February 9, 2002

Happy Sabbath!

A whisper in the wind; “come onto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” We come Lord, waiting for the blessing to fall upon us. As a tender leaf in the summer rain, the promise of your love unfolds us.
Praise your holy name.

The night seemed long with wind and rain drenching the ground in quick torrential downpours. Bob has been up several times to check on the tent that was put up yesterday in the hopes that it was still standing. He also went to check on our people that are sleeping in tents in the front of the building. They are close to the shoreline and the waves are crashing in. All is safe and he returns back to our room, soaking wet. I can't help but think of what the wind and rain sounded like with Hurricane Mitch. This little minor storm last night seemed frightening enough to me, what must it of been like 3-years ago?
Eric, Tresa and Michael Young are sleeping in a tent close to the water. Two young ladies are in another tent next to them. We met them while in Miami and they asked one of our team where we were headed. They were headed to Honduras and we told them what we were doing and invited them to come and help us work if they made it to Guanaja. Well they are here, and ready to work! Dona Lucas is on a one-month tour of Honduras, Mari Kubota, is touring here for 4 months. They both are from North Carolina and are out for an adventure. They will find it here.
This trip has been so different from others we have been on. We don't have vultures sitting near us in trees like before, although there were a few about 100 ft. from us this morning during church. They are here, but not an over abundance. I haven't seen a rat, which is a nice difference. The dogs on the island are plentiful, but they are of good condition and not with their ribs showing and all mangled and mangy. Everything stems around fishing, which is abundant. Even the dogs have taken advantage of this natural resource and have been seen digging into the numerous holes that contain crabs. They dig them out, break open and spit out the shell and then eat the rest.
Biting bugs are more of a problem here than other places we have been. We should have a connect- the dot contest as everyone is walking around with so many on his or her legs. I think Jerry Sullivan would be in a tie with Bonnie Dreos to win the prize.
There are frogs here big enough to saddle and ride to town. Bill Foote who is working on with the construction team says they “sing” in Spanish. They do make a very loud lovely call not like anything we have heard in the U.S. They live in holes in the ground and will come into your room if you leave the door open long enough.

Church service was a blessing this morning. We met under the big tent and the services were in Spanish and English. Pastor Dwight Taylor went to preach at the Savannah Bight church, Pastor Gene Thomas preached at the East End church, which is the farthest away. Pastor Mark Bugbee went to the Mitch church to preach and Pastor Gary Wagner preached here at Mangrove Bight. During Sabbath school we were blessed to have Jim Lord playing the banjo, Nancy Dixon the guitar, Miles Merwin the violin and Ashley Wagner the keyboard. We sang in both Spanish and English.
At church service Jordan and Ashley Wagner, Rachel Bugbee, and Miles Merwin presented special music along Elise Dickerson who also signed the music as she sang. It was heavenly music to say the least.
Pastor Wagner's sermon was on respect for the house of God and our part in prayer and faith.
After dinner some will go to explore a cave while others might go for a milder walk to the beach.
We had another torrential downpour during Sabbath school. Please join us in prayer that the rains will now pass. The road we just spent time fixing is once again impassable for the bus, a 4-wheel drive pick up could barely make it through. There is only one road on this entire island, and without the road staying in condition, no other progress can take place for them.

A little store has opened almost directly across the street from us. It sits on stilts right over the water. It is about the size of small American kitchen. They sell a few varieties of soda, hamburgers and tacos. Yesterday Bob and I talked to the women that worked there while we shared a cold soda. She is home on vacation from her regular job on the Cayman Island where she works as a domestic. I asked her which island she liked best and she said this one, but she can make much more money in the Caymans and so she has to go there to work. We invited her to the meetings on Monday and she said she would come. She also wants to get her little girl seen at the dental clinic as she sees a little hole in her tooth. Her child also has asthma and she wants the doctor to see about treating that.

We have just had our evening worship and Bob has asked if anyone would like to give a testimony. Pastor Thomas had his hand raised immediately. One of his comments was that this was the most fun preaching day he has had. He is enjoying himself thoroughly and being a blessing to all. Courtney Rousseau was thankful that she was able to make it up the mountain and back down again on their walk up to the cave. Pastor Wagner's topic for worship was about putting the most into your Christian experience in order to get the most out of it. He first likened it to the cave experience today. It was a tough experience; they had to climb down into a dark cave by way of a 25 ft. rope. Most of the time not being able to know what or where the next step would be. But once they were in there they saw sights that were breathtaking and that only God could have formed. He next likened the cave experience to the experience we are all having here in Guanaja. It has been hard and rough, but the blessings have been tremendous. If we hadn't of stepped out in faith, sometimes not knowing where our next step would lead, we would have missed all the blessings of this. The change that this school building will have on these people's lives will be immeasurable. Each drop of sweat off the brow of our construction team might mean one footstep closer to the Kingdom and the King of Glory. At the very least, it will mean a better way of life while on this earth, and with the highest goal being that of heaven itself.

Tomorrow we have another day off and will be going to a place called Michael's rock for swimming, scuba diving, snorkeling and a picnic. The most exciting thing that will take place there is the baptism of my grandson Michael Young. A day that will be marked in the books of heaven and the hearts of all of us who witness this young boys declaration of faith in our savior Jesus Christ.
Part of our construction group has chosen to stay behind and work on the building. Brian Caster, who has been on 15 mission trips, along with Fred Nudd who holds the record here for the most trips at 31, plus the record for this trip as the oldest member of our group at a sprite young age of 81. He really is amazing. Tim and Donna Bainum, Gary Kasckamp, Donya Lucas, Mari Kubota and Kevin Rousseau have also volunteered to stay back and work on the building. Pastor Bryan Lamberton will stay here at the compound and guard our belongings while he gets some well deserved down time in which to write and read. Thank you to these folks for their faithfulness.

And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Colossians 3:14,15

Because He lives, I continue on.
With a smile,

Jennifer Young