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try

5/15/2023

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I have tried starting this blog about five times now, trying to phrase this correctly, but can't quite nail it.  

Essentially, trying to summarize ministry activity.  I think it just boils down to:  try.  

Complicated eh?  Try implies a few things, probably more than I am thinking but...
1. You don't always succeed
2. It requires effort
3. It doesn't have to always be complicated.  

The picture here on the right (if this is displaying correctly of course) is from Talanga, pastor Manuel sharing this recipient of rice.  When I inquired about the hoe, he then casually added that he was someone looking for work all day in Talanga, who lives outside the city, and not finding any work, but remembering Manuel in the past had been able to help with some rice, took a chance to see if there was any so his family could eat that night.   
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We had a group here this past week, the first of the "summer" which will have...the most in a summer since 2008, if not the most ever for us.  

Soren is in country, and went with us, and thankfully recognized he was going to pass out before it happened.  While he was chatting with staff splayed out on the floor, someone also volunteered to take his BP.  Then he went back to talking to patients and their parents.  

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Things have just been starting in the Milk Project in Cantarranas, but already you can see the preparation and work coming together, not just in the daily activities, pastor Jonathan helping give classes a few days a week, new families coming to church now, but also in some very cool Mother's Day cards they shared making to take home.

Sometimes it is buildings, preaching, medical skill...sometimes it is some food, medical issues, and construction paper.  All are ways to worship, honor and glorify God to those around us, near and far.  
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Building

5/7/2023

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So much building going on in the mission, prayerfully we would always pray that the biggest growth would be in the hearts and minds of people we are reaching.  Of course, some physical construction is also required.  
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Certainly the biggest project going on right now, is the office building.  Fundraising on this has been very slow, please pray for us on that, as we can't really afford to slow down...we need this built ASAP, plus since we are using a contractor, taking a break isn't good either.  Once the contractor is done, we will still have to build out the actually offices and meeting spaces.  They are nearing being able to pour the first floor up there in the air...it is a lot of work.  

As you can see below, to have a pastor's meeting right now means coordinating when teams aren't here, and to have their wives together...they had to use a bedroom downstairs.  Having these dedicated spaces we plan to use on a much more regular basis...when working around teams wouldn't work.  

​Want to help?  Click here  We would certainly appreciate it!  
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​There have also been some extra donations coming in to help Milk Project families with different things.  One of the pictures Maria took to show just one of the issues was this one, which struck me...no wall, and a missing floor...in your living room.  

Sometimes, it is picking priorities, as there are some rotting roofs, and in some cases, lost employment or rough times...requests for food instead of fixing some issues like this.  




And, we will be starting with groups soon to build in the air the kitchen/space for the next Milk Project location, in Talanga.  

Why not buy another property there instead of going vertical?  We tried that, and the prices for the surrounding available lots are so high, it just isn't cost feasible.  

We don't know when we will finish this, primarily using groups, but wanted to get started to be ready when the sponsors come.

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Thanks to again special donations for church planting, the congregation in Danli is working hard on their church building as well.  Again...going with a second floor to go vertical in the future rather than a traditional roof, for the same reasons as Talanga.  

We should have enough funds to finish replacing the small building, and hopefully make at least some improvements to the house there as well, maybe an actual bathroom, safer exterior walls, and eventually...a second floor there as well for Sunday School rooms?  We shall see.  
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There is still work left to be done in Cantarranas (below) for the Milk Project building...doors, windows, bars on the windows, building out the kitchen with sink, etc. and then the appliances will need to be purchased.  

We hope to use groups to do more work as well, maybe pouring some concrete for a good place to play outside.  
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I don't have a recent picture of the new exam spaces being built in the clinic, but those are proceeding as well, and work to install the equipment in the new clinic buildings in Las Botijas and Sampedrana, as well as on the farm in Cantarranas...you get the idea.  

Lots going on...this is just sharing the construction side!  Pray all of us in Honduras would be able to proceed apace, where the funds have already been received, and where the funds need yet to come, for good stewardship, and sharing His love during, around, and through that construction!  
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Culture

4/22/2023

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I often find that I feel weird...for a multiple number of reasons.  One of them can be having lived in a different culture, and having some of that rub off on you, but then, you aren't really from that culture, so you don't really fit in with either culture.  I could go on about that, but...no. ​

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Sometimes, you get some reminders of that.  I thought this one was funny.  It is "Correct use of the bathroom" and I saw it...in a bathroom at the famous pork rind restaurant near Comayagua

-Take the necessary toilet paper (you have to grab it before you go in the stall)
-Put the used toilet paper in the trash can
-Roll the toilet paper that has fecal material on it so that the dirty part is inside
-Don't put TP down the toilet
-After using the toilet, lower the handle (aka...flush)
-Don't leave the toilet dirty, nor with paper on the floor.  

Recommendations...
#1 avoid throwing TP in the toilet
#2 don't put TP on the lid
#3 Throw it in the trash

Note:  Rolling up the TP helps to contain the bad smells and germs ​
This was well done, funny, and instructional...but with one possible exception, seemingly all aimed at those not familiar with the culture in Honduras. 

I took the picture when I was there because I could see why it was written, but it struck me that those from Honduras, and those not, might find it somewhat odd.  That was even more amusing, to think about how a simple sign, isn't always so simple.  And what we see as simple situations...often aren't quite that so simple.  

All that to say, I took it as an unintended allegory to some bigger situations. 
I wonder how you see it?  ​

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Gifts

3/25/2023

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I could wax poetic, about life being a gift, grace and mercy, peace...but I will try not to digress.  

I just thought it would be good to be grateful to the gifts we are able to give, because of people some of whom have never been here and never will come here. 

This is Mario, from Villa de San Antonio.  He has diabetes, and had one leg amputated because of it.  He lives alone and survives via his neighbors.  He is a retired barber, retired because of his illness.  

Someone gave that wheelchair, and because of it, we were able to give it here.  

How easy it can be to take for granted a bed, a bed that isn't a few inches thick, and directly on the ground.  A bed in which several family members do not also have to share.  

We have been able to bless four families this month with beds they needed.  

All because some people read of needs, and gave.  


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Food.  People we will never meet, paid for and packed food, and it touched many hands on the way to touch even more hands blessing families from churches.  

Blessed to be a blessing.  

We don't get to do this every single day, but we do it every day we are able.  

That chain, those connections, that God orchestrates it like a fantastically complicated piece, is music to my ears.  
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Keep up

3/13/2023

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I honestly can't keep up.  Whether it is blogging...or anything else.  Spinning plates come to mind.  Let's try to catch up on a few things?

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How about an update on the new office building?  

This picture doesn't seem to show said building, but it does show how the clinic is out of space to store things with their expansion (four new exam rooms are being built)

With those new rooms, something had to give... this was the meeting area for pastoral meetings and Oscar's office is in the very back there. 

If we don't build this new building, we won't have a place to do pastoral and leadership training.  We are still working on the design of how the offices and conference area will work out, but it will take up the whole first floor!​

We hired a new English teacher for the Milk Project, and with the influx of new sponsors, will be starting a new project in Cantarranas soon, and adding children to all of the projects, bringing our total up over 190!

We are hiring a new staff person for Tegucigalpa too, since Maria will be doing more and more supervising, Mauricio, to help day to day operations.

Construction in Cantarranas will take a while, but we will be working there to get started with the kids without the building being done.



​

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The coffee harvest is almost over, and the plants from the nursery are going to be ready to be planted soon.  

Time then to start work on more plants to take their place.  

It's hard work, and it will take years to see fruit from it, but the fruit of employment and help in the community is already there.

Special services in Guayavillas recently, it is hard planting a new church, but pastor Javier is trying, with help of course.  

This was a Sunday evening service to invite other people from the community to check it out.

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And what else?  We are right now mid way through our second of three groups here this month, two medical brigades, and the group here now is high school students using their spring break to help (painting the MP building and new clinic in Las Botijas, helping with the Milk Project in Tegucigalpa, and doing two clothing days as well.)  

Channel 15, our TV station in Talanga is at a crossroads, praying what to do there, as it reaches thousands, but financially can't keep up with its needs and we will have to decide if God is calling us to go forward with that, or whether we need to literally pull the plug.  Currently, the main computer is failing.  

Otherwise...we are working on installing a lift for the clinic, some way to get patients up and down that have mobility issues.  We have a couple trucks in the shop still, the new Land Cruisers helping out tremendously!  And there is farm work brewing in Cantarranas with Luis, trying to get that off the ground slowly but surely.

I probably forgot several things...hard to keep up.  But we pray for God's direction, His guiding, His leading, His Holy Spirit...to keep us up, and keep everything going!  
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Tractor time

1/22/2023

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You are getting a special treat here*, dear blog reader.  We had a team last week of four people.  Well below our normal for a team...but this was no ordinary team.  It's hard to share exactly how all this came together without writing a lot...but sufficit to say, we wouldn't have our 1025r tractor here for the farm, if it weren't for Tractor Time with Tim's YouTube channel.  

They came down last week, along with Felipe's dad Kenton, and Cecilia's fiance Dave, all of whom helped with four days of tractor.  Tractor work, tractor education, tractor invesigation...it was a lot.  

It was also a blessing, all the way around.  It isn't something we have ever done, so we had a schedule, but none of us were quite sure how it would come together.  It wasn't perfect...but it came together in a way it was clear it was God, and we were all blessed because of it.  Blessings abound!

Not just the expertise shared, the progress made, the education for Jorge and Jeffrey...but just sharing stories, learning more about each other, about the capabilities of the tractor, it goes on and on.  

*I took some drone videos (posted below...finally getting the mission its own YouTube page, narrated even these videos.)  You can check out Tractor Time with Tim's first video here.  More will be coming in the next couple weeks of the other days we worked up there.  

The whole week was not only was it yet another reinforcement of the value of our tractor to the mission and communities/people we serve, it also came along at the same time to prove how useful the Gator we just purchased for Las Botijas will be for that farm as well.  Expensive purchases sometimes, even when you think you made the right call, when you can see it play out in front of you...are encouraging as well.  

Harvest is now in full swing, so between that, trying to finish the clinics in each location, and road work...everyone will be busy in both communities for a while to come.  Glory to God!  
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Merry

12/20/2022

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I am currently merry.   It won't stay that way, but that's ok.  I have peace beyond understanding...well, when I remember Him who gives such peace.  

We prayed as a leadership yesterday for requests we all had...some overwhelming health concerns, big meetings/things to do, covering vacations in the clinic for the next couple weeks, things that need to get done/be accomplished/finished, hiring needs going into 2023.  

It wasn't all good or fun but regardless, we left merry and at peace.  
The Christmas card here is from one of the unsponsored children in The Milk Project in Las Botijas. 

​We have all the kids fill out the cards even though every year some don't have sponsors, because the alternative is more depressing.  In fact...God is their sponsor, that we can keep going while we look for more people to keep this going.  

I used to cry reading those cards, because I didn't have that perspective. 

While of late there has been a lot of potential stress, I am trying to keep on the other side of merry...the peaceful side beyond my own understanding.  
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I thought it was a reminder that others might appreciate.  This season gets filled with lots of expectations, lots of sometimes misplaces priorities and focus.  

While this card is from Rina, I thought I would great you with her same words meant for an unknown sponsor.  I send them to all of you, those known and unknown, as well: "I greet you with love and affection. I thank God for the opportunity you have given me.  Thank you for supporting us.  We are praying for you, that God will continue to bless you this Christmas and may God keep you always.  May you have a Merry Christmas with your family."
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Going

12/15/2022

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We are finishing the year in some aspects of the mission. 

For example, giving the kids in the Milk Project an end of the year an English test, and separate Bible test, to see how they are doing in both.  

Those in each class that got the highest marks, got some special gifts to reward them for their hard work.  

Christmas parties, gifts, and special meal as well come for all three projects, before the staff gets a couple weeks off to go into 2023.  

Lots of things don't end though...like church work, coffee harvesting, and more.  

I know I will be doing group planning, accounting, vehicle repair, and other errands right up to the end of the year...and starting again in the new year!  

Javier is seen here with the mission's old yellow motorcycle, currently helping him get around Guayabillas...or Guayavillas, or...I'm not sure exactly how to spell it yet.  It's one of those 
places not exactly on the map.

He has been working with the burgeoning church plant there for several months.  Praying about how we can help him moving into 2023.​

Prayers also we can finish the fundraising on the Coffee truck...we have not made hardly any progress on that end.  

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Sometimes in the past I have looked at the year coming up and thought/wished/prayed/hoped it would be a little more peaceful, a little easier going.  

I know it is not going to be easy going next year.  It is going to be busy, different, growing, and who knows what else.  This time though, for the most part, we are looking forward to it.  There is quite a bit of unknown, but even what we are planning will be interesting:
-lots more work on coming up with hospital plans
-starting work with the rural clinics
-17 or more teams!
-Need to hire several more people for key positions going forward
-more containers?  More food?
-looking forward to a next Milk Project location?  
-More training, conferences, and work
-trying to take the coffee farms to the next level!

What all will happen?  How?  When?  Can we pay for it all?  Is there time for it all?  I'm not worried...God is in control, and anything we do will be by Him anyway, so we will just start taking steps and try to wait and walk in Him as He leads!  Actually...we won't be able to do any of it without Him anyway, so even better to be at peace with it!
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leaning

12/6/2022

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It is cool to see a plan form, then implemented, and the results from that.  Sometimes though, you get to see things come together without perhaps being able to say you saw that coming.  

The decorations on the right here for the Milk Project are something Maria has been working on all year...collecting pine cones.  But then, her seeing that we were using spray paint with a group in September, gave her the idea that if we had leftover paint...she could make them even more festive.  

Ingenuity...I have seen quite a bit of that here over the years.  So much so sometimes it becomes the norm, but I like to be surprised/refreshed by it now and then rather than taking it for granted.  
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The organization Bring Good News has made funds available for us in the past to put on conferences for pastors and church leaders, using an organization here that specializes in that, called Walk Through the Bible.  

We were able to do another one (finally after COVID protocols have been relaxed enough) and through some "planning" all three of the Milk Project staff were able to be there together, and have a little meeting of their own the same day.  
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I had a chance yesterday to talk with the team now in Honduras from Casas Por Cristo, an organization that builds homes through pastoral networks, hoping to help the church do outreach into their communities, reaching people for Christ through helping them physically, specifically through home building.  They are praying about where to set up shop in Honduras, and how that will unfold (so you can be praying for them...lots of need, lots of possibilities) but it was also very cool to see how many times it seemed like a small world just talking about their general experiences, places in Honduras, opportunities, connections, etc.  

It reminds me that while right now looking at the soon beginning new year, and the changes coming, and potential changes/growth/hiring/building/etc. coming...that we have to trust, obey, follow and move, trusting God will bring it all together.  That faith...beyond what we can see but leaning on the everlasting arms.  

Funny how there is such joy in that...and yet, to be honest, also at least a bit of trepidation, mostly related to how I could screw things up.  

Even as areas around us in Tegucigalpa enter later today into a "state of exception" where certain constitutional rights will be forfeited in order to try to prevent extorsion and problems from gangs, meaning, apparently, that the police can pick up anyone they even suspect of committing, assisting, or benefitting from a crime.  This will last for thirty days.  

Sounds a bit scary to be honest, especially looking into the future of how this will be implemented and seeing just unknown (some of those 89 areas are directly around us.)

Apparently the writer of Leaning on the Everlasting Arms wrote that hymn in 1887 after two friends wrote him letting him know both their wives had died.  He wrote back, including the verse "The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms" (Deuteronomy 33:27)  He thought about that...and coo coo ca choo, came the hymn.  

So, we will keep walking, but not alone, and not by our own power.  We will, we must...keep​ leaning on the everlasting arms.

Want to hear a cool version of this hymn?
Early Sons of the Pioneers  this one made me cry
The Five Blind Boys of Mississippi this one made me move

Got one I missed you love?  Share it!
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ascend

11/26/2022

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It's hard, I can kind of see, to understand the roads in Honduras and what challenges they present to getting around, and doing...anything.  

Take for example this picture.  To the uninitiated eye, looks like just a road and some gravel.  

What you can't see is...
1. How steep this is
2. The dump truck
3. How the truck almost tipped over on the road
4. All the work to unload the precariously balanced truck, and then reload into the Fords to make it the rest of the way.  
5. Knowing that this is the EASY farm to reach with a dump truck...not even an option for the other areas we work.  
All this to get the gravel there to work on building the clinic next to the Milk Project and church there in Las Botijas.

Just one trip...but represents a weekly battle, just getting around.  

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Those who have been around for this year especially, and for a while, know we share about these pesky issues, and our poor vehicles that make the trips and sometimes don't make it back.  

In the not-great picture above taken by our customs agent, you can see the next step forward: we have purchased a new Land Cruiser pickup to help the farms/moving material work!   

This one will be for Sampedrana primarily.  The white 2000 F-250 we have for that farm...has been down almost all year with problems.  This Land Cruiser should last 20 years or more with good care, and given the global craziness, we were fortunate to be able to get a new one, and even fully optioned (for us...that means a winch, cow catcher, and other safety equipment) will be about $35,000 all told.  

We have been saving what we can from people drinking coffee, but we are still about $17,000 short of having this fully funded.  We have been using our group vehicles to help with this, but that isn't helping us maintain those vehicles for when we have groups!  

Want to donate to help us pay this off?  It will be coming home this week, so it will be working while we figure out how to balance the books, but given the options available, this was by far the clear winner on all fronts. 

If you have questions about the backstory of how we could get this with supply chain issues, want to know why this is the best overall option, what it is equipped with that makes it great for this use, or anything else...please send me an email!  

If you want to donate though to help us get this funded and take a load of our minds, click here to help!
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    Blog writer:
    Felipe Colby

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