Dia Seis

Sign outside the house we built today.


I guess she had a long day...



Infamous flat tire

View from the house we built - just beautiful

Such a wonderful little girl - reminds me of my little girl

Hey Everyone,

Today we have a real treat to have three different blogs - enjoy!

-Robbie

Hola amigos!

Hilary Meyer and Kristen Clingan here...currently known among the Torch team as Hilly and Krispy. (Yes, that's Krispy with a K!)

Today we had the privelege of visiting the hospital in Tegucigalpa. We got to meet lots of happy children and families. It was really uplifting to see that type of attitude in a hospital. Our Torch leader Lori told us that a Honduran hospital is about 50 years behind a US hospital, and it's true. They don't have efficient medical care; mothers have to take care of their children themselves instead of the nurses. Their IVs are literally cardboard and tape holding the needle in place. We visited all the wards except the burn ward. We want to tell you about one sweet little boy we met. His name is Martin and he is nine years old.

Martin was in the orthopedic unit with a fractured arm. We were immediately drawn to his bright smile and tiger print sunglasses. He had such a sweet spirit. He couldn't really talk or hear well, and he seemed to be mentally handicapped. We noticed that Martin didn't have any family next to his bed waiting with him. Rachel, our intern/translator, asked another mother waiting with her son where Martin's family was. She replied, "no familia, nada." We later found out that Martin was abandoned by his family at the hospital five months ago. This touched us and even brought some of us to tears. Knowing that once Martin would finish treatment and then be put out on the streets was incredibly tough for us. It was hard for us to finally leave Martin because we knew that he had no one else coming to visit him. We made sure we hugged and kissed him plenty before we left.

Afterwards, we visited the cancer unit and met some kids and their families. We were really surprised that the children with cancer and their families were so happy in such a hard time. We got to talk, pray, and play with them, and it felt really good to know that we got to make their day a little brighter.

Today, God touched our hearts and opened our eyes. Please pray for the sick children in Honduras and especially lift up Martin. Please pray for his safety, health, and well being.

Special shoutouts to: Kate Parker, Kimmy Berry, Hailey Woodard, Becca Corlee, and Allie Berry. PPFL!!!!! Great job to McClane Daniels and Brandon Cook for using their manly muscles hauling rocks today. Wahoo! Also, here's a random shoutout to Josh Hendrix and Andrew Baugher...because we knew you'd get mad if we left you out. :)

Buenos noches from Hilly and Krispy!

Yesterday was Sunday. Our schedule was a little different than it would have been back home. Our itinerary was to shop in the morning, have lunch in the shopping area, go to church, and eat at American fast food restaurants before returning to Villa Gracia for the night. That was the plan...

On our way shopping, we had a flat tire on the bus. Funny when you have all those extra tires you can go for miles without knowing you have a flat. I was amazed that a tire shop was open on Sunday. That being the case, there wasn't a line - only one truck ahead of us. That didn't seem to make the time for repair any less, however. We were there way over an hour. We didn't have to get off the bus, which I also found surprising. It was quite hot sitting there all that time, but those who got off said it was hotter outside. At least we were shaded on the bus. While we were waiting, three young ladies succumbed to the stomach malady that some have experienced. They were picked up by one of the visiting workers and taken back to Villa Gracia to join the two young men who stayed back because they were not felling well. That was a very wise decision, because the day proved to be quite hot. They would have been miserable. I heard several people comment that they were more tired from their "day off" than their work days.

While we were sitting on the bus, I kept thinking, "we are going to be really late for church." Then I remembered it was shopping time that would be cut short. Not to worry, serious shopping can be done by serious shoppers in any amount of time allotted.

We also had to eat during our shopping time. My family opted for papupas. They look like pancakes, but they are made from a wad of bread filled with cheese, rolled into a ball, flattened and fried on a grill. Very tasty! I'm going to try mixing Bisquick with a little cornmeal, and hopefully find a goat cheese to mix with cream cheese for the filling. If it turns out okay, I'll have a new recipe for a second edition of our cookbook. :) By the way, thanks to all of you who bought a cook book. I hope you are enjoying them. Your support made a real difference for all of us on the trip.

Church was little different from what we are used to. First of all, we didn't sing "I'll Fly Away." :) We did, however, sing about a dozen other songs. We alternated Spanish songs with English songs. Matt Sutterfield led the English songs, and I must say he did a fine job. Another difference was that we stood through all twelve songs before we sat down. I had just gotten cooled off a little when we were asked to stand again to take communion. I was very tired and thinking that those lovely hard benches were going to waste. When I thought aobut again, I was ashamed that, there we were taking communion to remember what a huge sacrifice Jesus made for us, and I just wanted to sit down. :(

Today's tasks included taking food to people who live and work at the dump - yes, I said dump. We are told it is probably the one task that is most disturbing, but also the one with the greatest impact on those who serve the people there. More about that later.

We are really getting acquainted with all the other workers from Alabama, Kentucky, and Indiana. It doesn't take long when you are working side by side. I'm sure we are making friendships that will be cherished until we meet again in Heaven.

-Nancy Hendrix

Today I went to the dump in Tegucigalpa...that's right, the actual dump. People, lots of people, live there. I can't begin to describe to you all the sights, the sounds, and the smells. These people are the poorest of the poor in a third world country. They are desperate, they are sometimes dangerous, but they are my brothers and sisters.

Before we got off the bus to head into the dump, Mark Tindle, a missionary here who heads up the program that feeds people there, put it best: "Jesus said that if you serve the least of these, you serve Me. Today you will see Jesus, He'll be dirty, and He may smell a little, but remember who you are serving."

It was a deeply humbling and awesome experience. It was hard to see children picking through the trash, parents trying to find a way to survive and protect their children, but I was glad to be there serving them a meal. This was something that I will never forget. I hope that this will serve as a good reminder to each of you, as well, to always remember who we are serving.

-Pam Robeson