2010 and THE HANDS OF CHRIST

Merry Christmas from Honduras,

As we look back at 2010, we can see that much has been accomplished. For this, we give all the glory and honor to God. After all, He is the giver of all wisdom and abilities to succeed in this ministry.

We would like to thank each of our supporters. Without your prayers, contributions, and willingness to serve our work would not be possible. Your gifts have allowed more than 10,000 people to receive the medical care they so desperately need. For example, while a team was here with us we had a mother bring a severely dehydrated and malnourished baby to our clinic. The decision was made to send the baby to the hospital where it could receive intravenous rehydration treatments. This saved the baby’s life. One of the team members decided to sponsor the baby and is purchasing food and clothes for the baby. In a matter of several short weeks the baby responded to the nourishment it was receiving and is growing stronger. These are the miracles that each of you that support us is causing to happen.

Lives are changed physically and for some, spiritually too. Because we are here in Honduras, people are coming to know the Lord as their personal Savior. This only happens because you care enough to support us and to help us purchase the medicines that we need to run the medical clinics. God’s work continues here in Honduras. Some progress is being made on different permits and agreements with the Government Health department. Our Women’s Clinic plans continue to move forward. We are now working with the Honduran environmental agency to get their approval for our project. The slowness of the government is frustrating for us. We are trusting God that all will happen in His time. It is amazing as we look back and see how God has placed different people into our ministry at different times to help and encourage us, but more importantly to further His Kingdom and His work. He is Faithful all the time.

As 2010 comes to a close, please remember us in your end of the year giving. All gifts are tax deductable. We hope that you will continue to support us as the New Year begins. Please keep us in your prayers. Always pray for our safety and pray for us to hear and obey God. Pray for our base of supporters to grow. Please encourage others to visit our website www.thehandsofchrist.org. Please feel free to contact us at johnyana_41@hotmail.com. We would love to hear from you. If you would like to send a team or come as an individual please contact us and let us know.

We hope each of you has a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. May God’s peace fill your hearts and minds, and may He fill your days with blessings that you cannot imagine. We appreciate each of you.

For correspondence or donations: The Hands of Christ -- P.O. Box 1252 – Franklin, Tennessee 37065

You may also donate through the website at www.thehandsofchrist.org .

In Christ Service Always,
John & Ana Lamon
Honduras

End of the Year

I am writing to you today as a thank you and a reminder about end of year giving. Many of you have already sent in a donation and for that we say “thank you very much”! If you have not taken the time to pray and ask the Lord how you are to help us then we ask you to do so. As we pray for our support team, we ask the Lord to make it clear how and where our financial support comes from. We have some looming practical expenses in the next few weeks. They include a new refrigerator to replace a 25+year old model that we brought to Honduras when we moved here 5 years ago and the replacement of a truck for our mission work and life in general. Our truck was 11 years old and we have repaired, patched and fixed as long as we could and it simply will not last any longer. A truck is most vital to our work as we cannot go out to the communities and villages without transportation. Over the years, if you have looked at the photographs of the roads we must drive on or if you have been to Honduras or any under-developed country, you know that the roads take a serious toll on a vehicle. If you would like to give a one time gift to help with the practical matters please let us know. Also, if you would like to become a “Helping Hand” monthly partner please let us know that as well. You may visit our website (www.thehandsofchrist.org) and click on the “Donate Now” button to donate thru PayPal or you may send a check to the PO box listed below.

We are a 501(c ) 3 Non-Profit organization and all gifts are tax deductable.

plowing with oxen

From top left: Jessica Murphy giving out medicine in Ciudad España. Top Right: 4 members of the church in Ciudad España praying for a patient. Bottom Left: A pill counting party with Claudia Stull, Betty, Charlotte Shepherd, Jessica Murphy, and Brandy Burns.

This lady cooked our lunch (chicken, rice, and beans) on her home stove Claudia Stull doing pre-clinic in ciudad España where we saw around 300 patients

This Baptist Church was the site of our medical brigade about an hour and one half south of Tegucigalpa.

Dr. Ana checking the heartbeat of an unborn child in Las Hadras

Charlotte Shepherd preparing the medicine for the patients in Ciudad España

These two pictures are of the hand carved road we traveled to get to Cerro Verde (Green Hill)

The community school where we held out clinic in Cerro Verde

This man was using his ox drawn cart to carry his corn to town to sell

On the way home from Guayabal we passed this young boy carrying firewood home so his mother could cook the family food

This crowd of 300 patients greeted us Friday morning in Guayabal just outside of Lepaterique The pharmacy team of Jessica Murhpy and Jackie Parks ready for patients in El Espino, Lepaterique
The pharmacy team of Jessica Murphy and Jackie Parks ready for patients in El Espino
Teresa Law seeing patients with her translator Oscar in Las Hadras

Nurse Brandy Burns checking the blood pressure of a patient in Las Hadras

Laura Dover translating for Dr. John Waits in Cerro Verde (Green Hill) outside of Lepaterique

Hard work and politics?

Also, please check out http://aimingtoserve.blogspot.com/. this is being written by a nursing student who is with John and Ana until the end of July.


Friends,
It has been many weeks of hard work, but at the same time we have seen God in control even when things don’t go the way we expect. We have been working continuously in several neighborhoods here in Tegucigalpa where the people are always giving us words of encouragement and thanks that we are there to offer them good medical care…. Something that is sorely missing in most of Honduras.

At this time there are many political problems facing Honduras due to the fact that the last government wanted to change the constitution so then president Zelaya could stay in power continuously. The supreme court stopped him using the constitution of Honduras. I could talk a lot about this problem but that is not why we are here. Even though we live in an unstable political environment, each day we leave our home to work trusting that God will always take care of us and that He will use us to pass His love on to those that do not know Him. We know that God will not put us in a place where someone can do us harm because He is using us to further His kingdom and win souls for Him. At the end of each day we give thanks that God has allowed us to serve Him and that we are able to bring hope to those who have no hope, those who are in need; the women, children, and elderly.

On another note, we just had one team from Brandenburg, Kentucky leave and we have another one from Tuscaloosa, Alabama coming this Saturday, the 18th of July. We also have 2 individual volunteers working with us right now. If you would like to send a medical team or individual to work with us we would love to hear from you.

As you know, we have purchased the land for the women’s clinic. A survey will be finished this weekend that will mark our boundaries, location of trees, and elevations. It will also include the elevation of the current highway so we can make our connection to it.

We appreciate each one of you. Your prayers, your comments, and your contributions. We hope that you will continue with each of them.
May God richly bless each one of you.
To make a contribution or to contact us by mail:
The Hands of Christ – P.O. Box 1252 – Franklin, Tennessee 37065

In Christ Service Always,
John & Ana Lamon

Update

Just wanted to let everyone know that John and Ana are doing just fine. They held a clinic today on the outskirts of Tegucigalpa and saw 150 patients. Needless to say they are tired tonight but doing well. The political upheaval is not causing them any problems at this point. If you would like to know more please feel free to email me. Keep them in your prayers. They currently have a team of 3 women from Kentucky and tomorrow one young woman from middle Tennessee is going to serve with them for several weeks. Continue to pray for their safety and God's perfect provision. Thanks and good night!

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.

A view of the land we have purchased for the women's clinic -- Ana Lamon signing contract for purchase of land -- John Lamon signing contract

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.