Sunday School at GSCH

You may wonder how do we worship our Lord on Sunday mornings here at the home. With so many children its not quite possible for us to fit into one of the church buildings that we have. So for the kids we have a Sunday School worship hour outside under the covered porches of the casitas. Tia Terri doing a great job of presenting the story of Samuel as a boy.

There are some of the older teenagers of the home that take turns teaching Sunday School class and leading the kids in songs of worship Francisco a mature older teenager who has grown up in the home gives back by serving as a Sunday School teacher to 4th - 5th graders.

After Sunday School the kids enjoy playing together while they wait for the worship service to end at the temple for the teenagers and adults.

No more suffering for Daisy...

Last month we wrote to you about the family we had been visiting up the mountains from the home. We have been spending time with this family who has a sick relative the youngest sister of seven children, Daisy, 38 years old has been terminally sick with cancer for almost a year.

Recently we made the 45 minute rough and rugged drive again up the mountains to bring her a new foam mattress. We heard that she was in need since she has been bed ridden and feeling more weak. I should of known to bring her something like that since when we visit her we sit on another handmade bed across from her which is made of hand split wood planks with a thin layer of straw covered with a sheet. Just sitting on in for a little while was enough to know that it was uncomfortable. Her bed was of the same.

Tonio, Anyi, Miguel, and Norbin help carry the mattress to the house.

This time I brought four different kids from the home who hadn't gone before. When we arrived at the home we all took turns reading passages from the Bible to Daisy who requested we read from the Bible to her. Her sister Aleli and brother-n-law Efrain quitely listened as well. It was obvious that Daisy was even more weak than our last visit and very thin. We shared with her Matthew 11:28 where Christ calls us to rest in Him "all you who are weary and burdened".

Seven days later (August 8th) I received news that she passed away. She was now with the Lord and not suffering anymore. The kids that had gone with us to visit Daisy and her family in the months past were sad knowing that this person they had come to know was not with us anymore.

The next day (Sunday 9th) we went up the mountain to see Daisy's family bringing them food and encouragement from God's word.

This little boy Albin enjoyed being pushed around in this hand made wooden wheel barrel while we were there visiting Daisy's family.

Once we arrived at the house it was a bit awkward to see a hand made wooden table like structure in the small dirt floor main room of the house which had candles lit. This is where her body was laid in a handmade casket. There was pine needles laid out all over the floor and benches placed around this platform. This was their form of having a viewing of the body. I found out that her body had to be carried by hand for a 2 hour trip on foot to the nearest cemetery. The way to this cemetry could only be traveled on foot.

Unfortunately we were not able to participate in helping the family take this voyage. We shared the gospel with several members of Daisy's family who we had not yet met. We told them that Daisy had accepted Christ as her Savior just three months ago, and because of God's promises we knew she was in Heaven in the presence of her Lord, no more suffering for Daisy.

Thank you for this dear Lord.

Kevin with Kevin, a 10 year old boy who is quite timid, he was sitting on his swing that he told me he made himself. He is Daisy's nephew.

Time with Grammy and Jan

Julie's Mama & Ms. Jan (family friend) just left from spending 10 days with us! We absolutely loved our time with them,and the children here captured their hearts, as well as vice-versa. This was their first time to Honduras (although Julie's mom visited us twice in Costa Rica during our language school) Despite some aversions to the food and living with 15 children, they did well! :) Our kids loved having their Grammy around, though the time for us passed too quickly.

Jan painting on of the many murals on the walls of our house.

Their last day here, Sophie got all packed up to go to Missississippi to see her Papa, it was hard for all of us to say good-bye......but thank you Lord for the time we had!

Teaching a trade

One of the jobs Kevin enjoys doing at the home is spending time with different teenage boys, teaching them how to do certain trades when there are projects to do.

Lately wood shelves have been built for inside our "bodega" storage room. Elvin "Chino" who was our last addition to our house has been enjoying working with wood; learning to cut, measure and fit to finish the project. "Chino" doing a great job using our new Skilsaw, recently donated to us by friends at First Baptist Church Olive Branch.

It was really rewarding to see him glow with a big smile when I allowed him to use the different power tools. After we completed the job, he along with me, felt good about seeing the finished project.
I look forward to spending time teaching many other teenage boys what has been taught to me when I was their age. I can see how Jesus took pleasure in his work as a carpenter and how He knew the importance of discipling others about Himself and His love for us.