The Hands of Christ Board Meeting

The Hands of Christ Board met today and had some very exciting discussions about the building of our Women's Clinic! Planning to apply for permits in 2010 and get the roads and water systems started. Please visit our website at www.thehandsofchrist.org to read more about our ministry and show your support.

Dedication of the Land for the Women's Clinic

Hello from Honduras, John writing here. We have finally had a good rain here in the mountains after more than a couple of months without adequate rain. Maybe things will green up a little now. With the elections approaching on the 29 of November, the Honduran people are hoping to finally put their political problems behind them. It has been 5 months since the now ex-president was removed from office for illegally trying to change the constitution.
Yesterday, Tuesday, November 3rd was a special day for The Hands of Christ, Inc. We gathered 3 pastors and 12 lay persons at the Women’s Clinic site and had a dedication service for the land that the clinic will be built on. The land was anointed for Christ’s service and all that participated walked the land and spent time praying for the building process and the women and families that will be served there. One of the prayers was for God's blessing in the work that would take place there. Afterwards, all were invited to our home for a delicious lunch (I cooked part of it ). Please see the attached photo of the dedication. On the 9th of this month we will be coming to the states to participate in the Global Mission Conference in Louisville, Kentucky. Please pray for our trip that it will be safe and very productive for our mission.
On a more difficult note, our truck is having more and more problems that are very expensive to repair. It is 11 years old and has served us well but it is time to get another one. If you can help us financially with this endeavor it would be greatly appreciated. We cannot go to help others if we do not have transportation. Please pray specifically and ask God if you are to help us and how, in the purchase of a new to us / used vehicle.
We appreciate each one of you and all your prayers and help that you have given The Hands of Christ.

Ana writing here. As my husband has already said, yesterday was really a wonderful day for us. It's true that months ago God gave all of us this land. And if you see, I said "all of us", rather than just "us" because each supporter of this ministry helped us take the first step in the vision for this to become a reality. We know that God already made it a reality before we did anything. We are witnesses of His tremendous power and love for His creation. Thanks to God, because He let us participate in this project for His Glory and Honor. God doesn't need any help but He wants to bless all of us for being givers. I am not talking about just money but giving of your prayers and letters that let us know that we are not alone in Honduras. We are all children of God. As Christians we need to take care of each other’s needs. Thank you for helping us care for the children of God in Honduras.

Thanks again because you have never left us alone. We are far away in body, but we are together through the Holy Spirit.

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

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!

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