Safely back in our home

Dear Friends and Family,

We are safely back in our home in Puerto Lempira and finally settled in again. Nothing was harmed or stolen in our absence except the light bulb on the back porch (again). Thankfully we are now stocked up again with hand sanitizer, shampoo, lotion, candles, scotch tape, Ziploc bags, yummy cereal, ganola bars, peanuts, Italian seasonings, and other sundry items. To all you who sent things down to Florida for us to bring back with us - THANK YOU! Hand-carrying items is the best and most cost effective way to get things down here.

The Pastor of the church we attend came to welcome us back and visit with us last night (Tuesday). He had wonderful news to tell. One of the biggest drug lords in town came to the Monday night men’s bible study and committed his life to Christ, receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit at the same time. Another man that owns one of the biggest cantinas (bars), as well as the rundown movie theater also received Christ as his Savior. He announced to Pastor David that he is going to close both establishments! The widow of one Central America’s most notorious drug kingpins who was assassinated here just before we arrived, is faithfully assembling herself with us and is planning to open a beauty salon in order to start her life anew. Glory to God for His life changing grace and power!

We came back to some bad news as well. It’s rumored that huge amount of drugs and possibly some bags of money washed ashore not far from here and there are now quite a number of overnight millionaires in the vicinity. Our landlady sold some property she owned outside of town because all of a sudden she had a wealthy buyer. Supposedly, the local bank can only exchange up to US $500 dollars into Lempiras (the local currency) each day. This has caused some problems for we gringos who need to exchange our dollars for “limps”, as the bank now reaches it’s limit a few minutes after opening.

Yesterday, a presidential hopeful flew into La Mosquitia by helicopter and made a speech. He drew quite a crowd. He landed very near our home and we could see him from our back porch. When I went into town for food, there was some sort of march with people were carrying hand-made signs demonstrating support for his candidacy.

Ed has resumed teaching the prisoners. It’s been almost a month since he last was with them (there’s about nine in all). One of them was released over the holidays. Another has read through the entire books of Acts and Romans. Praise the Lord for hungry hearts! Today, another prisoner received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We pray for more fruit and that it remains!

We were all a little anxious to get back to P.L. after our extended time away, except for possibly Chaela. The girls had assured me they wouldn’t dread coming back to no running water, etc., because they know from experience that it isn’t very difficult to adjust to. They’re right. I never realized how unimportant many amenities are. We had them in spades at the Sonesta Resort Hotel in Key Biscayne where we had a nice stay with Ed’s family. At first, the girls and I kept throwing our toilet paper in the garbage forgetting we can flush at will. We got with the program in a few days. We all enjoyed the immense variety of foods, and I for one, gave thanks before eating with much more appreciation and sincerity than ever before. Besides those things, I was surprised how little all the conveniences and amenities of American life mattered. They didn’t make life better or richer or give it more meaning or value.

Believe it or not, we were quite chilly at first in Florida. Ed and I changed our hotel room three times before getting a room that had a functioning heating system. Many rooms had systems that hadn’t been used in such a long time for heat that they were inoperative. I suppose it’s possible that Ed, I, and the girls were the only ones cranking up the heat.

While shopping with Michaela for new sandals in Key Biscayne, a cockroach scurried by our feet. Michaela didn’t even flinch. It was just a baby compared to the big boys we’re used to seeing down here. Everything’s relative.

On our return trip as soon as we landed in Honduras (San Pedro Sula) the girls and I went to the ladies room. In the middle of the floor near the sink was a huge, rusty metal drum. I guess it was used for catching water leaking from the ceiling. While looking at this sight, Chaela called out from one of the stalls that none of the toilets flushed. Then, as we waited in the terminal for our next flight to La Ceiba, a mouse scampered along the floor in plain view and caused quite a little stir. Yep! We’re back in Honduras! Somehow, these sorts of incidents don’t revolt us, but rather make us giggle and endear us to this country.

The first day back I had to walk into town and purchase some much needed food. On the way I met my Cuban Christian friend, Sarah. I asked her in my caveman Spanish when she could come to our house again so we could continue our English-Spanish studies. She answered with a flood of Spanish I couldn’t follow. Then I went to the corner vegetable and fruit stand. Unfortunately there was no fruit in town save a few rotting plantains and some very green bananas. I asked the merchant how much an item was and then proceeded to give her insufficient funds (even though I understood what she said). The humiliating feeling of being a foreigner washed over me. I returned home a little discouraged as I contemplated this reality of being a stranger and how to best grapple with it. The next morning as I was reading the Bible (Acts, chapter 7), I saw so clearly how the Lord had required this of many in the past. Abraham was told to leave his own country and his relatives and go to a land that the Lord would show him while his “descendants would dwell in a foreign land” (Acts 7:6). Joseph was sold into bondage to a people and land that was foreign to him. The more I thought about it the more Biblical examples came rushing to mind. The most direct application being, Matthew 28:19a,”Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” and Acts 1:8b,”..and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Both scriptures are quoting the Lord Jesus Christ. He knew His disciples would confront the same hurdles in foreign cultures and languages. I am totally refreshed, strengthened and encouraged by His Word! To put my reinvigorated faith into practice I studied Spanish today for a good long time. Hallelujah!

We wish you all a wonderful New Year, and pray that you would know and draw near to Him in a greater way.

Love,
Karen and family

P.S. This is not really an afterthought but on the foremost of my mind. I just wasn’t sure where to place it in the above letter. Those of you, who know the Lord personally and seek Him diligently, please join us in praying for the multitude of anguished and grieving victims of the Tsunami. I pray the Lord would send forth His laborers with the grace and truth of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ in their mouths, and the gifts of healings in their hands. Use your people Lord to reach these suffering souls with the mercy and help that You alone are able to give—in Jesus’ Name. Amen.