Photos from Wednesday's Clinic

On Wednesday of this week Mary Grace, Katie and I went with John and Ana and held a clinic in one of the very poor neighborhoods of Tegucigalpa. These photos are of the church building that the clinic was held in. Can't get the upload working -- will post photos later.

Wonderful Wednesday in Honduras

Wednesday started out as an early day again with a 5:15 wake up for me so that we could leave at 6:15 to take John Israel to school. It takes 30-45 minutes to get to his school so once we arrived and played with him in his room a bit we left and went to our clinic site for the day. We were working at a church building (open air, tin roof and homemade pews of white washed lumber) and the pastor and people of the church were supposed to announce that we were coming but they forgot. So we were disappointed there was no one waiting when we arrived. As we set up for the work day, the woman who greeted us at the church sent some little boys out through the neighborhood to spread the word that there was a medical brigade with medicine at the church and to come! Well, as you can imagine it did not take too long for people to begin arriving. We saw 73 people in about 3 hours. We stayed until no one else was coming and then packed up. Most of the medicines we handed out were for fungus, infections of many kinds, tylenol and meds for diabetes. Ana says that there is an increase in diabetes in the people of Honduras becuase they can afford to purchase carbohydrates to eat and are lacking protein, fruits and vegetables. While Ana was seeing patients and John was working in the pharmacy, the girls and I were counting and bagging pills to be used on future brigades.

The people who came were all glad to see us and I know this only because of the grateful looks on their faces and not because I understand the language! We were so excited to share God's love through smiles and hugs and handshakes. God's love translates easy!

I am attaching photos of the view from the Statue of Christ we visited on Sunday and one of my girls, John Israel and myself.

Happenings in Honduras!

We are having a great time in Tegucigalpa with John and Ana! On Sunday morning we visited the Statue of Christ and the park that surrounds it. We saw lots of beautiful native flowers and plants and were amazed and the beauty of the city even among the poverty from the view on the mountain where we were. You can clearly see the poverty everywhere you go here but from the mountain view it was even more clear. Many of the "houses" are really just one or two rooms made from scavenged boards and corregated metal in many cases with dirt floors.

On Monday, we were able to go with John and Ana to take John Israel to school. He is blessed to be able to attend an english speaking school. It is very clean and neat and his classroom had great learning toys and bright colors. The whole school is well taken care of. Ana's sister works there in the office.

I have discovered that part of the mission that God had planned for us while we are here is to help rejuvenate John and Ana. As you know, mission work is hard work. Not only do you work in the mission field that God has given you but you must work to raise your own pay check. Last week, just before we arrived, they moved into a much safer area which was needed whether or not we visited. In light of that, I have discovered they have some very tangible needs around their house. My daughters and I are working on that while we are here. It is fun to work for God when you can see the results which is great for my girls. The reality is that John and Ana do not always see the results that God has blessed them with because of the field of missions where they work. They do not always see the physical healing in the medical clinics nor do they always see and hear the lives changed through salvation but they are planting the seeds of salvation and sharing the medicine for the physical body.

Please continue to pray for John, Ana and John Israel as they serve in Honduras. Please pray for our trip and return to the states on Friday. Ask God how you can help this family continue their service to the glory of the Lord.

We have Arrived!

Good evening from Tegucigalpa, Honduras! My daughters and I had an exciting and uneventful trip through Miami to Tegucigalpa. We easily went through customs and right outside was John Israel (age 5) eagerly waiting for us! We grabbed a bite to eat and then came to John and Ana's home. They recently moved into a safer area and their home is full of love and warmth. We are so glad to be here. Tomorrow we are going to see the Picachao --the Christ statue -- and to the english service at church. We are also going to meet with the architect who is here from Kentucky to continue the planning for the women's clinic. Weather permitting, we hope to walk the land on Monday or Tuesday and see where lives will be changed, physically and spiritually. I can already see the great need for the people of Honduras. Even here in the city, as in our own community, there is a desperation and sadness on many faces that only the love of Christ can remove. Please help us reach the people of Honduras. Please ask the Lord how you are to support this ministry. We need your prayers and finacial support. Any donations that you send will go directly to supporting John and Ana and their weekly medical clinic.

Packed and Ready!

Sarah here today. Tomorrow morning at 6:00am, our two daughters, ages 10 and 11, and I will board a flight for Honduras! We are very excited to see what John and Ana do everyday and experience a week of life in Honduras. It is our girls first time overseas and my first time out of the country in.. well let's say .. a while .. since I was a teenager. I am looking forward to walking on the land where the women's clinic will be built and to go into some of the villages where John and Ana work each week. Please pray for our safety and health while we are gone and pray for my husband as he stays home and holds down the fort. We also have some business decisions and discussions to work through so please pray for clarity and unity for all in the cause of Christ. Thanks for your continued support and prayers!

Hello from Honduras,
It has been a few weeks since we last wrote. Let me assure you that we have been working hard. Each year, there is a sad but true event here in Honduras as well as other central American countries. The people burn much of their country for various reasons and this year the fires burned the land that we bought. Although this is not good, we are taking advantage of it. We can easily see all the rocks and small stumps and debris on the land and we are cleaning it up. This will make it much easier to cut the grass, build the clinic buildings and do other things as they arise.

This past Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday we were in Ciudad España. I think this is the place where we see the most young children. As I looked at the patients lined up waiting to see doctor Ana, all I saw were mothers with 1 to 4 children and the occasional man mixed in. The babies less than a year old were very numerous. We saw lots of respiratory problems, diarrhea, and sinus problems. Among the older patients, we saw lots of high blood pressure. I think the respiratory problems were high because of the proximity of the fires to the community. For several weeks they have been breathing lot of smoke and dust from the fires and dry weather. Many of the fires have died down somewhat in the last day or two due to some cooler weather and some scattered rain (we got about 50 drops where we live). As always, we worked at Fuerzas Unidas this past Thursday. Our patient load is not heavy there, but they are always very sick. The total amount of patients that we saw were 319 for the week.

We are thankful for each one of you that supports our work. God’s work and the sharing of His salvation never ends. We have been blessed to have continued support for the purchase of medicines and for that we are grateful. We also need continued monthly support for our living and travel expenses to and from the clinics. This has fallen greatly in the last year and even a few dollars a month makes a difference for us. We know that times are difficult right now. We just ask that you pray about supporting us and follow God’s leading.

Please also pray for:
1. For us to hear and obey God’s voice in all we do and say
2. Our safety here in Honduras
3. For God to supply all our needs and the needs for the women’s clinic. He is the owner of all the gold and silver (Haggai 2:8)
4. For our campaign to raise money for the clinic (beginning soon).
5. God sends more workers because the field is much but few workers to work.