Message From Team 2

Oie left me a voice mail last night saying the internet was down at the bunkhouse. The trip down was smooth, and they can't wait to get started this morning. They hope to have internet up today so they can post updates tonight.

UPDATE: evidently Team 1 is responsible for the loss of internet service. Once again, Team 2 has to spend most of the first day cleaning the mess Team 1 left behind ;p

Team Two departed Wed morning, Feb 3

Team Two arrived at the airport around 5:15 AM Tuesday morning and departed on their journey to Honduras. Jonathan and Mark will leave from Charlotte and meet the rest of the team in Miami. The veterans are anxious to meet old friends and the six newcomers are ready for the excitement of this faith journey to begin.

Team Two: John Baldwin, Jose Boyer, Jessica Brickell, Lin Carter, Greg Clary, Mark Clary, Jonathan Eidson, Chase Helms, Geoff Krouse, Oie Osterkamp, and Ben Yerxa.

p.s. Feliz Cumpleaños Kristen

Team One returned Tuesday night

Team One returned to Raleigh, and Kristen to Cincinnati, on Tuesday night around 11:00 PM. Many thanks to our spouses and to Tom and Keith for the warm welcome home. We look forward to sharing our stories with you in the days and weeks to come.

Dennis

Days 8 and 9

Greetings from Tegucigalpa. We are about to eat breakfast this morning before heading to the airport to fly home to Raleigh. Please make sure the ice and snow are melted by 10:30 tonight. No exciting events to report from yesterday and that is good on travel days to and from Choluteca. We chilled at the house, sat out by the pool and watched The Bernie Mac Show in Spanish. We made David stand by the TV and interpret ... just kidding. Words cannot express the debt of gratitude we owe to David. David not only had to process the same storm of emotions and processing that we all experienced as rookies, but he was in the middle of all our emotional exchanges as we had joyful reunions, delivered messages and special gifts, dealt with perplexing problems, and said tearful goodbyes. In other words he performed above and beyond the call of duty. We asked much and he gave much with a willing spirit.

We went to El Patio last night and feasted. Mike and Ginger have been excellent hosts. After our end of trip debriefing we discovered we were under attack by the insects. First, the ants ate our french toast ... well, they got in the bread that was to be our french toast. Then, Mike, Steve, David, and Joel were attacked by the Honduran air force (mosquitos) in the little bunkhouse. This morning a nice sized scorpion appeared. David, our entomologist, showed another amazing talent as he told us all about the scorpion, took lots of pictures and translated for the scorpion. Who knew? Bob, threw the scorpion over the back wall. Martha got mad at Bob making a stomping motion on the ground. She obviously did not want to see the scorpion again.

So this is our last dispatch from Honduras. We give a prayer of thanksgiving for your prayers, financial and other support, blog comments, and for keeping things going at home so that we can come here and serve our Lord. You will never know how much those gifts mean in our lives and in the lives of those with whom we work, serve and love while we are here. Felipe, Iris and Jasmine have a new home, and the children of Limon de la Cerca know that they have a God who loves them, because of what you have done. Gracias!

In His Name,

Team 1

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More photos to come...

Day 7 - A Day of Worship

Wow! The last two days have flown by and we are exhausted. Here are the highlights:

1. Finished the house yesterday and had the dedication ceremony with Felipe, Iris, Jasmine, and the workers.
2. Gave the kids tennis balls and said our goodbyes.
3. Visited Roca de Salvacion and Altos de Santa Marta. Saw old friends and had great visits!
4. Walked from the house to the downtown market. More machetes and soccer shirts purchased.
5. Had Rosa's chicken and rice with Joel's awesome guacamole.
6. Tremendous devotional time. This week's devotionals have been powerful, bonding, spiritual growth experiences. Lots of tears, laughter, sharing, singing, rejoicing.
7. Cooked our own breakfast: eggs, bacon, banana pancakes, Honduran coffee.
8. Attended worship service and Sunday School at Iglesia Bautista Nazaret, the southern Honduran Baptist mother church. This church has started 60 other churches. Powerful worship including Kristen singing "Sanctuary", Bob and Kristen singing "Amazing Grace" and Bob inviting himself to play guitar with the Praise and Worship band. We were reminded in the sermon (as David translated for us) that Christian joy does not mean the absence of problems; but joy is instead the victory of faith in the midst of troubles. Had a remarkable discussion and lesson with just Pastor Eduardo and the North Americanos during the Sunday School time. Hard to explain what happened after Sunday School but it was an amazing time in which the children, elderly, deaf, and youth participated, visitors were welcomed, Felipe spoke in gratitude for what we and his church had done for him and his family, visitors. An amazing and new experience in the "FBC" of downtown Choluteca, a huge church in beauty, spirit, worship and mission.
9. Quick lunch at Wendy's followed by trip to visit Monharas and Cedeno. Bob delivered your package, Jeremy, after getting us lost looking for both churches.
10. Return to El Carrizo. Senors Paulinos and their families in the compound on the hill. Joyous reunions and amazing late afternoon worship service with the Pastor, Claudia, the church and kids. They had baptized 12 youth in the river this morning. A true time of homecoming and celebration. Joel has a letter for you Chuck from Kaylee. We all agreed that for those of us who served there last year El Carrizo is our home away from home in Honduras. Bob and David were welcomed, embraced, moved and an integral part of the time of fellowship and worship.
11. In less than 24 hours we witnessed the Eucharist at Saturday Mass in the Cathedral, worshipped in a large, metropolitan, relatively affluent, but highly spiritual and mission oriented church, and worshiped in joy with our friends and now family in El Carrizo. Our God was very, very good to us today!!!! We have never felt more connected to Christ's worldwide Church than today.
12. Dinner at El Torrito complete with calf fries.
13. Another great devotional in which we discussed the Second Coming, our love for the people of El Carrizo, our processing of our experiences this week, future plans for our Baptist Men Honduran ministry, the remarkable spiritual and love bond of our group this week.
14. One last visit with Deysi.
15. Tomorrow morning we pack up and head for Tegucigalpa. We will leave Choluteca with the satisfaction of completing the work our Father set before us this week, having relearned how to follow His lead, making new bonds and strengthening old ones, being touched by and touching with the hands of Jesus, laughing hard, crying joyously, and thinking and feeling deeply. A perfect trip.

See you soon

In His love,

Groupo Uno