John 8:32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Today is July 4, 2013.  A day of celebrations in the US.  Here in Valle, it is a regular day and raining! A rain that is needed so much. Praise God for the rainy season.  Some people have not had water for a while since they get their water from the mountains, and their source had dried up.  Can you imagine not having a faucet or even a well?  We Americans have it all!  We take so much for granted.  Living here makes one think about such things. I have heard many accuse North Americans of being selfish, materialistic, and self centered. It really bothers me to hear them say those things, because I see the same things here! People's hearts are the same from whatever country they are from!  God has blessed the US, and will bless any other country that follows him.  He will also stop those blessings when people turn away from him. I think we are beginning to see that in the US. How sad! It breaks my heart to see our country going down the path that it is on.

So the last month was  really busy.  I was able to go to IL the second week of June for a week. What a time my daughter and I had! We went shopping!! I needed dress clothes and some new shoes. Boy, did God bless! A couple of times, my son-in-law and I went. Great fun! I was able to spend some time with my brother, and I was able to visit with a cousin that I hadn't seen in probably 30 years or more. We had a wonderful time sharing about kids, grand-kids, great-grandkids, etc.  Well, I'm the only one in the  last category! And to figure out some family history. What a puzzle.  My great-grandfather deserted the Army during the Civil War and changed his name. When the President granted amnesty, he was going to change his name back to the original. Well, by this time he had married and had children. When he made his intentions known, one of his sons said that he was born with a certain name, and he wasn't going to change it, so Great-grandpa didn't either. That is the story I have heard from childhood, right or wrong!  And then my Grandpa married four times and had children by all his wives except one, so trying to figure out what uncle belonged to which wife, and who were half brothers/sisters was a problem. I still don't think I know who belongs to who! And at this time it really doesn't matter in the scope of things. But it's interesting.

A couple of days after returning here, a group from KS came to minister. What a great time I had visiting with my pastor and the others that I had met previously. It was a great team, and I hope they come back.  They ministered to the kids at the school, and also did some much needed painting. Thank you so much! One of our ladies that came had sponsored one of my former students for years. They were able to meet each other and to spend some time visiting with the help of an interpreter. What an answered prayer it was for Mary. Praise God! She was also able to meet her new sponsored child before leaving HN.  God is so good. When we follow his leading, he always answers the prayers of our hearts.  Nothing is overlooked or forgotten by him.  And tomorrow a group of young people, 20-23,  are coming for a week or so. That's a lot at one time! 

We have had this week off from school! Yeah!! It has been a time of rest, planning the next nine weeks, and figuring grades for the last nine weeks. We have been told that a student cannot fail, and they have to have 70% to pass. It used to be 60%.  If they don't earn it, you give it. How stupid! Just as our educational system has deteriorated in the states, so it goes for a country that follows us.  We lost so many good teachers when No Child Left Behind became law, and now what?  At the school where I teach, education is not very important to most of my students and their families. The few that do care are a blessing to teach! Most kids do not do their homework or study, and that's in the regular classes, not just the English class. I hate lies! And when you pass a child that does not do his part, and I'm not talking about kids that have difficulty learning, what are we teaching them?  They know. And we wonder why God isn't pouring out blessings even when we sing the songs, raise our hands, and attend church, and proclaim to be Christians.  But then most governments are anti-Christian even when they speak his name. My prayer is that this government will see the idiocy of this rule and change it.  We're already required to re-give the failed exam and give the best score of the two. I did that last week. I had given the test and answers before the first exam. The students just had to study it, and it was material that we talked about everyday. Well, did most of them pass? No. Did they pass the second? Of course! So if they could pass the second, they could have passed the first.  So if a person knows he has so many chances to do something before the very last chance, how many do you think the average person will do?  Exactly!  Good ole human nature, which is really not so good! You have just heard a teacher's frustration with an ungodly system. I wonder if I need to retire again, and just teach those that come and really want to learn.

Freedom. What a great thing to possess. I'm so thankful for the freedom that Jesus brought to us.  Freedom to worship him in Spirit and truth.  Have a blessed Day of Independence!

Rev. 2-3 To him that overcometh...

Wow! What a two weeks this has been! So much has happened, as always, but God is always faithful to help and to encourage in trying times.  It´s so frustrating to be told to do something and not know what or how.  It's amazing how people think that knowledge comes by osmosis! Well, all that is past, and now there are new things to overcome. But isn't that like our God? In order to be an overcomer, we have to have things to overcome! I'm trying to rejoice in that bit of knowledge right now!!!

So, last week I went to the Copan ruins with two of the teachers from CEAD, the school that is connected to the church that Becky attends in Tegucigalpa. They had not been to see any of HN other than here in Valle. And since that school is on the N. American system, they will be leaving in a few days. So we were on the bus for eight hours there and eight hours back. But it was a bus like Greyhound, bathroom and all. They even gave us snacks. We had a nice hotel and we could split the cost. Food was excellent there in the hotel. We ate at another place that was not so great. Our guide at the ruins spoke good English, and we learned a lot of good things including their numbering system.  He is also a Christian, and we had a good conversation. I really like to go to old places. The ruins here, ghost towns in the West in the U.S. etc. I don't like to visit old cathedrals, however, because all I can think about is the Spanish Inquisition. I know that's crazy, but that's the way it is.  Even Dachau in Germany didn't effect me like those cathedrals! UGH!

The school didn't have water last Thursday or Friday, so the kids were sent home after a couple of hours on Friday.  I'm not exactly sure how the water system works here. I know that some of the people get their water from the mountain. If the source dries up, then they have no water. The city can also turn off the  water for those of us that have it whenever they feel it's necessary. I'm not for sure what necessary involves.  Here at my house, there is a well where I can turn on the pump whenever I need it. I praise the Lord for that. Thank the Lord the rainy season has begun!!!  It has been so dry, and the dust on the way to the school has been horrible. I finally figured out that I miss snow days, because sometimes I wish it would rain so much that we could stay home from school one day! Yeah, I know.  Shame on me. I don't miss the snow, just the snow days!!  And the last couple of times that it rained hard in Tegucigalpa, there was flooding.  Know why?  All the trash that they throw in the streets clogged the sewers so the water could not go through them. Do you think that has changed?  Nope.  It's so sad and frustrating when something so small could be fixed so easily, and it isn't.  I'm so thankful that the attitude at the school has changed concerning trash. It's great to see the kids using the trash cans and putting their wrappers from candy in their pockets or backpacks when they are on the bus.  And speaking of trash, it was interesting to hear the pastor's wife speak this morning about the trash in the earth and compare it with the trash that is sometimes in our hearts.

Well, the Lord is still on the throne and all is well.

Newsletter 2013

Beverly Says,                                                                                   

Hello from Honduras                                                   

The last three months have been very busy.  We have had two teams here from the states.  One came to pray and minister to the national pastors and   teachers in our schools while the other came to help build classrooms in our school in Choluteca.  What a blessing they were to us and to those they ministered to.  

Last year a team from Coffeyville KS left me with a personal gift of money.  I put it with some more money and bought new desks for the high school.  We are so thankful for these new desks.  They are such a blessing to us, and they also improve the look of the classroom. God is so good. Thank you for your support.

English classes continue to be challenging at times!  It is so sad that education is not a big priority in Honduras.  The desire to learn of other things and places is quite low.  In order to learn about other places in our world, I decided to incorporate other cities in our daily lesson about weather.  I was shocked when most of my students did not know where  China was on the world map.   Some of them did not know where Central America was found, let alone San Jose,  Costa Rica!  They know now!  So every day, we locate a different city while reviewing previous places.

For Bible verses in English,  they are learning choruses from Psalms, Matthew, and Isa. etc. Songs like, Come unto Me, from Matt.11:28-30, and   I Saw the LORD,  from Isa. 6:1-3.  They have already learned, Open the Eyes of My Heart Lord, which we also sing in Spanish. 

So next week, it is my turn to give the devotional to teachers and students.  I’m so thankful for the friends that God has given me that will help me edit what I want to say.  AND one of my former tutors will be coming back next week to help me continue in my learning more Spanish.  She will also be staying to learn English with another adult student. Yea!  Many people here say that they want to learn English.  But when the basic greetings are learned,  that ends the lessons.  Learning is not all fun and games. It’s a lot of hard work!  And many are allergic to that.

So for prayer requests: That God would pour out a desire upon the students (people) in Honduras for a better education at all levels, especially for those that are becoming teachers.  You can’t teach what you don’t know.

Thank you so much for all.  May God continue to bless you.        

 Beverly                           
                                                                                                                                                April 2013

  

   

Ps.46:1 God is our refuge and strength , a very present help in trouble.

What a wonderful, peaceful, and relaxing time that Becky and I had at the cabin in La Esperanza.  There was a fresh thermos of coffee and a loaf of sweetbread waiting for us when we arrived!  That sold me!  Of course, Becky doesn't like coffee, but she did enjoy the sweetbread.  The cabin was great. It had two bedrooms with a double and single bed in each.  A bathroom with HOT water for showers, and a kitchen with stove and refrigerator.  The living room had a sofa, two chairs, coffee table, and a TV with cable.  There was a front porch with several wood lawn chairs.  There were five other cabins, but not close enough to not have privacy.  It was a beautiful place surrounded by a pine forest that smelled so good.  What a blessing that we enjoyed so much. Thank you Maria Jose and family.  May God bless you for your blessing to us!

We weren't too impressed with the city itself, but our little get-a-way was great.  Several times we would be sitting on the porch enjoying God's creation and peace when we would look at each other and KNEW that the other was thinking that we need to be doing something.  I said, "How sad it is that people don't know how to relax and just enjoy what God has made, and to enjoy peace of mind, body, and spirit".  Becky agreed.  Sometimes we don't understand the command of "Be still and know that I am God".  It's hard to be still.  We always seem to be thinking that we need to be doing something all the time.   But then we are taught that in and out of church.

Well, we decided to go back through La Paz, another area that neither of us had been to before.  Well, the young man at the hotel told us it was good road especially since it hadn't rained.  Well, what he calls a good road and what we call a good road are two different roads!  And somewhere we took a wrong turn and went for miles up, down, and around the mountain(s) road.  Finally, we decided to turn around and go back to La Esperanza and return to Tegucigalpa the way we came up. This is a picture of the bridge we had to cross on the highway before we made a wrong turn.  The logs should be turned the other way, but I didn't look to see what is underneath! Wow!  A good road!!!    I do believe we went places where some of our other missionaries   here have not gone. And no, we don't want to go there again!!!

However, I praise God for guiding and protecting his children when they make a wrong turn, be it physical or spiritual! Thank you, Jesus, for your ever present help.

Gen.3:19...for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

Today I attended the funeral of Pastor Fernando's father.  Pastor drives the van that takes us to and from school.  He is also the pastor at the church next to the school.  He called me at 6AM to let me know what had happened and that there wouldn't be any classes today.  So all of us that work at the school went to Pastor's house and then to the cemetery.  I have been to a visitation before, but not the funeral.  The family and friends take care of the body, casket, and burial.  A couple of pastors spoke at the cemetery.  The family throws the first few handfuls or shovelfuls of dirt onto the casket. We don't normally see that in the states.  I don't know how to express my thoughts or feelings as I heard that dirt hit the casket.  Definitely, I had never heard that sound before.  Even though it was a sad day for the family, it was also a time of rejoicing because he, the pastor's father,  had served the Lord and was ready to go.  He was 90 years old. 

I remember thinking dust to dust and ashes to ashes.  Eva said she wasn't ready to die.  I believe I am. I always think of my own funeral when I go to someone else's, and have for years.  But I was thinking about all the things that we experience in our lives, good and bad.  And I was thinking that none of us remember our birth.  And I thought ok, dying will be an experience that we have to go through and will be conscious through a lot of it.  Psalms 23 speaks about walking through the valley of the shadow of death.  Pastor Gruver said that a shadow does not hurt.  And the Lord promised to walk with us. No, I don't have a death wish!!!!!! Heaven forbid.  It's just that funerals cause me to think about death, dying, and the Lord's promises to us.  And everybody says they want to see him, but they don't want to die to do it.  A paradox, I believe.  Enough of that, and now on to the living.

It's time to get ready for an English class with Elida.

Deut.7:9 Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God...

Hey, hey, hey, normal coffee drinking has resumed! Energy level is back up, so all is well, except the weather.  It's still cold. This is normally one of our hottest months, but not yet. I'm so ready to sweat! I don't like the shivers.  Yesterday I wore a camisole, long sleeved blouse, and a light jean jacket, and I wore them all day long!  That is very rare for me.  When everybody else is cold,  I'm hot.  Now we're all cold!  Brrrrr...

So what has been happening?  Since we are a private school, we don't have to go to school on Saturdays anymore. That's a big blessing.  Saturday mornings are my mornings to just relax and take it easy. And we have one teacher who is Seventh Day Adventist.  A big problem for her. So I'm glad God answered our prayers in this situation. A couple of ladies came out to our school from their church to give some materials to the kindergarten classes.  The one works at the U.S. Embassy, and she told me the reason for the Saturday school was because the public school teachers didn't do their jobs, so the government said they had to go on Saturdays. She's Honduran and went to a bilingual school, and therefore, speaks excellent English.  Wow, you really think if they didn't teach before, that they're going to teach on Saturday?  Interesting concept.

And I gave up the position of sub-directora.  I was not comfortable with it at all.  I don't know the language well enough nor do I know the laws here.  People here do not trust the government at all, and many times they don't even trust each other. So where did that put me?  I will do what God lays upon my heart to help whoever or whatever, but when there is no peace in my spirit, then there must be a change.  Many years ago, a chaplain at a university told me that God puts us through trials, tests, etc.  Absolutely, he tries our faith, but he also gives peace during those trials.  I had no peace.

One more week of classes and then we get la Semana Santa (Holy Week) off.   I don´t know yet what I´m going to do, but something will come up.

I have been helping Eva with her college work.  Her class is in English, and she does not understand a lot of it.  It's educational theory and practice.  A lot of terminology. But it's been a good review for me. There has been a lot of material about bilingual education and the ages of people involved with learning a second language.  There was a French teacher that took traditional classes to learn another language and when he got on the field, he couldn't understand the people talking, nor could he speak the language.  Wow!  I about came unglued when I read that, because I know exactly what he was talking about. It's happened to me.  So that definitely encouraged me to continue with the everyday conversation that I'm doing with my classes.

Well, lo and behold, I thought that I had the day off, but a new student showed up at the gate.  A friend of Eva's.  He has had some English, and that helps.  So next week he will be with my other student.  That will be good because they will practice together, I hope.

God is good.  He provides for us everyday. He never leaves us even when we are feeling dry and don't feel his presence.  I praise him for his faithfulness, love, grace, and mercy.  I shudder to think where I would be without him.  Thank you Lord for loving me so much.

1 Peter 2;24...by whose stripes ye were healed.

Wow!  Today, I actually feel alive! It has been a rough two weeks.  Whatever this stuff is that comes with achy body, fever, cough, and horrible congestion really knocks one for a loop. Teachers and students alike have been hit with it. Plus the weather hasn't  been much help either. It has been cold!  The last two days have warmed up somewhat.  I hope the trend continues.  And maybe I can enjoy coffee again!  It has not been in my diet for the past couple weeks. UGH!

So we had a great team from KS in February. What a great and crazy group they were. My pastor included. It was so great to see you Pastor Bryan! Newsletters can only do so much. But to go and see what the missionaries do on a daily basis, and how they live is totally different. And it's such a blessing to actually have someone from your church come and visit. It's absolutely the best.  The group ministered to different pastors and churches in different areas. And they threw Becky and I a surprise birthday party! And of course, it wasn't either of our birthdays!! But then they aren't here when we celebrate our special days. What a deal! It was great, and all the gifts were very nice and appreciated. It's so nice to be treated special once in a while. God is good to his kids.  

What a blessing when former students show up at your door wanting help with their English while attending another school!  It happened yesterday.  Jerson and friend were waiting for me when I got home. And while they were practicing, Jerson started asking his friend questions. I made a remark about it ( can't remember what!) and he said he remembered it from his classes with me. Yeehah!!!! that was three years ago. So I guess that I'm doing something right.  Thank you Jesus!

So now, I'm finished for the day. Hopefully, all the energy will soon return!  Thanks for all your prayers and support.

Ps.145:1 I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.

In the last church service that I attended here before going home for the holidays, the pastor was talking about how the word of God is meant to change our hearts when we hear it, and that Christians should know what sin is and is not. He used as part of his message I Cor. 6: 9-10 and Galatians 5: 19-21 among others. And when he was going through the list and using examples, he used some states in the U.S. as an example for homosexuality and allowing marriages of homosexuals. I wanted to crawl under my seat, or better yet, just disappear into thin air. I was so embarrassed for my country. People here look to the U.S. for leadership in different areas. When I watch the Honduran news channels, the U.S. is always part of the news, whether it's the weather or happenings in Congress. And in this area, I believe the people are shocked at what the U.S. is doing.  What has become of the nation that was built upon godly principles?  I'm afraid that it, like ancient Israel, has forgotten the One that made it great. It breaks my heart. It's scary. Matthew Henry said that if a nation doesn't serve the Lord, it will serve its enemies. And since God is no respecter of persons or nations, what does that mean for the U.S.? What has happened? Even as a kid, I knew people that didn't go to church, but they knew the difference between right and wrong. There is no way they would have voted for the passage of homosexual marriage, legalizing marijuana, abortion, etc. What a dangerous time that we are living in, when the people don't know their right hand from their left.  The pastor also mentioned that just because something may be culturally accepted in any country, it doesn't mean that it's accepted by God. Amen to that!

So now that I am home again, I praise God for all his goodness to me. I was able to stay with my granddaughter, Cassandra, and her family. What a great time we had together. And my great-grandchildren, what a blessing they are.  I was also able to got to IL with them to visit my youngest daughter, her family, and my brother.  Plus I was able to see all my grandchildren and even my new great-grandson. He is absolutely beautiful. Born 5 1/2 weeks early, he is very healthy. And his mama gets to be a stay-at-home-mama! That is totally awesome. I know that sometimes, mama's have to work,  but when they don't have to work, it's great. I was also able to see my Aunt in Salina that I haven't seen for a few years.

The ladies of Martha Circle were a blessing to me as always, as I hope I was to them. I told them that while most people are looking for the great big things of God, He works  in the "little" everyday things in our lives, and many times we don't pay attention to them and/or we don't tell (testify) to what he did. And especially in a missionaries life. People are looking for thousands to be saved in a day, etc. And should we look for those? Yes, but we also need to recognize what he is doing in our everyday lives. So I have to testify to what he did on Saturday after the women's meeting. While I was talking to Laurel during lunch, I asked her if she had heard anything about a former student or his father, and basically, she hadn't.  Well, while I was at the home of another friend, Larry O, this student happened to call him, and I was able to talk to him. Wow! I was so happy that I was able to talk to this kid, although he isn't a kid anymore. He is now the father of two. He was such a good student. He never, and I mean never complained about homework or whatever he had to do. He never said that something was too hard or that he couldn't do it. And he never used his disability as an excuse to not learn something. This kid will always have a special place in my heart. Even though this may seem a small thing to some people, it was a great big thing that God did for me, and I continually praise him for it. Who would have thought that my former student  would call Larry in the short time that I was there? Our Father answers the desires of our hearts.

I traded a cold KS for a cold HN! Oh, my, it has been cold and rainy! Even the small jet from Wichita to Houston was cold. One of the guys sitting in front of me got up and got his heavy winter coat out of the overhead compartment to wear. I was thinking about not carrying the light winter jacket home again with me, but decided against that. Wow! It was cold. So of course, the ole nose decided to start running! So on Saturday I made eucalyptus tea and drank it all day and a couple of times on Sunday.  I was able to sleep without the dripping nose. Thank you, Jesus for some natural remedies.  Eva sent one of the kids with some fresh leaves this morning, since all mine were gone. Did you know that Vicks is made with eucalyptus? And check out the lemon cough drops. Some don't have any lemon at all. It's eucalyptus. That's just for your info. Can't think of the acronym of it! English just sometimes disappears   from my vocabulary!

So now I must start preparing for this year's English classes.

Thanks for all your prayers and support. May God continue to bless each and everyone of you/

Heb.13:5...I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.

YEAH!! School is out for this year! Everybody is so thankful. It has been a difficult year, but now it is over.   So take a breath and begin preparing for next year, right? For me, I think this year was difficult because I missed last year, and my students didn't receive English. Well, the 7th - 9th received a program from an organization here in which our school is involved. I don't like the English workbooks  because there are many grammar mistakes  and other mistakes. Also, the teachers at the school don't know English, and therefore the workbooks are not checked properly.  Due to my experiences, I truly believe that textbooks in any language should be written by native speakers, and not by those that have learned a language as a second language. Many errors would be avoided, I think. And then as with many programs, the students are not taught everyday language. What a difference there is in the classroom lessons, and the real thing.  So therefore, the focus for my students is everyday language. I want them to be able to speak about everyday events.

This morning I went to the bank to pay my telephone and electric bills. I heard someone calling me, and it was the guy that owns the shop where I bought my cell phone. He wanted me to make a bank deposit for him. Wow! Talk about trust. He does speak English and has lived in Florida. But still...thank you Lord for favor.

I've been reading the Old Testament in Spanish. And this morning I was reading about Moses being taken from the river by Pharaoh's daughter. Saved from the Nile (?) and then later saved from the Red Sea, all by the hand of God. Interesting. God is ever present, isn't he?  I find it interesting when Christians pray, "Lord be with us".  Really?  He said he would never leave us nor forsake us. So if he isn't with us, where is he?  A Latino group, Rojo, sings a song called No, No, Me Soltaras. It's absolutely my favorite in Spanish. And that's what it says, "He will never leave nor forsake me".

I get to go home for a month in 17 more days. I'm getting excited. In fact my suitcase is coming out of the closet before I go to bed tonight. Some Christmas shopping starts on Monday.  I will get to hold my new great-grandson!  And another grandson is due about the time I return to HN. I have lived to see my children's children's children.  And not all of them have even started!!  God is so faithful, and his word cannot be broken. I'm so thankful for that.

So when I return to HN in Jan., I have to buy a car. Thank the Lord that Mario and his wife will be doing the looking, pricing, etc. I want to have an afternoon class for the parents that want to learn English at the school, and for that I need a car.  Will see how God moves in both of these things. He answered my prayer for buying a new sofa, so I know he will lead and guide in this area, too.

Also, I have been given another job by Mario; evaluate the teachers that teach English. Oh, wow! (Another reason to have a car). But the Lord will help me here. It was interesting when Becky and I went to San Pedro Sula for the graduations. At the William Smith school, two of the teachers were translating the speeches in English, since there were other Americans there that did not speak English. (They don't translate for me when I'm there :).  Anyway, one of the teachers said we need an American to come and help us with pronunciation. One that does not know any Spanish! I told her to please say that again! Truly, sometimes I mix  the English and Spanish. What a mess! And what a blessing that I met THE William Smith and his wife and party that was there. I always wondered who this man was that the school was named after. (I'm really trying to write without leaving a preposition at the end of the sentence. It's rather difficult to change old habits). He has a ministry that is worldwide. And do I remember the name?  No. I'll look it up later.

And it has been interesting to know that a few of our schools were started by the Jimmy Swaggart Ministries. (I hope I spelled his name correctly). And of course, when Jimmy had his big trouble, money for the schools stopped coming. But thank God for the faithfulness of his people like Mario and his wife. They and those that helped them kept the schools open. God used Jimmy to help me when I first came into Pentecost. What a blessing he was to me,  and there is a special place in my heart for him. God forgives and forgets upon repentance. Too bad people don't.

I talked to my brother today, and I'm so excited that he is thinking about coming here to see me next year. I just want to shout hallelujah! We have such a fantastic relationship. I think it's so special because we didn't get to grow up together. And when we are on the phone, sometimes we just giggle. Crazy! I keep reminding him that money is being spent just for us to giggle together!  But he's worth every penny, or should I say dollar? I love him and thank God for him.

God says for us to to talk about the things that he does for us so people can see and know how good he is. But many times Christians don't talk about the things he is doing in their lives. Why is that? Are we ashamed, embarrassed, what? And maybe I'm guilty, too. But  I have learned that we can tell what he has done, because it is he that does the work. If others have a problem with our testifying, it truly is their problem. And why am I talking about this?   I have no clue. Maybe someone needs some encouragement here. Oh, well, I'm going to go get my suitcase out of the closet!!!!

Ps. 107:1 O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good:for his mercy endureth for ever.

Many things have happened since my last post. A team from Coffeyville, Ks came the first week in November.  What a great team, and what a good time we had. They poured a ceiling/floor for another room at the school. They painted desks and played with the kids. It was very hot, as always, but God gave us a breeze on most days. Poured a floor. That doesn't sound too difficult until you realize that all the cement was mixed and carried upstairs by hand. The nationals are pros at this. Again the heat, work, food, and climate in general, took its toll on some of the guys. But they recovered nicely, thank the Lord. 

The construction of classrooms are a tremendous blessing, but when team members decide to sponsor a child,  that is a an added blessing because we know that the school will continue. And many from this team chose a child or two to sponsor. I praise God for them. The kids will continue to be taught the word of God, and they will receive an education, and with these, their lives will be changed.. 

A Seventh Day Adventist group came last Friday and used the school for a medical clinic. Over eighty families received some kind of help. I met some of the ladies. One was really surprised that there was no toilet paper in the bathrooms, and that she had to use a bucket of water to flush, and to throw the paper in the trash can and not the toilet. I went to find her some toilet paper and explained that she needed to carry some with her at all times. Some restaurants have it, and some don't, just like the school.  I'm so glad I grew up in an era where some people still had outside toilets!  Just think, the Israelites  had to carry a little shovel with them! 

So this Thursday is Thanksgiving Day. I definitely miss being home on that day. It is my favorite holiday. So Becky and I will go out to eat. Maybe an American restaurant here will have some mashed potatoes, gravy, dressing, and pumpkin pie, but I won't hold my breath! But regardless of where we are on this most precious holiday in the states, we need to be thankful everyday for all God's blessings to us. I am so thankful for my Christian heritage and my family that is continually growing. Wow! 

I have been reading my Spanish Bible everyday. Some words I have to look up, but not too many. I started this week in Genesis. And it's amazing to see again the parallel between God the Father, Abraham, Isaac, and Jesus. Why some are told to only read the New Testament is a mystery to me. Without the Old, there wouldn't be a New. God is so good, and so real.

So today, I have to plan where to go with English for my classes next year. The kids have done so well with their conversation. One of the Seventh Day Adventist ladies  told me that one of my students came up to her,  introduced herself,  and began talking to her. She was very surprised with that and how well the student spoke English.  I praise God for that, and I know which student it was. God has blessed my soul, and has made me a very happy teacher.

So be blessed family, on this Thanksgiving Day.