Wednesday, February 24, 2010

John 10:10...I came that they might have life and that they might have it more abundatntly

Well, so much for warm weather! It has been really chilly here this past week. Even I wore a jacket on most days. It has been rainy, which we need, but the wind and cloudy skies made, made it very chilly. I'm glad to see the sun shining today. It's not overly bright, but it's out.

Almost 2 weeks ago I was able to go to Triunfo in Southern Honduras. The group that I went with, not AG, took school supplies for the children at a Christian school there. The leader of our group presented the gospel while lunch was being prepared for the children. We helped serve many children lunch. After lunch, the school supplies were handed out. Many of them wanted their pictures taken. When they saw their pictures, they smiled from ear to ear. Such a little thing to make them happy. Then they saw the balls for soccer. You should have seen them run. The bus driver starting kicking a ball, and the fun began. These kids learn to kick a soccer ball by the time they can walk!

This area is very poor. One of the men that went speaks English, and he told me that many of the people that live here wait for their relatives in the states to send them money. Others produce and sell cashews, while others go and work at the shrimp farms and come home on week-ends. It is a hard life here. We also took a medicine chest and gave it to a lady that helps the people in the community. The chest contained things like aspirin, bandages, antiseptics, etc. She will charge less than is normal, but enough to replenish her supplies and hopefully make a living. An older gentleman also talked to us about the plants he uses to treat certain ailments. Tea is made from most. He told us of plants that will lower blood pressure, normalize blood sugar, relieve constipation, treat headaches, etc. Other plants that are made into poultices to relieve sore muscles, etc. Very interesting. My kind of person.

This area reminds me of some places in the southwest United States. Very dry, dusty, and hot. There were many dry creek beds, and even the river reminded me of the Arkansas River in Wichita. Not much water in it most of the time. By time we left, I wanted to put my feet in a bucket of water!

Since we were so close to Nicaragua, we all voted to go there. So we parked the bus on this side of Honduras and walked across the bridge into Nicaragua. Just like the states, you would never know you crossed a border without a sign telling you. Everybody laughs because I say I have been to Nicaragua. Well, I have. I stepped on that turf and took pictures while my picture was also being taken. So I have been there!!!

We stopped in San Lorenzo on the way back to eat. Well, we had that famous Sopa de Mariscos. The seafood soup. Of course you always get the little crab-the whole body.
And then there is shrimp, and a big piece of fish with the bones still in it. I thought if my Grandma knew I was eating fish that still had bones in it, and eating fish at all without a piece of bread, she would probably turn over in her grave. No doubt I heard her saying be careful. From where we were, we could see that famous mountain in Amapala that we climbed last September. Well, I should say that some of us climbed. Some of us only went half way.

On the way to Triunfo, we stopped at a shop that makes water filters. They are shaped like a bowl and made from pottery material, including sand (I don't have a clue as to what is used to make pottery!) with a chemical added to the material that destroys germs, etc. The bowl sits inside the top of the water dispenser like the ones you take on picnics. You pour water into the bowl and it goes through the bowl into the dispenser. They hold about 5 gallons. The bowl has to be scrubbed every so often just like the water dispenser in my house. But these filters last for 1 1/2 years. If I had one of those I wouldn't have to buy water! The water dispensers are either ceramic or plastic. The plastic is cheaper, of course. The cost is about $30. Not bad, but for a lot of these people, $30 is a lot of money. Anyway, I thought they were very cool. From the conversations, these are also used in parts of Africa. What ingenuity.

So school is in full force and all is well at the moment. I have four grades, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th consisting of 72 students. The fifth grade can be a challenge, but they have learned that they walk in and out of my classroom. And that they use the trash can for their candy sticks, papers, and pencil shavings! So progress is being made. The 7th and 8th graders are very calm compared to last year. Must be maturity and maybe because we know what to expect from each other. It's good to see the kids that I had last year. So we pray God helps each one of us do the things and learn the things that will be pleasing to Him.

Jesus said that He came that we might have life and that more abundantly. He truly does bless our lives both spiritually and physically. What a blessing to have His Spirit living in us. I praise God everyday for what He is doing in my life. I pray God blesses everyone that reads this blog.