NEARING THE END, THE IMPACT CONTINUES

From up at the mission house the world looks spectacular and pristine. But once you get down into the city real life ministry quickly sets in.







No doubt those who saw the pictures of the dump (see the Wednesday, November 4 post) were in one way or another moved by what you saw. We learned later on that many of those who are at the dump are scavenging for recyclable materials which are in turn sold and taken to the northern city of San Pedro Sula to be recycled. To a large extent this has become a micro business which provides these people with wages which allow them to care for themselves and their families. In the midst of a severe economic crisis in Honduras, these people are willing to do whatever it takes to survive and are making it work.

We sign off tonight with a few more reflective thoughts from team members.

Words can not explain what I have seen and where I have travel the past five days. The Honduran people are beautiful beings. The children are happy in their poor living conditions. The people are so happy to see us with are medical brigades. My heart is heavy at time and full at times. A visit to the dump will never leave my brain. The people that are in this team are so kind and welcoming. I am often overcome with emotion. Lisa Butler

If the eyes are the windows to the soul then the mouth is the pulse of your heart. I’ve worked in dental every brigade and still cannot process the pain these people endure because of a lack of a simple toothbrush and toothpaste. The simple things we take for granted are so appreciated here in Honduras. Their trust is overwhelming that they should sit in my chair without complaint and not even knowing my name. Allow me the honor to clean their mouth which is a very small thing and only temporary. But then they will continue down the line to evangelism and receive a clean heart which is permanent and makes my small contribution priceless.
Patrice Hugo

Honduras…..so much to say,so little space! This has been such an amazing experience! It stretches your walk with God in so many ways! The people seem sad but content. It really makes you realize that states has too much and so many of us are still uncontent! People are people..no matter how far you travel! People just want to be known they have worth, no matter rich or poor…healthy or sick! These are Gods children also! He created them for a purpose. Tami Gemmel

FIRST IMPRESSIONS, LASTING IMPACT

Words will never adequately express what the team experienced in a one hour period of time from 3-4 pm, Wednesday, November 4, 2009 at the city dump. Pictures will hardly do it justice. But maybe a view into the hearts of some of our team members will offer a hint.





Today we went to the dump to distribute rice and beans to the people who live there. I cannot even begin to describe what we experienced. The stench, the sight of people vying with vultures for food, and the number of children living in these conditions – it was overwhelming. People crowded around to get the food, and listened as Pastor Don spoke to them of Christ’s love. We pray that they will respond to the hope of Jesus Christ. Grace Thornton

This trip has been eye opening for me. So much has happened this week but I would like to share my favorite part of the trip. I have enjoyed all the relationships that have started or grown. My relationship with the people I came down to Honduras with, the Honduran people and with God. These relationships have been formed because of our love for Christ. Always, Karen Gorski

This is my 12th trip down here and every time I come I see things that have changed in what I see along the roads….more construction of houses…many still empty. Things in the barrios are still basically the same with the poor people living in shanties and coming to our clinics for help. At the dump it was unbelievable! There were vultures and dogs looking for food and people scrounging for something to use or sell. We gave sandwiches as well as orange juice to the people along with the beans and rice.
We actually went to a church on Sunday in the barrio that we are going to tomorrow and Friday and Pastor Don preached the sermon. The people were very nice to us and fed us some food. Christ is working in Honduras! Lois Thompson

As Grace said – today we went to the Tegulcigalpa dump and it was something I had never experienced before. It was an experience that cannot be adequately explained with words, but I will never forget it. I think my favorite part of the trip is the children. Yesterday, when we were washing their hair, they were so trusting and obediently bowed their heads as we poured water over them. They were so thankful and precious – they touched my heart deeply. Hopefully we have been Jesus with skin on to these beautiful people. Yvonne Semel

The Honduran people stole my heart three trips ago but today at the dump was beyond description. On the ride back to the mission house all that went through my mind was the verse “Jesus wept”.
Diane Billing

My first patient yesterday had been attacked and robbed two months ago, losing his eye in the process. He explained of his inability to sleep following the incident, which led to a conversation about my Prince of Peace. God transformed his heart in the triage area, taking the scales off his eyes to believe in the One who loves him dearly, sent his Son to save him from his sin, and who promises to never leave or forsake him. He responded with a bright eye and smile when I said, “If I don’t see you here, I’ll see you in heaven.”
Lizzy Hill

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of him who bring good news, who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation and says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’” Never in my life have I had the opportunity to preach to a congregation the likes of the one I faced Wednesday afternoon. Imagine a hundred to a hundred and fifty homeless men, women and children who spend their lives in the city dump, scavenging for anything of value, standing in an orderly line, listening to a brief gospel presentation, waiting patiently for a sandwich, a drink and a bag of rice or beans. It was a moment of hope for a people who are living in hell on earth. Pastor Don Erickson

I do not believe I will ever be able to adequately express what I have seen and what I have learned in the last several days. The sights, sounds and smells will never leave and I’m only just beginning to process these experiences. What I can say is that the quote “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” has forever been changed in my mind and that I have seen hell on earth. What I have seen has given me an incredible understanding of what God has saved us from. Praise God for the work He has done and is doing even in the most wretched of places.
Ryan Erickson

NUEVO JERUSALEN - DAY 2

Tuesday has come and gone. Two days of brigade are behind us and all of a sudden we find ourselves midway through the week. There has been little visible evidence of the the political unrest here in Tegucigalpa. About the only impact it has had on our week is the time it takes to get to where we are going. With streets surrounding the Brazilian embassy blocked off, traffic has been diverted making travel by bus somewhat arduous.

Because we were late getting back to the mission house tonight, first impressions from our team members has been pushed back until tomorrow evening.

The pictures that follow will give you a visual taste of our day. God continues to meet with us and we continue to find great joy being His feet here in Honduras.











Getting access to the internet to post this blog each night has been a challenge. To date, the mission house does not have it's own internet access. They have been waiting for four weeks and though promised this week that's what they said last week. Welcome to the third world where getting a landline can take ten years.

The nearest available internet access up here in the mountain is the next door neighbor who is a hundred yards away. He has graciously allowed WGO to use his wireless signal until they get their own. The trick is that there is only one spot on the mission house grounds where you can get connected.

The following picture gives you an idea of what we do to connect with the outside world.

Serving in "Nuevo Jerusalen"

It is Monday night and our first day of brigade has come to a close. We are serving in an area of Tegucigalpa known as "Jerusalen." Tonight's blog will be a review through pictures. Tomorrow night's blog will be a review through the hearts of our team members.







As we focus this week on being the feet of Jesus, we thought it appropriate to share with you some of the feet of Honduras. They speak volumes all by themselves.

HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS

We are all here and we are ready to be the feet of Jesus, bringing the good news of the Gospel to the people of Honduras. It began this morning as we worshiped with the body of believers that we will be working with Thursday and Friday. The pictures that follow are a taste of our morning of worship.







Posting to the blog is taking forever, so we are calling it a night (or early morning)!

Keep us in your prayers. First brigade day is tomorrow.

Last November our team had the privilege of serving with these believers in reaching the area of Los Pinos with the love of Jesus Christ. The video was a time of praise at the beginning of the day as we sang a familiar chorus Praise Ye The Lord in Spanish.

This coming week, Thursday and Friday, we will again have the privilege of serving with them. But even better, we will also be worshiping with them on Sunday morning and I (Pastor Don) have been asked to preached the morning message. Pray that God will use my words to encourage this body of believers.

HONDURAS HERE WE COME!!