Update

Hey guys, I just wanted to give you an update on the political climate. Here in Rio Viejo you would even know anything has happened...except that everyone is talking about it. Here is a good article, posted in the Wall Street Journal, if you are interested in reading a good, clear rendition of what is going on.

Please keep us in your prayers as we have groups coming and going for the rest of the summer and this is making travel a little more difficult.

Love you guys!

Whew...

OK, so that week went by in a blink! So much is going on here that time seems to evaporate. I will attempt to catch you up on what's been going on in my world...

Current events: Honduras is trying to navigate through a sticky political time right now. It seems that the current President likes his job so much that he wants to have it for his whole life. Today he is holding a controversial, door-to-door election to amend the constitution and change the 4 year limit on presidential terms. I am not a political buff any more, but that doesn't sound right to me. Honduras has only been a democracy for 8 presidential terms and now there is a potential threat to return the country to a socialist state. If you are burdened for prayer on this subject, please pray for this country...pray for wisdom in government officials, good judgment for the officials and the people and a spirit of peace to cover this whole situation.

Ministry Life: We said our good byes to the team from Lee University, and it was sad to see them go. They were such a fun filled group and we got so used to having them around. I hope that they made it home safely and that they will never forget their time in Honduras. I hope they are ruined for the mission field and that they have a different perspective of how people live outside of the USA.

We welcomed a new team from Alabama last night and we are looking forward to a 3 fold blitz of the area this week. Jubilee Church has bought an incredible team of medical personnel, construction workers and an education team to help us reach the schools in the area. I can't wait to get this party started!

Personal Life: I am learning to trust, trust, trust everything about God. Trust in His timing, His plans, His strength, His faithfulness...the list goes on and on. I see miracles every week. Some of them are radical healings that change people's lives forever and open their hearts to salvation. Some of them are practical miracles...like getting 30 boxes of food inside of a Nissan Extera. The miracle I am experiencing this week is a personal miracle...strength, supernatural strength.

There is no way that any of the HHIM team should still be standing. We are half-way through our season, with 5 teams behind us and 5 teams in front of us. Physically we are tired and worn out, spiritually we are being tested and tried...but God is ever faithful and He is filling us with hope and strength and faith like never before. We are being given fresh oil and new wine with every incoming team. God is showering us with His love and we are making an impact on this community for His glory. He is taking our 5-loaves and feeding thousands! He is stretching our time, giving us supernatural rest, and filling in the gaps for us where we fall short.

Praise Him!

Please continue to pray for us. Lift us up and keep us in your hearts and minds. There is a God in Israel and He does hear our prayers! Amazing!

Major Events

I have been in Honduras for a little more than 6 months now, and it is starting to sink in that I am living here. When I spent the holidays away from my family last year, it was a bit difficult for me because I knew exactly what I was missing out on...all of the family fun and the great food. But God showed up for me in such a personal and intimate way, that I knew I was right where I was supposed to be.

Monday is my birthday, and it is just another reminder to me that I am making a new home here in Honduras. I love it here; I love the work and the people I get to do life with. It just seems like little by little God is showing me that although life here is different it is no less rewarding. I get to spend my birthday with people I have grown to love and who love me back...just like I would be doing if I were in Louisiana...the people are just different.

I am so grateful for my family and friends, no matter where they are in the world. I wish I were a little bit better at maintaining relationships and I hope God will give me more creative ways to stay in touch, because I love all of you!

So right now I am giving all of you a happy birthday hug!

Things I did this weekend that I never thought I would do...

1. sleep inside of a tent inside of a building
2. put my deodorant on in front of a male non-family member
3. have some one tell me they found a tick in their private areas
4. hear some one say they were afraid of sleeping without their gun
5. participate in a 3 day clinic and see over 700 patients
6. take a 30 person team on a "modified camping trip"
7. drive a 4x4 truck full of people and supplies across 1 river and 7 creeks into the mountains
8. take allergy medicine as a sleeping aid
9. sleep on a blow up raft with a battery operated fan 8 inches from my face
10. have a candle light worship service in Spanish on the front porch of a school
11. go to sleep at 7pm because it was too dark to do anything else

This has been an incredible weekend! I have had so much fun, and been stretched and challenged in ways that can only happen when you are in the will of God. Thank you all for your prayers this weekend!

Mission Field Fashion

I am posting this picture against better judgement, but I thought it would be a good lesson for those of you who are interested in missions work. Some people have the misconception that the mission field is a bit glamorous...that we have a rock star-esque appeal.

I have to admit that although I feel really cool most of the time...the pictures are proving otherwise. OK, if you are taking notes...write these down:

1. If you have cool hair in the States...you won't have cool here.
2. Comfort and functionality always win out over cute and fashionable.
3. What you think is cute and fashionable changes into what other people call "the mountain girl look"

Take this picture as an example:

1. Scarf: it is a little chilly in the morning but not enough to warrant pants, so a scarf works very well.
2. T-Shirt: cool and airy
3. Capri pants: covers the knees but leaves room for your ankles to breathe
4. Socks: It was cold that morning...hence the scarf, so I needed to keep my toes warm
5. Clogs: We don't wear our shoes in the house because of the many kinds of poop we walking though daily...so you need to have shoes that are easy to get out of

So all of this adds up to a pretty pitiful look. I think I used to be cute at some point in my life. I don't really notice the difference until I am looking at pictures of myself or until I go back to the States and see what everyone else is wearing.

I am saying all of this just to clear up any idealism about fashion on the mission field.

Plastic Chairs

A few weeks ago when HPC was here, we went to visit the elementary school in Rio Viejo. While we were there one of the teachers mentioned that there were not enough chairs for the students. It seems that as the community continues to grow the classes get bigger and bigger. So the kids have been sharing chairs during class.

Can you imagine teaching a third grade class, where 1/4 of the kids were sitting 2 to a chair? They are already so rowdy when they have their own desk!

So we were able to use some of the group money from HPC to purchase 12 plastic chairs. The kids came by the hospital and carried them back to their school. They were so excited to have them!

This is what I love about working here. Jesus said that if a person is hungry don't pray for his belly to be full....feed him. So that is what we try to do...they needed chairs, not prayers. Pastor Dino and the whole HPC gang live by the motto..."if you see a need - fill it," and their team was able to do exactly that, even after they had already left the country!

It is nice to be in a place that has the same heart to serve, get their hands dirty and get the job done with excellence.

Spell Check

So It has recently been brought to my attention that I have a spelling problem.

This is not a new problem, but it has been compounded since I started learning Spanish. In the past I used to meticulously proofread my letters and papers...scouring for grammar and spelling errors. I even used to go as far as talking about people who didn't proofread their own papers. Tisk Tisk...I know...what goes around has definitely come around!

I will be the first to admit that I don't take the time to spell check the blog...as I am sure you have noticed. It is just really hard for me to wait for the spell check to load and then for me to click on all of those yellow highlighted portions before I post the blog.

It is also hard to sacrifice hearing the peals of laughter that come from Wendy and Rachel as they read over my mistakes. Should I rob you of that pleasure as well?

I do enjoy writing, and I LOVE blogging...so I hope my lack of spell check in the past has not offended you or given you the impression that I don't care about you. And if it has...well please forgive me. I cannot promise that I will use the little ABC check mark every time I blog, but I will try to remember to press it more frequently.

I will admit, however, that my spelling has taken a turn for the worse. I didn't use to make as many errors...I think I may be mildly dyslexic...yes that's it...that's what we will call it. I don't catch the errors unless the document is in print, and it would just be silly to print out every blog before posting.

Are there 12 steps for this?

Hello my name is Heather, and I am a bad speller. This is my first meeting.

Pressing the button now...3 errors found and corrected.

HHIM Updates

Hey everybody, I wanted to pass along the link to the HHIM Blog. We have had some awesome teams already this year, and if you want a different perspective on what's happening around here you should check it out.

CLICK HERE to go to the blog, and then you can always find a link to it on the right hand side of my blog.

Today you can call me Mary...

I am choosing to be at His feet today.

I am choosing to see His glory.

I am choosing to listen.

Survival Proverbs for Missionaries

This is my new favorite book. If you are thinking about going into missions. If you are new to the mission field or a seasoned missionary...you HAVE to read this book. Or rather...you have to CHEW on this book.

It was compiled by Dave Ohlerking, founder of Children's Cup. He talks candidly about life on the mission field and things you will encounter while you are there. Don't let the small stature of the book trick you...it will wreck you. It will wow you. And it will have you coming back for more.

Please buy it and read it. Please give it to friends that are interested in missions work.

It has been a balm to my wounds lately. It has been refreshing and real. I has given me something to hold onto.

Thank you Mr. Dave. Thank you for being open and honest, for being candid and real. Thank you for showing your heart and letting your experiences help others succeed.

Hope in their Eyes

So Jose and his mom came to the clinic last week. We were able to take his measurements for a special wheelchair that is being custom made for him. Pretty soon he is going to have some sweet wheels!

Our first meeting...March 2009.

I can't wait to see him riding in style, and I can't wait to see his mom pushing him instead of carrying him.

They are both looking better and better every time they come to the clinic. She was so proud this week because she came before Jose ran out of medicine instead of waiting until he was already out of pills.

May 2009 at the clinic.

She is taking such good care of him, and she is starting to take better care of herself too! She has such a sweet personality and I can tell she has hope now. Her eyes have a certain sparkle when she smiles. I know it is the love of Jesus, and one day we will be able to talk about Him with her. One day she will ask us why we help her...one day she will ask us why we love her and her little boy...why we love someone that no one else wants to love.

June 2009 - getting measured for his new wheels.

And then...oh then...we will be able to tell her where the source of that love comes from. We will be able to tell her that we can love her boy because we were first loved by Jesus. What a sweet day that will be! Lord, let it come soon.

Quiet strength and hope.

Pictures from San Luis

The Catholic church where we held the brigade.

Marina...stole my heart.

Marina's mother, at 92 years old is the oldest woman in the village. 

Breaking New Ground

We hiked to the village of San Luis today and it has abslutely been on of my favorite days EVER! The hike was challenging, the scenery was beautiful and the people stole my heart. We were the first medical team to go there...there have been so many firsts lately. 

 

Dr. Martin and I have been talking a lot about claiming territory. You know every peice of ground on this earth is claimed...someone has rights to it and the people who live there. Well today we laid down some serious prayer and we claimed the aldea of San Luis for the Lord. 

 

We stand on the promise the Lord gave Abraham...where ever your feet land will be yours. Well now we have San Luis, it is our responsibility now. We have a burden for the people there, the young and the old alike. We actually saw the youngest and the oldest people there in the village. I think we actually gave medical attention to everyone in the village. 

 

It was such a peaceful day. The people were so hospitable. Honduran hospitality just blows you away. We were served coffee, beans, tortillas and cheese...all home grown and prepared by hand. I am just speechless at the blessings of today. I can't wait until tomorrow.

 

I am expectant. 

 

 

 

 

 

Quakes and Shakes

While I was asleep last night I was shaken awake by, yet another earthquake. This one was a 5.0, not too shabby considering the 7.3 we had the other day. What is with all of these things? I will say this...Jesus is here and anything can happen!

We are doing a great work for the kingdom and the people here are being shaken loose from their bonds of poverty. There may not be money everywhere, but the spirit of poverty is breaking. There are more smiles, people are laughing more, they are quick to joke and they seem to be helping each other more. 

Today we went to a school and visited with the kids. Dr. Martin and Wendy spoke to the kids about the importance of healthy eating and and good hygiene. That is all fine and good...and very necessary, but what continues to blow me away is that we get to share the love of Christ with the kids. We get to pray with them and for them right there in the classroom. 

That is what we are here for. I feel like I am failing a little. I need more Spanish to be able to share Christ with the children. I need prayer for my language barriers and mental blocks. Please pray for me to excel in my Spanish. Please pray for opportunities to learn and practice. Please pray for a willing heart and a "go the second mile attitude." 

Thank so much!

Creator God

Our God created the heavens and the earth.

He spoke them into existance. 

He planted the first seeds.

 

He carved the mountains into existance, but He still knows my name.

His love runs trough this world like a river. Giving life to everything that would drink.

He has created us all with purpose, given us life and breath for a reason.

 

He has put us here to help those in need.

 

To be His hands and feet, taking His message of love to the "least of these."