The last couple of days have been awesome. One of the cool things about being here in Honduras is that there always seems to be something going on. The really sad part of that last comment is that I am absolutely sure and totally aware that there are things (ministry) to do at home in the states also, but it jut doesn't happen the way it does here in Honduras.
Yesterday we had another graduation ceremony for one of the Mi Esperanza sewing class graduates who was unable to be there on Saturday. It turned out to be very special. Her name is Maria and I am very excited about the deisre God has put in her to succeed at providing a more comfortable life for her family. She shows great committment, incredible dedication, an a faith in God that is absolutely out of this world. She is a believer!! She is a servant. I can't wait to see where all of this leads her.
A good friend of ours, Lisa Miller, sent us here with a bag of clothing. A very big bag!! After lunch yesterday we decided to bring all of it to the five families that are Baxter students and working with the church in Los Pinos. They were very excited to have some new outfits and shoes for their children.
Today (Tuesday) we went and visited a couple of the women who have recieved loans to begin businesses from their homes. First we went to see Maria, "the Tortilla Lady". She is definitely the poster child for Mi Esperanza. She has gone from making about a dollar or two a day to making more than $20 a day, producing a few thousand tortillas a day, running a pulperia (small store) in home, and has hired an employee! It truly is an awesome story. We then went to see Hilda. She took a Mi
Esperanza loan and opened a store for things like paper products, toiletries, and brooms and other household supplies. The cool part of the story is that at that time, her husband had nothing to do with helping her. He is an alcoholic, was not working, and their relationship was in major trouble. A short time later we learned that he had stopped drinking, they had purchased a bike for delivery and he was using it daily to travel through the community selling product. We learned today that the side of the mountain had caved in and crushed their home and virtually knocked them out of business. Hilda had also given birth to a child who died. It has been a difficult few months. They are trying to get back on their feet. Please pray for them.
We then went to Los Pinos and built a house for a woman named Betty. This is my favorite thing to do here. I just love the hard work and the sense of accomplishment of finishing a home for a family in just a few hours. The cool thing about this one is that Betty had no idea we were coming. She was very grateful and just kept thanking God for the blessing of her new home. The Baxter students mentioned above were there helping us. It was the first time they had ever built a home for someone, so it was really cool to watch them serve in this way.
I was moved again today by the reality of the difficulty of life for so many of the people here and yet their faith in God seems to surpass my own by such a long way. I am more convinced than ever that our wealthy, spoiled lives in which we want for so little materially doesn't help us walk lives of faith. And yet, even in the ease of everyday life that we have, God draws us in. Praise God! He works in any and all situations to bring about faith. Never give up the search! He promises that when we seek, we will find.
Yesterday we had another graduation ceremony for one of the Mi Esperanza sewing class graduates who was unable to be there on Saturday. It turned out to be very special. Her name is Maria and I am very excited about the deisre God has put in her to succeed at providing a more comfortable life for her family. She shows great committment, incredible dedication, an a faith in God that is absolutely out of this world. She is a believer!! She is a servant. I can't wait to see where all of this leads her.
A good friend of ours, Lisa Miller, sent us here with a bag of clothing. A very big bag!! After lunch yesterday we decided to bring all of it to the five families that are Baxter students and working with the church in Los Pinos. They were very excited to have some new outfits and shoes for their children.
Today (Tuesday) we went and visited a couple of the women who have recieved loans to begin businesses from their homes. First we went to see Maria, "the Tortilla Lady". She is definitely the poster child for Mi Esperanza. She has gone from making about a dollar or two a day to making more than $20 a day, producing a few thousand tortillas a day, running a pulperia (small store) in home, and has hired an employee! It truly is an awesome story. We then went to see Hilda. She took a Mi
Esperanza loan and opened a store for things like paper products, toiletries, and brooms and other household supplies. The cool part of the story is that at that time, her husband had nothing to do with helping her. He is an alcoholic, was not working, and their relationship was in major trouble. A short time later we learned that he had stopped drinking, they had purchased a bike for delivery and he was using it daily to travel through the community selling product. We learned today that the side of the mountain had caved in and crushed their home and virtually knocked them out of business. Hilda had also given birth to a child who died. It has been a difficult few months. They are trying to get back on their feet. Please pray for them.
We then went to Los Pinos and built a house for a woman named Betty. This is my favorite thing to do here. I just love the hard work and the sense of accomplishment of finishing a home for a family in just a few hours. The cool thing about this one is that Betty had no idea we were coming. She was very grateful and just kept thanking God for the blessing of her new home. The Baxter students mentioned above were there helping us. It was the first time they had ever built a home for someone, so it was really cool to watch them serve in this way.
I was moved again today by the reality of the difficulty of life for so many of the people here and yet their faith in God seems to surpass my own by such a long way. I am more convinced than ever that our wealthy, spoiled lives in which we want for so little materially doesn't help us walk lives of faith. And yet, even in the ease of everyday life that we have, God draws us in. Praise God! He works in any and all situations to bring about faith. Never give up the search! He promises that when we seek, we will find.
posted by Mark at 8:19 PM
1 Comments:
I think the thing that makes it more difficult here in the states is that needs are not as evident. That may have something to do with the circles we run in. Pride probably has a place in there also. We are less apt to admit when we need help. Great thoughts, thanks guys!
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