Dia de Dios

Hello All, After getting a lot of much needed rest last night, we all woke up rejuvanated for the day. We began the day eating a leaisurely breakfast at the hotel. Dinora, Aurora and Gustavo then arrived to pick us up, Aurora and Gustavo a bit tired after being up till 6 in the morning after an all night special church service to pray for peace in Honduras. We then went to the market in San Pedro Sula, where everyone had a chance to do a little shopping. We also went into the back of the market where there were row of women making tortillas. From the market, we went to the plaza in the middle of San Pedro Sula and visited the main cathedral of the city. We dined at a resturant in a nearby hotel and then headed to an orphanage. The orphanage Hogar de Emanuel was a Christian orphanage, home to 84 children from infant to teenager. The children at the orphanage are there due to family not being able to take care of them or due to other family issues. The environment at the orphanage was impressive to see. The walls were brightly colored with fun paintings on the walls associated with the type of activities that took place in that room. We saw the dorms for the children and the house that held the infants. There we were able to hold some of the children; however, most of them were sleeping. As part of the orphanage, they have chicken and a garden where they grow trees. It is the responsibility of the children to care for the chickens and the garden. Also at the orphanage, they run a program called "Caminado para amor" (Walkig for Love), where they get donations of shoes, the childring help separate them and then they hand them out to children in the public schools all over the country including Tegulcigapa, San Pedro Sula, and Santa Maria. They have a pre-school and kindergarden classroom on the campus of the orphanage but the older children go to school at the public schools. After we were done touring the orphanage, we handed out beanie babies and candy to the children as well as blew bubbles for them. The "Dot" candies were a favorite among the children! After the orphanage we came back to the hotel to freshen up before heading out to the Gracias a Dios community for a service at Igelesia de Principe de Paz. Pastor Juan and the congregation were excited to see us. Bob and Barb presented Pastor Juan with a banner of peace to hang in their new church building. Also during the church services, the three mothers on the trip, Barb, Bev, and Laura were honored by the congregation as a late Mother's Day celebration. After the wonderful services of music, prayer and a message from Pastor Juan, we were provided with a delicious meal of homemade tortillas with cheese and homemade salsa prepared by Maria and several other women at the church. During the meal, we were able to reconnect and visit with the church members and children. Before we knew it, Gustavo was at the door yelling "Vamanos" to take us back to our hotel. Everyone enjoyed the day and is looking forward to begin the medical clinics and construction tomorrow. Thank you for all your prayers and continue to pray that God will work through us at we plant the seed of his love in the Honduran communities. For all, Jen Gehman Detweiler