Message for the week of January 10th

Hello from Honduras,
What a great week we have had! Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday we worked in a new neighborhood. The name of it was Alemania or Germany in English. They were extremely poor and have been affect greatly by the increase in the minimum wage that took effect the first of the year. I know that sounds like a good thing….and it is, but, the problem is the business owners do not want to pay or cannot pay the increase. The pay increase ranges from 60% up to 256% depending on where you are (rural or urban) and what type of job it is. Thousands have already lost their jobs and more will. Some businesses have already moved to other countries such as El Salvador and Nicaragua. Many of the poor want to keep the wage they have so they won’t lose their job and this way they can still afford to buy food to eat. Thursday there were some manifestations of workers and teachers protesting in favor of the increase in salary. The teachers are also protesting and saying they will not go back to work until they are all paid for last year’s work. Many have not been paid in more than 4 months and some up to 10 months. How many of us would work if we were not getting paid? Also, the teachers are in favor of the minimum wage increase because their salaries are tied to the minimum wage. If it is increased they get an automatic wage increase too. This is causing an already bad situation to get worse.
All this week we have seen many elderly and some not so elderly with high blood pressure. We are seeing lots of fungus that is on the entire body. Not just a couple of spots here and there which is typical. We have seen plenty of respiratory problems as well as muscle aches and pains from the hard physical life that the people lead.
We are so grateful for the support that each of you offers us and we appreciate your continuous prayers. We will be in the states beginning January 24 for several meetings raising money for the Women’s clinic and a 5 day mission conference in Tuscaloosa Alabama. Please pray for our safety during the trip as well as each day here in Honduras. Please pray that all that hear of our work will open their hearts and be generous in their support of us, purchasing the land, and the Women’s clinic. Pray for us to hear and obey God’s voice every day. Pray for us to have a good supply of medicine to work with. Pray for us to be in good health.
We appreciate each of you!
Sorry I don’t have any pictures… someone stole our camera! Please visit our blog at www.thehandsofchrist.blogspot.com and leave comments for John and Ana. Please click on the word “comment” to leave John and Ana a message.

Always
In Christ Service
John & Ana Lamon

For donations or correspondence by regular mail:
The Hands of Christ
P.O. Box 1252
Franklin, TN 37065

Telephone in Honduras 011-504-228-1902
Cell phone in Honduras 011-504-9-967-4574
Fax 011-504-228-1783
Sarah Hathaway 615-591-1706

Zechariah 4:6 So he said to me, "This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my spirit,' says the Lord Almighty.