I had an unusual email exchange recently, someone asking me for some words of wisdom for another person in their church who handles the Hill Climber coffee they get for Sundays and other needs at the church.  

​Words of wisdom are bandied about, but such a request, whether in jest or not, I took seriously.  So I shared a Bible verse:  So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (I Corinthians 10:31)

Harvest is at its highest point right now, with lower altitudes done, and we might be done at the two farms by the end of the month.  We have invested time, effort, money, and more staff, to make the farms better, more productive, and higher quality.  Every year a little bit more, steps as they were, and as we can afford them.  The third "cut" of coffee this year in Las Botijas even getting an 88 when we had it tested.  We have started employing women as well to more carefully select out the "defects" that affect cup quality.  
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Providing employment, harvesting more fruit to give away, and doing things better has improved for sure, and continues to do so.  We might be close enough to being financial self sustainable with coffee that good, with some legwork to find places to sell it of course.  

So, the pictures and the statistics look good.  

But I was struck by another set of words I stumbled upon: 
"Coffee is good for talent, but genius wants prayer."

Those come from the journal of Ralph Waldo Emerson, who is also rather commonly misquoted as having said "Coffee is God's gift to mankind."  

The second quote is pithy, but the first just hit me different.  

We are using coffee to accomplish goals:  
-help provide employment
-be a bigger part of our community
-help others
-share Christ through all the above
-and finally figure out how to use all that to create something that can be sold and have more funds to do more of all that. 

The quote just reminds me that while part of all this you can write down, work out, and plan.  But ultimately, for it to be a success, requires prayer, and dependence on God. 

So join us in prayer that our primary goals stay primary, all the while also praying God works out connections to make good, God honoring ways to get this coffee out into many hands, and thus help this do all of the above, and so much more through His Eyes.  

I liked this picture.  The church in Talanga, doing discipleship classes. ​

I liked this picture as well.  Jose Luis from the clinic visiting families, and giving away diapers. 

And this picture, pastor Juan teaching the kids in the Milk Project.  

What I liked most about these pictures doesn't fit in social media posts or just quick looks.  
-Talanga, pastor Manuel working on spiritual maturity, while I know praying for a body that would also grow in number.  And the topic that Sunday was about seeking unity as a church body and how to work as a team
​-The diapers they were giving out, I thought...wait, we don't get donations of children's diapers normally.  And...those packages are in Spanish?  Turns out, someone who I won't name so as to rob them of their otherwise nameless donation, has a store and donated the diapers specifically for the clinic to be ablet o give them away.  
-And Juan was teaching the kids based on how to share their faith with their peers. 

Just crazy to me, to see God working through so many people, in different countries, different roles, different thoughts...but a united vision to see people grow in Christ, and know He loves them.  I like that too.  And I like that I can't really fully wrap my mind around how He brings it all about as well.  

It is worth keeping in mind some of ol' Pablo's thoughts he wrote to the people of Ephesus, that any good being done is a gift of God, not of ourselves.  So, when we see it being done, we rejoice for that, but never forgetting it is God working that out.  

It is usually hard to share pictures involving the churches, unless they are doing construction work.  I happened to get two new pictures though this week, not one but two!  On the left, a group from different of the His Eyes churches that joined together for a youth conference several hours from here, and on the right, the church in Talanga having a special birthday celebration for sister Maria's 54th birthday.  

Milk Project had a little time off for vacations, and preparation for the new year, but back in full swing.  Year to year there is interesting, what with changes due to not wanting to study, or parents pulling kids out to work, or...lots of reasons.  

You might notice things look cramped in Sampedrana on the left.  Yep, we need more space.  So, this year, when we can schedule it, construction will happen on the second floor of the clinic building there, to allow all the classroom space to move there, and expand the kitchen and other needs.  In Tegucigalpa (on the right), is one of the meetings with parents/grandparents/primary caregivers to go over rules, and talk about expectations and such, an important step every year when we begin. 

You also, if looking closely, might be able to spy Consuelo and Mauricio wearing the new Milk Project shirts that are new this year.   

The clinic is seeking some new staff, as we had some changes at the end of the year, and looking at how to also handle all the vehicles some days wanting to park.  A new issue is also causing a loss of a couple parking spots for a bit...moving the cafeteria out (where you can see the tractor on the left) so we can look at moving the containers and get ready for construction on the expansion.  Wait?  That wasn't the plan right?  Well...after a lot of talking/praying/thinking, this is the smarter long term move to better use our space.  A little more expense right now, but cheaper long term, and be able to build more as well.  Should be interesting!

Catholic displays in businesses like the one on the left is not new here, but I have found that it is new for many people not from here to see.  

What was new was while I was picking up roasted coffee from our roaster, that I was brought the cup (and saucer!) on the right while they lowered everything in the freight elevator.  It was a geisha coffee they currently have.  While I was enjoying that, the security guard was quizzing me about the Land Cruiser, and if we brought it from the USA, and then why do we go into the mountains and have coffee.  I took that little opportunity he presented and ran with it, and I don't think he was ready for my answers.  

I'm not sure I am either some days, ironically enough.  New things crop up all the time, and there is plenty of old around as well.  How we adjust, grow, struggle and keep going is...only God really.  And the prayers of many of you are involved to a great extent as well.  Amazing stuff, that is both constantly new, and while repeatedly happening, never seems to get old.  

No pictures today, other than the clinic staff, most of the rest of the staff are off until January 2nd.  That allows for catching up on a lot of office things, and planning.  

One thing I didn't anticipate was the report coming from Jose Luis in the clinic, "EVANGELISTIC REPORT" from his work as the spiritual emphasis coordinator in the clinic.  

I'll spare you the cool details, but the church next door (ICCC TGU) is now actively helping Jose Luis, and just from patients coming into the clinic, we are up to six different cell groups, and 11 of those attending those in-home meetings are now attending the church.  Pretty cool.

I've also been working on a sheet of tasks to be done here on the campus, mostly for Jeffry and Jorge to coordinate.  There are at least 17 items...not counting some that will have to wait for groups to be here to help.  And not counting another eight that Eduardo from the clinic will coordinate.  

Plenty to do!  Plus...on the 25th walking the campus, trying to pray and take some hard looks at different things, to think outside the box...we might have some possibilities for building the clinic ambulatory surgical wing...with moving the containers elsewhere on campus (but for good, not temporarily) where they can still be used.  (this could be much cheaper for construction...and still allow us to build at least two floors.  

Plus before leaving to visit her family in Amapala, Maria left me the list for food needs for the Milk Project for January, and the list of anticipated clothing and toy needs for Children's Day and Christmas 2026, so I have some work there as well.  

Daunting was probably the word I would have used yesterday.  But...in the highs and lows, knowing...really knowing...God is in control helps lows from getting too low, and ego from going to high.  Did I mention 17 groups also?  Three road work projects?  Projections/talks for the next Milk Project location?  A new clinic medical student scholarship?  

It is daunting in one sense, but today I am just pumped to see what God is going to do, and how He is going to keep it all going, and all of us going.  Because I am here to tell you...I can feel, people are praying, because there are times when it should be crushingly overwhelming, and it can be...but it never is fully, and for that reason. 

So, send a prayer or two up for His Eyes...for decisions, for planning, for faith, for strength, and in gratitude for all He has done, does, and will do!  Amén y amén! 

I have some pictures, and stories to share, and the title jumped out at me, and that also seemed fitting for my spiritual/emotional mood of late.  Such highs, and such lows, and sometimes fighting to try for just horizontal.  Whew.  

It has been encouraging to see first the pictures from Cantarranas, but also Danli, to see how fast the churches have been moving as a body to do the work related to putting in the tile in the buildings.  Looks like Danli is already half done.  Interesting tile as well, we usually are price conscious, this has a pattern which isn't always the case when focused on price.  

Cantarranas...how about that fill result in what used to be a big hole/drop?  Looks good right?  And apparently good thing we put the wall extension up of that metal addition to the brick wall to accommodate the new floor level...what with our Guanacaste tree falling over otherwise completely into the neighbor's property.  Yikes.  No damage or injuries on the other side there, and the fence is wounded, but fixable.  And, someone has been contacted to try to see how much lumber we can get out of the tree for cabinets or something, that should be interesting.  Still, a bummer to lose a tree in an area that could use all the shade it can get.  Note...see if you can spy Hector from the farm up there trying to help cut off the portion entering the neighbor's airspace.  

Friday brought another conference, for pastors, as well as wives, and The Milk Project staff.  We are committed as a mission to doing more of these going into 2026...spiritual growth needs spiritually mature leaders, and we are prayerfully looking at how to do more of these (minimum 6 per year) whether in Tegucigalpa, as well as other opportunities elsewhere.  Good to see them well attended, and more people getting involved every time.  

I buy every year paint for groups to do murals.  Sometimes we have some, sometimes no.  This year, we had almost all of the paint left. 

The Milk Project staff, and volunteers, this isn't exactly part of their job description, but in Tegucigalpa (as well as Cantarranas this year) they have been using that paint to freshen up existing murals, and paint new ones where the old ones were too faded.  I even bought them more paint to keep going as they have time they were doing so well.  

We were blessed by a family with donations to fix this most problematic part of the road in Las Botijas.  A consult with an engineer/road builder was done, budgets proccurred...and we still wait for the dry season to get...drier for them to coordinate the timing to get up there to get it done.  Thankfully this is really the only farm road area that is really problematic in Las Botijas, and getting up there for us and our neighbors will "soon" be fixed.  I wish I could say the same in Sampedrana...but, baby steps.  Big expensive baby steps, but steps nonetheless.  Sometimes I have to slap myself (mentally of course) to remember that at least there is a road up there, before we were blessed to get involved at the top of the mountain there...there was no road.  

Further testing will be needed, but some enthusiasm, albeit restrained enthusiasm, is in order, as the well is done in Tegucigalpa, and we have started as of yesterday to use it to fill the campus cisterns.  

Still some questions to answer, and a building to house the works and such...but plans are in place already to get that done, while continuing testing and filling, and avoiding buying water trucks, so that is already better.  

We are trying to finish 2025, with many things that had you told me would happen back in January, I am sure I would not have anticipated coming about.  How interesting, that almost all of the items of this post would fit into that category in one way or another?  Ah, yet another opportunity to look up and smile at God.  

I smile to God for you as well, for reading, for praying, for being an invaluable part of this Kingdom work.  Thank you...really, truly, sincerely...thank you! 

As you can see from the lapse of time between posts, life is still very busy for myself and for the mission overall.  

Growth is happening.  Giving away lemons, oranges, plums, avocados...I can't keep up with this part either.  

Coffee is already coming on slowly, a little early, but we were mostly ready. We are buying a new pulper for Sampedrana, higher capacity, better sort quality (not as many defects) and better overall care of the coffee after harvest.  Every little step matters for continuing to improve the cup quality.  And if we want to get to self sufficiency, we will need to be competitive with other non Christian coffee, because there just aren't enough connections or relationships we can make it seems to sell enough as Hill Climber Coffee.  We life, we learn, slowly but surely, and so things grow.   
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Thanks to donations from the US, after many years, I won't even try to think how many years, we were able to buy tile for the church building in Cantarranas.  And the brothers and sisters there are working on putting it all in.  The difference it will make goes beyond how it will look.  

Victoria (some of you might have met her also using her other name Daniela) got baptized today.  She is from the Milk Project in Tegucigalpa.  She graduated high school this year, and has been working part time for the Milk Project helping with the younger kids as well.  She hasn't been congregating in a church, but as part of her studies and wanting to go into medicine, has been volunteering in the clinic.  Jose Luis, who works there as the spiritual director, had been talking to her, like he does to everyone in the clinic, and attending a cell group he has been leading nearby.  After talking, thought, prayer, she took this step, and several of the staff were very happy to celebrate with her. 

Growth happens in lots of ways.  This is the way that really matters...that will produce fruit that will last long beyond our lives.  In other ways though as well, and we are looking at how to help her continue to study next year, and as well continue to serve in the Milk Project.  

I was shocked, and had to double check when I saw it has been since July I have posted a blog.  Shocked mostly because I knew I was busy, but not that busy.  I can remember when saying "I'm keeping busy!" was an acceptable prideful thing to say.  This year especially, I am ready to repent.  I am not actually repenting apparently, but actively seeking to repent.  That is...trying to find my way out of the paper bag of busy.  Trying to hand more off, trying to not take on more, etc.  Some of that is successful, some less so.  Lately though I feel a little behind the eight ball of faith.

Chains on a truck here is not a good sign of course.  Let alone on a mountain tackler like the Land Cruisers.  Walther is using this one for a bit to get posts for fence work and get the new drying racks ready before harvest approaches.  We ordered more pavers for the road there, and after the long wait last time, place that order in August.  What a "pleasant" surprise that they are now ready.  Getting them delivered now with the roads as present with the entire country being in the middle of major downpours, causing problems all over the country, will be...tricky.  We have a couple weeks for that to be figured out.  

We had some extra funds from digging the well in Las Botijas, and God orchestrated timing and donations to help to such an extent (pretty cool story actually) that we decided to proceed here in Tegucigalpa.  Yes, we have water access here, but if this works, it would be cost effective, make things so much easier for everyone, and possibly even be clean enough to not need filtering to drink.

It all came together so clear...except instead of 150-200 feet down, we are at 500 feet now, and still working.  I mentioned to a group last week something I have heard several times, that God doesn't call us to be successful, but being faithful.  

This might end up being a great story of the latter and not the former.  I'm ok with that, but I'm also ok with that faithfulness just being for a period here before we hit a gusher as well.  Right?

Having some faith that the newly (almost) completed wall in Cantarranas will be effective to keep would-be breakers-in from attempting anything.  

Hopefully in the next few weeks the final touches should be purchased and put in place...the serpentine wire (which is already up in places on the other sides) and a metal wall extension on the low section near one of our neighbors.  

Praying as well for the clinic going forward...seen above is a picture of an OCT exam being done in the optometry area.  We were praying for Darwin's trip to Cuba to study ophthalmology, but the Honduran government took that spot away.  I could explain what happened, but it would be such a tale of governments being governments, better no.  But, we pivot, and Darwin is now praying for an interview coming up to be able to go to Guatemala instead.  Also, we might have some staff changes coming up in the new year, some new opportunities for some, personal challenges requiring a change/move, etc.  Praying how all that will come together, and for the interim director to also handle that depending on when Darwin can get a clear path forward.  

Seen above is Rony sharing with the kids in Las Botijas in the Milk Project.  With 250+ kids now, and Christmas and soon after a new school year coming up, that presents the challenge of getting all the gifts and supplies paid for, and the potential of expanding in 2026 to a seven location?  A little scary, but if God has this, then it will come to pass.  

Generally speaking, I refrain from posting pictures of Valerie and myself, or making mention of us unless required.  The mission is not us, and in fact so much bigger.  

But in thinking about faith, being behind, and if we are trusting in God, right here when I was going to finish, I was reminded of this picture, and this trip.  

We were changing things up with a group late last month which turned out to be here during a long holiday weekend when the holidays got moved (it happens in October, just weren't sure when that would be when we scheduled the group.)  So...Maria was up for a special day out for 10 kids in the Milk Project, and we decided to take them to the first US embassy building, which is above San Juancito near the old mines.  I should have thought to ask around about how to get up there.  I should have thought more about it than just saying we would do it.  But I was busy, and it seemed a great idea.  And it was.  But...getting the Blue Ford up that road, part of which wasn't what the map said was the road, was quite the experience.  I had faith we would get there, I was too busy to think about what would happen if we didn't (even when we had to pass a small SUV that had broken down due to overheating), and I was definitely behind keeping up with the switchbacks and changes to 4x4 and such.  It was fun.  Fun that I don't exactly planning on repeating anytime soon.  But memorable.  For me though in different ways than maybe the kids or the group though.  We look rested and peaceful though in the picture right?  Beautiful place when you finally get there.

So I guess my takeaway today maybe should be...you can be too busy, but boy, you really shouldn't be so busy that you don't have time for practicing faith and prayer.  Because while one I have been feeling guilty for, the other has definitely been keeping us going.  Interesting eh?

Lots of building going on.  Of course, spiritual building is the main focus.  

Last year lots of groups helped us plant trees in Cantarranas.  Look at the starfruit trees already producing this year! ​

There have been construction projects in Talanga...including needing to replace most of the walls outside and in for the parsonage, and change the roof to not dump over the wall into the neighbor's property, which will be hopefully started a good way this week.  Also, the back wall for the church has been failing, and work started this week to make the hole, for the next team to help seal back up properly.  None of that was planned, but it was needed, and we were able to switch things up and with so many groups, help out quickly.  

And...we finally got the pavers for continuing things in Cantarranas, but unfortunately not enough groups, not enough days to get them all installed soon.  We have started, but quite a bit left to do.  (around 50,000 pounds worth) to then see how much left will need done.  

The well continues.  I could have cropped this picture more, but I love how the front tire shows the state of the road up there as well.  Said road which will be another project to tackle later this year with funding coming in to help there as well.  

Also...the farm property you probably didn't know we have in San Juancito, long dormant, we are now prepping to see what God would have us do there, the fence in Cantarranas should be ready for serpentine wire (FINALLY...don't ask how many years this project has taken) and other finishing touches, more will be happening with unexpected gift for stucco in Danli, and getting the Milk Project its own water source there, improvements/maintenance in Sampedrana on the Milk Project and fixing the drying racks for coffee there and building new ones as well, more stucco work in Las Botijas, several small projects in Tegucigalpa...you could say several guys will be busy for the rest of the year it looks like, praise God. I am also probably forgetting a few other projects...since I didn't originally sit down to list these all out, but they have just been bursting forth with help, ideas, funding, groups...it is amazing.  (don't forget of course much later in the year and into 2026, that we will be able to buy more pavers and have help to put them in up near the farm in Sampedrana!)

We also pray the Holy Spirit would be quite busy, in the midst of all this physical work, also doing and guiding the spiritual work that could and should go along all of it, and for the pastors and directors to ever be mindful of that as we go forward.

Thanks for your prayers, thoughts, comments, and everything!  

Ever lives in Sampedrana and is in the Milk Project.  

Last week, in the midst of a lot of other stuff flying around me, I got a text from Marvin, forwarded from pastor Juan, sharing how the church had been praying for Ever and visiting his mother, who is catholic.  They were asking if there was a way to send more help.

It seems Ever's mom was going to make orange juice for them, and asked Ever to get some oranges.  He went out to climb the tree, fell, and broke both his arms.  

They were quick, because usually I hear those sort of things from the Milk Project staff...who as it turns out had also already been sending home cooked food for Ever with his brother, who is also in the Milk Project.  

Well, plans were soon made, and Consuelo (Milk Project director there) went down to Comayagua and bought a bunch of food to take to help the family.  Not only that, but she and Sulma went to deliver the food personally...an hour walk up the mountain (closer to the coffee farm)

It was cool to stop for a minute to just think...this is how it is supposed to work.  Church, Milk Project, thinking alike, helping out, and going above and beyond a job description, but being the church, praying for Ever in a time of great physical hurt and difficulty just going about his day, and for his mother, and his siblings for many weeks to come trying to help him.  

As I sat down to share this, I got curious about Ever's name.  It seems to be the Biblical name Eber (the letter H isn't always included at the beginning phonetically since in Spanish it isn't pronounced, and B or V are interchangeable in Spanish.)  He is a descendent of Shem, one of Noah's sons, and possibly/probably where the word Hebrew comes from.

And as soon as I found that, I was reminded of the message from the pastor in the group last week, shared at the 26th anniversary service in San Juancito, from the book of Hebrews:

  Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us

I'd be lying if I said I had a good handle on things some days.  Praise God...there is just too much going on, and even for me, trying to keep up is hard.  Does it feel good to admit that? Yes and no.  But it is the truth. 

Cute kids in the clinic getting glasses, and holding stuffed animals.  Cute x 5  

Jose Luis continues to share in the clinic, and host several home Bible studies.  I am up on the numbers being seen in the clinic, but only God knows how He weaves everything together there.  I do know that Tuesday just in optometry they saw 45 patients.  (while two people were out with the group in a medical brigade, helping almost that many people with reading glasses and other help as well.)  

Personal hygiene lessons, and help trimming fingernails, not something we normally cover in reports on the Milk Project, but that is another area where it is hard to cover everything that happens on a daily basis.  

Emergency repairs done on the rusting supports for the TV station and pastor house in Talanga.  Shout out to Jeffry and Eduardo for helping pastor Manuel on all this, and for today prepping to buy more material to fix the upstairs walls and change the roof, to help in the future, and also since there is a neighbor next door who is building his house right next to our building.  

We are closer to actually seeing if there is water, and where, in Las Botijas.  This is the equipment finally delivered, now to see the company put everything together, and see how it works.  And praying it works extraordinarily well.

Recognize this?  When we did the construction in Tegucigalpa, we had the old gates from the man cave garage.  This is one of those repurposed, for the garage in the church building in Danli.  That patina is a no-cost option

Combo trip was cooked up for delivering food to the Milk Project in Cantarranas, a meeting for Maria, and Jeffry and Jose Luis to mend the breaking door lock for the church and the Milk Project, while Jorge also helped taking food as well to Talanga nearby.  Pretty cool when scheduling happens and works out so well.

Gray Ford and White Ford have been in the shop...for "a while."  I am not lying when I say I have been actively trying to not count how long, so as not to get depressed.  Got both back yesterday after "extensive" repairs (can you feel the monetary pain associated with those air quotes?)   But today with the first test drive to get the above materials for Talanga...an oil leak.  Hopefully just something that needs tightening.  

Making decisions on when to give up on a vehicle is hard.  Sometimes, it seems hard to make decisions, or the right decisions, on number of things!  Other times, it is also just hard to have time to make all the decisions one way or another.  

And, most of the time, praise God, there are many other empowered people making all sorts of decisions, doing all sorts of good, helping people, acting and living out the Good News in many different ways.  

I can't keep up.  That's no lie. 
But God does.  And that is one of the amazing things about Him.