Please know that our thoughts and prayers have been with you as you all ride out the winter weather in the U.S. Please also know that we have been doing all of our thinking and praying in shorts, t-shirts, flip flops, and sunglasses, as we look at the beautiful pictures of the snow in Raleigh. We really struggled to get the van cool this afternoon. Please remember our suffering for Jesus in your thoughts and prayers.
Today we finished Felipe and Iris's house. We finished the second half of the roof in about an hour, and then helped mix the cemento and wheelbarrow it into the house to finish the second half of the floor. Altogether, over the last two days it took about five total hours to finish the roof. and floors. In other words, the charade is over. In the past Team One has built the walls, doors and windows (jobs that have taken about 4.5 days of intense work), while Team Two has finished the roofs and floors. We had assumed that involved some roughly equivalent amount of work. NOT!!!! We had already come to this realization before our visit with Pastor Mejia from El Carrizo this evening. However, as we looked at last year's blog with Pastor Mejia a picture of Groupo Dos popped up. Pastor Mejia said, " That is the second team? They like to play. They say they play after work at 4:00, but somedays they quit work and play at 2:00!" Busted, guys! 4:00? The end of the work day? Are you serious? We're just getting our second wind at that point. Buckle up, guys and girls, you're bringing it up from the foundation to the roof this time. And if you really are serious, with eleven team members you can do it twice. But not if the whistle blows at 4:00. Show 'em how to do it, J.B.!
A lot of amazing things have happened today and we will write about those tomorrow. Right now after devotion, we are too drained to do it! However, the story of one Honduras miracle must be told. For centuries various Catholics have reported seeing visions of the Holy Mother Mary and other saints at certain locations. Mass pilgrimages have followed as others traveled hoping to relive the miracle in that place. On our first trip out to Limon de la Circa we noticed a huge mountainous rock standing alone in the middle of an otherwise flat field. Imagined our shock when later in the week the attached image appeared on the face of the rock. Quickly the site was named Monte Bobo. Today after a quiet dedication with the workers at Felipe and Iris's new casa, the whole nation of Honduras joined us in dedication of this miraculous new shrine. Choirs of schoolchildren sang Bobo's new song, "Buenos Dias, Honduras" which some are now proposing should replace the existing national anthem of this special country; grown men wept; some overwrought women were even seen throwing articles of personal clothing at the foot of the rock. Finally, the moment arrived. Bob spoke ... and spoke ... and spoke. He began by welcoming the Hondurans to their own country and told them it was about flippin' time they recognized how great he was. By the time Bob finished speaking after 3.76 hours, rumors began to spread that the Honduran Supreme Court was planning a secret session to order the military to break into the mission house in the middle of the night; kidnap Bob in his pajamas; and ship him to Belize. However, those rumors quickly dissipated due to the Honduran military's irrational fear of Vaseline. We will keep you posted on the potential developing international crisis.
Until tomorrow, when we worship the Lord who has brought us to this poor, beautiful, rugged land, we wish you peace in the beauty of the snow.
In His love,
Team 1
