This morning, after we got the work started in our home construction in Santa Clara, we went over to another village to see a Justa Stove. This stove has a small (about 4-5 inch cube) fire box which discharges the hot gases to a two-foot-wide, shallow chamber which allows only about an inch below the griddle surface and then exhausts into a chimney through a large exit chamber. The area around the fire box is filled with wood ashes. They act as an insulator and keep the heat at the cooking surface.
This stove has several advantages over the typical wood-burning fireplace. The griddle is much more substantial and good metal; it burns only about 1/3 as much wood for the same temperature at the cooking surface; the smoke is removed from the cooking area and therefore does not cause lung problems.
We received a very good demonstration of the way the stove works and how they are built. The organization that builds the stoves charges 110 USD for each one, and the recipient must build the base for the stove. Of course, if we can obtain or build the cooking surface ourselves, we can build the stoves ourselves much cheaper than the “dealer price,” which includes material, labor, and travel expenses. I truly believe that we can provide a real benefit to many people with these stoves.
Jerry
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Update on the Dump Situation
I had a follow-up meeting with Martha and the pastor of the Assembly of God church, concerning the people who live along the road and who go to look for things at the dump. We found out there are 38 families including over 60 children in this group. I was provided with a list of the families, including the names and ages of the children. On Sundays, when the children meet, they have approximately 150 children, including the above 60. They are always fed a heavy snack after Sunday School.
Asked if they provided any food during Monday and Friday evening services, they said ‘No.’, but were considering starting a feeding program. I asked what the cost would be to start such a program at those two gatherings. They will have an estimate for me before we leave. Martha, Arturo, and I plan to attend the service next Friday.
God continues to work.
George
Asked if they provided any food during Monday and Friday evening services, they said ‘No.’, but were considering starting a feeding program. I asked what the cost would be to start such a program at those two gatherings. They will have an estimate for me before we leave. Martha, Arturo, and I plan to attend the service next Friday.
God continues to work.
George
VBS Brings ‘Light’ to Luz de la Valle
Monday, Jan. 19
Being in Honduras is such a joy! We had 62 in attendance at Vacation Bible School (VBS) in the Luz de la Valle (Light of the Valley) school Monday. The 7 Agape Promises (AP) youth who volunteered to help were fabulous in leading the lessons, crafts, and games. Vilma should be in show business – she is very outgoing and a great teacher. She and Juan Miguel are senior AP kids, and both are wonderful young people. Juan is an enthusiastic and well-spoken leader.
There were 12-15 parents who attended VBS, and they were very engaged in the lesson. We felt that this was the first time many of these children had heard the Gospel message. Karen’s lesson taught about God’s love and creation, heaven, sin, Jesus’ sacrifice cleansing us from sin, and growing in our faith. Each concept was represented by a color, and the kids made bracelets using beads of each color. Our prayer is that the children will remember the lessons each time they wear their bracelets.
After VBS, the children had snacks, and we administered deworming and fluoride treatments.We have had a blessed Monday, and look forward to 3 more VBS sessions at 3 other schools in the area this week.
Claudia
Monday, January 19, 2009
A Very Productive Day
I went to Santa Clara to work on the Amalia's house with Steve. There are fourteen people living in a rather small Bajarike (stick and mud) house. At least their stove vents outside, but can you imagine cooking on a wood stove in Honduras? We are building a three-room brick home just down the hill. We originally expected to be adding to the home, but the slope of the land just would not allow it. They will now have two homes and a bit more privacy than they may otherwise have had.
[looking down the hill at the new house]
[looking up the hill toward the old house]
At lunch, we were treated by the Amalia family to the local version of burritos, which consists of two soft corn tortillos about three inches across, with beans, a bit of egg (and at other times possibly sausage) and some of the local cheese in between. They also offered some of the local "pica diablo" salsa tabasco, which is a relatively typical and moderately hot tabasco-style sauce.
After lunch, we were taken to Pueblo Nuevo, where we toured the local clinic. The Foundation paid to repair the roof on the clinic and to paint it inside and out. The place looks very good and they have a sign in front of the building which states the roof was repaired using funds from Honduras Agape Foundation "manifestando el amor de Jesuchristo a la gente de Honduras" (To show the love of Jesus Christ to the people of Honduras). I think that is pretty special. About 45-50 people who come to that public clinic every day and will see a message of God's love because of their new roof. We also visited a family with 4 children who live in a stick and mud shack beside the road, on land which does not belong to them. We gave them some provisions, including sardines, hot dogs, beans, rice, pasta, margarine, eggs and butter for about $16. Oh, yeah. We also gave the kids a bag of cracker jacks.
--
‘Too hard’ does not equal ‘not required’.
Jerry
[looking down the hill at the new house]
[looking up the hill toward the old house]After lunch, we were taken to Pueblo Nuevo, where we toured the local clinic. The Foundation paid to repair the roof on the clinic and to paint it inside and out. The place looks very good and they have a sign in front of the building which states the roof was repaired using funds from Honduras Agape Foundation "manifestando el amor de Jesuchristo a la gente de Honduras" (To show the love of Jesus Christ to the people of Honduras). I think that is pretty special. About 45-50 people who come to that public clinic every day and will see a message of God's love because of their new roof. We also visited a family with 4 children who live in a stick and mud shack beside the road, on land which does not belong to them. We gave them some provisions, including sardines, hot dogs, beans, rice, pasta, margarine, eggs and butter for about $16. Oh, yeah. We also gave the kids a bag of cracker jacks.
--
‘Too hard’ does not equal ‘not required’.
Jerry
George Meets God at the Dump
Last Saturday I discussed with Martha Thomsen the situation at the dump. Many children and adults scavenge through plastic bags, looking for food scraps and other items of potential value. I expressed to her that we have a strong calling to provide help to these people. She said that she was also concerned about this problem, and had gone to both her cousin the Commissioner and the Mayor to ask that the dump be fenced in and access-controlled. Since she then went back to Nebraska for a time, and nothing has been done in this regard.
It was determined that it was now time to revisit this issue. She called a minister friend who came by, and we discussed the problem with him. He agreed to meet at 10:00 a.m. today (Monday) at the dump to assess the situation first-hand.
When I arrived at Martha’s home this morning, she had assembled not one, but four pastors to visit the dump. We prayed before we left, and such a prayer I have never experienced! There was a Power present in the room with us, as Martha, the four pastors and I were praying. We went to the dump and no one was there except for the dump keeper. He said people usually arrived later in the day, between 11:00 and 1:00, when the big dump trucks from the factories came to dump their stuff. He opined that most of the people who come live by the road between the dump and the bridge.
We left with a schedule to return at 11:45. When we returned, they were only 2 boys there, and they confirmed that they lived by the road. One of the boys mentioned that a pastor came and met the families on Monday and Friday evenings. One of the pastors with us knew him and called him. He arrived about 10 minutes later. He is the pastor of the Assembly of God church in Quimistan. He also has Sunday School for the children by the road, about 60, on Sunday morning.
He also is a dentist, and has a practice in Quimistan. His dental clinic is next to the church, and a block from the HAF office.
We have a meeting Tuesday at 5:00 to discuss how we might partner to help these families. PRAISE GOD, a ministry and a dental contact in one meeting!
George
It was determined that it was now time to revisit this issue. She called a minister friend who came by, and we discussed the problem with him. He agreed to meet at 10:00 a.m. today (Monday) at the dump to assess the situation first-hand.
When I arrived at Martha’s home this morning, she had assembled not one, but four pastors to visit the dump. We prayed before we left, and such a prayer I have never experienced! There was a Power present in the room with us, as Martha, the four pastors and I were praying. We went to the dump and no one was there except for the dump keeper. He said people usually arrived later in the day, between 11:00 and 1:00, when the big dump trucks from the factories came to dump their stuff. He opined that most of the people who come live by the road between the dump and the bridge.
We left with a schedule to return at 11:45. When we returned, they were only 2 boys there, and they confirmed that they lived by the road. One of the boys mentioned that a pastor came and met the families on Monday and Friday evenings. One of the pastors with us knew him and called him. He arrived about 10 minutes later. He is the pastor of the Assembly of God church in Quimistan. He also has Sunday School for the children by the road, about 60, on Sunday morning.
He also is a dentist, and has a practice in Quimistan. His dental clinic is next to the church, and a block from the HAF office.
We have a meeting Tuesday at 5:00 to discuss how we might partner to help these families. PRAISE GOD, a ministry and a dental contact in one meeting!
George
Agape Promises Reception
As is our custom during our mission trips, we have a reception for all of the AP students. Today, we had 41 of the 47 attend. The primary purpose of today’s activity was to celebrate our 2 recent high school graduates. On behalf of the foundation, they were presented with Spanish language copies of Rick Warren’s, A Purpose Driven Life.
Each of the graduates spoke about their experiences as part of the Agape Promises program. They thanked God for His help in completing their course work. They also challenged their fellow students to trust in God, work very hard, so that in the coming years they will be receiving the same recognition.
The missionaries put together their theatre talents and presented a HAF version of the Good Samaritan. The children really enjoyed the “drama”, especially the part where Jerry was beaten down by the robbers. All appreciated a wonderful lesson on God’s love and caring.
The missionaries served a delicious lunch to the children, including a very special dessert.
Ken & June
Each of the graduates spoke about their experiences as part of the Agape Promises program. They thanked God for His help in completing their course work. They also challenged their fellow students to trust in God, work very hard, so that in the coming years they will be receiving the same recognition.
The missionaries put together their theatre talents and presented a HAF version of the Good Samaritan. The children really enjoyed the “drama”, especially the part where Jerry was beaten down by the robbers. All appreciated a wonderful lesson on God’s love and caring.
The missionaries served a delicious lunch to the children, including a very special dessert.
Ken & June
Sunday, January 18, 2009
A Day of Praise and Thanksgiving
Today was a busy day! Following a start to our auto-refractor training video, we attended Sunday School held this morning by Martha Scarlett Thomsen here at Delfina Village. Over 50 children took part in the singing, praise, and worship service, which included a snack. Among other things, Martha also shared her testimony, and her nephew Abner gave the message.
Following lunch, we went to the weekly Bible study held for the Agape Promises children at the kindergarten in Quimistan. The younger children met in a classroom, while the older ones met outside. After the study was over, we brought all of the children back to the Village to spend some time with us. (More details about that tomorrow.)
We were also thankful today for the safe arrival of the rest of team, Allen and daughter Karen Livingstone, Claudia Meadows, and Stephen Burdette. The day concluded with a welcomed first glimpse of the sun since we got here.
Good night.
Tommy
=============================================================
A visit to Little House of the Roses, an Episcopal Group home in San Pablo. The house was started by Dianana Frade, wife of the former bishop of the Diocese of Florida.
There are 50+ girls, ranging in age from pre-k to high school. The girls attend either local schools or the international school, where instruction is in English.
At present, 13 graduates are in college, with one about to finish dental school. An impressive record!
The school provides the services of a social worker, a psychologist, and a chaplain. There are also enrichment classes in dance, arts, & crafts. Some of the artwork is sold to help support the school.
In addition to the group home, there is a clinic, a food ministry, an intensive residential language school, and a retreat center, due to open in March or April in Pueblo Nueva.
It was an informative and uplifting trip. The Holy Spirit was present. Thanks be to God!
John Keeler
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