Monday's Journal

Today after eating our continental breakfast together at the hotel restaurant, we left for the San Pedro Sula MAMA Center. From there, several of our team went to the pharmacy to buy needed medicines. After they came back, we left for Colonia Gracias a Dios also in San Pedro Sula where we set up the medical clinic for the day.

Among other things, we worked at dispensing vitamins to the children, treating certain skin problems, and treating those with other medical conditions. Some of us had the opportunity in the afternoon to play with the children blowing bubbles, giving the children coloring book pages to color, and just talking with one another.

When I (Tim) was with some children who were coloring, I noticed that one of them had a numbered connect the dots pictures. So I pointed at the dots and started counting, "uno, dos, tres,...." The children then started counting with me or I with them all the way to 100 in Spanish. From there, we started asking each other, "What is this in Spanish or in English?" And time just fled by; it was time to go back to the hotel all too soon. As we were leaving there, many of the children freely gave us hugs.

The pastor at this church was named Juan. He is man with a great heart for the well-being of his people and all the people he meets. While we were holding the clinic at his church, we served a great lunch of "pastelitos." These pastelitos contained rice and small pieces of some king of meat. On top of them, they heaped large amounts of salsa.

This evening back at the hotel, Aurora, our cook, served us delicious beef, rice, cauliflower, and carrots. After the meal, Rolando conducted devotions from 2 Thess. 1:3 which talks about the Thessalonians love for one another increasing. Rolando then pointed out that our love for God and one another increases by our serving one another. If we want to improve our relationship with God, we serve one another and grow close to one another.

We continue to feel and appreciate your prayers for us before God. Keep praying that we make the most of our time with the Honduran people as we serve one another. The hospitality of the Honduran people we meet has been more than wonderful. They make us like part of their family. Pray, too, for the health of the Honduran people many of whom who have few material resources.

Below is a group picture of some of the children from the Gracias a Dios community. The children of this community were among the happiest of the communities we visited. Look at their smiles!


Below Kathy is conducting a bubble blowing time with the children. We often would go back and forth between us and the children blowing the bubbles. Many times the children would chase after the bubbles trying to catch or burst them.


Below is a view from Gracias a Dios. It is often striking how geographically close together the rich and poor live in Honduras. Most of the common people would not be able to afford the homes seen in the distance in this picture.