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!