PK's Visit, Vicks Vapor Rub, and Dodging Giardia
On April 8th, both Katrina and our Pastor from Calvary Chapel in Syracuse arrived in Puerto Lempira. Pastor Ken had one whole suitcase filled with goodies and sundry items from the States just for us. A big thank you to all you who contributed to this wonderful collection of treats!
Little did he show on his face his first impressions of Puerto Lempira. Later, he told us how the heat and humidity, as well as the widespread poverty of the area overwhelmed him. Ed and he went to the prison almost daily for bible studies and we planned a few extra excursions so he could get a feel for La Mosquitia. The day after he arrived we went to the House of Hope to see how Katrina and her family were adjusting to their new home. We then visited, shared our faith, and prayed with patients in the hospital and afterward walked to the church for music practice and mural painting (we are almost done). On the road from the hospital to church a truck pulled over to greet us. Inside the truck were brethren from Alaska and Florida here for a short-term mission. The wife of one of the men (from Alaska) had found our website and had contacted us via e-mail a few months ago to ask us questions about the region. When they saw the girls they said, “We know you, you’re Gabrielle, Bethany and Michaela.” The girls didn’t know how to respond to their new fame as a result of their postings on our blogspot.
Thankfully, P. Ken didn’t experience any severe gastro-intestinal problems. That is the most common consequence of visiting or living here. When we pray over the food before partaking, we pray with a bit more sobriety and sincerity than at home in the U.S. On Sunday the Engle family and eleven children plus most of my family and P. Ken trucked it out to a swimming-hole after church. Unfortunately, I got hit hard gastro-intestinally speaking, so Gabrielle and I stayed home. Giardia was the probable culprit. After taking the medication for a few days, all was well.
On Tuesday we all boated out to the island of Yasu where Paula and James live. It was a beautiful day made even grander by Michaela’s baptism in a fresh water stream. What a glorious day of good food and rich fellowship.
We were spoiled to have our Pastor’s undivided time and attention for the week. Our love and respect for him only grew as we chitchatted, laughed, had sober discussions and prayed together. We waved goodbye to P. Ken from our back porch Friday morning as he sped down the runway to fly home. We will sorely miss his humor and kindness.
Bethany and Michaela alternated coming with me to the House of Hope to help Katrina with the unpacking and organizing of bin after bin of linens, clothing, toiletries, toys, etc. Twice a few cockroaches at the bottom of a container surprised us. We even got a chance to see our first scorpion in one of the storage rooms. Katrina thought it was a cockroach (they move with lightening speed) and stomped on it before realizing it was a small scorpion. She said, “If that had stung me, I’d be crying right now.” Supposedly the smaller ones wield the most painful sting.
We need to leave Honduras one last time due to the imposed limit on renewing our visas, before our departure in June. On the 19th, we’ll travel out of the country through the capital (Tegucigalpa) and on to Costa Rica. Both the Grigg’s and Paula and James have spent time there and highly recommend it. The most exciting part of the trip for us at this point will be the opportunity to swim (it’s been desperately hot and humid) and to have a variety of foods to choose from again.
Mango season is fast approaching and it’s not an uncommon sight to see a group of people below the towering trees, throwing sticks or stones to knock one off for instant consumption.
Katrina and Roger kid about the Mosquito obsession with Vicks vapor rub. They maintain that the indigenous people swear by it and use it for almost all physical ailments. I had to laugh when my mother-in-law e-mailed that her podiatrist recommends Vicks for the fungus quietly wreaking havoc on my toenails. Maybe they’re onto something here.
I finished reading through the Bible last month and am now starting the process over but this time all in Spanish. I already see interesting translations of familiar verses that add some food for thought to the meaning. For example, in John 1:1 it states, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” The Spanish word for "word" is palabra. The translators however, choose the word verbo. John 1:1, “En el principio era el Verbo, y el Verbo era con Dios, y el Verbo era Dios.” A verb is an action word and hallelujah, we know that God is alive and active if we’ve asked Him to reign in our lives! In Genesis 4:1, when Eve conceived and “bare” Cain, in the Spanish it says literally she “gave to light” Cain (dio a luz a Cain). I came across the term macho is in Genesis 6:19, …macho y hembra seran, or “they shall be male and female”. I never knew that macho meant male. I’m I the only one? There are many more interesting passages, but in case you’re not interested in linguistics, I’ll leave it at that.
We hope everything is well with you all. Lord willing, we’ll be seeing you in the not too distant future!
May the grace of the Lord be upon you,
Karen and family
Little did he show on his face his first impressions of Puerto Lempira. Later, he told us how the heat and humidity, as well as the widespread poverty of the area overwhelmed him. Ed and he went to the prison almost daily for bible studies and we planned a few extra excursions so he could get a feel for La Mosquitia. The day after he arrived we went to the House of Hope to see how Katrina and her family were adjusting to their new home. We then visited, shared our faith, and prayed with patients in the hospital and afterward walked to the church for music practice and mural painting (we are almost done). On the road from the hospital to church a truck pulled over to greet us. Inside the truck were brethren from Alaska and Florida here for a short-term mission. The wife of one of the men (from Alaska) had found our website and had contacted us via e-mail a few months ago to ask us questions about the region. When they saw the girls they said, “We know you, you’re Gabrielle, Bethany and Michaela.” The girls didn’t know how to respond to their new fame as a result of their postings on our blogspot.
Thankfully, P. Ken didn’t experience any severe gastro-intestinal problems. That is the most common consequence of visiting or living here. When we pray over the food before partaking, we pray with a bit more sobriety and sincerity than at home in the U.S. On Sunday the Engle family and eleven children plus most of my family and P. Ken trucked it out to a swimming-hole after church. Unfortunately, I got hit hard gastro-intestinally speaking, so Gabrielle and I stayed home. Giardia was the probable culprit. After taking the medication for a few days, all was well.
On Tuesday we all boated out to the island of Yasu where Paula and James live. It was a beautiful day made even grander by Michaela’s baptism in a fresh water stream. What a glorious day of good food and rich fellowship.
We were spoiled to have our Pastor’s undivided time and attention for the week. Our love and respect for him only grew as we chitchatted, laughed, had sober discussions and prayed together. We waved goodbye to P. Ken from our back porch Friday morning as he sped down the runway to fly home. We will sorely miss his humor and kindness.
Bethany and Michaela alternated coming with me to the House of Hope to help Katrina with the unpacking and organizing of bin after bin of linens, clothing, toiletries, toys, etc. Twice a few cockroaches at the bottom of a container surprised us. We even got a chance to see our first scorpion in one of the storage rooms. Katrina thought it was a cockroach (they move with lightening speed) and stomped on it before realizing it was a small scorpion. She said, “If that had stung me, I’d be crying right now.” Supposedly the smaller ones wield the most painful sting.
We need to leave Honduras one last time due to the imposed limit on renewing our visas, before our departure in June. On the 19th, we’ll travel out of the country through the capital (Tegucigalpa) and on to Costa Rica. Both the Grigg’s and Paula and James have spent time there and highly recommend it. The most exciting part of the trip for us at this point will be the opportunity to swim (it’s been desperately hot and humid) and to have a variety of foods to choose from again.
Mango season is fast approaching and it’s not an uncommon sight to see a group of people below the towering trees, throwing sticks or stones to knock one off for instant consumption.
Katrina and Roger kid about the Mosquito obsession with Vicks vapor rub. They maintain that the indigenous people swear by it and use it for almost all physical ailments. I had to laugh when my mother-in-law e-mailed that her podiatrist recommends Vicks for the fungus quietly wreaking havoc on my toenails. Maybe they’re onto something here.
I finished reading through the Bible last month and am now starting the process over but this time all in Spanish. I already see interesting translations of familiar verses that add some food for thought to the meaning. For example, in John 1:1 it states, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” The Spanish word for "word" is palabra. The translators however, choose the word verbo. John 1:1, “En el principio era el Verbo, y el Verbo era con Dios, y el Verbo era Dios.” A verb is an action word and hallelujah, we know that God is alive and active if we’ve asked Him to reign in our lives! In Genesis 4:1, when Eve conceived and “bare” Cain, in the Spanish it says literally she “gave to light” Cain (dio a luz a Cain). I came across the term macho is in Genesis 6:19, …macho y hembra seran, or “they shall be male and female”. I never knew that macho meant male. I’m I the only one? There are many more interesting passages, but in case you’re not interested in linguistics, I’ll leave it at that.
We hope everything is well with you all. Lord willing, we’ll be seeing you in the not too distant future!
May the grace of the Lord be upon you,
Karen and family
posted by Eric Stephens at 19:20
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