The FUMC team left last week and we have been tying up loose ends since they left. More than several villagers have come for their "appointments" to have their eyes examined. What a blessing that FUMC left us with this ministry plus all the supplies to continue dispensing eye glasses.
Thirty five new students enrolled in the computer class this session making
it nearly 70 students total. English as a Second Language, which is learning
English through Bible study, got a big boost while Ellen LaGone was here
with the team. She has her masters in this and taught every day. This has
given Nelson much needed training. Each computer student now hears the Word, but also is studying it. So grateful to Kathy Pile and Amanda Lewis who jump started this in July.
This afternoon we are meeting with someone who may need help with medical
expenses. Tonight we bring in Isaac Hotz' team from CO.
The feeding program has expanded fast. Each morning we provide milk and either rice or oatmeal for the children. Their faces tell us thank you.
FUMC VOLUNTEERS IN MISSION AUGUST 12-20TH 2011
CLARK MILSPAUGH, MIKE PLATT, MICHAEL KUNEY AND
LOCALS WALK THE STREETS IN SEIS DE MAY STRETT MINISTRY
GARY KUNEY ALONG WITH SOME OF THE PAZ FAMILY AND
TEAM MEMBERS SHARE WITH LOCAL WOMAN
GARY LEADING THE GROUP DOWN THE STREETS
GARY KUNEY ALONG WITH SOME OF THE PAZ FAMILY AND
TEAM MEMBERS SHARE WITH LOCAL WOMAN
GARY, LUIS PAZ' DAUGHTER, MELISSA, AND HUSBAND,
CARSON, LAY HANDS ON AND PRAY FOR SEIS DE MAYO WOMAN
They’re a great group; hated to see them go. Several have a year or two left before graduation; I hope we will see them next year. The project they have started is of huge importance. They worked until after dark Friday night placing the last of 9 filtration units. PRAY: That the local leaders will take ownership with the goal of a unit in every house in Seis de Mayo.
THOUGHT FOR TODAY: You probably figured it out; the man I described who wants to help your friend is Jesus Christ. Since His death on Calvary He no longer has a physical presence here on earth. Therefore He must depend upon His body, the church, to represent Him. However many people, especially the young, are saying that when they look at the church they aren’t seeing love, compassion, faithfulness, forgiveness, mercy, sacrifice.
Actually, she was returning my call. Her husband, David, had been hurt in a work accident, and I was calling to see how he's doing. Also, I knew she would be wondering about Cheryl and I wanted to fill her in. We are helping to put Lourdes through nursing school; she plans to live in Seis de Mayo when she graduates and be a nurse at the mission center.... The team from First United Methodist Church that will be visiting in March had their first informational team meeting today. The team this year will likely consist of 10 to 12 persons. One of their questions has to do with any projects we might want them to do. We are planning to have them start renovating the rent house. They will also begin the work on a horticultural project. One member of their group is planning to make a special trip down sometime between now and March just to get better oriented as to how they might best serve.
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THOUGHTS FOR TODAY: It seems ironic, but the more time I spend in prayer the less antagonism I feel toward a skeptic.
Nicolas called this morning. Alfredo started today, arranging tools and preparing to recruit students. The only thing we need to buy so far is a new motor for the table saw. Nicholas also wanted to make sure that Alfredo would be included in the lunch program. He will, of course. On New Year's Eve Nicholas sent a greeting to you all on behalf of all the employees. I will include it sometime when I don't have other things to report. Last week we scheduled for today a teleconference with the OSU engineering students and their faculty advisor. We spent an hour on the phone discussing logistics, but more importantly the project they will be bringing. They plan to make 25 water purification units while they are there and install them in as many homes. They will provide education sessions and arrange for regular feedback from the users. This is so exciting because it deals with disease prevention and goes hand-in-hand with our medical clinic programs. This trip to the mission center is now recognized by the College of Engineering as an official study abroad trip. This has increased the level of interest and there will be 16 students instead of the eight or so that I've come in the past. They will also be staying longer. This is all very exciting.
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THOUGHTS FOR TODAY: After He has taken away our earthly treasures we are free to worship with our whole heart. Could anything give the Father greater joy? Think of your own children. Are you most joyful after you have taken away something that has hindered your relationship with them? Or are you most joyful when they decide to give it to you of their own free will?
Dr. Rios (dentist from Columbia) has asked permission to bring a group of five dental students to the mission center to treatpatients. This is for a social project they are required to do at the end of their dental training. Of course we told him we would be very pleased to have them.
We continue to encourage the sewing students to improve their skills. In preparation for the students to advance to a level to manufacture their products, new skills are introduced whenever possible. Linda Bullard taught the students how to make children's dresses out of pillow cases. These pillow case dresses can be decorated and trimmed in many different styles. The students so enjoyed Linda. What a blessing to have an American teach and lead the way. After the first of the year, we hope these students can design and make several products which can be marketed.
I met with Andres today and asked him about the possibility of remodeling the rent house to serve short-term mission teams until the dormitories are finished. Not surprisingly, he was much in favor of the idea.
Dr. Green's group left today. We had a great week. Altogether the doctors saw about 400 patients. Of those, 40 accepted Christ for the first time! We were able to give most of them a Bible and have names and locations for follow-up. On Friday we were supposed to go out into the jungle but before dawn we had very high winds and torrential rains so we had to change our plan. Nicolas, Nicki Collins and I met with Flor at her house, and arranged for her to bring those with greatest need to the bridge in Campana we shuttled them back and forth in the pickup. It really worked quite well and allowed us to see others who came to the center from other villages.
A recent development has been the inclusion of the OSU-EWB trip to Honduras as an official study abroad class in the College of Engineering. This allows the students to take advantage of travel stipends and scholarships offered by individual engineering departments, the College of Engineering, and the Provost’s office to support international travel and study abroad.
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