ups and downs

But, God is doing a good work.  

Sometimes, I have to repeat that back to myself, because of unpleasantness, whether in real life, my mind, both or whatever.

We are still searching for candidates to fill the farm manager position.  We interviewed someone this week, a nice guy but didn't speak English, which is going to be one of the key qualities we need for this position.  He was telling us he lived in Gulfport MS for a bit and came back last year.  I asked him how the process of getting to the US was (he left during the pandemic when he lost his job here and was in danger of losing his house, etc.) and he told me he used a coyote, and that it took 39 days to get across the border.  He shared a little of the harrowing details.  I asked him if he would do it again.  "Never" he said.  

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Marvin has been busy this month trying to get around to more of the churches to get to know the pastors, and the communities better, doing some evangelizing via house visits.  We will be spending more money this year on spiritual development...of the pastors, the church body, trying to develop new Sunday school teachers, increasing impact in the communities...all part of our push to do better discipling the people we are trying to reach, including more conferences and training.  

That part is exciting, also somewhat daunting, but finishing the office building is less exciting and just more daunting.  Mostly related to how hard it is to fundraise for something so clearly needed.  We have been blessed with some help, but not nearly enough and that is...stressful. 

Also stressful is just how expensive everything is related to finishing the building.  You would think the main construction would be the worst of it, but every other step really piles on.  The stucco is still not finished...they are working on it however.  Then, what flooring to pick?  The above were two options...an epoxy finish or just polishing the concrete.  Both options are quick...but not in the budget.  The epoxy is CRAZY expensive.  So...we will have to see how to take more time, and more hands away from the other projects going on, to put in tile.  Traditional, fine, but just another delay because that will take several weeks to put in. And then, the staff look to me and I can just palpably feel their disappointment at another delay, another constraint.  Plus we will have to find a welder to make the main doors, because buying premade doors...also too expensive to make it work...and the list continues to mount.  I'll be glad when it is done...but right now just lamenting how long we are still from that point, and I'm not even going to try to guess at this point when that will be.   

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The clinic staff gave this cane to a 60 year old patient named Pedro, who is from Lepaterique.  He didn't ask for it, he was there for an eye exam.  They just noticed what he was currently using and offered that new one to him as it seemed better for his needs.  

They said he started to cry when they gave it to him.  

Also in the optometry part of the clinic...having to break the news to a 29 year old father of two that he has end stage glaucoma.  His vision is already very bad, and will lead to blindness soon.  ​

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Back to school is coming soon...February.  We are working on getting new school shoes for all the children in the Milk Project.  (black dress shoes are required to attend school in Honduras.)

We have a cobbler in Tegucigalpa that can make them, to get sample sizes first, then every project has to measure every child, to get all the rest made.  A lot of work, and even more walking throughout the year.  They aren't the prettiest, but given some of the kids are walking an hour or more...durability is what we are looking for.  

Jorge and Jeffrey spent most of the week in Cantarranas, working with Bombin (our tractor) to install new water lines to the farm as we work to put this property to work instead of laying fallow that it has for quite some time.  

Hard work.  Also clear that the timing is right to do this...but we haven't been given the end plan by The Boss yet.  A lot of trusting right now, and seeing how we can develop this to support the mission, Milk Project and church.  No coffee here, altitude is too low, but perhaps a lot of other things we could plant/develop to help people.  

It's clear to move forward, but also a little scary because what lies ahead is less clear.  

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God is doing a good work.

I've been repeating it, and I'll be repeating it more to myself in the coming days.  

When it feels good, when it doesn't, when it is scary, and when it feels right.  ​