Friday, March 25, 2016

Day 4 - Tuesday 3/22/16

Tuesday was full of laughter and relationship building.

Machine generated alternative text:

We played, sang and taught children.  We taught adults, young and old, to operate the WaterStep chorine generator. Back and forth we travelled from Cofradia to Casa Diamante to Nueva (New) Jerusalem to Cofradia to Nueva Jerusalem and back to Cofradia.

Tuesday started with our second visit to the Casa Diamante. Spencer worked spent the morning letting the volunteers practice the steps of purifying water with chlorine. They carefully measured salt and water.  They connected the pump and chlorine generator to the car battery, they tested the water, they cleaned the generator and they charged the battery.
Machine generated alternative text:

Doug and Pastor Nelson made a quick* trip in town to purchase more supplies and to pick up the missing crate at the airport.  Yes, it finally arrived, and were glad it did!  In addition to supplies, the crate contained a third chlorine generator. We didn't think we'd need this unit this week until Tuesday when we learned of another pastor in the area who purchased a tank and is ready to setup a water purification system.

Kasey and Susana introduced the diarrhea doll (her new name is Anna Maria) to the children. The children were enthralled by the story of Anna Maria's unfortunate mistake.  You see she drank untreated water got terribly sick with a horrible case of diarrhea. The wooden doll, made by Bart Perkey, provides a graphic visual of the turmoil in Anna Maria's stomach. It also drives home the importance of drinking LOTS of "safe, purified" water.  The children clamor for the chance to tell the story over and over again as they treat Anna Maria and her terrible case of diarrhea.
Machine generated alternative text:
6•.35

Machine generated alternative text:
el 'lite a Vienc, 
y ecce, 
hap,'brc; 
sed 
6:35

Machine generated alternative text:

An always popular activity with the little ones is coloring pages of a story. Tuesday's story was about Juancito, a man wo has hookworms because he does not wear shoes. The parasites have taken up residence in Juancito's body.  The story teaches several lessons about personal hygiene and healthy habits. Each child gets a page of the story to color with crayons. Then, they organize themselves in chronological order and retell the story… over and over, again. Repetition is a power learning approach.
Machine generated alternative text:

Machine generated alternative text:
Crayo)a

Everybody had a turn at the Tippy Tap hand washing station and sang two verses of "Lava Tus Manos con Mucho Jabon" to the tune of happy birthday.
Machine generated alternative text:
ptNicHea

Letsbi and her faithful assistance delivered a huge pot of hearty chicken soup at lunch time complete with rice, noodles, carrots, potatoes, and the mandatory fresh-made tortillas.
Machine generated alternative text:

Before saying our goodbyes, we prayed together with our new friends and asked God's blessing on their ministry to the people who live around Casa de Diamantes.
Machine generated alternative text:
opla$ 
public

The ever present circling vultures are a constant reminder of the massive city landfill nearby.  The shacks that line the highway are home to hundreds of families who survive by collect recyclables from the city dump.  Our nostrils will never forget the putrid smell of rotting refuse.


After a 40 minute drive around and through part of the city, Pastor Ronnie Lazo welcomed us to his church - Centro Cristian Palabra de Fuego - in Nueva Jerusalem in the hills south west of Tegucigalpa.  This community has grown rapidly since the government started selling small plots of land there in the early 2000's.  Ronnie and his wife, Sara, were active leaders in the downtown church, Iglesia Amistad Cristiana.  God put a burden on their hearts for the people of Nueva Jerusalem so they pulled up stakes, and moved their family into a tiny two-room house with no furniture.
Machine generated alternative text:

Machine generated alternative text:
CENTRO 
PRLRBRR DE 
MINISTERIO DOBLE BENOICION INC.

Machine generated alternative text:
HERE

Machine generated alternative text:
Sara is a school teacher. She taught her children and others under a tree because there was no school in the area. In the last 12 years, the ministry… and the school…have GROWN!  Ronnie and Sara reminded us over and over again how God has guided, provided and blessed the work in this very poor community.  Now, the church has its own building with a  thriving congregation. And, Sara is the principal of Nueva Jerusalem Centro de Educacion Basica - a K-12 school with 660 students and 22 teachers!  On Wednesday, Sara proudly gave us a tour of the facility.  Over and over again, she gave God credit for intervening in difficult situations and challenging circumstance.  She bragged on the community which has slowly, but surely, begun to take ownership and rally to support the school in tangible ways. What a powerful witness she and her family are!  Ronnie and Sara have three delightful children: Hesler (21), Naomi (19) and Esther (16).

We spent the afternoon just visiting with Ronnie and Sara.  I assure you, you've never met more genuinely sincere servants with humble hearts of gratitude.

*"quick" is a relative term in a third world city over one million.  Imagine the worst traffic jam you've ever experienced. Then, remove the painted lines, take away the street signs, add dozens of motorcycles, throw in hundreds of busses, toss in thousands of pedestrians and you begin to get the picture (no, I'm not exaggerating).  

No comments: