Never a dull Moment.......

Well, life has been very busy here in Honduras.....we have moved into the cottage and hopefully this week we will receive our container. While we have moved in we are still living out of suitcases, but only for a short time longer.......makes life a little difficult with 4 kids laundry. But, we are hanging in there. Last night, I could not sleep so I decided to do some work in the office. After, I had done all that I could do...I decided to go ahead a go to bed...it was around 1 or so. I had just laid down when I heard a motorcycle that sounded like it was really close to the house. I got up to look and just when I had walked to the front in Taylor's room...I saw a guy slide on his bike. I ran to get Mark so that he could help see what was going on...(he was alseep along with the rest of the family). The guard began to tap on the window and say that we had a drunk guy wreck in the front yard adn that we needed to call the police. We went outside to see that he was only a car length away fromn Taylor's room in the front yard. We called Alexis so that he could help us with talking to the police. Once they arrived they took the man off to jail along with his bike.What a crazy evening....Even stranger is how he got on the property.  With that said we need to put a brick wall around the property here. Not only could he have hit the house or a car....but this means that anyone can get in on the property. Please help us about praying for the funds to build a wall. We have 10 acres of land here so that is going to be a big wall but we need to start on the childrens home side of the property first. We want to be able to protect the cottage and the kids that will live here along with our own family. PLEASE help us pray for those funds to start this project.

5 Loaves and 2 Fishes......

 Since we have been on this journey we have been making a list of all the items that we need to have here in Honduras. Many have given and bought items to be able to be sent over here for the home. We ordered a huge 40 foot container and each day the staff at Hope would collect items we needed to be shipped. We have been worried that we would not have enought to fill the container especially with a ship cost of $4,000. Well, Praise the Lord he has supplied. This week we taught the lesson on the 5 loaves of bread and the 2 fish. We taught the children here how God used one little boys lunch to feed 5,000 men, not including women and children. We even had a visual lesson with 5 little loaves of bread and 2 fish (sugar cookies that I baked and shaped into large fish....)(I know I should have taken a picture...but I forgot). We had 41 in class on Sunday and they all had bread and some cookie...even with some left over. We began to explain how God will supply our needs and how he only needs something to work with.

 Well, I am happy to tell you that we have been blessed yet again. Not only do we have the container full and ready to ship....but we need a second container. PRAISE THE LORD.  We do ask that you help us by praying for those two containers. We even ask you to pray specificly that they will clear customs with no problems, we will not have to pay any taxes on any of the items, and finally that no one will tamper with the locks and steal anything.

THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE GIVEN IN EVERY FORM, WHETHER BUYING ITEMS, DONATING FUNDS OR GIFT CARDS. ALSO, A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR FRIENDS......WELL REALLY THEY ARE OUR FAMILY AT HOPE CHILDRENS HOME IN TAMPA FOR LOADING IT ALL UP! WE LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!




We will Never Forget.........Reflections on 9/11

  On the eve of the 10 year anniversary of the attack on our nation, I think about how the world moved in slow motion that day.  That day started just like any other day. People woke up and headed off to work and school. I know exactly were I was and what I was doing. I worked for IBM at the time, in the office for out-sourced HR departments of large companies. My co-workers and I heard of the first plane that hit the world trade center and we all pulled up the news feed on our computers. Mark was working at the fire station that day. I was able to witness the second plane crash on the live news of WRAL. Shortly afterward I was talking to a man in D.C. about his medical benefits when suddenly we got news of the pentagan attack. He quickly shouted that his dad worked there and hung up the phone. That very day people all around the world were in shock of the events that had just happened. As a nation it seemed as if we grew closer....putting God back at the center of our lives. Hebrews 13:6 "So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."

  As I reflect on the past and how the world responded and was shocked at the attack on our country, I also think to the future. Can you imagine how people will respond will Gabriel blows his trumpet and the Lord returns to gather those who have put their faith and trust in him?  It will not be an attack on the country like 9/11 but planes will crash and buildings will burn. People will be standing below in shock of what they are seeing. Some will think that we have been attacked yet again and then those who have heard the gospel will know that this is the end. I am glad that I will not have to worry about facing that day. I have put my faith and trust in Jesus Christ and know that without a shadow of a doubt when that trumpet sounds I will ascend into Heaven.....if I have not already passed away before the Lord makes his return. Today, I want to share with you that you can have the same hope that I personally have, along with millions of others who are saved. You don't have to be one that is "left behind".

Tonight, I was reading in my Bible and came to Hebrews 11:13 "These all died in faith, not having received the promises,but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."   I think alot about the generations after Christ was born and died. We have never met Jesus, we have never seen him on t.v., we have never heard his voice....yet we know he is real. We have a book of his promises and still some do not believe.

We can have eternal life in HEAVEN when we die. First, we must acknowledge that we are all sinners...Romans 3:23 " For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."  We must then recognize that there is a price for sin. Romans 6:23 "For the wages of son is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."  In Romans 5:8 it says, "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." I am happy to say though we have hope....if we confess our sins (Romans10:9-10) then he is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins. Anyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.  I know that this seems so easy....but friends...that is all there is to it. Repent of your sin, place your trust in Christ and ask him to live in your heart, and he will forever change your life.

Where will you be in 10 years.....? I want to be serving the Lord...whether here on earth or above in Heaven.....either way.....I know that my soul is secure and my name is written in the Lambs Book of Life.  Just like the faith we have have in "Old Glory"......we can to have faith in the "Old Book, the Bible"

When you think your late.....God has perfect timing.....

 Wednesday evening Taylor and I along with the little boys went to the grocery store before church. I had plenty of time....like 40 minutes actually. However, while standing in line to pay the people in front of me decided to make things alittle difficult for the cashier. After, 20+ minutes in line it is now my turn to pay. I get my few little items and run with a cart in heels to my car. My phone begins to ring....it is Elsey wanting to make sure that I am picking her up for church. I let her know that we are just across the street and on the way. When I get there...thinking that she is going to be ready...she runs to my car and with excitment asked "can my mom change" I said sure. We waited and a few minutes later Elsey and Maria both walk to the car and get in. We were able to take Maria to "our" church for the first time. She is still however, waiting on that door but that night she decided to come along anyway.  God is so good and we hope to see her again soon.

No Water, No Internet.....No Problem......HA!

Sorry that it has been awhile. One we have been really busy and two we have not had internet. Talk about feeling a little disconnected from the world. No, really we have been 4 days or so without internet and wtaer is on and off for the last 5 days. However, even with that we have still been able to move forward. Many things have been going on here the last few weeks with the cottage and church.

First, we would like to say that Elsey has adjusted well to her new glasses. She has a constant smile on her face and we continue to visit her and her family. She was not in church on Wednesday night so I went to see her on Friday. She expalined that she had been sick and did not have the money for medicine. I then went to get her some medicine and a bottle of shampoo. Once, I returned her mo m asked me if I could go and see her other daugter who is 20. She had been very sick and they wanted me to talk to her and see her. (I was like "ok" but you understand that I am neither a doctor nor a nurse. I talked with her and watched as the listened to my advise.  We saw that Elsey and her family had a new house but the door is still  not there. We had heard that she had one but it did not work out. So, we are still praying for a dooe so that Maria can attend services.

  The same day that I went to see Elsey, I decided to go and see Catherine. She was the young lady who had asked to use my shower the day she had her baby. I am happy to say that Isaac is growing like a weed and is already a month old. I had such a wonderful visit with her and her family. In her house lives Alba(Catherine's mom), Ana (Not sure how she is related), Catherine and Isaac, Genesis(Catherine's little sister), Abram(Catherine's brother), Dora(Catherine's aunt) and Catherine's grandma, That is a lot of people in one little house. Taylor and I along with Josiah and Micah had a sweet time of fellowship and I was able to share a few more clothes with her. I then invited her to the ladies meeting that we had at church. I am happy to say that they both attended.

We are also preparing for the shipment of the container. We are so very excited about all of the items that are just waiting to be packed in. THANK YOU TO YOU ALL WHO HAVE GIVEN TO THE HOME!

The house is now fully painted inside and they are working on the outside. We will keep you posted on the days ahead.