Have a blessed day!
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Have a blessed day! I’m sorry that we may seem to have vanished these last couple weeks. We are fine but have been extremely busy with wedding showers, graduations, missions conferences, family visits, etc. Jeffrey graduated on May 3 from Oral Roberts University and we had a wonderful reception afterward at our house. There were about 40 special friends in attendance, including son Michael and Cheryl’s mom, both from Kentucky. Then we have had several activities at both First Methodist and Christ Presbyterian churches. Both were having their missions conference. We get an email from Nicolas every couple days. All is well at the mission center. Before we left I asked him to investigate alternate energy sources for the production center. He sent some information today. This week, Pedro, Luis Paz’s son came out with an assessor to evaluate the production center building --just In case we’re ever in a position to buy it. I got a good report from the cardiologist today
We’ve been here in Tulsa more than a week now. We’ve been very busy; Cheryl has had at least one meeting almost every day. However, we’re having a blast driving our own car and going wherever we want. A week or so ago I received a call from Honduras and it was Lourdes. She called to say she would begin moving into her new house the next day. The money for that house was donated by an athletic team at a Christian school in Tulsa. Nicolas told me today they’re in! Michael and Savannah and Mom Longstaff are coming in for Jeffrey’s graduation on May 3. Then on May 6th we will go to Kansas City to see Marisa in a concert. On May 23 we return to Honduras.
Eric Lam, OSU grad school of engineering student has been with us over a week now. He has worked on a an agricultural project as well as checking up on the water filter project. A great bonus to us is that he built a "bigger than usual" bio sand filter to help us with our influx of contaminated water. Santos
will finish it. Also, there is a picture of Nicolas (below), who has also been my bridge to the construction crew as well as the operational manger of our mission. This is all in addition to being our body guard. He is looking forward to hisson and sister and her daughter to be with him over "Semana Santa" (Holy Week). A big Holiday here. Construction crew with us. We started phase two of the dorm construction. Blocks are being laid for the second floor walls.
Saturday, April 5th, was an exciting day for the GH Ministry. Two cement trucks brought in 16 meters of cement to pour the second floor of the dormitory. Extra workers were hired to be able to “keep up with the pour” and level it as we pumped the cement up on the metal decking. Even I got up there with a trowel. It looks great. We have not begun Phase Two of the building project.
Eric Lam continues his EP agricultural project as well as building us a giant bio-sand filter to handle the contaminated water coming into our cistern. We look forward to getting clean water ! Today, Margy and Bill Hoff came to our place for lunch for the last time. They are leaving Honduras to retire after being on the field for over 40 years. There will be a great void where they have been. Their son, Mark and wife Joy and daughter Katrina will continue the ministry and remain in Honduras. Last week we went to San Pedro and got another batch of medications. Having a regular nurse is expensive, but we feel blessed to have her. We have continued working toward getting a cement truck to pour the second floor of the dorm. We have chosen what seems to be the best option and are working out the details. We plan to do the pour this week. Moe Rouse, high school friend from years ago, arrived here from Cincinnati today and Jim Redyke and crew will be here tomorrow. Last week we delivered and installed 2 more water filters. Cheryl and I were talking the other day; we have been in the mission center less than five years and already we are out of space. Yesterday the little children met in the car port and the senior level English students met under the mango tree.
Our lawyer came by on Wednesday and returned to us the deposit we had made for the legal papers we never got. We are so grateful. It was a substantial amount; will help greatly with the payroll that is due on the 30th. Thanks so much for your prayers. Yesterday I was standing downstairs and was struck by all the activity-- about 40 computer/English students getting ready for class in the main room; Norma’s sewing students singing hymns in their room; little kids gathering on the porch; the sound of the carpentry class’s power tools next door; patients shuttling back and forth to the clinic; Victorina beginning to prepare snacks for the children and lunch for the employees. Furthermore, we had al the sound equipment, Bibles, teaching materials ready for the 39 students from the private school; and then learned they had another activity planned for the day. Not too surprisingly no one told us. Today, Dr. Rios, the dentist from San Pedro was here treating patients. We went to San Pedro to run errands including an attempt to get an estimate for concrete for the second floor of the dorm. We’re planning to do it with “Ready-Mix” instead of by hand.
Today we received the biggest load of building supplies yet: 400 rebar, lumber, 400 pounds of anchoring wire, steel channels, etc. Our crew has grown to seven and they are making good progress; they’re almost ready to pour the second floor. Jim Redyke and Larry Voight will be coming from Tulsa for that event. Our lawyer called and said she’d be here today. Then she called a second time to say she’ll be here tomorrow instead. She’s bringing the money we deposited for some papers which we never got. In church the other day I sat beside Gloria’s 7 year old daughter, Jennifer. I was amazed how much English she can speak. She’s being scholarshipped to the private school by partners of GHH. She also asked me for a little “dough” to take to school; and I think she asked me to be her father at the upcoming father’s day celebration. Her dad died last year. Nelson was telling me recently how that a number of his students' lives have completely changed since they started coming to computer class. A good example is Jose. He had started drinking and his parents couldn’t control him. Now he’s in church three times a week.
We had a good crowd in church on Sunday; besides those who walked, our van was completely full (and then some). Selvin, the substitute pastor, made an announcement from the pulpit that surprised us. Specifically he said starting in April church meeting time will be 10am instead the current 3pm. This will have ramifications for many people. The change had been talked about, but we had no idea a decision was going to be announced. We learned after the meeting that the pastor (still in Venezuela) didn’t know about it either. We will be meeting about it on Saturday. The Venezuelan team has had to postpone their visit until things settle down in that country. They were supposed to be here this week. Also this week, new children’s curriculum. The youngest ones will remain with Mirna doing songs, stories, and crafts. The ones from 11 to 14 are starting a new curriculum with Damaris( new teacher) called Bible Blast. Altogether there were 13 in attendance on Monday. This afternoon 4 of us delivered and installed water filters in two more of our employee’s houses. Those things are a chore; each one weighs about 350 pounds.
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