Relationship Building

Why is it that roommates in college so often become great friends? At least part of it is because they are together so much. I know that not all roommates get along, but very regularly these two people that had never met become somewhat inseparable in a short period of time. They are together.

We are using this idea as we build relationships in La Fe. Yes, we have had some 'events' (medical clinics and time with kids), but we are trying to get to know the community and the people of the community by just being there.

Sometimes, we just go and walk through the streets and only end up talking to a few people in a few hours time. Now, people are starting to realize that we are going to be around. We aren't going anywhere. This is huge, because many times people ask us how long we are going to be here and when we will be back and we have answers that surprise them. We can tell them that we will be back "later this week," or "tomorrow" and they often smile because it is unexpected.

As we spend more time in La Fe, more and more people are willing to spend their time talking and getting to know us. This is what it takes to build relationship and to build trust and to build a body of believers. We are so thankful for the time we get to spend in La Fe and for the conversations we get to have with those that live there. It is truly a blessing to us, and I hope and pray that they feel the same way.

Ashley got to hear about Odilia and her family. 

Kids

Today we held our first scheduled time especially for the kids of La Fe. Yesterday we walked around the community and invited the kids to come and hear Ashley read and play some games. We told parents that we would be at the soccer field around 1PM and that all were welcome. We really were not sure what to expect.

Almost 20 kids showed up! It was a blast! Ashley read two stories to the kids and then we played some freeze tag followed, of course, by futbol (what we call soccer in the US). We had some clouds and even a little rain while we were playing, but it was a lot of fun. We got names as we went and are starting to recognize who is who and even can remember where some of these kiddos live.

Enjoy some pictures:

Ashley reading to the 17 kids that showed up.

Mike pretending he knows how to play goalie.

Mike wishing he ran more often...

Guess who was 'it'?

"Pass me the ball!"

What good listeners!

Love

Yesterday was Valentine's Day, or Dia de Amor here in Honduras. Ashley and I enjoyed a night out at a sushi restaurant. We decided it would be fun and worth it for us to go to a special place and spend a little more money on this special occasion (Yes, missionaries are allowed to do this too.). It was a great evening. We loved the food and our conversation was even better. We were able to spend a few hours (it takes awhile to make sushi) talking about how things are going and our relationship and stuff like that. It was a really fun time for us!

Is this what love is? I think it is certainly part of what love is. The Bible says that love is a lot more than a special day where flowers and chocolates and teddy bears cost three times as much as every other day (the commercialism of Valentine's Day is alive and well in Honduras too...).

Do I outdo others in showing honor? Do I bless those who curse me? Do I never avenge myself? Do I feed my enemy or give him a drink? Do I do no wrong to my neighbor? Am I humble?

Unfortunately, the answer to all of those questions is a resounding NO. In other words, I fail miserably at loving my neighbor. Heck, I fail miserably at loving my wife who is the most important person on this earth to me. Paul says in Romans that loving your neighbor fulfills the law. So, I fail miserably at fulfilling the law.

It sure is a good thing that my eternal life has nothing to do with fulfilling the law. Well, it doesn't have anything to do with my fulfilling the law because it has already been fulfilled for me by Jesus Christ! I do not have to be good at all those things above in order to be loved by the Creator of the universe. However, I have a desire to to do those things because of what Jesus did for me. He humbled Himself as God in order to become man, then He humbled himself as a man to die for others - for me. I hope that I (and you too) do not forget what Jesus did for me and how He SO loved me.

Today is not Valentine's Day, but today is a day to love. Today is a day to show my wife I love her (maybe not with sushi). Today is a day to show others honor and to bless those who curse me and to feed my enemy and to be humble. Why? Because Jesus did all those things for me even though I did not deserve any of them.

First Clinic in La Fe

On Wednesday Feb. 8, we hosted our first event, a medical clinic, in the community of La Fe. As we were preparing, I was a little nervous and did not know what to expect. We had not told anyone in the community that we were coming with a doctor and we were not sure where we would even hold the clinic. We didn't tell anyone about it ahead of time, because we did not want a line of way more people than we would be able to treat in one day.

It turns out this was a very good idea. In just about 20 minutes after we got to La Fe, there were 40 or so people asking to be seen. One of the community leaders, Odilia, offered the use of her house for the clinic and also helped us to keep order and make sure we saw some of the sicker people first.

Mike helping to pass out numbers to patients.

The setup we had was perfect. We had a place outside where Ashley worked intake and our teammate Erin was able to see patients as was Dr. Greg, who was here with Pastor Mike from Trinity Presbyterian Church in Harrisburg, PA (one of our supporting churches). I got to translate for Dr. Greg and help hand out the medicine that Dr. Greg and Erin prescribed to the patients.

Ashley working intake.

In about six hours, we were able to see over 50 patients! Most of them received vitamins as well as a medicine that helps prevent parasites. We also were able to do a few ultrasounds on some pregnant moms-to-be, because Dr Greg was able to bring a mobile ultrasound machine with him. We even got to tell one of them that they will be having a boy in about a month! Most importantly, each patient received a small Gospel tract and was prayed for both in English and Spanish.

Mike translating for Dr. Greg.

All in all, the event was a huge success! We think it was a great way to introduce ourselves to the community and show that we are here to serve. We hope that through our prayers and actions we were able to point to Jesus Christ as the Great Physician! We are so thankful to Pastor Mike and Dr Greg of Trinity Church for giving up their week to come help our team in Honduras and for helping Ashley and me begin the Lord's work in La Fe.

Home for a Week

This week we are hosting our first short-term team of 2012. We are privileged to have Dr. Greg and Pastor Mike from Trinity Presbyterian Church in Harrisburg, PA serving with us this week. Greg has been here several times and this is Mike's first time. They are helping and serving alongside all of our team in many facets of the ministry here. I am staying with them in our dorm facility all week.

Ashley and I are excited to have them work with us on Wed. in La Fe. We will have our first 'event' - a medical clinic. We want to point the people of La Fe to Christ, the Great Physician, as we help them a little with their physical ailments. 

The dorm room I am staying in with Dr. Greg and Pastor Mike.

Please pray for the families of Greg and Mike that are without husbands and fathers this week. Also please pray that all the work they do here this week would bring glory to the name of Jesus!

Medical Clinic

Yesterday, Ashley and got to help our teammates, Mike & Erin, put on a medical clinic. Erin is a nurse and every week they put on a clinic for the community they are working in. Yesterday we went to help so that we can learn the process because we hope to be able to provide some medical help to the people of La Fe.

Ashley working intake.

Since neither of us know anything about medicine, we learned the two other main processes of the clinic: intake and pharmacy.

Intake is where we take in patients. Depending on age, we take height, weight, blood pressure, blood sugar, and arm circumference. We also find out why the patients are there. You know, What hurts? We also pray with each patient and give them a Gospel tract.

Pharmacy is well, a pharmacy. Erin writes down the medicine that each patient needs and we provide it for them and explain how and when they need to take it.

So, Ashley prefers working intake and I prefer pharmacy which works well. We both learned what to do for each station so that we are able to do it if the other is not available. Yesterday was a great experience for us to help some sick people as well as prepare to help others in La Fe, where our main ministry will be.