Thanks to Richard and Gayla Dixon, we had GATHERING HEARTS FOR HONDURAS soccer uniforms for our games Tuesday night.
What a great week we had sharing the love of The Lord, experiencing the vision of Gary and Cheryl for Gathering Hearts for Honduras, and bonding with fellow volunteers -- many of whom we didn't know -- in such a short period of time. On this last day, Sondra, Linda, Nyla and Kelly worked on preparing Bible Blast teaching materials to leave behind. Tables everywhere were covered with flannel board characters from the Bible that were cataloged and organized. Ellen worked with Nelson on ESL future curriculum. Mike put finishing touches on a renovated and efficiently organized pharmacy. Meanwhile, another load of sand was delivered to the dorm construction site and design plans for the dormitory kitchen were finalized by Jim, Larry and Cheryl. Others traveled on a half-day cultural experience to a coastal fort that was built in 1747 by Spaniards. Before we left, Spanish-language Bibles, provided by the Carpenters Class, were given to the Gathering Hearts children's ministry. Thanks to the FUMC Mission Council, we presented Spanish-version copies of the Jesus Calling daily devotionals to each member of the Gathering Hearts staff, from the cooks, drivers and teachers to the dorm construction foreman. All this week prayer has been a focus of our ministry and often we have used oil to anoint villagers who sought prayer, and with each other in our prayer and devotion time. In our last evening of devotions, Betty and Nyla presented each team member our own vials of anointing oil as another reminder of this very special week where we served The Lord by helping the beautiful people of Honduras.
Thanks and blessings to all at Tulsa's First United Methodist who support missions and especially to those who lifted us this week in prayer As the week winds down, Dr. Bill and Dr. Mike, along with our nurses, continue to treat Hondurans who walked miles and waited hours for medical care. Each day we've treated more -- and have prayed for more -- than the day before. Obviously, word has spread that our team is here to serve and help these precious people. This morning we closed the eye clinic after fitting 94 people with eyeglasses over two days, some with very severe prescriptions. Ellen and Nelson continued ESL classes, while Linda and Sondra loved on 85 kids in the children's ministry. The rest of us roamed and helped and prayed where needed. Significant progress has been made on construction of the dormitory. A full construction crew is at work and Jim and Larry met with the electrician and the plumber ... the value of their consultation was to asses the final changes before pouring the second floor. A goal of April 1 was set to make the pour. Today's highlight was the very special testimony of Linda Shoemaker, our team member who shared with Gathering Hearts students, the story of the tragic death of her son, a Marine serving in the Iraq war. Jared, who professed his faith in Jesus Christ shortly before his deployment, was killed by an improvised explosive device. She compared the actions of terrorists in Iraq to gangs in Honduras. "In one moment your eyes can close here on earth and immediately open in heaven," this mother shared. "My message to you is to not wait. We don't know when we will die." Linda closed by thanking the group for allowing her to share. Following her testimony, Nelson talked about a Gathering Hearts student who drowned here in January. He too, accepted Jesus just a few months before his death. Following the presentations Linda circled the room and greeted every student. We were all very moved.
Day two at the Gathering Hearts Mission brought many medical patients and participants in the women's and children's ministries. By day's end, 92 villagers have been fitted with eyeglasses over the last two days and our physician Dr. Bill Dudney and pharmacist Mike Freeland treated dozens of patients. Meanwhile, Ellen LaGrone continued her work with Nelson Osorto and his students who are learning English. A highlight of the day was observing a four-team soccer exhibition on the concrete pads Gary and Cheryl Kuney hope to acquire to turn into a traditional field that will allow their soccer ministry to expand. Already, soccer tournaments have been successful ... one drew 12 teams and hundreds of villagers as observers. That day the sidelines turned into a giant tailgate party with tamales and frijoles served under thatched-roof shelters. Pastor Nelson Baptista -- as he always does in the soccer ministry -- used the occasion to share the gospel and relate to the young players who may otherwise be attracted to join area gangs.
Today's games presented the opportunity to unveil the new Gathering Hearts soccer shirts and equipment that were made possible by Richard and Gayla Dixon, members of First United Methodist in Tulsa and the Carpenters Class. Richard worked with FUMC member Jim Blazer and Eskimo Joe Promotions on the new shirts that sported a newly designed Spanish-language Gathering Hearts logo. When the apparel was passed out prior to the games, it was discovered that the new shirts also came with an Eskimo Joe sticker on the back. Those items proved so popular that the players refused to remove them until they were either torn or sweated off. Our first day in mission ministry started early. Many villagers greeted us upon arrival … dozens waited on the mission porch since 6 a.m. to see the doctor, our pharmacist, or to receive eyeglasses in our vision clinic. By the end of the day hundreds participated in one of the clinics, the women’s and children’s craft ministries, Ellen LaGrone’s English classes, or the mission’s woodworking classes.
For all of us, one of the most heartening rewards was to see so many — from children to adults — accept Jesus as their Lord and savior. While adults waited to see Dr. Bill Dudney, pharmacist Mike Freeland, or “opticians” Charles Hembree and Tom Byers, 40 or so children participated in a Bible-learning environment, led by Linda Shoemaker and Sondra Reeder. Itzel Hernandez Ortega provided translation there and so many other situations. She has been a real blessing to us on this VIM trip. Meanwhile, Betty Hembree, Nyla Carr, and Vivian Reeder — the amazing 90-year old mother of Jack Reeder — lead a women’s craft class, where village women created jeweled boxes that represented God’s treasures within their own hearts and lives. Charlie and Tom, through the help of translators, fitted more than 30 villagers with glasses provided by First Methodist. We expect even more patients in the clinics tomorrow. Kelly Junk and Tim Colwell greeted patients to the clinic and offered personal prayers to those waiting to see the triage nurse. It was here so many were led to Christ. Meanwhile, in the children’s ministry, several young people answered Linda Shoemaker’s invitation to have a personal relationship with the Lord. We ask for prayers for these new believers in grow in their faith. Throughout the day the sounds of construction were heard as local crews continued work on the Gathering Heart dormitory, where future mission teams will stay, as well as outside groups like medical and dental missions and Engineers Without Borders. It is here too, Cheryl and Gary Kuney hope to raise up and train local pastors to be sent throughout Honduras and Central America. Overseeing construction and working with the local contractor are Jim Redyke and Larry Voight, both veterans of FUMC construction missions here in Honduras and throughout the world. On this trip also is Jack Reeder, a mechanical engineer who works with manufacturing companies. He is helping the Kuneys with planning and set-up for Gathering Hearts future sewing production center. Each night, following a delicious dinner served in Cheryl’s welcoming kitchen, our team gathers for a review of the day and we have taken turns leading devotions and prayer. This has been a highlight of each day, where we feel the Holy Spirit among us in a powerful way. It seems like on each trip to Honduras, Charlie Hembree is in charge of kids’ fun. Last year it was paper airplanes, this year it’s frisbees and kites. We’re including some pictures of today’s kite flying in the gentle breeze. In the villages surrounding Gathering Hearts Mission, we broke into groups with translators and went door-to-door, greeting the villagers, inviting their children to a street carnival with music, stories from the Bible, craft activities and distribution of the dresses and boys shirts made by women of FUMC. We listened to their concerns and prayed with them and invited them to the medical mission-eyeglass clinic over the next few days. Hundreds of children arrived at our makeshift carnival sites.
Linda Shoemaker, assisted by Sondra Reeder and a translator, lead the kids in music, stories of the Good Shepherd and craft activities. All of us pitched in to help with these high energy kids, who used markers, glue, glitter and creativity to make posters with Biblical themes. After that, the kids were rounded up and (fairly) organized into lines to select a toy car or truck, dresses, and hair barrettes. It was chaotic and fun and hundreds of smiles were our reward. Our group of 16 from First United Methodist arrived in San Pedro Sulas to a warm welcome from our hosts, Gary and Cheryl Kuney. It was Valentines Day and the crowded streets of Honduras’ second largest city were filled with vendors of flowers and helium-filled, heart-shaped balloons. After a stop at the market to take in the local colors and smells we bounced along the streets and highways to Seis de Mayo, the village of Gathering Hearts Mission.
Besides volunteers skilled in construction, we have a doctor, pharmacist and teachers along for this VIM trip. Cheryl prepared a wonderful welcoming meal and we talked about the next day’s agenda and prayed for the success of the week, that God’s glory would be revealed to these beautiful people who are hungry for the spirit of Jesus in their daily lives. February is the month when all of the schools start; we provide supplies, shoes, tuition, uniforms, etc. for a number of children. Yesterday we went to Puerto Cortes to buy shoes and school supplies for six of our kids; today we went back to Cortes to exchange the shoes for three of those kids. We got ‘em too big. Those three were Gloria’s (young widow) youngest — kindergarten, first, and second grade. While we were there, the kindergartener said, “I’d like to try out some pizza.” I promised her we would return and do that on another day. It was interesting that those kids said they had never had on a seatbelt. It took quite awhile to get that worked out for the three of them.
Last Saturday we changed our plans to accommodate visits from our plumber, air conditioner repairman, our engineer and lawyer. Of those four, not one showed up. Hmmm. We were thinking about selling the Ford van, but experience has shown we need it from time to time. So we’ve gotten some work done on it. We put in a new windshield; bought new tires, got the horn fixed, and are looking for hubcaps. We have hired a second crew to install the ceramic on the front porch/carport; and a third crew to help George and Joel get ready for the construction team that comes on the 14th Gary |