A Short Visit

Josue and I are in Nashville visiting. We flew in to be gifts especially for my mother's birthday. Here we are all "wrapped up". If we haven't seen you at church or out and about, be sure to give us a call.

Suyapa's surgery

Suyapa has yet to have her surgery. To clarify things, I originally said she has a tumor to remove. But, actually it is her uterus that has a tumor, and the entire organ is to be removed. She is very scared and is rethinking her decision to go through the surgery.

Please pray for her to have courage and wisdom in what is best for her and her family.

I will continue to keep you all updated as I receive information.

Semana Santa (Holy Week)

In my recent monthly update, I wrote about my friends from Nashville that came to visit - Dean and Alan. In addition to all their work for Clementina's family ( http://www.jmarnold.blogspot.com/2010/04/house-building.html ), they also saw the daycare, spent quality time in the kitchen, shopped in the Valley of Angels, and visited the Jesus statue. We had a great time!

Our kids always enjoy spaghetti.

Queso Huevo Smamackle were quite a treat for the kids! No crumbs could be found.

He is truly our Rico Suave. What can we say?

Dean, Alan, Jen, Josue

Suyapa

Thank you to all of you who have been praying for Suyapa (mother of 4 kids and 2 stepchildren) and her family.

She was due to have surgery on Wednesday of last week. However, it was rescheduled to take place today. But I have not received confirmation that she has entered surgery. With the public hospitals here, there is always a chance of changes because of lack of materials and/or staff as well as broken equipment.



She has had good and bad days as far as pain is concerned in the past week. Please be praying for her as she waits to have surgery as well as for when she actually has the operation and recovery.

House Building

Here are Clementina, Wendy, Wilmer, and Orlin (camera shy his first day to meet me).

This is the land we started with.

Their amazing view from half-way up the trail to their home.
Wood was delivered and hauled up on Friday.

Family and friends helped to deliver the materials.

Quite an intimidating guard, isn't he? :)

This is the "horse road" on a better spot. It was actually worse the farther up we went.

Josue, Dean, and Alan all got turns at the wheel. When they asked me if I wanted to, I told them they were crazy for even considering the idea.

It isn't bad photography; the road was just that bumpy.

This face sums up the entire driving adventure.

Finally time to work alongside friends.

Yes, four posts up with only one corner difficult because it was blocked by the mother of all boulders.

Aldo and Bryan did their share of hauling on Friday and then chipped in to work on Monday.

It was really harder than it looks.

Yes, that is Melvin just walking along the edge having a good ole time.

Bryan was a little anxious with this tricky chainsaw cutting.

Finally, the floor boards begin to go down.

And, yes, the roof is making progress.

The floor is almost done.

Aldo showing off his chainsaw abilities.

Wow, only one wall left.

Final wall up, where are the rest of the workers?

You got it, they are inside starting the cutting of the door.

YEAH! House done with one window and one door.

Happy family with their new home.

Aren't they cute?

Just a few more pictures to know them better. Here are Wilmer (5 years old) and Orlin (4 years old). Brothers who recieved the house. They both go to the daycare FeMorZa.

Their older sister Wendy.

Here are the father, mother, their youngest daughter and oldest son that have allowed Clementina to live with them for four years.

The host family's oldest daughter, Kelyn.

The host family's son Samuel.

The host family's son Ariel.

Another picture of the host family mother and youngest daughter.

The completed home and its amazing view.

When we came back to deliver items: shelf, mattress for a cot, water barrel, toys, shoes, food.

We saw that the family had already (in four days) spent a lot of time fixing up the house, moving in items, building a fence around the property.

They were completely moved in when we visited.

Here are Clementina and Orlin displaying the new food.

Orlin showing off his new shoes. His older brother and sister were not there because they were visiting family.

The host family received a gift of dishware set as well as shoes for all of them.

They all enjoyed looking through the photo album.

But the best gift that they received was the love of the individuals in the Life Group at my home church who allowed Christ to use them to give this family a good, sturdy, clean house.

THANK YOU to you all for your donations, hard work, and prayers for this family and for the ministries here in Honduras. Que Dios les bendiga (May God bless you).