Ps. 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

Well, here I am after only a couple of weeks. And for those of you that like mysteries, I have one for you, so keep reading.

We were out of school this week for a break, don't know that it had a name, but everybody needed it. Becky had a young lady from CO here the past two weeks, and I was blessed to spend time with her also. Thursday, the 11th, was her last night, so it was her choice where we would eat. She chose Chili's, one of mine and Becky's favorite restaurants. So away we go. Our service was not as great as it normally is, but... So after we ate and paid the bill, we got up to leave and a feeling of dread went through me, and I remember thinking I didn't want to walk through all those people. Now that was weird, because you most always walk through a crowd of people at restaurants like Chili's, Applebees, etc. especially at that time of the evening. And it doesn't bother me, normally, but you will see that that whole evening was not normal. So we walked through the crowd of people inside and outside, and most were North Americans. I remember putting my hands on one young lady and saying,"con permiso, por favor"(excuse me,please, so I could get through the crowd) even though she was an American. Well, Lauren and I were ahead of Becky and we got in the car. However, Becky wasn't behind us. I looked back and I thought she was waiting for a car to pass. But after the car passed, she was still standing there. I knew something was wrong so I hopped out of the car to go see about her. By time I got around to the back of her car, she was at the back of it and bending over. She was in pain because she had banged her knee bone on one of the benches on the way out. By that time, Lauren was looking out of the car to see what was wrong. Becky was soon able to get in the car, and I went around to my side to get in. The minute I sat down, I said,"Where's my purse"? It was nowhere to be found. So back inside the restaurant we went to make sure I didn't leave it there. Well, I didn't. The manager went through the camera tapes and sure enough it shows me leaving with my purse over my shoulder. It was a very small purse and carrying it that way put the purse itself under my arm. What a shock! No purse, no passport & visa, no driver's license, no bank debit card, no credit card, no insurance card, no glasses, no cell phone, and over $200 gone because I had just used the ATM. Pictures of kids, grand-kids, friends-all gone. Everything I normally do, I didn't do. I normally don't carry my passport, because I carry a copy always. I normally don't leave the car door open when I get out, and I did when I went to check on Becky. But then Lauren was in the car. There were no people or cars around our car when I went to check on Becky. Chili's outside camera only scans the side of the building and not the front. If it did, we would know what happened. So who got my purse and when? The guard didn't see anybody, and the manager came outside with a flashlight to help us look under cars, etc. but to no avail. My purse was gone. What a shock. I had my passport copy, or otherwise, I would be an illegal alien. Ok you guys, don't go any farther with that statement.

The next morning at the office, the secretary was telling about people doing this out side of restaurants like Chili's. They use some kind of spray that makes you lose your memory for a few minutes. Yeah, I know. Sounds like something from Steven King or your favorite sci-fi film. But later, a couple of missionaries told Becky that they had heard it on the news.

So what happened? Becky, Lauren, and I have no clue and neither does anyone else. The whole thing is just strange. On Friday, we took Lauren to the airport and said goodbye. Then we went to the U.S. Embassy to apply for a new passport. I had to go get new pictures taken, and don't think they aren't beauties. With not much sleep the night before, I had suitcases under the eyes!! Vanity, vanity. Next, to the immigration office, then to get my eyes examined and new glasses, and of course a new cell phone. So we really got everything replaced or it's on it's way. I emailed the bank and called the credit card company the night it happened. So all is well.

So why did all this happen? I haven't the slightest idea. But God knows and He allows things to happen for a reason and a purpose (thank you, Jen). God gave me peace through all of it. I knew He would take care of it all. I'm thankful that it happened this way and that we weren't assaulted or hurt. I told the girls I was not sitting in an ash heap and scraping myself with a potsherd, and everything that was lost could be replaced. It just caused some inconvenience for us. I'm not the only person who has been robbed of their passports, etc. And God made the way easy for us to take care of everything. People were nice and helpful and we didn't have to wait forever. And you learn to wait in Honduras.

So I praise God for His presence. He is always with me, and He knows everything from beginning to end. I don't have to worry about anything, because He will take care of me and all that concerns me, even this. And that thought kept going through my mind during all that happened. He knew what was happening even though I didn't. Thank God that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and is ever faithful. Pastor Bill said I was now baptized. So that makes me a bonafide missionary.

Now some news about school. Becky, Lauren, and I painted a couple of the classrooms this week. The Honduran team from San Pedro Sula will be here this week to work on the other building some more and to fix the area in front of the high school. I will be glad to see them again. However, I probably won't get to help them.

The earthquake that we had a couple of weeks ago, rocked me in my bed at 2:30 in the morning,I remember thinking earthquake tremor and rolled over and went back to sleep Lots of damage up north in El Progreso and San Pedro Sula, but none here. In fact a lot of people slept right through it. Thanks for all the prayers that were made on our behalf. The people of Honduras thanks you too.

Until next time, sounds like a news commentator, God bless and keep you.