Izopo!!

Proud of potato!

Jeannie taught a packed room full of women how to use a tooth brush, how to make a toothbrush from a twig, and how to make paste from baking soda since store bought toothpaste can be costly and hard to come by. Tomorrow she will teach about physical hygiene. Phil translated and some of us distributed cups and water for practice with swishing and spitting, and handed out toothbrushes and tooth paste.

The Pauls lead VBS and others of us helped with the the eager mass of children. Between times we read books, blew bubbles, threw ball, and took photos (while recording each name), practiced our Spanish with young mothers (talking about our families, our home countries, etc.).

Blessings,
Leslie Kenney

Photos from Sunday

On the courtyard of La Vega church building.

Oscar tells us about the church in Santa Lucia.

Phil and Baxter student Eduardo.

Comments from the Honduras mission team.

On Sunday July 22, we were visitors at La Vega Church of Christ. Here are some comments by the team:
 "Though I couldn't understand everything, I really felt a part of worship."
"The flow of worship was very familiar, it was very much like the American Church of Christ."
 "I was really aware of the Spirit's movement through space and time. He was at North Central church and He was with believers around the world. I was aware that He was everywhere and every when."
 "It was so gracious of the church to do a dual language service for the benefit of 12 Americans."
"I sat next to a guy with a 'Honduras Hope' wrist band. I was so excited to hear that that group is involved in house building and in helping Hondurans."
"It was fantastic to see so many men eager to serve. And to learn that La Vega church is actively participating in building houses in Honduras."
"They made you feel at home right when you walk in.
"I felt very included as a very special guest, like they were expecting me. Everyone was hugging us and 'God blessing us'.''
"Leading English songs to a Honduran Spanish speaking crowd with only 12 English speakers was tough. Their song leader did a really great job. He had 200 people." (We were asked to lead some songs.)

In the afternoon we toured one of the oldest Catholic churches in Honduras. We learned from Oscar our guide some of the stories told about how it had gotten a "black Jesus." There are of course different legends, we have heard about three of them.

Michelle, 21, who has been translator for NCCOC short term missions since she was about 12, spoke to us at evening devotional about her experience as a Honduran with short term missions: "In the past it was about building houses and giving us things. But now I see a change in focus; that spending energy on people and hearing their stories impacts communities far longer than the things that don't last." she mentioned also that watching how NCCOC has maintained relationships over the years has impacted her and others.

Blessings,
Leslie Kenney

Mission team packs in a full day.

Saturday July 21. Our team intention is to learn, serve and to grow here in Honduras. To learn about the history of Honduras, Miguel Aguilar, professor at Baxter Institute, spoke to us about the history of Christian expnsion in Honduras. Additionally, we  toured the ''Ancient Hospital General and Palace de losMinisterios,'' a museum for ''national identity.'' We learned that Honduras has been a country, beginning with Mayan ancestors, of embattled peoples against colonial expansion and rules and that the country is still reeling from myriad social and political problems.
  
After the tour, while telling our tour guide about why we were in Honduras and about Breaking Chains, we learned that he had never heard of a homeless shelter. But we were very aware, in fact, it was our next destination.
  

At Breaking Chains, the homeless ministry overseen by Amber Foster, we visited those who have come for help and shelter. We learned their names and even some of their stories. We met Yolanda, Hennessey and Gustavo who sell chocolates on the street. We met Ricardo and his wife, their children and also grandmothers, all who live in the same one room. They are the door keepers who act as guard of Breaking Chains. We also met Anna whose job it is to clean the Breaking Chains building. We met her daughter and new baby whom she named 'Amber.' We learned from Amber Foster that her intentions for breaking chains of poverty and hopelessness is to help families move through rough waters of homelessness and especially encourages educating the children.
  
Oh, and we painted some bedrooms, too.

Blessings,
Leslie Kenney

Photos from the Honduras team!

         

The rest of the team has arrived!

On the ground in Honduras!

Friendship building has begun!

The rest of the team has arrived and new friendships are being made!

More opportunities to learn and serve!

Getting to know Baxter Institute Preachers in training.

The days are flying by and God continues to present opportunities to learn and serve. Tuesday was a day of major preparation for the arrival of the remainder of the group. That means lots of trips to the stores, visits to stores we have never been to before and new experiences. Who ever thought a store like Home Depot would also have a section for school supplies. Chris and Phil spent a very interesting evening traveling an hour outside of Tegucigalpa to meet with a group that has begun a program to combat malnutrition in Izopo. Chris Paul will write later to give more details of the “wild” evening.

Making new friends at Breaking Chains.

Wednesday we visited Amber Foster at Breaking Chains. What a great chance to renew friendships and to make new ones. We are close to finishing up preparations for the remainder of the group that will arrive on Friday. We now have planned out an exciting week of learning and work. When you add to it all the unexpected that is a part of ministry in Honduras I am sure it will be a wonderful week!!

Phil Banta