April saw a bittersweet beginning with the decision to leave Honduras. I do look forward to all the possibilities of the future. If you please, I will need your continued support through May. I will make my final return to the States on May 24th.
NEW KIDS
Two new kids have come to Casa. They are siblings. The boy, Adonis, is 8 years old. From observance I can tell he is affectionate, as well as defiant, has sticky fingers, and likes to hit people. The girl, Lupe, is 6 years old. She too is affectionate, wants to please, and whines to get her way. I can see both of them improving, given time, love, and attention.
EL SALVADOR
Well… as I mentioned before in a previous letter, I made a bad miscalculation on my number of days in Honduras before I would have to leave again; A seven day miscalculation. Not being able to renew a 30 day stay two times in a row, I was forced to make the decision to leave the country for the allotted time, and return with a 90 day renewal.
I chose El Salvador, made possible by a recently made new law. I chose the beach . Thank you to all my supporters who inadvertently paid for a very relaxing couple of days on the pacific ocean. The all inclusive hotel cost a little less than half of what a plane ticket to the states would have cost. I enjoyed swimming in the ocean, a powerful strong spray of water coming from my shower head, delicious meals I didn’t have to prepare, and many nice long walks during low tide. I was able to find many tiny seashells to bring back to Casa. Some of the kids, especially Josue, seem to love digging through the dirt to find shells. I was able to provide him with more shells to find.
I had a horrible trip there with motion sickness most of the way as I sat on the top deck of a double decker bus losing my breakfast. I was forced into an involuntary fast for the duration of the 10 hour trip.
I did have a scare that made me sit in embers of anger for about 10 minutes. I had to pay $3 dollars to reenter Honduras and was told I had 10 days to go to immigration and renew my stay for another 30 days. This still left me with the 7 extra days I would have to deal with later. As well as having to explain to my supporters why I took a beach vacation with nothing to show for it but incompetent communication abilities of the Honduran government. Not knowing how to face you guys with that news, I prayed to God letting Him know He was going to have to take care of it. There was nothing I could do. After explaining the new law and reason for my trip in the best Spanish I could to the bus attendant and border guard, and quietly seething for 10 minutes, my passport was handed back to me. I searched for the new stamp and the date that would be there for how many days I had left in Honduras. It said 90 days. The bus attendant came up to me shortly after asking what I got. He smiled and told me another American just a few days earlier wasn’t given that. Thank you God for your provision and protection! I smiled at the new friend I had made on the bus ride, his concerned look relaxing at the news.
FIRES
Fires are everywhere. We have had fires come real close to the new house of one of our employees, and have seen the smoke billowing and listened to the flames burning their way all around us. On my trip to and from El Salvador, it was as if the whole of the country was being burned. When I got back, I asked someone if these fires were controlled fires like the ones in the sugar cane fields. The person said no. People burn their trash like usual, a spark flies out and sets fire to the area around it. Even after several rains, the smoke and fire still keep going.
KAREN LEAVING
Karen left with her husband Dorian to the states for a month long furlough. I pray they have a restful, relaxing, and wonderful month.
They are very much missed by myself and the kids. The kids have been showing there lose by not listening and acting out more then I am used to seeing them do. Jackson ran away for a couple of hours because he was mad; they seem to be hitting each other more than usual; they have gotten even more mouthy than normal; and they flat out don’t want to listen. When I asked little Katy if she and the kids weren’t listening because Karen and Dorian weren’t here, she shook her head yes. As the days have passed, they have become more manageable, but it all is still there. I feel like I have had to be a lot harsher than I care to be in addressing some of the issues that arise. Things are working out fine though. Things are gradually improving. God is good. He gives us a lesson to learn each day… or at least me.
Enjoy your time away Karen and Dorian. We will be glad to have you back home after you have rested.
WATER SHORTAGE
Things have been dry for so long the water supply has finally started to run out frequently. A water truck is called to bring in water and fill up the tanks. I have had a problem with having water since I got here. Most weeks I have been here, at least two to three days a week, I do not have water coming into my apartment, even when my tank is full. It isn’t unusual to find me wandering around the grounds calling for Denis to get the water back into my house. Now, with the water shortage it does no good to call for him. There is nothing he can do about it. The laundry alone uses up a tank of water a day. That doesn’t include showers, toilet, cooking, or cleaning. I pray several more tanks are put in place for the use of the main house. A couple more for the apartment in which I stay, and more important, the connected apartment for the house parent and new kids. When more kids come, the house parent will need to be able to fully function in the apartment.
I found out through a Facebook message today that a hole is being drilled for a well on the Casa property… today. That would explain the noise I have been hearing all morning long. Please pray for a continual supply of water for the kids all year long, no matter how dry the season gets.
GARDEN TEAM
The team from Stones River Church made it safely to Honduras. They came to do some ground breaking work for the garden being built for people of the dump to have a way out. Not too long before the team came, another group had built a house for the guard and his family. They will live on the property that was given to the project. I was thankful to be a part of starting a hole for the latrine for that family. It may not be much that I did, but it blessed me to know I played some part in this venture, even if it was in a small… very small way. The SRC team finished the latrine, planted seeds in toilet paper tubes at the place they were staying, raked pine needles, moved rocks, and many other things I don’t know about yet. From what I can tell, they have all made it home safely.
I do want to thank the team for a reason they know not of. God was using you in helping me learn how it is ok to not be afraid to experience my emotions; That I would not be cast aside or have what I felt, said, or did used against me later on; To not always feel I have to hold back what I am feeling and tuck it away in some place to be forgotten. Dave V. happened to be the shoulder I kept crying on. Thanks for showing me a glimpse of the Father heart of God, Dave. Others have done so in the past, but this was different with my eyes being opened to my new found truth. I hope I don’t come out of Honduras as an emotional basket case. But I do want to come out of Honduras with more of my heart on my sleeve. I will just have to trust God, friends, and family to protect it in its exposure.
RAINY SEASON STARTED
The rainy season has officially started. For a portion of the day and all through the night last week we had a strong dousing rain here in Santa Ana. The next morning I slept in late. After finally waking up enough to move, I stuck my bare toe into my slippers to pull them closer. I was very surprised to find my toe, slippers and floor soaked in water. My bed was an island unto itself. The water extended out two to three feet on all sides of the bed, and covered the floor underneath it. Two towels that I had lying on the floor for the purpose of absorbing the drips from the leak in the ceiling where soaked through. One towel on the floor in the extra bathroom, I use as a closet, was soaked through as well because I have a floor leak in there somewhere. I cleaned up the mess. The next time it rained through the night, I kept waking up because I was having dreams of sorts about the floor flooding again. It is strange, as Mark said, that I had no problems with flooding this last season, during the worst season of rain we have had here.
The rain starting has been a blessing however. The fires have gone on for so long the airplanes have been delayed by an excessive amount of smoke; Houses have been penetrated by the smell; and many people find themselves with difficulty in breathing. The rain has allowed reprieves.
CALLED MAMA
Cindy called me mama last week. This took me by surprise. She took my hand and we walked together in the yard. I don’t remember anything else that was said, or even how she said it. That’s how shocked I was in hearing it. This week she wrapped her arms over my shoulders and rested her head against mine while I read during the children’s nap time. I know she was supposed to be in bed herself, but she was silent and bothering no one. The other girls had finally fallen asleep so no fights would break out at the liberty I gave Cindy. I let her get away with not being in her bed. I don’t think she ever sleeps during the day anyway. At least not on the days I have sat in the girl’s room for nap time.
CONCLUSION
Thanks for taking the time to read this very lengthy letter. My prayers are with you all. I am grateful to God for you love, interest, and support.
May the love of God, the grace of Jesus, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
