Amazing. That is the only word that describes it. Being able to be in our second home, Honduras, was exactly that, amazing. We (Lori and I) just really love being there, among the people we work with and among those that we serve. There is so much good going on there. The Mi Esperanza work of education and skill training among the women. The new children's home, Casa de Esperanza, and the opportunity it will be for some homeless kids to have a chance at experiencing some goodness in their life. The ongoing work of building homes for those who don't have adequate shelter for their families. People like Joe and Jen and Karen and the Kluge famly who are continuing to invest their lives in sharing God's love with all they come in contact with. Amazing.
We built a house on Monday for a woman named Xiamarra and her husband and two children. Last summer, when we were working in San Miguel, this woman was a pest. Really. That may sound a little harsh, but it was true. You may recall that we were in the midst of a disaster relief situation in this community because of flooding and landslides due to torrential daily rains. You can read about it here, here, and here. We had 13 families being shelterd at the church and our first priority became to get these familes back in their homes. Xiamarra's home was undamaged by the storms and yet everyday, multiple times a day, she would ask me if we could build her a new home. After about three weeks of this I told her that she had to stop. I explained that right then we were working to take care of those who were displaced by the storms and she needed to stop bothering me and thank God that she had not lost her home as these others had. And you know what? That is exactly what she did. She never asked again the rest of the summer. When I was trying to decide where to build this last week, the Spirit moved in me build for her and her family. The home they had was made of scrap tin and cardboard and was about 10 x 10. I am glad that they now have a little more space (13 x 18) and the stability of a solidly constructed wood home. It turned out that we had a great many men and boys from the community help build and it was like an old-fashioned "barn raising".
As Mark Tindall would say, "Another great day in Honduras". To God be the glory! Please continue to lift up all that is going on there when you take time to talk with God.
We built a house on Monday for a woman named Xiamarra and her husband and two children. Last summer, when we were working in San Miguel, this woman was a pest. Really. That may sound a little harsh, but it was true. You may recall that we were in the midst of a disaster relief situation in this community because of flooding and landslides due to torrential daily rains. You can read about it here, here, and here. We had 13 families being shelterd at the church and our first priority became to get these familes back in their homes. Xiamarra's home was undamaged by the storms and yet everyday, multiple times a day, she would ask me if we could build her a new home. After about three weeks of this I told her that she had to stop. I explained that right then we were working to take care of those who were displaced by the storms and she needed to stop bothering me and thank God that she had not lost her home as these others had. And you know what? That is exactly what she did. She never asked again the rest of the summer. When I was trying to decide where to build this last week, the Spirit moved in me build for her and her family. The home they had was made of scrap tin and cardboard and was about 10 x 10. I am glad that they now have a little more space (13 x 18) and the stability of a solidly constructed wood home. It turned out that we had a great many men and boys from the community help build and it was like an old-fashioned "barn raising".
As Mark Tindall would say, "Another great day in Honduras". To God be the glory! Please continue to lift up all that is going on there when you take time to talk with God.
posted by Mark at 11:46 PM
2 Comments:
"Another great day in Honduras" is one of the blessings that only those that have seent, smelled it, & tasted it can understand.
This year 2006, it's gonna be
"another GREAT DAY in Honduras" and I can't wait.
I love you,
Marc
hey man i haven't talked to you in about a hundred million years. i hope all is well with the connells and i miss you guys. tell lori i say hi and i send my love.
nate
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