Sunday, October 23, 2016

We are continuing to enjoy the weather in Teguc although it has been raining every day or night. Fortunately, we only got caught out in a downpour once and Rick volunteered to run from the restaurant to the car and pick the rest of the crew up. On Thursday, we moved from our accommodation at the team house to the Ruttan's so we can look after their little dog while they are back in Canada for a month. Those of you who are well acquainted with us can imagine the irony as you know are not stinky-dog-in-house people! However, we have put some boundaries in place and are managing fine. Abby seems quite amenable to our company and she is really cute with an engaging disposition.

We had a rewarding 2 1/2 days with the director of International Missions and the director of the LAC region. We had the privilege of handing out  about 80 Bibles to grade 5 students in 2 schools and of course, as soon as one got the idea, they all wanted multiple "autographs" in the covers of their Bibles. It is sobering to be attributed celebrity status even if it is from children. Rick remembers when he was in grade four, the Gideons came to his class and handed out Bibles.  Back then it was still socially acceptable to have Christian values and they could even be acknowledged in schools.  We understand that in Canada we are a secular nation and there is separation of church and state, but it is evident that the systematic removal of Christian values in all areas of society has not brought a positive outcome . . . Honduras is very Catholic and Christianity is practised and accepted in all parts of the society, so it was cool to be able to go into the schools and give Bibles to the students as a graduation award from their Seedlings classes.These Bibles are possibly the first book these students will be able to call their own and take into their homes.  They were very happy to get them.

Grade 5 students receiving their Bibles

We also visited the site of a project to drill a well to supply water to one of the schools and hopefully the surrounding community. This project began in 2011 and there have been many hurdles to get over to make it possible for the drilling to start on October 24. We attended a town hall meeting where the agreement outlining responsibilities and commitments among all parties was reviewed. Attendance was impressive and there seemed to be consensus about the project and solid support for it.  In the communities the team serves, 25,000 people live in the hills on the outskirts of the city with no running water or septic system.  Collecting rain water or buying it from water trucks is the only option.  The well has been a dream by one of the founders of the ministry to provide clean and abundant water to the schools where there is an in-school feeding program operated by Schools of Hope staff and parents with Canadian funds paying for the food.  More on the in-school feeding program in a future blog post.

The well site with boulders in place to make a level base for the drilling rig.
It is basically on the side of a hill and difficult to access.

One of things we did with the directors is spend a morning with the team of Honduran staff, which included Pastor Victor and nine competent young people. Murray shared some of his story growing up in Africa and gave us a mini-lesson on principles of leadership. Then Kathy asked the team members to share some of their own stories from working in the schools and feeding program. What an inspiration to hear them talk about what God is doing in their lives and through them to touch the lives of the children in their communities. They constantly give all glory to God. One of our key principles in being involved in this type of development work is that we will try our best not to do for people what they can do for themselves.  In other words, if we can find local Hondurans who are willing to work with the team and manage programs, it gives them agency and investment in their own community and provides opportunities for them.  It is a priority for Kathy (SoH Director) to hire community members or ask them to volunteer to work in the schools to deliver the programs. It is very rewarding for us to get to know these leaders-in-training!

The Schools of Hope Team

Speaking of potential leaders, Cheryl started an English class last Friday for any of the Honduran staff and other community contacts who are interested in coming. Five beautiful, enthusiastic young learners appeared punctually at 8:00 in the morning, having started their journey by bus in from the outskirts much earlier. Damaris and Delmys manage the feeding program; Ariel (Damaris' brother) works as Pastor Victor's assistant; Marvin teaches Bible classes; Rosa is a friend from Victor's church. Well - a lovlier class of ESL students Cheryl could not imagine. Her goal is to get the class well-established with the students learning and enjoying the lessons so that it will continue after she is gone. She will spend a large portion of her time developing a curriculum for the next teacher to follow, and hopefully it will grow into a full scale ministry. Who knows what God has planned?

LAC Regional Director James Guskjolen signing Bibles for the children

Please pray that drilling of the well will proceed smoothly this week and that the rocks will bring forth water in plenty even as the Living Water is being poured into this community.