catching up

We have had a busy couple of months.  

Three groups so far this year, two of which were medical focused.  What huge blessings each one was...from what they accomplished, their abilities, ages (from 13 to 85), three birthdays, and so many days of helping people and showing Christ's love...sometimes we move so fast, it is hard to get the time to stop and smell the roses of the relationships we are so blessed to make.  I am going to pause right now and just shake my head trying to take that in myself.  If you have been here in a group...thank you.  Like really...thank you.  

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We had occasion to go to Danli twice so far this year, for a medical day, and then to attend Church, and they are meeting in a new location now.  Danli is a tough location for us because we never really were ready or wanting to establish a new work in this area, but even with very little support from us, God has pastor Edwin still plugging away there and working hard to keep everything going.  I am not sure what the future will hold there, but praying for God's direction for sure for all involved, and some way that Edwin can support his family, as the clothing ministry there has stopped because Edwin just cannot make any money doing that now with increased shipping costs and taxes, it has made things just too difficult to be profitable while also trying to help people.  

Sampedrana has seen great strides on the Hill Climber coffee farm.  We finished the wash plant, the storage/prep area, and new drying racks.  There is so much left to do here, including more road work (which Carlos and the guys continue to work on regularly as well) and just continuing to improve and expand every area.  It is both exciting and intimidating.  

Paperwork for the coffee farm properties continues, and that includes really good things that are also a bit of a pain.  The deed system is now using GPS to define property lines.  But that also means days of taking government employees out with GPS hand held machines to measure, and then unfortunately remeasure...stopping every 15 feet for another measurement.  That is a lot of walking, but it will be worth it when it is done.  We are having to do this for both Las Botijas and Sampedrana.  


The Milk Project began the year gearing up for a new school year (Honduras runs February to November) and that means how we try to help every year...with new backpacks, school supplies...and school shoes.  This is a huge help to the parents and kids, helping them stay in school in what otherwise would be a hard decision for many families.  This is just one part of what we are trying to do with the Milk Project...physical milk, spiritual milk, and education support to break the bonds of physical poverty long term for future generations in our communities.  

We also bought some more T-shirts this month as a mission, partnering with a local business operating in a residential neighborhood and providing employment to quite a few folks.  We like it when we can do things to help the mission and help others in our area at the same time.  Sometimes it takes a little more work, but usually it is worth it.

Help us pray that we could keep putting out fires while also keep our focus on our long term goals for 2020.  We definitely stay busy, but we want to stay focused.  

Right now one of our big "fires" to put out is the recent cutting of the water supply to the farm in Las Botijas, making it very difficult for Rony and his family just to live there!  The five kilometers of pipe that was delivering water has been cut off and we will have to find alternative options long term, and none of those options are easy or cheap.  

Other issues...finding/buying the right property in Talanga, finalizing a plan to take the clinic solar including battery backup for power outages, hiring new positions for the Milk Project, and farm vehicle needs.  

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