Well, here we are in the last week of September. I haven't written since June as my friend Barbara reminded me when I was in the states in August. Oops! So I will start from today (9/21) and work backwards. It's Saturday and I'm waiting for my milkman to come! I haven't had good, pure milk since August, and I miss it terribly. Well, that's not exactly true since I froze a quart before I left for the states. We have not had a lot of rain and I was told that there isn't a lot of pasture for the cattle so therefore I haven't gotten any milk. Hopefully I'll get some today.
Yesterday was my 75th birthday. I can hardly believe that I've lived for three fourths of a century! The Lord has been so good to me. I thank him for good health, a sound mind, and His continual presence in my life. Those are so vital for good living. So about yesterday. My good friend Martha came Thursday and said that she was taking me to Tegucigalpa for lunch on Friday (yesterday) for my birthday. So I went to her house and saw that pastor Dago was going with us. No problem. Then I learned that Becky was going to join us. I thought that was very unusual for her to invite herself to have lunch with us. No problem. Then as we were walking to the bus, Gene, one of the storekeepers that speaks English hollered happy birthday to me as we were walking by his shop. And then he told me to come over. I did, and I asked how he knew it was my birthday and eventually learned that Becky had told him. I thought man, she's really busy! Anyway he gave me a pound of the coffee that he raises. So on to the bus Pastor, Martha, and I went. When I asked Pastor and Martha where we were eating, he told me at PIEDAD, the name of our schools. I thought, what? So I asked him if we were going to Macuelizo where I had taught for eight years. He said no and I finally understood that we were going to the office. I thought that we were going to meet Becky there which would be strange. I still didn't get it! Well, lo and behold, when we arrived at the office there were the teachers from my school, two administrators from two other schools, office staff, and others. I was totally surprised! I really was. I saw the biggest gold balloons of the number 75 that I've ever seen in my life!!! The food was excellent as were the people that were there to celebrate with me which of course I hadn't planned on doing. Becky totally out did herself. It was wonderful.
So I returned here on the fifth of September, and a group came from Paola, KS on the seventh to paint the school. What a group! Pastor Andy asked me if I remembered him from the first time that he was here. Ah, sorry, but no. I will definitely not forget him again :) Anyway, the group painted the outside of all three schools. What a job they did. It was wonderful spending time with them at the school, during supper time, and then devotional time after dinner. They also painted the big round tank (water?) outside the kindergarten. What a difference that made in the whole area. One of the ladies, I think, said that maybe that would encourage the neighbors to paint their houses. That would be something short of a miracle. One of the ladies is a podiatrist and she helped some of the women with their feet issues. They also held a tea for the teachers and painted nails, etc. What fun!
I also invited my student, Carlos, to come practice his English with the group. Well, he came and practiced with the guys. He also took a brush and helped them paint! He's such a good guy. It's important for him to talk to others that speak English besides me. He thanked me later for the opportunity to do so. And the guys talked about whatever with him. What a good God we have.
I was in the states for a month. What a peaceful and restful time. But I have to admit that the last week was a little difficult because I heard my "bed" calling my name!! I was ready to come home. But the first two weeks I was in IL with my youngest daughter. We always have fun especially when we do a marathon of movies or whatever. It usually goes for a day or two depending on what's going on. However, this time we watched the TV series Blacklist. Well, I had seen a couple of scenes down here and decided not to watch it. When we started from the beginning, that changed the whole mind set! We ended up watching ALL 5 seasons and then I paid for the sixth! Definitely hooked! So guess what I'll be watching on Friday night here. So much for the marathon. We always go shopping, of course. Hah! But this time I already had what I needed at her house. I had forgotten what I bought a couple of years ago when I was there. So I definitely didn't spend much money. Thank you Lord! My great-granddaughters have really grown. I couldn't believe it when I first saw them at the airport. They're starting seventh and ninth grades. And the little one will begin first grade. Crazy! But life does go on, yes?
So my youngest son came from KS to go with me to celebrate my brother and sister-in-laws 60th wedding anniversary. What a happy time. I was able to see nieces and nephews that I hadn't seen for a while. We were also able to spend the night and visit with them before leaving the next morning. What a great time it was.
My last two weeks were in KS. My youngest son and wife were in Hawaii. So my daughter-in-law and I spent a lot of time together. This was Gary's wife. Many years ago in IL, the people at church used to call us Ruth and Naomi. So that gives you a glimpse of our relationship. Jenna, Gary's daughter, had to work but she made sure that we went to a special coffee shop. It was really good. Thank you, Jenna! I was able to spend time with one of my pastors and his family. I asked him if he would preach my funeral, whenever, and he said yes. Thank you Bryan. Of course, the big question for my kids is where is Mom going to die? Of course, Doug always tells his siblings that Mom is going to die in Honduras. He doesn't know!!!! Only my Father knows that.
And I was able to visit with friends. A couple of ladies are in the nursing home but we were able to go out for lunch. I love doing that with them. And I was able to visit others while eating out with them. We do love to eat, don't we?
So now, I leave for Panama this Thursday and come home on Sunday. It's a workshop for teachers and whoever else. When I return, I start visiting the teachers that teach English in our schools. What a mess it is here. The teachers use different books published by different publishers. The biggest problem is that they don't understand that these books are written for kids that already know the English language. These kids have to go to school to learn to read and write the language that they already speak. Not so, here. Therefore the teachers have told me that the parents get angry when the workbooks aren't finished at the end of the school year. And the government has said that the schools have to teach English. Many of the Honduran teachers can't explain the meanings or pronounce the words correctly. But they try. And there are some schools that are truly bilingual and they do a good job. They are also expensive. And the kids in our schools don't speak the English that they are learning. So hopefully that will change. When the kids start learning English in kinder and continue, they do very well. I have bought books that are made here in Hn that teach English, but they have so many mistakes in them. So unless the teachers here recognize the mistakes and correct them, they are not good books to use. So I ask for your prayers for me in this area. And I thank you for them.
What else? I have cable of course since I have to do most personal business online. So after a few days of not receiving the TV stations from the US, I called the office in Tegucigalpa. I finally asked to speak to a person that speaks English. After I explained the problem, he said a repairman would be sent out today. So we'll see what takes place. Also, I woke up this morning to find out that I have no water. Oh, boy! The last time that this happened, I was without for almost two weeks. So glad that I was born when I was and that I know how to live with just a little water. So after the repairman comes and goes, I need to go to the store for some bottled water. It comes in five gallon bottles. A friend told me at church yesterday that her family hadn't had water for two months! Welcome to Honduras!! But the Lord knows and will take care of us. It has rained really hard for the last couple of days especially at night. So that is a good thing. We are supposed to be in the rainy season, but so far it hasn't lived up to its name! Hopefully, it will change real soon.
I learned yesterday that a singer from Guatemala died in April. It really hit me. I guess it's because I learned this song that he sang. In English it says that I'm not enslaved by fear. In Spanish its title is Ya No Soy Esclavo, talking about not being enslaved to fear. The Lord has delivered us from fear if we are his child. 2 Tim. 1:7. And if we understand that His Spirit is with us all the time 24/7. He said that He would never leave us or forsake us. What ever is happening in our lives, He is right in the middle of it. Nothing happens to us without his permission. And it happens for our good not our destruction. If only his people would believe what He says. I learned a long time ago that people only do what they believe. God help us to know and believe what He says. But I'm learning that most people that go to church don't read his word for themselves. How sad is that? How do we really know him when we don't know what he says in the context that it's written? Ok, I guess that I've said enough, but it really bothers me. I hope that all of you that read this blog has a personal relationship with our Savior and that you read his word for yourselves. He has so much to say and to share with you. So with that, I really will stop!
Love, grace, and peace to you all from our Father in heaven.
So I returned here on the fifth of September, and a group came from Paola, KS on the seventh to paint the school. What a group! Pastor Andy asked me if I remembered him from the first time that he was here. Ah, sorry, but no. I will definitely not forget him again :) Anyway, the group painted the outside of all three schools. What a job they did. It was wonderful spending time with them at the school, during supper time, and then devotional time after dinner. They also painted the big round tank (water?) outside the kindergarten. What a difference that made in the whole area. One of the ladies, I think, said that maybe that would encourage the neighbors to paint their houses. That would be something short of a miracle. One of the ladies is a podiatrist and she helped some of the women with their feet issues. They also held a tea for the teachers and painted nails, etc. What fun!
I also invited my student, Carlos, to come practice his English with the group. Well, he came and practiced with the guys. He also took a brush and helped them paint! He's such a good guy. It's important for him to talk to others that speak English besides me. He thanked me later for the opportunity to do so. And the guys talked about whatever with him. What a good God we have.
I was in the states for a month. What a peaceful and restful time. But I have to admit that the last week was a little difficult because I heard my "bed" calling my name!! I was ready to come home. But the first two weeks I was in IL with my youngest daughter. We always have fun especially when we do a marathon of movies or whatever. It usually goes for a day or two depending on what's going on. However, this time we watched the TV series Blacklist. Well, I had seen a couple of scenes down here and decided not to watch it. When we started from the beginning, that changed the whole mind set! We ended up watching ALL 5 seasons and then I paid for the sixth! Definitely hooked! So guess what I'll be watching on Friday night here. So much for the marathon. We always go shopping, of course. Hah! But this time I already had what I needed at her house. I had forgotten what I bought a couple of years ago when I was there. So I definitely didn't spend much money. Thank you Lord! My great-granddaughters have really grown. I couldn't believe it when I first saw them at the airport. They're starting seventh and ninth grades. And the little one will begin first grade. Crazy! But life does go on, yes?
So my youngest son came from KS to go with me to celebrate my brother and sister-in-laws 60th wedding anniversary. What a happy time. I was able to see nieces and nephews that I hadn't seen for a while. We were also able to spend the night and visit with them before leaving the next morning. What a great time it was.
My last two weeks were in KS. My youngest son and wife were in Hawaii. So my daughter-in-law and I spent a lot of time together. This was Gary's wife. Many years ago in IL, the people at church used to call us Ruth and Naomi. So that gives you a glimpse of our relationship. Jenna, Gary's daughter, had to work but she made sure that we went to a special coffee shop. It was really good. Thank you, Jenna! I was able to spend time with one of my pastors and his family. I asked him if he would preach my funeral, whenever, and he said yes. Thank you Bryan. Of course, the big question for my kids is where is Mom going to die? Of course, Doug always tells his siblings that Mom is going to die in Honduras. He doesn't know!!!! Only my Father knows that.
And I was able to visit with friends. A couple of ladies are in the nursing home but we were able to go out for lunch. I love doing that with them. And I was able to visit others while eating out with them. We do love to eat, don't we?
So now, I leave for Panama this Thursday and come home on Sunday. It's a workshop for teachers and whoever else. When I return, I start visiting the teachers that teach English in our schools. What a mess it is here. The teachers use different books published by different publishers. The biggest problem is that they don't understand that these books are written for kids that already know the English language. These kids have to go to school to learn to read and write the language that they already speak. Not so, here. Therefore the teachers have told me that the parents get angry when the workbooks aren't finished at the end of the school year. And the government has said that the schools have to teach English. Many of the Honduran teachers can't explain the meanings or pronounce the words correctly. But they try. And there are some schools that are truly bilingual and they do a good job. They are also expensive. And the kids in our schools don't speak the English that they are learning. So hopefully that will change. When the kids start learning English in kinder and continue, they do very well. I have bought books that are made here in Hn that teach English, but they have so many mistakes in them. So unless the teachers here recognize the mistakes and correct them, they are not good books to use. So I ask for your prayers for me in this area. And I thank you for them.
What else? I have cable of course since I have to do most personal business online. So after a few days of not receiving the TV stations from the US, I called the office in Tegucigalpa. I finally asked to speak to a person that speaks English. After I explained the problem, he said a repairman would be sent out today. So we'll see what takes place. Also, I woke up this morning to find out that I have no water. Oh, boy! The last time that this happened, I was without for almost two weeks. So glad that I was born when I was and that I know how to live with just a little water. So after the repairman comes and goes, I need to go to the store for some bottled water. It comes in five gallon bottles. A friend told me at church yesterday that her family hadn't had water for two months! Welcome to Honduras!! But the Lord knows and will take care of us. It has rained really hard for the last couple of days especially at night. So that is a good thing. We are supposed to be in the rainy season, but so far it hasn't lived up to its name! Hopefully, it will change real soon.
I learned yesterday that a singer from Guatemala died in April. It really hit me. I guess it's because I learned this song that he sang. In English it says that I'm not enslaved by fear. In Spanish its title is Ya No Soy Esclavo, talking about not being enslaved to fear. The Lord has delivered us from fear if we are his child. 2 Tim. 1:7. And if we understand that His Spirit is with us all the time 24/7. He said that He would never leave us or forsake us. What ever is happening in our lives, He is right in the middle of it. Nothing happens to us without his permission. And it happens for our good not our destruction. If only his people would believe what He says. I learned a long time ago that people only do what they believe. God help us to know and believe what He says. But I'm learning that most people that go to church don't read his word for themselves. How sad is that? How do we really know him when we don't know what he says in the context that it's written? Ok, I guess that I've said enough, but it really bothers me. I hope that all of you that read this blog has a personal relationship with our Savior and that you read his word for yourselves. He has so much to say and to share with you. So with that, I really will stop!
Love, grace, and peace to you all from our Father in heaven.
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