February 18, 2006

Happy Sabbath! Blessed day of rest in Jesus.

We are here in Valle De Angeles, Honduras, where the weather is a very comfortable and sunny during the day. The evenings have been very chilly though. We are staying at the Adventist Hospital and our accommodations are very pleasant albeit there is no forgetting we are in a 3rd world country. There is only one doctor that comes in during the morning hours from Tegucigalpa, which is an hour away. He makes emergency rounds each morning. The hospital has very little medicine in stock. We all need to remember this scene the next time illness brings us to the ER in the states and we start to complain about the wait. Oh how good we have it and don’t even appreciate it.

The grounds here are well kept with plenty of beautiful flowers and trees. On the same street of which is a steep hill, there is an Adventist school. A little distance on down the hill is an absolutely gorgeous Adventist Church which contains the most gorgeous baptismal I have ever seen in all my travels. It is shaped like the tomb of Jesus, complete with huge boulders (they are man made) and as the candidate passes through the portal of the rock door they are in the waters that will bury their old life and rise up as the new man in Jesus. As you walk on down the very steep hill you finally get to the new site of theDorcas building that we are working on. A place designed to help the poor and needy and spread hope to the heart as they are ministered to in physical and spiritual ways. All of these buildings are easy to reach from town. The hospital is running by the skin of its teeth with finances in dire need. At the moment there are only 3 patients staying here. One a little infant brought in yesterday with pneumonia, she had first been brought to our clinic and then sent here. The baby’s mother stood vigil all day and night as the little infant struggled to breathe, an oxygen tent covering its head. This morning the Pastor and others laid hands on the child, anointing it with oil and prayer. It is our doctors that are carrying for her here.

This area of Honduras is much cleaner and pleasant than some other parts we have been to. But still poverty is the key condition. Explorers who found that the women here were the most beautiful they had ever seen, like angels gave the Name Valley of the angels to it. The elevation is 4,500 feet and that is lending to the coolness along with the cold front they are experiencing.

Last night we had our another rally in the town circle for the youth. There were 160 people present and 3 came forward at the appeal. There was one young girl who was extremely fidgety during the appeal and just could not sit still, laughing in an uncomfortable way. Juan noticed her there, as did others of our group. Then Juan walked over towards her and reached out his hand and she stood up and took it, walking forward to accept Jesus into her life.

Sabbath school and church was well attended with more than 300 crowded into the pews and standing. Music was plentiful and beautiful, as is always the case in all the Spanish speaking areas.

Most of our team spent the afternoon at the orphanage, which is down near town. The slide show of the children’s pictures was shown and received with great excitement as expected. The children just loved the entire program. There were about 70 children present. Gary P remarked at how the children would just run to him and pat him or rub up and down on the hair of his arm with such a look of hunger for love in their little eyes

Several others of our team took an hour ride over to Arrametica where we built homes for the homeless and did other various works such as putting floors into homes, and pouring sidewalks and planting of fruit trees. Nancy D reported recognizing many of the people who are living in that community. It is always nice to go back and see what has become of our work and the people whose lives we have touched and have come to love.

We are so thankful to finally have all of our totes here so we can be up and fully working. We were in an odd situation, as we really had no right to complain to the airlines that they sent out baggage in phases. We didn’t even feel we had the right to insist that they bring the bags to us even though that is the usual way when bags are delayed. Remember we told you that they let all of our extra totes go through for free? Well Eric added that cost up and the cost would have been $7,000 for the extra baggage fee! So, our mouths were shut and our hearts were thankful we got them in time to do service here. The Lord has caused others to have special favor upon our mission work and we praise His Holy name for that.

The Conference President of this area came to see our work today and then stayed and had dinner with us. He was very excited about the work we are doing and has donated 50 Bibles to us.

The youth meeting went exceptionally well again tonight with about 175 in attendance. There was a professional singer that sang the opening song and also the appeal, which was very moving. Nine more people came forward to accept Jesus. The Mission President stayed for the presentation and was overwhelmed with this presentation and our whole project in general.

By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. 1 John 5:2

May the light of His love dwell solidly in your life and spirit.

Smiling as Always,

Jennifer Young

Mission reporter