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