Home safe and sound.

Just thought I'd follow up quick and let everyone know we made it back safe. Most of us had to jump right back into our busy work schedules, hence the lack of update. But hopefully soon a few of us will be able to post some more pictures and maybe some reflections on the week. Thank you all so much for your thoughts and prayers. We had a great time, but at least for me, it's nice to be home.

Cheers!
-Brandon

p.s. Please continue to pray for the students, teachers, and construction workers that are still there. The project we were working on is still ongoing, and the first semester is coming to a close soon, so it's just overall a very busy time for everyone.

Santa Rosa/End of Construction

This is Joe Van Walbeek writing the blog update on this Friday, November 1st.

What a week it has been. All this week has really given me an appreciation for how easy of a life I have in Wisconsin. When working construction I would work 50 hours without an issue, but here in La Unión I workd from 8AM to 3 PM and I would be totally exhausted from the heat. There was alot of man power needed for the construction where as in the states we had a lot of tools that would make the job a little easier. It was also very warm during the days where heat exhaustion was a concern.

Today, we were able to have at least 7 rows of blocks layed on all walls of the cafetería. It was nice to see the cafetería taking form after a week worth of work. We also had two great translators from the school. One was a 7th grader who wants to become a doctor and we also had a 12th grader who wants to become an Electrical Engineer and is applying to Dordt. (Go Dordt) One of the best blessing for me this week was the kids. We were able to play soccer and volleyball with the kids along with having two different translators everyday. At two o clock we loaded up an SUV and a truck and headed to Santa Rosa. We crammed 6 in the SUV and 5 in the cab of the truck. The principle of the school is driving the truck and is taking his two kids with him and we head to Copan to see the ruins as they had never seen them before. The kids were in the back of the truck along with two other girls from the school. They were crammed between the cab and the our luggage. The two other girls go to the Christian School in La Unión, but there parents live several hours away. We dropped the girls off in Santa Rosa with their parents as they do not see them very often. The girls stay with their Aunt in La Unión so they could go to the Christian School as their parents thought this may be their only shot at a better life as the majority of the senior class is apply to Universities in the states. The one catch is the Universities will need to sponsor them as the majority of these kids will not be able to afford an American University.

I thought I would share a few highlights as I am currently at a hotel that had internet. If we have internet we will try and update you one more time before we return state side. 

(Sorry if there is any mispelled words as this computer spell checks in spanish.)

Last Full Day in La Union

Cafeteria Update - Walls going up.

This is George writing tonight; hope all is well state side.

Today was another big day for those who were working on the cafeteria. More of shoveling dirt, making cement and laying block. Lots of progress was made and it is pretty amazing how far the project has come in just four days. I was lucky enough to get to teach today with Leah. Even though I was anxious getting ready to teach, all in all it went really well. It was a blessing in itself getting to help teach, the best we could, and getting to really see the kids in the school.

This afternoon we rode the Moto taxis up to the top of a hill where a church bell tower sat. The view over the town was breath taking. We were up there just as the sun was setting behind a mounting top and clouds rolling in. It was so peaceful and amazing to see all God created. After a nice long walk back we had a pleasant Honduran meal; beans, rice, pork and fresh salsa. Followed by a wonderful birthday surprise for Ben V. celebrated with a piñata, cake, and chocolate caramel ice cream

George Teaching 4th Grade

. It was a wonderful evening.

Now relaxing and recalling the events of today, I am truly at awe of how amazing God is and how blessed we are to have this opportunity not only to help out but to experience something new. I suppose only a few more days and we are back in the states.

Thank you for your prayers and support!

Ben's Birthday Party Group

We will try to update the blog the rest of the way if we have internet. Tomorrow we are working half a day and then preparing to travel to Capon to see the ruins on Saturday. Then Sunday travel back to San Pedro Sula to fly back home.

Wednesday Update - Skit, Moving Dirt, and Volleyball... oh my

Hola mi amigos,

Brandon here again for today’s blog update. We had another successful day despite some very sore muscles.

We started out the day with getting to participate in the K-6^th grade devotion time. We sang/clapped along during their time worship. And then Jake had asked if we would create/perform a skit about the story of Samson and Delilah. So we did just that. Carol narrated the story while Ben (Samson), Jenna (Delilah), Joe, and Brandon (the Philistines) acted out/repeated what Carol said. It was a big hit. The kids loved the story. Ben became quite the celebrity being called out by students as Samson.

Jenna and Leah taught the 4^th grade class today, which went well. While the rest of us worked more on the construction site. Today we had help from Darwin and Sara, and as usual they were a great help. We moved more dirt, but today went a little bit better since we decided to use the wheelbarrows instead of trying to throw the dirt over the already growing dirt pile. Due to the rain we had to construct a make-shift road out of wood and stone. It required lots of maintenance, but it provided a nice change of pace from the constant digging and throwing we were doing the past few days. We believe we are close to done with the digging. We managed to level off almost the whole area next to where the cafeteria is going. It’s hard to believe we were able to move that much dirt w/ just some shovels and a wheelbarrow. The only digging we may have left is digging some trenches for footings for the cement slab going there and possibly some piping. The Honduran workers got the foundation layer finished today so tomorrow should also include building some walls w/ cinderblock and cement.

After working we stayed at the school to play a little volleyball. About 5 students (including Alan and Darwin who helped as translators for us already) and one of the Honduran teachers showed up as did several of the American teachers. So we had a grand ole time playing us w/ the American teachers vs the Honduras team. The students won the first few games and managed to slip in one win at the very end.

We came back to the church to relax a bit before dinner, grabbed some showers, and relax. I watched and played a little soccer w/ some kids on the futbolita court. We then headed over to someone’s house and were able to eat on their roof overlooking a town square/park. It was a gorgeous night to be outside. And dinner was again amazing.  We had Baleadas (I think) which was kinda like a quesadilla but better.

We then got a tour of a house where some of the teachers live. The highlight for me was the doorways were quite low and kinda reminded me of a hobbit house, sans fully circular doors. Needless to say it was funny to watch some of the taller team members and Jake walk through the doorway. We then ended the night w/ some homemade ice cream made by a girl here in Honduras who is hoping to open up her own shop. We had oreo coffee ice cream and Reeses ice cream. It was delicious! In terms of hand dipped ice cream, I’d say in even rivals Whitey’s Ice Cream in the QC. And that’s saying something. Then after ice cream we had devotions and everyone is now heading to bed.

So yeah, that was our day. Lots happened, but for me it was nice cuz it wasn’t quite as exhausting as the other days. I’m still sore and tired, but I never hit the wall of utter exhaustion/energy loss like I did on several occasions. Plus it is really cool to know some more of the students, not just by name, but to be able to joke around with them and have fun. It really adds the personal connection to La Union.

Some prayers for us would be for continued endurance. I will say that I did not want to get out of bed this morning. I’m glad I did, but I had the break down moment where life felt terrible. Almost all of us are dealing w/ sore muscles or lack of energy. George couldn’t even work given his back and neck our just completely out of wack. So beyond just endurance, pray for healing as well. And most of all pray that we can continue to meet more students and people living here and to have an impact on their life. Tomorrow is our last full day of working at the school. We’ll again be sending some people to the classroom and some continue construction.

That’s all I got. So thanks for all the love and support.

Cheers!

-Brandon

p.s. Just one side note. It is a very small world indeed. There is such a large Michigan tie to this random town in Honduras. And especially Holland cuz I just found out some friends are related to one of the teachers. Such a small small world. 

p.p.s. Another cool thing we saw was how some of the teachers interact with their students in the free time. For example one teacher was helping her student fill out college applications. Very exciting to see these kids start to have dreams and goals bigger then staying put in La Union their whole life and then to see the teachers help these kids to attain their dreams. 

Continuing to be God's Hands

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

John and Carol are privileged to write today’s blog.  After recuperating from slight health issues, we were back to normal life in Honduras today.  The fourth grade teacher here is off work due to her health and I (Carol) enjoyed substitute teaching today.  Someone jokingly asked me yesterday, “so, are you on a vacation?”  to which I responded, “I thought I was taking a week off teaching, but I think God had other plans.”  Leah and Jenna are teaching tomorrow.  I also wrote a skit on the story of Samson and Delilah for our team to act out in Chapel tomorrow.   Grading all those 4^th Grade Abeka papers for Julia has paid off.  The students in my class were great and I loved it.  The rest of the gang did different tasks in the construction of the Cafeteria.  Joe and Brandon continued excavating (by shovel, picks, and pry bars), while George and Ben were taught how to mix concrete on the ground. They carried buckets of concrete and helped finish pouring the footings.  They also were able to help lay the first layer of block.

Leah was cutting wire for the rerod support baskets that go in the concrete.  Jennah and John helped put the rerod baskets together with our 8^th Grade translator.  As the day progressed, George, Leah, and Jennah took turns screening sand for concrete for laying block.  The screened sand was also used for a long jump that the PE teacher was making.  Walking our mile back to our “home” at the church in the rain, God sent a local who gave us a ride the rest of the way. “No charge!”  God has moved our hearts for those students have very good English to find sponsors to be able to do an International Student Exchange.  The students and people have welcomed us into their friendly community.  We are thankful that God moved our hearts to take this trip and enjoy this part of his creation.  PS.  We are purchasing coffee from Jake and the principal’s coffee farm to bring back for you all to sample.

Making cement, sifting sand, and building re-rod baskets

Still digging and digging....

4th Grade class working hard

Monday Update

Hola mi amigos,

It's Brandon here doing today's blog update. It has been a very full day. Today was the first day of the actual manually labor part working at Abundant Life Christian School. The construction has been ongoing for quite a while, so we are entering into the work midway through the process.

Today's tasks included moving dirt piles with shovels, breaking up and moving concrete and cinder blocks, cleaning the floors of the soon to be new bathrooms since we were expecting to get in some ceramic tiles to be laid potentially later this week, and then moving the shipment of ceramic tiles and toilets that arrived at the end of the day up to bathroom area. Needless to say, it was an exhausting day. But we had some great help. The Honduran workers there were great. We were also assigned two students that served as translators, Alan and Lucelli. And they dove full in in helping us do all that manual labors. On several occasions putting us to shame. We lucked out with some good weather. The rain held off today and it stayed decent workable temperature, though some of us did get just a bit too much sun. May need some sunscreen tomorrow. Overall it was quite a successful day of work.

Later that evening we went back to the church where we are staying and played up some pick up games of futbolita (or something like that) with the kids playing there. It's basically soccer, but on a small court and smaller ball. We held our own, but weren't really in to win necessarily. But just get a chance to play and live life with the kids there. And a really cool part for us was that Alan, our translator from earlier in the day, came and played with us. So it was nice to spend some extra time with him.

We ended the night with a great meal with a lot of the American/UK faculty of the school. It was one of the teacher's who works at the school birthday. Her name is Rachel. So we had a special treat of BBQ chicken pizza, nachos, and cake/cupcakes. So it was a great time getting spend time celebrating with her and getting to interact with the faculty and learn more about their background. It was really fun for me to just here about why they’re there and where their passions lie.

So it was a great day/night. Not just in that we had a successful day of working. But we really got to begin to interact with the people, both the students, teachers, and members of the community. And that’s really what this trip is all about. 

Continued prayers would be for health. We’ve had a few people dealing with colds or not the greatest reactions to food.  Also just for endurance. We are all very sore already and it’s only day one. So prayer tonight’s rest will be rejuvenating so that we can continue full speed w/ the work the rest of the week.

Cheers!

First Full Day Filled with Church, Food, Love, Coffee and Great People

This is Ben here on the first full day of the mission trip! This morning we were able to wake up to roosters crowing and a refreshing shower.  Everyone was thankful to have a full night of sleep after a full day of travelling.  We began the morning with a delicious breakfast made by Alicia. She created this wonderful fruit car that consisted of watermelon, cantaloupe, papaya, lime, and pineapple.  There was also egg, toast, and beans.  Following breakfast we spent some time talking about 1 Corinthians 12 and prayed together for the day and the week.  We went to church together that began at 9:30.  It was a great way to worship together with the Hondurans.  The majority of us did not understand the pastor and the band, but it was awesome to see their passion for Jesus Christ.  After church was over, Alicia invited us over for lunch at her house.  This consisted of fried chicken, boiled potato with guacamole inside and a side of rice.   Not too long after we finished lunch, Jake and Rachel took us on a tour of La Union and the school we will be working at during the week. Following the tour of the school, we walked over to a beneficiary (I believe this is where coffee beans are taken to prepare for roasting).  By the time we got back from the tour, it was close to supper time.  We had some time to spare before dinner was served so our group grabbed some drinks and Joe, George, and Brandon played some soccer in the street with the Hondurans.  We made it to dinner and talked about our day afterwards. 

A few thoughts on our first full day….  First, the coffee crops control the finances for much of the population in La Union.   The coffee plants have been hit with a disease and it made a major negative impact on the crops.  This has hurt many families since it is their main source of income.  Second, it was great to see the school we will be working at for the next week.  There has been much progress made over the past five years and it will have its first graduating class this year.  We will be helping to finish up a bathroom, begin the project for the new cafeteria, and there will be some substitute teaching opportunities throughout the week.  Thirdly, the Hondurans are quite content with what they have.  It is a great reminder how easily we can have a desire to consume, consume, consume in America when many of the Hondurans live with much less are content.  Finally, today has shown me the importance of relationships with others and how my relationship with Jesus Christ affects my relationships with others.  It has been important for me to continuously remember what Jesus Christ did on the cross for me.  This will help me to focus on the needs of others and instead of mine.  This will also help me to remember that the importance of the Honduras hearing the gospel and seeing it lived out. 

That is a summary of our day and a few quick thoughts I have had throughout the day.  We would appreciate prayer for our time here in Honduras.  Some specific requests are that we would be able to be a blessing to those here in Honduras,  our safety, health, we would take opportunities to build many relationships with the Hondurans, gospel opportunities, that we would represent Christ well and this would be used to change our lives as well.  Those are a few things and thank you for your time!

A coffee bean plant, who knew it was in the cherry family!

The old cafeteria on the right and future cafeteria on the left with the future new bathroom on the second floor that we will be finishing