Sunday, January 31, 2016

God is my strength. God is my shield.

God is my strength. God is my shield. 
     Today we had a wonderful worship service at the church in Escuapa. This is the place we will be working all week. This is my 6th year working here with the people. I enjoy it more each year, I think. Although I do remember some rocky moments in past years it just seems that each year is better than the one before....
     I have made friends, some of whom still join the brigade, some who no longer come with us. To all the people I have met in answering God's call, Thank You. You have changed the course of my life and I'm enjoying every minute. 

Prayer Request

Today's blog a little different from the rest.  It has been an eventful beginning to the second week mission.  Trouble with vans and schedule issues, led us to be delayed with setting up in Escuapa.  But the biggest concern was with one of our interpreters.  We came out to the van this morning only to discover one of our loaded up to the heavens trucks had a flat tire.  So ended up with one less vehicle to take us up to Escuapa, resulting in some people staying behind for the day because we simply didn't have room.  Danilo one of our interpreters was one of those people and while staying with our group his job was also to fix the tire.  Unfortunately the jack on the truck didn't hold and the truck fell on Danilos hand.  Due to the weight of the truck he was unable to get out from under it right away and was in a lot of pain.  He was taken to the hospital and praise the Lord it wasn't broken but he did end up with stitches.  So, prayers for Danilo and may he rest up this week and heal.  We will miss you Danilo.  

Prayers also for safe travels up the mountain tomorrow and no more van troubles.  

Until tomorrow

Blessings.


Saturday, January 30, 2016

Misadventures in Chemistry

     Friday was a day of hurry, hurry, hurry. In the morning; it was hurry to start a new project; hurry, which project can I finish by noon; hurry through lunch so we can pack up; hurry, hurry pack up so we can get back to the mission house to clean up for dinner. Hurry, hurry, hurry!!
     In my hurry-ness, I reached for my eye lubricating drops, put one in my eye and IMMEDIATELY realized it wasn't eye drops. It was eucalyptus oil in the same size container..... After I pulled the contact lens out; I hollared for someone to find out if optical team had more eye drops. I must have been quite a site because a minute later the RN that works in our optical mission came running up the stairs with a bottle of virgin water. (Not taken from our 5 gallon water supply, but bought fresh.)  she flushed my eye until it was time to leave & again at the mission house (as I lay in the hammock on the patio!). You would not believe how much pain plain water causes if saline is 'the right tool for the job'. The whole time, I'm worried about saving the contact lens I had removed..... The team coordinator went to the pharmacy for antibiotic eye drops. Eye drops given, eye patch applied, wet towel over my arms, for warmth???? and I napped on the patio in the breeze for a bit.
     When it was time for devotions, inevitable comments & pirate jokes were made about the eye patch. I looked for tan paint to make it less conspicuous. We had none. Just call me an Albino Pirate!!
       I went to our farewell dinner with this big white patch over my eye.....  It was quite a sight I imagine.

    BTW- everything got packed up, loaded on the correct truck. Ready for Moving Day!

Travel day and week 2 missioner arrival

Today we said goodbye to most of our week one missioners as they headed off back to the USA.  Once we said goodbye, the few that were left, Shelley, Chuck, Pat, Leslie and Dawn, waiting fo the second group to arrive.  Finally after the long immigration\customs\baggage wait, they made it through and we headed off to lunch at our traditional chicken restaurant! Food was excellent as is most of the food we have had here in Honduras.  

We headed up to Danli where the second week team will spend the week.  Our work will take place an hour and and a half up the mountain though in Escuapa.  Escuapa is very primitive and we could not stay there so we stay in Danli.  Our mission this week will consist of medical, optical, VBS and sewing.  

After a brief check in, unpacking and truck shuffling, we headed to dinner at the church where our wonderful cook Carlos makes our meals.  After a good dinner, head back for a brief worship and everyone settled in for the night.  
Loading up one of the trucks outside the mission house in Tegucigalpa 

Finally loaded!

Part of the week two team arrives

All together at lunch in the chicken restaurant. 

Beautiful sunset as we headed up to Danli.

Until tomorrow

Blessings 



A Memorable Mission Week!

Sandy and I have enjoyed several mission trips to Honduras but I believe this year had some truly memorable experiences. The Bible program had a number of children from previous years, and some of them were helping new children to get acquainted with the program. 
The optical team provided 187 pairs of glasses and saw 233 patients. All received sun glasses, eye drops, and hats to help them deal with the bright sun shine. One of their clients was given progressive glasses and couldn't adjust to them. He saw us when we were out walking to visit with two nearby families, and since Pastor Guadalupe was with us, we were able to understand his problem. We asked him to come back, and with regular bifocals he was very, very happy!
Our sewing team was able to provide a baby carrier made from 3 T Shirts for her to carry her 15 day old baby with real comfort and security. They also taught a number of women and one man how to use our five sewing machines to make some of their own clothing from donated material, zippers, and other notions. One of the daughters of one of our professional construction team was able to make four items with beautiful design.
Our volunteer construction team was able to sand, caulk, and paint three of the six bed mission rooms (each have their own bathroom, shower, and toilet)  to provide hospitality for mission volunteers like us. These rooms are just one important factor of this third floor of the five story facility. In addition, we utilized donated funds to purchase a number of tools including a 12 foot Warner fiberglass step ladder that made our work far more possible. We also purchased more sandpaper, extention sanders, paint brushes, caulk, and other hand tools to prepare the rooms for our painting. We are so grateful for all you've donated to make our work possible.
It is so exciting for us to see the degree of progress for this essential effort of our UMC Volunteers In Mission.  This major multi-year project will provide a large regional church, housing for the pastor, office space for the pastor and superintendent, and guest facilities for those attending conferences and other events that reach out to the community.
All and all, we have found this mission trip to be filled with delight, lots of fun, inspiration, our awareness of God's living presence among us, and the privilege of doing what Jesus told us do do: "Go therefore into all the world making disciples." We feel very fortunate to do this important work. Thank you for your prayers and support!

In gratitude, Ron Retherford

Friday, January 29, 2016

An exercise in flexibility, patience and sense of Humor!

Today was all those things mentioned the title.  A shorter day for some because it was the last day on our site.  Most of the teams with the exception of Construction closed up shop early due to packing that needs to be done.  Construction continued to try to get at least the 3 rooms they had been painting done with one coat.  So the rest of the group at the end of the day went back to the mission house while construction stayed behind.  

It was at this point things began to become amusing!  Beginning with me stepping down off of a ladder into a paint bucket, accidentally set in my way by Len!  Thanks Len!  As well as an additionally long wait for our ride back to the house, the van getting stuck and being informed on the way home that there was no water at the house because there was no power (again) and the pump for water wouldn't work.  This was the point where I don't know if I was laughing tears or crying tears.  Tonight was our team celebration dinner with our translators!  Myself and my team mates were in no condition to be eating in a restaurant!  Fortunately the power was back on when we got back.  So we ended the evening with worship and fellowship.  First week team members head home tomorrow, and some of us stay behind to go to Danli with the second week team members.  Sad to see everyone go home.  They have become such a big part of my life, and the relationships we have built are priceless.  Will miss you guys!  Safe travels and prayers to all missioners coming and going tomorrow.  

One of our missioners decided to do a video tour of the construction site to show people at home what we have been working on.  I have uploaded it to you tube. See below, as well as a few pictures from the day. 


Thursday, January 28, 2016

Did you let them wear their heads?

Today a few of us were blessed to go visit a private Christian school where one of our interpreters wife happens to be principal.  This is not a typical school in Honduras.  This school first of all was a Christian school but also bi-lingual English/Spanish speak. The children and staff spoke very good English and even sang to us a few songs.  The school is from pre-K through 6th grade, and growing.  

What a great experience it was to be able to visit this school and see the wonderful work they are doing with the children.  As one of our team members said, it shows the Hope in Honduras, for change and a better future.  

We began with the pre-k children and they sang us several songs in English after we had told a bible story and sang a song to them.  Videos are below.  

We then toured the school and visited each grade and talked with the children and teachers.  The 5th grade classroom was a lot of fun because they love to learn about the USA and social studies is one of their favorite subjects.  We spent a long time talking about the USA and allowing them to ask questions.   They were a lot of fun.  

Some of you may be wondering about the title of this blog - it is an odd one, but there is a story.  Leslie, our oldest missioner at the young age of 88, is known for coming out with some funny statements.  Most of it due to the lack of hearing that she has but sometimes she just comes out with funny stuff.  One day she thought I said I had lost my teeth.  This particular day we were discussing the uniforms that the children wear at the school.  After Karina the principal had finished telling us about the uniforms, and what they wear, Leslie asked - do you sometimes let them wear their heads.  (See picture below and it will make sense)
Christian school uniforms

We all love Leslie.  

Another productive day on the work front, with construction making progress, and the other areas learning to work in the dark and without power for most of the day.  Not unusual in Honduras.  See Dawns post for more information.  

Until tomorrow.

Blessings 

Entrance to the school
Our team with the Honduras flag and the principal of the school, Karina. 
Telling the kids a bible story

Sweet faces
Leslie with one of the kiddos
Another couple of sweet faces
All the pre-k kids with our group and the teachers.  
Just a face I couldn't resist
Talking to the 6th graders
The school president. Each grade has a grade president but their also a whole school president, who is a 6th grader.  This is she.  

With the 5th graders who loved to talk about the USA
Optical doing their thing
Sewing adapting to no power and sewing by hand

Found another baby to cuddle.  This one is 15 days old
Photographic evidence of Bob working and not shopping

A family that came through optical getting sunglasses to protect their eyes from the Honduras sun.


VBS & Sewing; Together at last!!!

     Today our flexibility took the form of an electricity outage. This precluded the use of our electric sewing machines. So we located our embroidery project (hotpads for the kitchen), moved out of the basement & into a corner of the room VBS is using. I LOVE being so close to the children!!! We had a good day. Several ladies finished their hotpads, many others have the materials and know how to do so.  The kids had Bible stories, games, races, crafts & coloring!  It was a very good day!!





Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Preparing the Drugs

     Seeing the title of this post, you may ask "What? Drugs?" Yes, we have optical, sewing, VBS & construction operations this week. I, however, have been prepping the medications for next week's mission. I'm thankful for the help of teammates, without whom I'd not have gotten finished. We have inventoried two set of meds, counted several thousand pills and put almost everything back into a storage closet until moving day.... There were a couple of meds that were not as ordered, those must be fixed by Friday.
     It has been a busy couple of days here. We had 6 ladies sewing on Tuesday, 8 today. That keeps us       running everywhere, trying to make sure everyone is learning new and using proper techniques. I don't know how the regular sewing team gets it done!
       The van is at the mechanics to fix a leak and a sticky sliding door. It was not finished today so we had to shuttle back from the site with a 5 passenger Kia truck. We pray it will be returned to us tomorrow for
     Yesterday evening is a blur. I remember a short conversation at 5pm, a delicious dinner, drug inventory & little else. Where does the time go??
     Tonight we had delightful guests who talked with us about their organization that helps children in Honduras by purchasing the things that are required to go to school. See the previous post for more info.
     After counting meds tonight, there was email to read, texts to return, now a blog post to write (before I forget even more). I'm Done! Everything else must wait until tomorrow.

Day 4 - 3rd day on site

Much the same today as the rest of the week.  Optical busy as usual.  Sewing slow in am but much busier in afternoon.  Construction got the chance to work on some painting instead of scraping and sanding.  A welcome break!

Visited with a construction workers family and their sick daughter today.  Things are hard for them and she has been sick for several months.  We will continue to keep them in our prayers and wish for them to see the light at the end of the tunnel with their trials.  

Going to try to post some video snip its regularly of various things through the day. Will post them through you tube.  Below some links and pictures of the day 

We also had a visit from Henry and Sarah who are two Texas natives who have been coming to Honduras for more than 10 years. They live part time down here while they do their work. They started a program called Becas Con Benediciones of Honduras and the general purpose of the organization is providing school clothing and supplies to children who otherwise wouldn't be able to attend school.  Please check out their web site and read all about what they do and what you can do to help.  It`s a great program, please consider supporting.

Www.becasconbendiciones.com


A few short clips from our mission things happening. 




VBS students

A lovely Honduran girl giving Sandy a neck massage - and every one else sitting around!  Leslie giving her a massage too. Issly was her name.  Such a cutie. 


Issly, Shelley & Leslie visiting

View from church


Bill Scraping concrete

The room we have been painting today - Ron in the picture


Dawn in sewing this week and pharmacy next


Pat in sewing

Honduran ladies learning to sew

Until tomorrow 

Blessings 



Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Day 3 -Second day on the site

Another busy day today.  Construction team continues with sanding and scraping and much more.  The building of the mission headquarters continues.  At times during the day when I find myself feeling discouraged and tired, I turn on some music and remind myself why we are here and the importance of Gods work.  Everyone needs a reminder from time to time.  Stay positive and stay focused.  

VBS has been active and energetic with some great experiences this week.  One of them being that VBS had a child who came and spoke such good English she ended up interpreting a story for the kids.  Our youngest interpreter yet.  Here she is.  
Sewing is slower than usual but still steady with people wanting to learn skills.  Optical busy as ever.  

The construction team got to do a home visit today and see the way that 80% of the Honduran population live. Humbling to all of us.  

Construction pictures:
Yes those are bunk beds we are using as scaffolding.  And yes, sadly I did fall, but I'm good : )
VBS in action
Optical team at work

Sewing
A Honduran hardware store.  Everything behind bars.  No browsing.  

Last but not least for today - our awesome interpreters for the week.  

Blessings.