And the peace of God...Phil.4:6-7

Again I am reminded that my life and times are in God's hands, that He knows everything from the beginning to the end. There are no surprises to Him. What a comfort to know that when I make plans and they are suddenly changed that God already knew it. And if I'm shaken by it, I just have to talk it all over with him, and my peace is restored.

I had made plans to go to Costa Rica because my visa was due again. I bought my tickets and was looking forward to going to another country. I really do like to travel by air. Instead I went to the U.S. again. I had received a message from my youngest son that my mother was having serious health problems. I knew something was up when I couldn't reach her by phone the preceding Sunday. I called my brother and he said that the doctors had not expected her to live through the night before. So I flew home on the 11th of August. She passed the 13th of August and was buried the 17th. Jesus said he would give us peace, but not the kind the world gives. I was so thankful for that peace when my mother was dying. People ask me if she went to heaven. Do I know if she made it to heaven? No, but I know God knows and he is a just God. I normally prayed with mom before we would hang up when I called her every week or so and she said she was right with the Lord. So I leave it there. Do we really know if an individual goes to heaven when they die? We hope so.

So I was able to spend time with my daughter and brother and their families while I was there. It was good to see my grandchildren and my great granddaughter, Nicole. I was able to visit with other relatives that I had not seen in years. So even though it was a sad time, it was also a time of rejoicing and reconnecting with other members of my family.

When I returned to Honduras, Becky and I went to San Jose, Costa Rica for the three days. It was a time of rest that we both needed. San Jose, the capital, is big just like Tegucigalpa. However, the people in Costa Rica drive like people from the U.S. That was a welcomed change. More English is spoken there than here in Honduras. English is a required subject in many of the schools there. We wanted to visit the language school, CINCEL, while we were there, but it wasn't open. We did a little shopping and went to Taco Bell so Becky could have a bean burrito. Well, they don't have bean burritos. And why would they when beans are a staple in Central America? But we were thinking Taco Bell, an American restaurant. Oh well, a Mexican pizza sufficed.

So back to Honduras and school. It was good to be back. I miss Honduras and everything about it when I'm not here. I, too, was missed, and that was nice to know. So on the first day back, we reviewed. It was good. On Fridays I do the devotional with the 7th graders. This was the second time that Eva, my interpreter, was not there. But God was there and my Spanish was ok. My lesson was on having peace and that our hearts not be troubled like Jesus said in John 14 and 16. He said in Matthew 10 and Luke 12 that he didn't come to bring peace but a sword. That sword, his word, will cause a division, not only in our families but in the world. Since Honduras is going through a difficult time now as are other countries, we are reminded in Mat. 24 that all these things must come to pass. But even so, we are told in Phil. 4:6-7 that if we pray about all the things that trouble us, God's peace will keep us. How good God is to his children. The new song we are learning in English is Come unto me...Mat.11:28-30.

My Spanish lessons have gone from 2 days to 3 days a week. My teacher worries that because I live alone, I don't get the practice that I need. (Jesus and I speak English)! She wishes that I could live with a family here in Valle that just speaks Spanish. Be immersed. That's the key.

We need our road fixed that goes to the school from the main road. Two of our teachers have fallen in the last week and have hurt themselves. They haven't broken anything, thank you Jesus, but they've been hurt. I asked the "principal" if the men from the area around the school would get together and work on it. She was doubtful, but maybe if we got the word out, some would come and work on it. Will see what can be done next week. Jesus said ask, and if we don't ask...

Again thanks for all your prayers and support.