Today we went with the group the a nursing home here in the city to visit with the elderly and sing with them. The facility isn't the nicest but it's run buy one guy and he has a nurse that comes once a day from 8-3. Other than that he's the only one there caring for the elderly that live with him. He takes in the people who have no where else to go, who otherwise would be on the street, and if that weren't enough he also cooks for the residents AND for some alcoholics and drug addicts. Everyday the alcoholics and drug addicts wait outside the facility for a plate of food that he cooks himself. So today we had the honor of praying with the alcoholics and drug addicts before we left. After that we headed for the dump. There were still more people than there were when we first started visiting. This time we had sandwiches, bananas and water to hand out. As I watched the group serving the people I was amazed when I saw one of the guys take off their shirt and hand it to one of the men in the dump, the guy living in the dump then took off his shirt and handed it to him and they wore each others shirt. Pretty soon most of the boys on the team were without shirts, and some even gave up their shoes. It was a beautiful sight. The first time I have ever seen someone so purely representing Christ. It's the perfect image of what Christ did for us. He took our dirt, grime, and junk and put it upon him. It was a great visit for sure.
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After that we headed out for pizza hut and gathered up some of the street kids to join us. While we were there one of the street kids walked up and wrapped his arms around jens neck and hugged her for a while. And when we got ready to leave he walked up to her and looked her square in the eye and BEGGED her to take him with her. He wanted to come live with us. She told him that we couldn't just take him and big tears welled up in his eyes and he held on to her hand begging for her to help him. As I stood behind him she asked if he wanted us to turn him into INFA so that he could be put in a children's home. And he told us that that was what he wanted because he didn't want to live with his parents anymore because they don't love him. So she said that we would call in the morning and turn him in and come to get him at the same pizza hut so that he could have a chance of getting into a home. As she turned to walk away he turned to me and wrapped his arms around my neck, buried his head in my shoulder and began to sob. He looked and me and with big tears in his little eyes he said ' please, please take me with you' and he continued crying for a little bit. So I looked at Jen and we decided that we would take him with us to the Jesus Statue devo with the group and make some calls to see if there was anything that we could do for him tonight. So we got into the car and he sat in the front seat with David and I and held our hands and laid on our shoulders the whole car ride. He was clearly starving for attention and affection that he wasn't getting at home. So we made some calls and won't be able to do much until tomorrow. So for tonight this little guy named Carlito is staying at our house. We were able to get him a shower and some clean clothes and he is loving being around some people who choose to love him. I ask that you all pray for him tomorrow as we take him before the judge and he gets put into the system. Pray that God would send angels to be with him as he is placed in a home, and pray that it is a decent facility. Pray that he would see Christ living in us. And that somehow, in ways we don't understand God would intervene and change this boys life.
I wish I had picture of him to upload for you all, but my camera was stolen right out of my lap today at the dump..so I'm without a camera for a while. But the good news is that they guy that took it will be able to sell it and hopefully get something to eat everyday this week. Hopefully I'll be able to get a new one ordered in the next couple days so it can be here in a week or two. So bare with me. David has a camera that I might be able to use some till mine comes, but we'll see.
Blessings on your week!
This week we have a group of over 30 people from Malone all staying at our house. They are a great bunch of college students. Yesterday they held a carnival in Santa Ana for all the kids in the community. While they were doing that Jen, Steve, Carlos and I went to the Cucuy houses to get pictures of all the families for someone in the states who wants to sponsor each of the families. As we made our rounds we came to the house of the lady who is known around the community for having been the 'witch'. She was once a pretty crazy lady. People were scared of her. She and her father have both recently been baptized and made Jesus King of their life. She's a completely new woman. Her father is really sick, but he's such a sweet gentle man. Because of his illness he's not able to walk right now. He asked if we could help him get the medicine he needs because he just wants to be able to walk again. The first picture is of her and her sick dad. The second one is a picture of her brother praying. He also lives with her and she cares for him as well.
Today the group was split into two teams. One team built a house in Nuevo Oriental and the other team helped at the feeding center in the same village. I was one of the ones with the opportunity to serve in the feeding center, helping serve lunch and playing with the kids. After I was done getting food to all the kids I caught a glimpse a little girl out of the corner of my eye and I turned my head and smiled at her and she got a huge grin on her face. Sometimes I forget what it's like to go into a community and have your heart stolen by a new kid for the first time, but it's one of the greatest things in the world. It never ceases to amaze me that in this country you can fall in love with a kid without ever having said a word to them. They somehow capture your heart in unexplainable ways. I had the honor of sitting with this sweet little girl, Daniella and her brothers and grandma as they ate their lunch. Her grandma began talking to me telling me about their life. She told me that life is hard for them but nothing is impossible with God. And she told me that life is much better when you are walking with God. In the 15 minutes that I spoke with her somewhere in the midst of it I fell in love with their sweet little family. She took me to see their house and even gave me a coke out of their fridge. I am amazed over and over again by the generosity of the people in this country. They don't have much but what they do have they want to share with you and expect nothing in return. They resemble Christ in so many ways.
After lunch was over I walked outside and immediately my hands were grabbed by a couple little girls who pulled me into the soccer field to play with them. As we walked a little boy came running at me and grabbed onto my arm to walk with us. He's three years old and I met him a couple months ago in the village. His name is Antonio and he hung out with us and the kids played with my camera for a while. Antonio stayed very close the entire time I was with him. He eventually worked his way into my lap so I would cradle him and love on him for a bit. I often forget that these kids not only go without adequate food and clothing, but they also aren't loved on a whole lot by their parents sometimes. So when they see white people they constantly want to be held, and for you to hold their hands, give them piggy back rides, play soccer, and just for you to remind them that they are loved.
This past Saturday we had the opportunity to attend graduation for Carlos. [ the oldest of the boys we've taken in] He has finally graduated high school and is looking into other education/ training for his future. The graduation was far different than mine was. They wore their school uniforms and someone had to walk them on stage to sign a book...it was odd. But it was a good afternoon. And he was certainly glad to be a graduate. :)
Last night one of Casa's workers asked us all to come witness the baptism of her children and join them afterwards for a celebration dinner at her house. So we drove out to Santa Ana and once there they took us to their Catholic church and we witnessed three baptisms, which was a whole new experience for this girl, but great nonetheless. Afterwards she took us to her little honduran home and served us meat, rice, mashed potatoes and salad. It was great food and so good to just enjoy each others presence.
Would your Suburban run out of gas while going UP a mountain in the woods! And when you are no more than a two minute drive from your house! Heavens...the adventures we have...
Yesterday we went to the dump to take peanut butter sandwiches and bags of water to the people living there. As we pulled in I immediately noticed that there were a lot more people and even more live stock roaming through the piles of garbage. I also quickly noticed that there were far more children there than I'd ever seen there before. I'd say at least half of the people were children under the age of 15.
can you imagine being a child and having to dig through piles of trash to find something to eat to stay alive?
That's the reality for these kids. They have no where else to turn to.
Please keep these people in your prayers. We are currently working on a long term plan to help these people which will have to involve the government, so please be praying as we attempt to help these people and as we work alongside the Honduran government.
Yesterday around lunch time we headed out to Nuevo Oriental which has become one of my favorite villages here. We got there a little after 11 which meant we were just in time to help serve lunch at the feeding center. Our main reason for visiting was to check out the house sites that Ashley's group will be working on in a couple weeks. So a couple kids led us to the house sites and held us up as we slid down the dusty hills. Then we hiked back up the mountain to the feeding center to help the sweet ladies serve some hungry kiddos. After we got done handing out the food I sat down at a table with some of the kids and a lady named Mercedes walked up to me asking if we would please build her a house. She explained that she had two kids and her sister living with her and every time it rained the water came into their small house and the wind whipped through the cracks in the wall. So after lunch we walked back down the mountain to check out the site and on our way there we saw another house that looked pretty bad. There was a young woman standing in the door way and we asked if we could check out the house and see if there was anything we could do to help and she told us that it wasn't her house the owners were just letting her live there because she doesn't have a house. This lady has three kids but two of them can't live with her because she can't afford to care for them. The owners came out and let us into the house and it turned out to be better than we thought. And they also told us that if we'd build this lady a house she would donate part of her land behind their house for us to build it on. We are getting paperwork from both of the families so hopefully we can get them a house when we have a group down here...or when we raise enough money to build it. :)
Praying before lunch
Mercedes house
Their bathroom
Inside the house
some of my kiddos :)
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