I can’t wait to see you, hug you, and kiss you. I got your message today. I miss sharing our days with each other too. I have sooo much to tell you. I hope the boys will tell you about their experiences too. God has really touched our hearts. I am praying for a boy named Christian. I met him at the state run orphanage. He chose me. I fell in love with him. He’s 10. He let me hold him and rock him. He cried and held me tight. I will tell you more later. Mike fell in love with a little boy at a Christian orphanage. He has a picture of them together. This is how much these kids touch your heart. Jody and I had to hold Michael while he cried on the bus as we left the home. We’ve decided we have room in our hearts to love more kids. We’ll have to have a family talk. Brandon cried on Mark McKain today at the state orphanage. Cyrena and Mark called me over to give him a Mama’s hug. This place tears your heart out! OHHH, there are so many things to tell! I gotta go. There’s a line of bolggers! I love you! I will see you at the airport. We will snuggle on the bus!
Love Always,
LeAnn


Dear Bobbie, Becca, and Sam,

I just finished my voice recording and I am sitting in the lobby with about six or eight other people who are talking, so it is difficult to concentrate on my writing. I was really sore this morning and Gary McCutcheon, the veterinarian, gave me some Advil and I could function. Hanibal (alias AB) is a really talented young man from El Salvador and he is here visiting with Jody, Marianne, and some others. He is a Harding grad and has very good English. He is the same age as Sam. He has been a real help this week as a worker and as a translator. I think Jen mentioned him before we left. I was able to give some of the school supplies to the kids at the Good Shepherd Children’s Home today. We also gave clothes to the Casitas Kennedy (state orphanage) and to SGCH. The Honduran president’s wife was there, so it was a big event.

Love, Dad



Kathy and Allison,
We distributed food today in a village with hills so steep that a goat would not think about climbing them. The poverty is severe here. The US has no poor compared to the way these people live. Most don’t have water or electricity. We had better chicken coops on Grandpa’s farm than they live in. But still they are kind to us and grateful for the help. It breaks your heart that we can do so little. Our food bags will feed them for a couple weeks, but then they will live as always, day to day.
One more night and we will be headed north. I am excited to see you both.

Love,
Sherman

Hello lovely ladies (Momma and Allison) J
I miss you both ever so much, and wish that you two were here. It’s indescribable. Quite a bit. I can’t wait to see you guys, and hope that you haven’t missed us too much. ;) ha. I love you both, and I’ll see you in a few days.
Katelyn



- I love my Lobster-
~Seth~

GenRMac,
How about a big Honduran Happy Birthday Wish! I would try to catch you with an April Fool’s joke but I know you are out of my league. I am taking good care of your husband and he is taking excellent care of your chillin’. Oh, the stories they will tell when they get home!
Take care,
Sherman


Dearest Genevieve:
This is a Honduran Happy Birthday message!!! We have been working hard for the Lord and having our hearts broken by orphans. There will be lots of stories to tell, but we want you to know how much we love you, esp. on your birthday! I hope you have been doing well and we will see you soon…….
Love,
Gary


Connie and girls,
It is Friday evening and I will be home in just a couple of days. I cant wait to see you. I have worked out a ride home, so don’t worry about that. I hope you don’t mind, but I may wake the girls up when I get home, I need a hug in the worst way from them too.
So many things to talk about when I see you, and over 100 pictures to show you. Yes I have a picture of cyrena, well someone has the pictures, but they are going to email them to me.
Well I will call you sometime on Sunday when we get back to Houston, and let you know whats going on. I love you guys, and cannot wait to get back home to you. I know that it has been a sacrifice for you, but you have no idea how much I love you for supporting me in this journey.
Love you
Mark


Mama Lois,

God is still working here! Read my letters to Dennis to catch a few things going on. At the nightly devos we share when we saw Jesus that day. It is really cool. Everyone sees Jesus in someone or something. I want to carry that home. We have sooooooooo much to talk about! I can sing! I don’t know how good it is but it’s LOUD! Because I am singing with my heart. I found out I have a lot of room in my heart to love others. Well, we will be home Sunday night. I am torn. Part of my heart will stay in Honduras forever. These people have nothing but reliance on God. Now I understand the scripture that says consider others better than yourselves. Could I carry the faith in circumstances like these? I wonder. My heart is changed. My sons are changed. God’s purposes for our lives may be more clearly revealed through these experiences. Well, again there’s a line of bloggers. Gotta go.
Love You forever, Like you for Always,
LeAnn

The Reeders, Ola! Hello in Spainish, well we had a day pack with things to do, we went
To 2 orphanges, into the village to hand out food, by foot this was done, no flat ground all mountain, gravel and dirt, it was hard and very hot. Just got back around 7:00 pm had
Dinner and a Missions presentation, so actually our day ended at 10:00…. Boy was I tired. We have worked like horses here, no vacation here…work , work, work. A full day
Again tomorrow, up and hitting road at 8:00. Tomorrow is our last full day here. Mixed feelings of course, want to stay but want to come home too. Missed you all very much, but like I said we have been so busy that you don’t have time to think of anything but what your doing. I got your e-mail Ang and Lyxi, it was so good to hear from you. I’m
Hope your week has been fun, can’t to see your new kitten. Well I better go, someone else want to mail. I love you all and can’t wait to see you when I get home.

To Schwendeman, Hi from Honduras again, Just saying Hi, been real real busy here
Tomorrow is our last full day and it is a busy one. Thanks for all your prayers,
Missing home, but still love being here, even though it’s been a lot of hard work. This
Country is cursed so much with poverty..it is so sad every where you look. Their culture
Is so different. One orphanage was so sad, it was a lot of street kids and the place was
Ran by really mean people…it was so hard to leave there, our hearts went way out for these children…not a good place, not any better than the streets they came from but at least they have a bed and food. I can tell you all about it when I get home, this will be my last e-mail and I’ll be home on Monday, so see you all then..Love you all…Karrie

Hello Everyone….I don’t even know where to begin. So much has happened in the days that I have been here. God is so good and faithful and He has taken care of each and everyone of us. Jesus has showed up in so many places and He is seen in each and everyone person on the team here and in the people here. The kiddos here are so precious. I want to take each and everyone of them home with me. You never know I might just find a way to sneak one of them out of here. J I will be home soon whether I am ready or not and I will have many memories and stories to share with you all. Thank you to each and everyone of you who has sent me encouragement while I was here. It has been a huge blessing. Many God continue to bless each and everyone of you. Know that you are loved so very much by me but so much more by HIM!!! Never forget that. Much love! Keep praying that lives are touched and all of the glory is given to Him!! Every single ounce of it! Serving, Karen <><
Dennis don’t worry I have your wife under control and she is safe and sound. She will be home before you know it!!! Linda Rae, we miss you so much but I know that this is all in Gods plan and we just have to trust! Continue to feel better.

Eric Deems, Hi from Honduras…All is well, we have been so busy, we have worked like a horse, it’s been hard and long days, but very rewarding in so many ways. We have seen the poor of the poor, and the little dirty, hungry children that doesn’t have anything
The orphanages were hard, especially the one that most of the children was from the streets, very sad place, the orphanage wasn’t much better than the streets for them except they have a bed and food, other than that the children was not treated good, so it was really hard to leave without them…we were there 3 days building a playground for them so we spent a lot of time with them, we all cried today when we had to say bye, all we can do for them now is pray. There’s so much to tell, but I will be able to tell you more later. Thanks for praying for me this week. Hope Easter service was good and everyone
Is doing fine. Miss everyone, but am not that anxious to come home, it’s hard work but so many reward . The country is beautiful, except all the poverty, that curse is everywhere you look. Desperation is all you see, from the very young to the eldest, it breaks your heart. It’s been quite the eye opener everyone needs to take at least one mission trip to a place like this. I will never look at things the same again. I have loved this opportunity
It’s been life changing. Going to go on to night-night..we have a very busy day tomorrow. Just had this opportunity to write…sending my love to everyone back home.
Will be home April 4th. Love you…Tell mom I said Hi and everyone at church too. God has been awesome here because of yours and others prayers, He’s been with us everywhere we’ve went. Not one thing bad has happened, a few have been sick, we’ve
Been sunburn, the temptures been in 90’s all week, our bodies about went into shock when we stepped in this country and it was 90. But we have gotten use to it…Well bye for now, see you next week. Love to you, Karrie
Hey Mom!!!
We miss you very much and are sad that we can’t be with you on your birthday, but Happy Birthday anyways! We love you so much and can’t wait to see you Monday morning!!! I hope everything has been going well since we’ve been gone. We love you sooo sooo sooooooooooooooooooo much!! XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Love you bunches!
Kristen and Trey :o)

Day 6 Update

Today a few of the guys finished our pride and joy playground and God gave us the privilege of being a part of building a home for two other families. Half the team went to a site that was almost entirely rockbed and had a rough time of digging it out, but at the end of the day the house is up and the family is delighted. For those of you who helped and gave to this cause we so wish that we could bottle up their joy and bring some home so you could see the depth of it. The other half of the team worked on a site building a home for a man named Estavan. He had three little girls and a wife and this was their very first home. When we prayed together at the end of the day and dedicated the house and our efforts to Jesus he was shaking because he was crying so hard. There are few feelings in the world that match the joy there is in some of these things.

One of the top moments in Honduras happened for me today...we had been building and this lady and a few of her kids had come up along the house and Kay and Sara and a few others were playing with the children and I walked up to talk to the mother. After we'd talked for a while we all started to talk to her about Jesus and Sara translated the Evangecube to tell her that Jesus had died for her and rose again so she could have hope. We asked if she'd ever heard of Jesus before and she said "si" which means yes for those of you non Spanish folks. Then someone asked if she had a Bible and she said "no" which means no for you non Spanish folks. :):) So Kay pulled hers out of her backpack and gave it to her. I happened to be sitting beside her and she acted as though she didn't know exactly what to do with it so I opened it to a few of my favorite passages (John 3:16, Rom 8:38,39, Rom 8:18 and a few others) and when I opened to them and pointed to them I realized she couldn't read. So we sat there together and I would read a few words and she would repeat them and then when she realized what they were saying she would get this big smile on her face, it was beautiful. I asked her son if I could borrow one of his crayons and I underlined and put hearts beside some of those verses to which she got teary eyed. It was a neat moment, but beyond a neat moment it was a moment that God gave to me to remember how very blessed I am to have His word at my disposal so freely and to be able to read it. Can you imagine not being able to read His words of love to you when you so desperately needed to be reminded? Please pray for this sweet lady that someone will teach her how to read. If I were able I would have sat for the next year with that lady and helped her learn to read if for no other reason than to be able to understand the words God gave to us. Read your Bible today differently please, realizing that there are people in this world who do not have that luxury.

Tonight we packed another 200 food bags that we'll be distributing tomorrow. So 400 families will be fed at the close of the day Friday for two weeks. A true feast for them in no uncertain terms. We talked today some about how some of this so much feels like a band aid and one very small drop in a HUGE ocean of need and it can very much seem that way at moments. I think God planted in my heart though that although perhaps a bandaid it keeps a family from abandoning their children for another two weeks because they are unable to feed them, and it provides a roof and shelter for a family who might have been living on the streets, and so there are some marvelous things happening that God will send someone along behind to continue for these sweet people.

Will close this for today with some notes from those you love. Please know that we love and covet your prayers over the next few days as we have jam packed days and emotions will be high as we try to leave. This place seeps into your pores and try as you might when you walk away the floodgates do open. So much has happened here in a few short days, perhaps more importantly a whole lot has happened internally in each of us that can not be described on this blog but we pray will be lived out in our everyday lives. We love you!!

Tony and Shelby , (Thursday Morning)
I’ve been praying for his since I found out on Tuesday, but didn’t realize it was so serious, I’m so sorry he has to go thru this poor big/little guy . Give him a great big hug for me and I’ll try to find him something real special to bring home. Sorry I can’t be there to help with things, but please know that I am definitely praying every hour of the day for him and you. I know he is so disappointed about not being able to play with the boys this week, I know he was looking forward to it. I’ve seen two kids down hear that remind me of Carrington and one of Sweet Chamberlain, Everytime I see one that reminds me of my nieces or nephews I seem to watch them more closely and get more attatched. I know the boys are doing well, it breaks my heart to hear them on the phone, but their voices sounds strong and happy. I love you, I love you, REbekah

Foreman Family,
Hey guys, I hope you had fun at the zoo and are all still doing well, we are going to be working like horses today building 3 houses and them passing out on our beds. The team we brought is excellent very strong workers. Chris’s back and stuff is holding up pretty well, he passes out in the evenings but is holding up to do the work he came to do. I miss you all and can’t wait to see your smiling faces and share my experience hear. Jerry, Tony , Dad and Ryan you should all consider this experience very seriously for next year, as well asall of my (3)sisters and Momma, But I know we all have things to take care of at home and all of us coming would be near impossible. I see all of you down hear working, and playing and loveing on these kids, the people hear are beautiful. I hope you all have a wonderful rest of the week. Love, Rebekah

Dylan Wyatt and Ryley, I love you and miss you and beware because my kisser is already going crazy. J Big Hugs are coming your way. Love Mommy


Thursday Evening,Foreman Family
Hey family, just want you to know that we are all praying for our boy, and Hope he is doing better than this morning. Please Please if anything happens that I need to know about or we need to pray immediately call the emergency numbers. We had an awesome day and built 2 houses, it was very hot and dusty, but so rewarding. Got to go pack more food bags. Love Love Love you all, Rebekah



Thursday evening 8:00pm- Eric , Angela, Zek- Finally get to send you an e-mail, been
Very busy,busy,busy. There’s so much I could tell you, but others want to e-mail too.
Just wanted to let you know I was thinking of you, I love you and miss you much. Betmy boy is growing big! It’s been 90’s, very hot and sweaty. Hope every one is well and
Doing fine.. Sorry there hasn’t been much information coming from us. Hope to write
Later. Give Zek a big kiss…Have a great week. See you on Monday. Love Mom
Angie and Lyxi- Glad to hear from you, I’ was so sad I didn’t get to talk to you when
I called the other night. I miss you so much too. Having a great time, just really busy ..
Lyxi…Grandma loves you so much, it was good to hear from you..I miss you so much
To baby. Can’t wait to see you when I get Home. You would of loved it here, especially
At the orphanage. Gotta go. I’ll write when I can. Love you much, Hugs and kisses. Grandma XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXXO



To Mom, Dad, and Kyle,
Everything is going well. I hope you aren’t missing me too awful much J Today we built another house, I made you proud Kyle. I busted my thumb with a hammer though. Tomorrow we are passing out food to 200 families and going back to the orphanage that is overloaded and understaffed, a guaranteed rough day. Keep me in your prayers and I miss you all muchos. Kyle, I haven’t gotten any emails, I’m upset! Haha just kidding, I love you, I will talk to you soon, I am thinking about you all the time, I know that you would be so wonderful with the children here and a great handyman, I think I’m going to have to bring you next year, I miss you and I hope everything is going well at home and you had fun fishing with your dad. Don’t work too hard and enjoy the mud, it was wonderful to hear your voice the other day and it will only be two(maybe three) days. My arms are getting dark even though I put on SPF 45 BULL FROG everyday… I just don’t want to look weird in my Prom dress, I’m sure I’ll be hittin up the tanning bed when I get home, I feel healthier with all of this work. By the way KYLE have you drank any POP? You better not have because I’ve been VERY tempted down here, but if you did it’s okay I forgive you and I’ll just beat you in our race. I love you so much, I will talk to you soon. Mom and Dad I love you, smack Candace for me..just kidding, I love you too sissy. Let me know if anything is new, pray for homesickness and the plane ride..see you all soon, I love you I love you I love you.
-Katrina

Bobbie, Becca, and Sam,
I am probably more tired tonight than any other day. We built two houses today in separate teams building separate houses. Our site was hotter and sunnier than any other we have seen. I worked with Tim and Jeff and Nate Reeves, one of the interns worked with us. We had fifteen people on our team; our work site was so hot and rocky and the site preparation was not done; we had to bust rocks like a chain gang. We also got a late start because of traffic: 11 am. We did get done at about six o’clock, finally. We also took pictures with banners in front of the houses today. Two more days to go and Saturday is an easier day, I think. Well, others are waiting to blog , so I will sign off for now. Tim is next and he said you could read his, too.
Love, Dad

Pam, Drew, and Craig:
I hope all is well at the house. We are having a great and exhausting time building houses, visiting a blind school and an orphanage. We have been building a playground at the orphanage. The house we built today was in a lot of rock and about a quarter mile from the highway. I am burnt up and will be definitely wearing more sun screen tomorrow. Tomorrow, we will be feeding about 400 families with supplies that should last them about 2 weeks. I’m looking forward to getting back. Stay safe and see you soon. Love Tim

Jane and all the folks back in Bridgeport,
Just a line or two to let you know everything is great, they gave out a evangel cube again today. They also gave out Bibles at the orphanage. We have been dealing with the people every day. This is so cool. The team has such a heart for Jesus! I am looking forward to coming home but we have had a wonderful time building houses. Hey JENNY When you see this tell JANE to kiss the girls for me, I’m missing you all .Wayne



Dear Co-workers, Friends, Family, Church family:
Oh how I long for you all to be here- to know how the Lord is working and the amazing love that is being poured out on the people of this country- even more amazing is that as we try so hard to love on them, they are constantly giving back so much more! The children here have made a home in my heart- I see how Jesus had so much love for them and how He placed so much value on them. And the older people here have such tender hearts and are joyful for Jesus. May the Lord bless you all and keep you. May He make His gracious face shine on you and give you peace. I am so blessed by the Lord to be here and I am thankful to you all for your prayers for this trip. I love you all.
Love in Christ, Donna

To the Schwendeman, Hi from Honduaras , Happy Belated Easter to you too. Doing great, been very busy, doing all kinds of things. Don’t have time to write about it, just wanted to say Hi and I love you and things here are going great. It’s a very empoverish country…it’s so hard to see the way people have to live here. Hope things at home is good. The temperature has been in the 90’s . Gotta go, have a great week and I’ll be home Monday. Take care…Love you all.

Connie and Girls,
I miss you and love you. We have had a great week so far, just finished our 5th house tonight and turned it over to the man, who has 3 girls as well ages 6,3 and 1. We are all pretty exhausted and are going to deliver food bags for 400 people tomorrow, that will feed them for 1 week. I cant wait to get home and see you all. Only 3 more days and I will be there. Connie I am going to take Monday off also, so that I can get caught up on rest and get caught up with you all.
Mom, thanks for the email the other day. It was good to hear from you too. I think dad would be having a great time over here, we have touched so many lives it is unbelievable. Well, we haven’t touched them, but God has worked through us. Im pretty certain dad has been watching over me this week, and been giving me the strength to keep going when I felt like laying down. Well others want to email home too, so I will see you guys in 3 days.
Love you, Mark


BK Family,
Oh my, I don’t really know how to update you on all of the happenings of this week in a brief e-mail so I’m not even going to try. We finished our 5th house today. It was for a man named Estafon and his wife and three little girls. We’ll be visiting another orphanage tomorrow and passing out food in 2 villages; the bags will cover 400 families for 2 weeks…a feast for them. The poverty is absolutely indescribable and so very widespread. Saturday we will visit a hospital for terminally ill children. The faces of these Honduran children are precious, no other way to describe it. We’ll have so much to tell you…see you Tuesday.
Blessings,
Kay


Dylan and Wyatt,
Grandpa and I just wanted to remind you that we are thinking about you and praying for you every single day. We have lots to tell you about when we get home.
Love you a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck,
Grandma and Grandpa


Dear Linda and Eric,

Just a real quick note to let you two know that Davey and I miss you greatly. Hope that you both are feeling better. You are in my prayers constantly. The days have been packed with all sorts of activity. We worked a couple of days at a state run orphanage…Can’t wait to tell you about that experience. Today we put up another house. We had to haul the materials by hand and legs about ¼ of a mile one way. I can’t tell you how many trips were made. But it is up and the family is excited about moving in. Love you a bunch and am anxious to see you both again.

Brian and Dad

Dear Kathy and Allison,
Katelyn and I are working hard; building houses, playgrounds, visiting orphanages and a blind school. The kids at the blind school sang for us. They all have some sort of musical talent. Today Tony, Gary, Jody and I got to spend some time with the boys who have been helping us build the playground. They live in the orphanage. Walter (11), Ruvin (10) and Christian (9) have been working all day with us for 2 and ½ days. We had them read from the Bibles we gave them. They each have a faith in Jesus. In this world they have little else. This orphanage is the first stop for kids who have come off the street. It is a rough place with little supervision or education. We will have lots of stories when we get home! We miss you.

Love you!
Sherman and Katelyn


Sarajane, Kylie and Maggie –

Hope your trip to Nashville has been good. There have been some amazing things happening around here the last few days. Today Sherman, Jody, Gary and I finished the playground at the orphanage and it looks really cool!! Only three more days and we will be heading home and I can’t wait to see you all. We also visited a blilnd school yesterday afternoon – man, are those some amazing kids. They sang for us and we sang for them and we probably could have stayed there for hours together and sang. Got lots of stories to tell you and my journal for you to read. Love and miss you all much!!!!!!

Dad


Nikki,
I love you my Lobster.
Seth