Another attempt to post

Here's something I put together Saturday evening. Unfortunately, the internet connection was intermittent, and after three unsuccessful tries I decided to go to bed. So read this as though you had seen it Saturday evening.

Allen

Wow! Overload city! The conference closed about 4:30 this afternoon, ending three heavy days of presentations, lots and lots of Q&A, and many side discussions. Now the question is this: "What do we do next?" The posting Thursday night mentioned a meeting with Adolfo Leon to discuss the CHE program. Here's a photo showing Karen at the left, Suyapa and Arturo across the table, and Adolfo the the right side of the table.

Thinking about what we have learned will need some soak time before we're able to report many specifics. Each of us will have picked up concepts, impressions, and guidelines that need to be shared among our team to consolidate our thoughts. For tonight, I'll just jot some thoughts that struck me as important. Some of them were confirmation of what I had thought previously, and some were new.

One overall bit of advice is that we need to remember we are not in Honduras simply to help Hondurans. We are there to help Hondurans help themselves. We're in Honduras not to lead programs, but to support them. That's a big difference in approach. We're pretty good at deciding what problems they have and how we are going to fix them. The problem is that our fixes might not really be what the Hondurans want or need. A better way is to first ask the Hondurans what things they think would make their lives better, what stands in the way, and whether and how we might work with them to improve their situation. The fixes need to be theirs. We can offer support, but they need to own the solutions. That stands the best chance of imparting a new sense of accomplishment and overcoming a history of powerlessness and hopelessness.

When we can live with the families in their conditions, and work alongside them to help them make their lives better, we will begin to understand the meaning of a mission trips as a vocation rather than a vacation.

Changing the cultural norms of the society won't happen any time soon. The adults generally are firmly entrenched in "the way things have always been." As bad as we might think things are, these folks are survivors. They know how to get by. They have learned to accept things as they are. They know the familiar; they have learned to fear the unfamiliar. So why change?

Education of the children is probably the most promising way to impart a gradual shift of values and behavior. Often that requires that the children first have food so they can think about something other than constant hunger. They also need to be healthy--free of parasites and infections. There won't be quick fixes; we're looking at small improvements occurring over a period of several years, probably with many failures and disappointments as we go along. So we need to be alert for small victories in the lives of the people we work with. Here Karen and Arturo are discussing how we might do that.

The levels of violence, drug use, alcoholism, spousal and child abuse, and homicide have been on the increase in Honduras. Poverty is increasing with the general increase in food costs and other expenses. So hopelessness continues despite many years of intervention by hundreds of organizations who have sent thousands of people in teams to Honduras to help. If we are able to benefit from the partnering we can do through improved communication of recent years, maybe we can learn from each other's successes and failures.

That's a dump of thoughts in my head this evening. By morning maybe they will have taken some shape. Tomorrow we will drive back to Quimistan and begin the rest of our lives. During the week we will do several on-the-ground activities and compare notes to develop a coherent picture of some next steps.

We are hopeful that we'll have internet access there; last week we were not able to establish a connection that was possible with our summer teams. If you don't see entries on the blog, that will be the reason.

Greetings from Ninth Conference on Honduras

We're late checking in, but finally we're on the blog.

Sam and Roxanne arrived in Quimistan Monday afternoon and immediately proceeded through a whirlwind list of TO-DO items---some personal, some representing the Foundation. For example they visited Sra. Umanzor to thank her for the support she gave us this summer by providing us the use of her kindergarten for the eye clinic. They also visited with the Quimistan directors of the Quimistan Valley Scholar program, discussing the protocol we will use to provide the matching funds as they receive local funds from the community.

One unpleasant surprise was to find that the teachers across the country are on strike because they have not been paid in the last six months.

Karen and Allen arrived on Wednesday, and the four of us with Arturo and Suyapa all drove to Copan to participate in the Ninth Conference on Honduras. The overall theme of this three-day conference is "Building Gobal Partnerships" . . . the idea being that if groups and individuals working to help Honduras learn to work together closely, coordinate, and share information and ideas, then many of the solutions to core development problems and issues will more easily, efficiently be realized.

For more information about the conference, go to projecthonduras.com.

The kickoff speaker for the conference was Ambassador Hugo Llorens of the US Embassy in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. He expressed great appreciation to the tens of thousands of individuals and thousands of groups involved in volunteer, humanitarian, and development efforts to support the people.

The first day of the conference was exactly what we have been looking for. We located many other individuals and organizations active in medical, educational, agricultural, and children's homes. The format of the conference encouraged a lot of interaction allowing identification of who has what experience over the broad range of developments.

After the sessions we were able to spend about an hour in discussions with Adolfo Leon, who has responsibility for the Community Health Evangelism program across all of Honduras. His insight regarding the effectiveness of different approaches to development will be helpful to the Foundation as we consider possible new directions in the coming year.

For those of you who have sweated through our summer trips to Honduras, you'll be surprised to know that the conference center today was air conditioned. Roxanne was actually cold enough to return to the room to gather up sweaters so we wouldn't all be freeze-dried by the end of the day.

More tomorrow.

Allen

We've Seen Jesus

Our journey is coming to an end. Following services at the Agape Church and ice cream at Shirleys, we are in for the night and enjoying refreshing showers and conversation on the front porch. Earlier today we asked each team member to spend some time in reflection. We asked them to consider how they saw God at work in Honduras. The following words are just a few of their thoughts.

…….I saw God at work today in Suyapa and Arturo’s school in Santa Clara. I saw hope for the village because they are there to help the people. The visual image that will always stay with me is seeing the love and happiness in little children’s eyes. I saw hospitality today when Janice bought ice cream for the children who live on the highway.

…….All of the physical possessions that we gave away during the trip cannot even compare to the gift of blessings that I have received from the people of Honduras. Even more than this, the gift of Jesus Christ and His love that we have passed on will never compare to any of the physical possessions that anyone could ever give.

……..The Lord has been near to me this week with little blessings. The cool breeze in the morning and the evening, the clouds which provided cover at Copan, His hand of grace that held back the storm until the team could complete the celebration of new family homes. God our Father has enjoyed teaching me how to be more like His Son and His daughter in Christ.

………I’ve seen Jesus in the faces of the children, through the love the mission team has shared with the people and with each other, in new friends, in answered prayers, through the generosity and kindness of the local people, through the hope of the poorest of the poor, by pushing people out of their comfort zones and achieving what they set out to do.

……..I’ve seen Jesus in flowers bright and butterflies and in the sparkling of the children’s eyes. I’ve heard Jesus in fast paced tunes and clapping hands of songs and words I can’t understand. I’ve felt Jesus in handshakes and hugs- both strong and mild and in the caress of the fingers of a Honduran child. I’ve witnessed the generosity of Jesus in North Americans giving a little and getting back joy and trust and then seeing the hand of poverty turn around and give back to us. In EVERYTHING we’ve been told or shown that my Jesus has made His presence known.

……….This is a difficult question for me because I saw Him everywhere from the beautiful children with their gorgeous dark hair and sparkling eyes to the giant 300 year old Kapok trees. God surrounded us with so many opportunities for Him to work through each of us to witness and help the sadness, neglect, and cruelty here in Honduras. As we leave tomorrow, I will take this knowledge and experience to share with those at home so they may try to understand the needs of these people that can only be met through God.

………I have seen Jesus in my Honduran brothers and sisters in Christ who minister to the poor so compassionately everyday.

………Where did I see Jesus? In the morning sunrise, in the still muggy night, in the uphill climb to Pinal, in the joyous sound and wide smiles at Pinal, in hearing 1,2,3,4,5, in looking for rocks with Randell, in the laughter of good friends sharing a joke, in meals with the group, in Wilmer, in the faces of my family in photos from home, in Arturo and Suyapa, in faces covered with filth, in the outcast of society, in hugs and tears, in new and old friends, and in places like you see Christ at home.

……..I saw God work everyday on this trip. It’s amazing how our simple plans for the day can turn into a miracle for the people here. I have so many stories about the hope in people’s hearts in Honduras. We were sent here to spread the Word of Jesus, but the amazing part is that the people here are actually teaching US the “word”. Everyone is so appreciative of anything we give them, but mostly they simply enjoy our presence. The smiles of these people are strong enough to touch your heart instantly. I will always remember the children who greeted me with open arms. I WILL be back to visit Honduras in the near future. Mississippians think that they are hospitable, but they have nothing on the people of Honduras. These people trust us; they hug us. They shine with the light of the Lord. In Honduras, you are never lonely, hungry, or unhappy. They would not be like this without their trust and faith in Jesus Christ. He is among these people. This experience will stay in my heart for a lifetime.

……..In the eyes of four recently orphaned children, I saw Jesus. They are His children whom I have known and loved for several years. I could sense their pain in the loss of their mother and have love and compassion for them by the power of the Holy Spirit. I have seen Jesus in each team member as each responded to the unbelievable needs in this place. I have seen Jesus working to bring forth truth in a place of lies and deception. It is not difficult to see Jesus here. Everywhere I turn, I see Him.

We are so grateful to all of our family and friends for sharing in our journey. We have felt your prayers and have been strengthened by your daily encouragement.

To God be the glory,
“Jim” Jeff, Janice, Justin, Anne, Donna, Emory, Callie, Andrew, Randell, Cameron, Marquita, Ashlee, Avent and Jack

Mucho Gusto (Nice to Meet You)

Helping with the communication in Honduras has been extremely entertaining throughout the trip. Those of us who can speak Spanish wait with great anticipation for Mississippians to try out their newly acquired language skills.

Emory has been putting her Spanish: For Dummies to use. I think everyone here now knows she likes chocolate, seeing as that was one of the first phrases in the book. Avent, on the other hand, has clung to more of an essential phrase, or part of it anyways. In her desire to communicate with the people, she has asked at every place we go, “El baño?” So, if you need to know where the bathroom is, ask her. There’s a very good chance she’ll know.

Apparently Janice is dyslexic when it comes to the Spanish language. “You’re Welcome” in Spanish is “De Nada.” She has essentially told numerous Hondurans to “go swimming” with “Ne Dada” (nadada) after they tell her “Thank You.” We let this go for the first week before correcting her.

My personal favorite, though, happened today and included the one and only Cameron. After reading a story in both English and Spanish at a Kindergarten school, the teacher and her daughter offered us some chicken tacos. In Latin America, it is considered rude to not accept something when someone offers it to you, so we all ate and enjoyed. Afterwards, when we were heading towards the truck, I stopped to talk to the daughter who helped with the tacos. Cameron came over and wanted to let her know that he liked the food. So, he rubbed his belly and said “¡Mucho Gusto!” They young lady looked at me confused and rightfully so since Cameron just said “Nice to meet you!” as opposed to “Me Gusta” which means “I Like.”

But, the language errors work both ways. The Spanish-speaking people like to try their hand at English too. For example, Wilmer, a local bus driver with the coffee plantation, was trying to figure out the word for “boss” in English. In Spanish, it is “jefe” (pronounced hef-ay). So, Wilmer referred to “Jim” as the “heifer.” Not exactly a cognate, but a good shot nonetheless, and a good laugh.

There are still a lot of wonderful things God is doing here and the language barrier will not stop the Lord from accomplishing his mission. I’m sure each person has there own personal stories to share when they get home, though nothing can compare to the first hand experience. Today’s main mission was giving to those in dire need. We traveled the streets and highways of Quimistan with a few locals who know of those in the greatest need. We provided clothes, Mississippi State backpacks, school supplies, Christian literature (in Spanish), and prayer bracelets. We took the time to read bits of the literature to them too not knowing if they could read it themselves. Needless to say, many people were grateful for what they received.

We appreciate all of the thoughts and prayers from home. They are encouraging and uplifting to us. Prayers are being answered every day.

¡Gloria a Dios! (Glory to God!)

Ashlee Drake

"Ruined" for the day

Hello, my brothers and sisters in Christ. This phrase was taken fairly lightly while I was at home. It was more like a phrase the church down the street would say rather than I would…but as I have lived among total strangers I have come to know my family does indeed include “those down the street”. Humility is hard to find in this day and time. It has been found here in Honduras. Until now, I haven’t seen true heartbreak. The heartbreak of a mother who is without hope and her children are now without hope. I haven’t seen starvation where the needs are not met unless someone takes a special interest in that hungry human being.

I actually haven’t seen much in Starkville either. I’ve been called out of my boat by Christ to come and see my family in a whole new way. I have been called out of my workplace to follow Christ into a world which is full of hope, love, joy, peace, and prosperity. I have had my hand held by Christ here, in this place, by the least little girl or boy at a local school who cannot talk to me, but looks at me with big brown eyes of sincere love and adoration. Why? Why would such light come from such a hot, “dark” place?

The Word of God and His son Jesus Christ.

In America, in Starkville, I spent hours upon hours driving my mother to the eye doctor in Jackson. How much time I wasted driving and sitting? God was depositing in me the ability to help those who cannot see. How you ask? God lifted me up out of a misery of vertigo here in Honduras and sent me to an eye clinic, a clinic with local people who needed help picking out glasses. How quickly I was able to help them…it was like I suddenly understood the purpose of all that time sitting and waiting. I had learned to serve others.

The team here is made up of the most wonderful disciples of Christ. Each one gives a talent which is beyond expectation of the others. Jim provides confidence in love and administration. She is able to walk around down here with the Holy Spirit trying to keep up with her. I’ve never seen anyone get about like that in such a hot place. Donna is the story teller. She keeps our minds stimulated and our hearts in order. She also takes a special interest in cleaning up,,,,(hehehe), but she is a joy to watch when she sees a child or adult she knows from here. Anne is the one responsible for taking Christ’s gifts from one land to another. She diligently keeps track of her packages. Fedex has nothing on Anne Buffington! When she is not delivering American Mail here, she tells the most delightful stories. Her version of a Christmas Carol just about caused me to buy a package of depends to wear here. Avent is the singer of the bunch. For anyone back home who cannot speak Spanish, Avent is the one who can teach you. Just ask her how to find and use the facilities at First Presbyterian Church. Callie has been our local horticulture specialist. We will see the most beautiful flower or plant and she informs us all about it. Callie has truly walked by faith here, leaving behind her child to come here to prepare school supplies for hundreds of other’s children. Speaking of school supplies, we have Emory. Emory has the leadership skill of being first in line to sort, stuff, organize, and prepare for others, as well as the ability to teach the local team members how to wait for true beauty. No matter what, she arrives “on time” and in perfect order. Our resident choir member, Marquita, has been called from her boat of life to come here and provide medical care for us and the community. She dispenses medicine and goes to look at a hospital available for use. Her skills are most useful when the team boys decide to rile up her maternal instincts. You have never seen a Mama Bear to compare! Finally, we have Ashlee, our “get Smart” member. She speaks Spanish. She plays soccer, which is the favorite game here. She works on the construction site. She enjoys passion fruit. She embraces life and inspires me to no end. Live it now is her motto.

Oh, the men, yes, let’s talk about them. You have RANDELL, the pastor of the bunch. If he’s not telling us little witticisms, he’s spreading the Gospel to all. Justine has caused all the local beauties to follow him in awe. He looks into their eyes and they just melt.
Jeff is the Bob Vila of the bunch. He has come down here with a mission of construction. He not only is able to tell a captivating story, but he is able to direct order where there is none. Andrew is the information technology (IT) specialist. If it weren’t for him, none of you or us would be able to “talk”. Andrew is the tallest member of our family here, but he watches out for those of us who can’t see what’s coming. He can speak Spanish and is able to help us “talk” in person, as well. Cameron, unfortunately, is the little brother here that the big brothers pick on. He will be glad to return home. He has learned the hard way that Vacation Bible School is nothing on these five brothers he has had to room with for over a week! Jack is what I call an intelligent comedian. I watch and wait for what he will say next. Just like Jerry Seinfeld, he picks up on the funniest things and when he speaks, it’s exactly on target. If Jack thought his parenting skills weren’t going to come in handy, just think about how living with the men who are the over grown teenagers I’ve just described. From what we have heard, their card games have supplied electricity for the local community for the next ten years!

The previous message was presented by the early morning member of the bunch. Now that the day has come to an end, I can add the field trip we bad boys and girls took to Copan. Our guides, Suyapa and Arturo sent us away for the day to see the Mayan Ruins. What am I to say about this is that God’s hand was near to us all. We were given the best tour of our lives. We stood at the base of statues hundreds of years old which were designed to remember those who had been here before. We stood at the base of temples used to celebrate life in ways we cannot imagine. We saw the local horticulture which provided trees for comfort from the sun and branches for the beautiful wild macaws. When God created the earth in six days and took a rest, he created special people who were intelligent and artistic to this day. In addition to this, the Lord blessed us with precious cloud cover, therefore, no sunburn or misery of heat today. Praise Him!

Well, that’s our family here. I hope you have a fresh outlook on your life, our life and God’s children from Starkville and Honduras! Adios

Janice Kinard

A Day of Blessings

“God is great, but sometimes life ain’t good. And when I pray, it doesn’t always turn out like I think it should. But I do it anyway. I do it anyway.” These are the words to a Martina McBride song which Donna used yesterday morning for our devotional. They have really touched us today as we have seen much that our North American eyes have struggled to grasp. This morning Callie, Emory, Jeff, and Andrew were headed to Pinal to deliver book bags for the children there. Due to torrential rain last night, the road was washed out, and so they offered to help around Martha’s compound. When taking a truck load of our trash to the local dump, they were met by children who promptly searched the bags to find whatever they could. That’s tough to witness. This afternoon we visited homes and took groceries and supplies to those in need. We completed our work at the eye clinic, read Bible stories to local kindergarten children, and ended our afternoon with the “pounding” of the two families who have received new homes this summer. (Pounding means that we deliver groceries, supplies and a Bible for the families) When we drive around through the pot holes and the mud, we see much poverty, but no despair. You see, our Honduran friends have faith and a strong love for our Lord. We are all wishing that life could be so much better for them, and yet they know no other world. Maybe it is a good thing that they are not consumed by all the material possessions that tend to get in our way on a daily basis.

If you think we are all down and out tonight, don’t worry. We have celebrated Janice’s and Avent’s birthdays at Mehia and Goyita’s restaurant (complete with Sponge Bob party hats). We wanted to thank our Honduran friends who have been working so hard to make us comfortable this week, so we treated them tonight. Goyita even made fried chicken and French fries! After dinner we sang and laughed. It’s getting quiet now. I am sure that there will be many prayers of thanksgiving tonight for a day full of blessings.

With gratitude for prayers that He answers in His way,

Anne Buffington

Coffee Anyone?

Life is good and God is at work in so many different ways here in Quimistan. After spending Saturday morning at the Pinal construction site and the eye clinic, a select few of us got to take a tour of our dear friend Wilmer's coffee plantation. The sites and smells of the coffee beans and various fruits gave many of our team members the "perk" they would need for Sunday.






Early Sunday Morning we loaded down the truck with soccer balls, coloring books, and a homemade rope swing, and headed for the Agape compound to spend some time playing with 46 of the local kids. With Frisbees flying and bubbles popping, there was much joy and laughter among both the kids and the team members.









When Sunday afternoon rolled around on the grounds of our humble abode, we met 40 of the boys and girls who are sponsored through Agape Promise. After the children and team members introduced themselves, Anne B. distributed handmade angles, crosses, hearts, flowers and fish (all made by her daughter, Cathrine) to the kids to take home as a reminder to them of Christ love for us. We also ate a meal with the children, had a drama on the story of Ruth, and finished off by having the team lead the kids in a rousing rendition of the Hokey Poke. Though we could all be labeled as professionally trained baby sitters after today, we had a great time with the Agape kids. There was much joy had today in Jesus name, and hey..."That's what it's all about!"





Finally, we ended the day by attending the night service at the Agape Church. After the team sang a few of ye ol' favorite hymns for the congregation, we took our seats to hear the sermon given by our own Randell Foxworth. He was a faithful instrument in the hand of God, reminding us of how God sends us the power of the Holy Spirit through His word. It was a great testimony to the truth and hope that can only be found in Jesus. Great job Senor Randell!





Well, I think we will call it a day folks. Spirits are high here, and there is definitely not drought in the laughter. Thank you for your prayers. Please continue to pray for God's work amongst the people of Quimistan and for the team members. Adios amigos!





With hope from Quimisitan





-Cameron Beaty

A week in pictures

Good Morning,



To satisfy the thousands and thousands of emails that we have received from home, today we will post more pictures than usual. I am updating the blog here in the air conditioning while everyone else is working. Well.... Its all true except the part about the air conditioning. The weather has been quite cooperative, it may be, at times, as hot as it is in Mississippi, but not for long. It stays overcast here for the majority of the day. For those of you that don't know how the schedule is down here, there are about fifteen in our group. We have several projects going at one time. People can go to the same one all of the time, or change from one to another every day or so. The projects right now are (1) building a classroom for a school, (2) flouride treatments for the children, and (3) operating an eye clinic and trying to fit people with the correct glasses. Here are a few photos from the various projects:


















Emory and Avent here are excited after completing the ten minute correspondence course on how to operate the "i"(sp?) machine.















This is Suyapa(Right), the wife of our translator, with a local woman and her new Specs.



















Randall and Janice preparing the treatment

















Schoolchildren taking medicine to fight against parasites.
















Emory explains (in English) exactly how to do the treatment.






















As is evident by the thumbs up, these are just two more satisfied customers!

















This is Ashlee with her soccer team that played close to where we are builing the school in El Pinal. If you cannot tell, the boy on the far left in the blue shirt is the team captain.
















After breaking TWO shovel handles, Jeff thought that the best thing to do was to get Cameron to help hold this one up, while the school children continued to dig the footings.


















This is Jeff and a local contractor, Jerso, who is assisting with the school project. Please note the RSC cap that Jerso is wearing.
















This is one of the local delivery trucks. We stopped and spoke with the men briefly. We realized that this was definitely a more environmentally friendly, efficient, gas saving delivery service, than anything we have in Mississippi.

This afternoon, some of us are planning on going to a coffee plantation. Check back tomorrow for a full report.

Andrew

Jim's new glasses

Hola Ya'll,

We pulled up our chairs to God's table and feasted today til our hearts were full. We felt His hand at the Pinal school construction site, another rural school where we played with the children and provided flouride and worming medications, at the eye clinic, and at the La Cosecha Church tonight.

An elderly gentleman at the eye clinic was waiting for his pair of glasses when Pablo and our fearless leader Jim pulled out the pair on the left. I wish you all could have seen his face. He laughed a jolly laugh and then put them on his face! Humor crosses all barriers!

Before church, we were able to present the keys to one of the new homes that so many of you have worked on this summer. We gathered with the family for prayer and songs. What a very special opportunity for us all! The church service was very different from our Presbyterian ways, but we clapped and smiled and clapped and smiled and stood and clapped and smiled through it all. The pastor there did a dance that was a cross between James Brown and Elvis. Afterwards he taught us the moves so we can teach them to Olin. We are expecting a performance next Sunday.

We have so many pictures, but we are too tired tonight to share them! Andrew plans to get up in the morning and post many of them to give you an idea of what we have been doing. Thanks again for your prayers. We feel them

Rinse and Spit

After a good nights rest a group of us traveled about 20 minutes to a school where we did more fluoride and worm treatments on students there. Most of them enjoyed the worm treatment (banana flavored!) but, the fluoride was a little more difficult. (The picture to the left is them "swishing") The kids were so appreciative of us being there and playing frisbee and football with them afterward. They also loved our cameras! We took tons of pictures of them and they were so tickled to look at them on the screens.

A group also went to a construction sight where they started building the foundation of a school. They carried boulders up a hill to start the building process.

Right before lunch Marquita, Avent, Donna and Jim went to a "home" with Martha where she showed us where 2 families were sharing a living space. We all agreed that we had never seen anything like this before, our hearts broke with them.

After lunch, we went to the eye clinic where we saw 25 people, which we hope in the next couple of days will increase with "town talk". The people were so grateful to be able to see better.

We had a wonderful day and saw some old friends and met many, many more! Please keep Randell Foxworth in your prayers, he has been feeling bad all day. Thank y'all for all your prayers and support! We wouldn't be here without you and the Lord's grace that brought us here!

Avent Clark