Dare to Dream

I know I have been HORRIBLE about updating my blog these past few months. I have concentrated my communication efforts into keeping a journal to write my monthly reports--hence the length of them all. So, if you are not on my mailing list and would like to receive them, just post a note here.

And even though I am blogging right now, I am going to cheat. Can you cheat at blogging? Yes, you can. I am going to copy Melissa. We work side by side daily and experience many of the same events, emotions, and desires. And, let's face it...she is a much better writer than me. :) So, here are some words she wrote about a future project that needs a great deal of time and prayer.



As many of you know The Manna Project is celebrating its six month anniversary. I can't believe it. It seems like yesterday that I was trying to feed hungry children out of the back of the truck with bananas and juice. The Manna Project started with a dream and a prayer and here we are…feeding hungry little ones. As much as they get physical food they are a source of spiritual food. God truly has blessed us to be in these children's lives and he continues to answer our prayers everyday as our needs arise.

Once again my heartstrings are being pulled. Do you know what I am talking about? That feeling inside of you that doesn't ever go away, the way your attention repeatedly goes back to something, where everything you see is a reminder of that nagging feeling. I think that is a spirit thing. That tugging of your mind, heart and soul. It is really hard to explain. I just know that when something is pressing on my heart and mind that I had better take notice, that there is something I need to be paying attention to.

In this case it is the need for a safe place for children to go. This started out with a vision of a no-cost daycare center for the children of Mololoa. I cannot tell you what it does to me to see a young child standing in the road sobbing. The little guy is crying so hard he can only gulp air in, his little face is wet with tears, standing half dressed, barefooted in the middle of a dirt road, crying. His mother has left him alone. My first thought was, What?! How could she? The little guy can not be more than three or four years old, how dare she leave him alone, what kind of mother is she? She is the kind of mother that has no choice. She is the kind of mother that is so common here. She has to choose, stay home with the child or go to a job and make enough money to scrape by and to be able to feed the child. What a choice. No one should have to make such a choice, but they do everyday. I have also watched an older child stand in the middle of this same road watching as his friends all head out to school while he stands there with a younger sister pulling on his hand and a baby brother on his hip. It is so sad to see the look of disappointment as he is left behind. But what choice? Leave the baby alone and go to school, or stay home and take care of the family while mom tries to sell gum on the street corner to make enough money for dinner. Once again a choice no one should have to make, but they do everyday. It is simply survival, they are not bad mothers, most are very loving and caring mothers and it breaks their hearts to leave their children alone or in the care of an older brother or sister, but when it comes down to it they have to eat and buy water or they cannot live.

Well this is why my heartstrings are being tugged. We used to own and run a state licensed preschool in the states for 42 children. I know that we can do something so that children are not crying in the streets and so that children are not missing out on the chance for a better life through education. So we need a daycare...the mothers and the children need a daycare.

My prayers began. One prayer was answered immediately; we were able to purchase the perfect piece of land for the daycare. Prayers continued, but as we are planning this daycare another need comes to my attention. With the help of individuals and churches we have set up a scholarship program where for fifty dollars a year we can get a child into the public school system with the needed supplies (school here is not free, but that is a different subject and mission). Working with the parents and children as well as working with numerous children every Sunday I have noticed that the children are very far behind on the basic skills that you would expect any child getting ready for kindergarten to have. I have 8-year-old children who cannot hold a pencil, they are intimidated by being asked to make basic craft projects, and have never held a pair of scissors much less cut something out. These are all skills that our children pick up early because they are given the opportunity to develop fine motor skills such as coloring and cutting. Those opportunities are not available to young children here. So the second part of the dream came into being. A preschool, why can't we have a daycare for the little ones and a preschool for the young ones preparing for school? Well we can do that if God is willing...our heart is willing. So a daycare/preschool.

I have noticed lately a lot of children coming by the kitchen and asking Jennifer for home work help. They only have four hours of class per day and their parents are often not even able to write their name or read a preschool book, so there is no one to go to for help. So if we are already open and have the room why not add an after school program where kids can come to get help with their homework? Well we are already having English classes so we might as well open it up to the younger students, and you know that if the children could learn computer skills as well…………… That could change their lives. To be able to speak English and work a computer could open so many more doors to these guys. And then my friend Jennifer (a teacher and librarian) said, "What about a library for the children?" Okay why not. So our initial plans for a daycare have undergone a transformation. While I have been praying to get this daycare started and wondering when; God has been using this time to slow me down and open my eyes to other needs that can be met at the same time. My limited imagination thought A daycare, wow that is just what they need, God wanted me to imagine something far more needed. For lack of a better term for the moment a daycare/preschool/after school/English and computer class/library/? (The question mark is me not limiting God and being open to his will).

Well that's about it, my heartstrings are being pulled, my spirit nudged and I know that with prayer God can and will use us to do great things in his name and for his glory.

So please everyone pray and then pray some more. We are asking for prayer for guidance at this time. The need for the daycare/preschool/after school /English and computer class/library/? project is weighing heavenly on our hearts. To see such a great need everyday can be overwhelming. We are asking that everyone pray for God's will and timing and not our own. We also are asking that the right people be brought into our lives at this time to help us with the planning stages as well as with the long term operations. We know the talents of our fellow brothers and sisters; we know that the Lord has equipped us for every good work. Planners, teachers, childcare providers, fund raisers, prayer warriors, management, leaders, builders, mothers, fathers, anyone with a heart for God's work and children we need you, the children need you.

Jesus himself will enable us to produce a harvest--not of our own strength but in his. Please let me know if you have any questions or ideas. We would love to hear from you.

Needs at Present Time

Well it is that time of year again, Wish list time!

Central church of Christ in Sarasota, Florida will be sending a container over to Honduras. We are putting out a wish list for items that we are wishing for, some things we want and some we need. We are asking that everyone look to see if you have any of these items that you are no longer using or if your friends or neighbors are wanting to do any spring cleaning. Of course if you would rather go out and buy some of these items we will always take new items. We are very happy to accept used items but we do ask that the items are in good condition. The container is large and we can send quite a bit of stuff, but we do not want to pay to send something that is in bad condition or that does not work.

All items need to be packed in cardboard boxes and labeled with a list of enclosed items and with The Manna Project or Kluges on the box. The container will be shipped out at the end of April.

For the Kitchen:
Lots of dishtowels (garage sales)
large food processor or two
good sturdy serving spoons
good quality knives
rubber mats for the kitchen floor for the women to stand on
cutting boards
md. size plastic bowls with lids
good first aid kit
3 clocks
large locking cabinet
5 gallon buckets
unsweetened kool-aid (any brand will do and you CAN NOT BUY TOO MUCH!) this is great to pack in your bags if you are coming on a trip, We use about 20 packs a day.
pad locks for outdoors (to lock the water containers and gas)
plastic wrap
gallon ziplock bags
an island-style workstation

We watch about 10 children a day, and we could really use any of the following:
Playpens
baby swings
babyseats
highchairs
diapers
toys, games, supplies appropriate for a daycare
large rug for concrete floor

Free English classes:
spiral notebooks
pens
chalk and colored chalk
flashcards
English-Spanish dictionaries
English-Spanish books
English-Spanish bibles
computers and computer tables

Sunday school class:
construction paper
classroom decorations
glue
glue sticks
crayons
markers
scissors
paper cutter
Spanish bibles
pens/pencils
sharpeners
reams
reams of white paper
black ink for printer brother LC51black and LC51y, c and m
md. size trash cans
chalk and colored chalk
craft supplies
cottonballs
q-tips
craft sticks
pom-poms
pipe cleaners
glitter
colored cardstock
craft, coloring books that can be copied
staples
hole punchers
overhead projector

We are also working on a project to construct a daycare center that will include after-school programs. If any of the groups are seeking to build a playground, we should have the space ready by the time the summer comes.

I might add to the list if I think of anything. I will post a comment when I know that I will be getting something so if you are sending something please let me know by a comment or by email at klugefamily@gmail.com or jmarnold.tmp@gmail.com Everyone has been so generous with your time, prayers, you financial donations and with your support of all of this work.
Thank you.

Having some fun

Speaking of “Prospero Año Nuevo”, I spent my first New Year’s Eve in Honduras. Terry’s group came into town on the 27th. They did a lot of great work here in Mololoa as well as some other areas. They spent time at the feeding center, built two houses, and had one day with food distribution. But among all the work, you have to have some fun…hence our ringing in of the New Year with a great game of SPOONS!

Holiday Celebrations

There are two huge holidays here in Honduras—Day of the Child in September and Christmas. Both the Kluge family and I have pulled a lot of our own resources as well as requesting from many others for the church and the feeding center. The Christmas meal for the feeding center was blessed by an answer to prayer through the Women’s Group in Florida. A potluck was already in plan with the church members for a lunch on the 31st to celebrate the entire holiday season. However, that still left the gifts for Sunday school kids.

A few weeks before Christmas, I E-mailed a local person requesting to be put on the list for Magi gifts from the States. He informed me that he didn’t have anything for us because the list was already full. We have 84 kids that are regular or semi-regular in attendance. Yet, on special days, we always have more. Preparing that many gifts was going to be a financial burden that we feared.

But God, once again, provided blessings for all of us. The Barker family and Harmony Holland were basically stranded in Tegucigalpa (another blog for another day). When they finally got their luggage, they had tons of toys and goodies. They spent one morning making up gift bags for each of our 84 students. YEAH! Then, the next day, I received a phone call to pick up Magi boxes. How incredible! We not only got a “yes” to our prayer, but a “yes, and there is even more than you could have asked for or imagined”. :)

On Christmas day, Melissa and Brandy had their hands full with 128 kids in class. They had to put tables in the open space between the classroom and church building to make room for the extra kids.









That day everyone received coke and cake (made by Melissa and Brandy). However, they didn’t bring all the gifts (about 10 large trash bags) to discourage kids from coming only for presents.















The next Sunday (when I had returned), we had a lesson about the three wise men. We talked about how they came much later after the birth of Jesus. We explained that, somewhat in comparison, they would receive gifts late from Christians far away that wanted to show love.

We had a list for each of the Magi boxes to correspond with their ages and sexes. So, the regular 84 students received boxes while we gave the Barkers’ gift bags to those not on the list (an additional 40). We had a total of 115 kids and babies, but not all were our “regulars”. Those who did not come from the list, we saved the boxes to give later. The remaining sacks we are saving until our next large celebration. The kids were thrilled beyond measure! Just look at their smiling faces!

Also, we celebrated as a church family in our potluck—my first in Honduras. The kids were served first during the class time (right before they got the gifts). Then the adults dug in. God used the hundreds of people involved with Magi boxes and the Barkers to bring a little extra joy to our kids. Any of you that have been here know how little they have. The gifts were treasured by each and every one of them. If you were involved in any way, thank you for allowing God to use you to brighten these days.

Feliz Navidad y Prospero Año Nuevo!

Happy Holidays

As some of you know, I have some background in decorating cakes for special events. I have a few of my supplies here in Honduras and have done one small wedding here for friends. Jen Wright called a week before I was to leave for Christmas and asked if I wanted to help the kids with a special project.










So, on the 20th, Brandy and I headed out to Santa Ana for a visit to the children’s home. We began by making the dough—what a mess when 8 – 12 year-olds are assisting. Eduardo and Saul (two brothers that live near by and are constantly at the home), Yovani, and Marvin all had their jobs—water, vanilla, butter, and flour. They had the most fun of the bunch. Brandy got the dough rolled out, and we began punching out gingerbread men and hearts. Then, the older boys got cleaned up while the rest of the crew (Mario, Francisco, Fernando, Cindy, Monica, Kati) got their turns at pressing out shapes. The babies (Maryori and Antonio) didn’t participate, but we had some time to love on them when we weren’t making a huge mess.





Cindy is loving with everyone. She and Brandy bonded when we had time to visit.










Fernando loves to sit in my lap while I read to him--of course, the librarian loves this!





Maryori, Cindy's sister, never passes up a second helping of any food--a girl after my own heart. :)





Kati will let you hold her all day long if you dare and Francisco could get Mr. Scrooge to crack a smile. They both are so sweet.


To read more about these wonderful children, visit Jen’s blog, Karen's blog, or the Casa de Esperanza website.

Thanks for the tamales

Time to catch up…..I love going back to the States to see my family and friends, but it always seems to throw me off balance. Every time I get back from a trip, I spend at least one week getting back into the flow of everything. This time, I came back to a group, so I found myself really out of whack. Yesterday felt like the first normal day back.

I left on December 21st and returned on the 28th. While I was gone, the Kluges kept me informed of the happenings here in Mololoa. It was important for me to be with family for Christmas, but I missed some excellent times here.

Christmas day (25th) fell on a Monday. Melissa and I decided that the ladies needed the day off. We asked the ladies how best to make the day special for the kids as well as give them a day off. They said that the best food would be tamales and that they could make them on Friday. That sounded like a good plan, but the meal would be almost four times the normal cost. So, I got on the phone with my grandmother and asked if her women’s group would be interested in sponsoring the special day. They agreed to it and raised money amongst themselves. Thanks to their financial assistance, we were able to make a special Christmas meal.

On the Friday before Christmas, the ladies of the kitchen stayed until 9pm preparing a feast for the kids. They made tamales—a traditional Christmas item—stuffed with many items including raisins, rice, green olives, and lots of chicken. It may not sound like a lot, but the meat was the costly thing—a total of $200 was spent on the one meal. Normally, we would spend that much on 3.5 days.


Melissa, Alora, and Brandy (a good friend that came to spend the holidays helping us here) made approx. 200 cupcakes. Sprinkles and gummy bears were added for a fun touch. We didn’t have our full crowd of kids, but those who came enjoyed it all. Even Oneyda dropped by to help on her day off. After they shut down in the afternoon, the Kluges and Brandy drove around town giving out left-over tamales and cupcakes to many children and adults out on the streets begging. A giving spirit, love, and compassion were seen throughout the special day.

Once again, thanks to the Women’s Group of Ruskin, Florida!
Love you all,
Jennifer