January 20, 2001

And now for" the rest of the story"

After dinner on Saturday evening, we gathered for our last meal at the campsite and to formally end the work that was started. Hearts were merry and spirits soaring as many gave testimonials as to what the highlights on the last two weeks meant to their lives.
Pastor Torres was asked to stand, and with a puzzled look on his face he waited patiently as what Bob spoke was translated into Spanish. We then presented him with a computer and printer that we had brought from the states for him. This very faithful servant of God has been Shepherding eleven churches in Honduras, while trying to use a dinosaur of a computer that finally succumbed to a terminal illness! Pastor Torres had taken his vacation time and used it to stay with us and help in anyway he could. His wife Nora, who is a schoolteacher, was a great help in our children's meeting. As they stood before us as a couple united in the work for the Lord, Jordan Wagner presented them with the puppets that had been made this year. They will be put to great use along with the Spanish music tape for ministering in their churches.
A laptop computer that had been donated along with a printer was given to Lillian, the young woman that offered her translation services freely to us for the two weeks. She will be starting her first full time job as a teacher in another month and this laptop will be a blessing to her. Moses, our Nicaraguan translator was given a gift of money and many hugs for the blessing that he was to us once more. Moses and Pastor Torres and his family parted from us at 6a.m. on Sunday. WE had secretly taken up a collection of money during the week in order to be able to bring Ivanna, the young dental student that spent the week with us, along with Lillian and Gabriel to Roatan for our much needed rest and recuperation. In 2 weeks, we had built a duplex home, put in 9 sidewalks, and finished a model home. Built a huge playground, immunized 167 children, vaccinated 280, fitted over 700 people with glasses, taught 190 people practical laws of health, pulled hundreds of teeth, treated over 3,000 patients and handed out much medicines to as many, held Bible school and puppet ministry to almost 200 children for 5 nights, and touched the souls of 500 people at the evangelistic meetings and gave out 167 Bibles with the promise of more to come. We finished the work we set out to do. With God, all things are possible! Now it was time for a refreshing of body and soul.

Sunday, January 21, and Monday, January 22, 2001

"He hath made everything beautiful in its time". Ecclesiastes 3:11

Oh thank you Lord for the promise of beauty. Our senses are being overwhelmed by glorious beauty in Roatan! After waking up at 4:30a.m. and heading to the airport in Tegucigalpa to catch our chartered flight, we found that due to bad weather conditions that our plane was in Le Cebo and would not be coming as they had closed the airport. We waited with hearts dampened by the weather conditions that had stopped the plans we had. Hours pass with no break in the weather condition. Then while in the airport, we gathered in a united group, held hands and prayed the Lord would still the storm that prevented us from our much needed rest. In less than an hour, we were boarded on our plane and on our way! The Lord had wanted us to ask Him to still the storm for us. He was, and still is, in control of everything we do. All praise and glory to Jesus Christ." For in Him we live and move and have our being". Acts 17:28

They had dinner waiting for us when we arrived and we ate in an outdoor dinning facility where redheaded woodpeckers walked up and down the coconut trees. The Caribbean Sea was the backdrop of this picture and it sparkled and soothed our eyes and ears as we starred at its beauty. Nothing that is man made is capable of soothing and coddling the soul as what God has made. We would be refreshed emotionally and physically and ready to return to the rigors of life after these 2 days. What a treat we were all in for. Some of us sat on the pure white sand and read, while others walked in the water, finding their fill of creatures we rarely, if ever see. Starfish were to numerous to count; sea anemones, urchins, and octopus were easy to spot in the crystal clear waters. Michael Young was the first to spot the sleeping area of 30 or more bats bunched together under a palm branch. Once he found it and we all had our turn at saying: eik, ugh, yuck and wow, many more palm branches were spotted carrying the same cargo. Nathaniel and Amy Beisiegel also enjoyed the beach combing adventures and found many pieces of coral that washed to shore. On Monday, half our group went on a nature tour where we were able to not only see exotic birds, we were able to hold a toucan and a parrot. Then on to an Iguana farm, a botanical garden and a dolphin show. Five of our group stayed at the dolphin research center to go into the ocean with the dolphins. Being able to stand next to them, pet, hug and even kiss them. Now for some people, kissing a dolphin is about the last thing in their life they would care to do. But for Judy Sirard, Amy and Karen Mack, and Jennifer Young it was one of the highlights of their life! Bob Young was there too, he isn't so much in love with animals, but he is in love with Jennifer, so…he endured being kissed by a dolphin for her sake. The whole thing was caught on film.
Some of the group went to Coxen Hole for shopping and the rest stayed at the motel and went snorkeling. Pastor and Deena Wagner taught lessons and by the end of the day, there were only a few of us that were to tired to try it. They had put on their gear and swam out past the reefs. They were able to see amazing creatures, fish of every description and coral that dazzled the eye, even in the not very bright day. Even the very youngest of our group, Amy 5 and Courtney 7, turned into expert snorkelers.
After dinner it was off to bed for a good nights sleep, as we would be up at 4:30a.m. to head back to Tegucigalpa and then the states.

Tuesday, January 22, 2001

While at the airport waiting for our flight to Miami the nicest thing happened to me that I must tell you about. There were 4 young girls that kept circling the room and smiling at me. At last they had enough nerve to stop and talk. I asked Roy if he would translate for us so the girls could tell me what was on their mind. They said they liked my face and that I looked friendly. They kept looking at my hair so I asked them if they would like to touch it. Instantly hands were running through my hair as each took their turn. The youngest girl stuck to me like glue, hugging me, running her hands over and over through my hair and primping it. She examined my eyes, felt my ears and kept touching my skin, kissing my cheek. After saying how much we enjoyed each other, they disappeared then reappeared, this time with their grandma. We talked a few moments, and I found out she had 12 grandchildren and that they were at the airport waiting for the Uncle to come in on a flight. Like magic, kids were multiplying before my eyes. I leaned my head over for the new group to have their turn feeling my red hair.
Smiles flashed and hearts were bonded as there eyes lighted up over this opportunity. It was time for me to go to the counter and check my baggage. As I told them goodbye I asked them if they knew Jesus and they said yes. I told them I would meet them in heaven then and we could be neighbors there. Then I told them the Bible says," a merry heart does good like a medicine", and that they had just given me a full dose. They had made my heart merry and helped relieve the pain I had been feeling earlier. They each hugged and kissed me as if we had been friends for a lifetime. Indeed, because of Jesus we will be friends for eternity. I thought that was the last I would see of my new friends that day. But a little later all came running back. This time with a camera in their hands, they all gathered around me hugging me as someone else took our group picture. The Lord is so good and so merciful. He sends the true medicine that relieves our pain. I am a blessed person.
I saw Tom Fritzche talking with Bob about coming on another mission trip with us. Remember, Tom and Delores Kellerman worked together immunizing and vaccinating children. Tom would translate and figure out which shot each child would need and Delores administered the needle. With the amount of needles that were used, that added up to lots and lots of little screaming children! But Tom is still in for next time! And so is Delores. There is a big rumor going around that Bob Young might take us to India next. I might have started that rumor though, I am not sureJ
While waiting the 4 hours for the plane to bring us to Miami, many of us decided to get a bite to eat at the local Pizza Hut. Yes, Pizza Hut, Honduran style. They even make deliveries, although all theirs are done on motorcycle with a little pizza warmer pack on the seat. It is a site to behold. While we were in there, Kim Beisiegel mentioned how Jesus had to withhold things from us. Just like we had to withhold the gifts we brought to share. It really stirred my soul when I compared it. In the Bible, Jesus tells us that He had much to tell us, but we could not bear it now. We had to be taught about the kingdom of heaven a little at a time. Sort of like being fed the Gospel, just a spoonful at a time. He had so much to share with us and yet we couldn't take it all in. It was the same with the people in Amerateca, we had so much to give to them, so many gifts that would bless them, and yet we had to hide them away to be handed out just a little at a time. They were not able to accept all at once, with out rioting. Isn't that such a deep thought? It really hit me hard just what that meant for us as Christians. Jesus has so much to give, let's accept it in the proper manner and not make Him have to hold back.

Thank you for reading and sharing our story and our mission. I pray that you have been blessed by it as much as we have been. "The liberal soul shall be made fat; and he that waters shall be watered also himself" Proverbs 11:25
Now unto Him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask, or think, according to the power that works in us. Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end, Amen. Eph. 3:20,21

With peace in my heart and a smile on my face, I say to you my friend, stay close to Jesus, you will be eternally safe there.

Jennifer Young