Laughter is Universal

Today in optical there were a number of technical issues, which lead to a little frustration, but by hook and by crook we managed to make things work.  From printer issues to mouse issues - but it all worked out.  Even with a slow start we still managed to see about 78 patients.

While working with a patient and using the autorefractor to check her vision, we had a long moment of laughing.  In the middle of the exam, a loud musical sound came from right in front of me and scared me, but my initial reaction was why is the autorefractor making that sound.  The lady I was examining must have caught the expression on my face and pulled her cell phone out from her shirt!  We both burst out laughing and some how it became contagious.  She started laughing and talking to me in Spanish and even though I had no idea what she was saying to me, it was a moment of making connections and enjoyment.  It doesn't matter what language you speak, laughter sounds the same, and it coudln't have come at a better moment, since there had been many frustrations up to that point. I needed that moment and it got me through the day.  I met many kind and wonderful people today and some really cute kiddos.  Everyone I met wanted to have a conversation and get to know me.  Thank you God for helping me find a moment to lift my spirits for the day.

Construction are continuing to build the walls on the 4th floor of the building and had a funny story to tell me also.  Robert, one of our construction missioners today met a young lady who was helping in VBS and the young lady told him she thought he looked like the giant from Gullivers travels.  He was entertained by that thought!  Along with wheel barrow races and roof top yoga, I think the guys are having a blast.

Sewing has been busy none stop and being productive in producing beautiful items and teaching the women to sew.  VBS have been busy and productive as usual and the kids are enjoying their time with our VBS leaders.  It's fun to see all of the colorful artwork hanging on the walls.

Tonight we enjoy a meal with our construction workers and a few translators and Superintendant Pablo.  Looking forward to a wonderful musical instrument.

And because laughter is universal here are some silly photos of the yoga crew. 

That's all for now.

Blessings

Shelley

Gods Plan For Me

Day 1 of work day today and it came with its many blessings and challenges as usual.  My assumption was that I would be working on construction this week, but it seems that was not the plan for me.  We needed an extra body in optical so things ran efficiently and smoothly, and since I am trained on the equipment, it was logical for me to step into that role.  While I was admittedly a little disappointed and frustrated if I am being truly honest, because I love to work construction, I came to realize after a while that this was God's plan for me today.  Who am I to argue.  We don't always like God's plan for us and sometimes fight it, but it was clear I was in the right spot today.  The 3 USA missioners in Optical, myself, Chuck and Karen worked well together and managed to see 82 patients today.  That was quite an accomplishment!  The best part of it was spending more one on one time with the patients and talking to them about their lives.  Even though it seemed we were constantly busy, I felt blessed to be able to find the time to spend talking with the locals and getting to know them.  It all goes back to my original post about becoming consumed with the work that we are doing and not the people we are trying to help and get to know.  That's why I think God placed me where he did today.  Yes, I still want to work in construction, but I won't argue if its not my place.  I will go where I am told to go and I will spend time listening to God's plans for me.

The construction, sewing and VBS crew all had productive and rewarding days also.  Anne, our team leader has been sick with a nasty head cold, and has been a trouper to keep marching on this week.  She works with the VBS kiddos' so this I am sure was not easy, given how she has been feeling.

The Lord speaks to us all if we are listening and paying attention.  We just don't always listen.  My goal this week to spend more time listening.

That's all for tonight.  Enjoy some pictures from today below.

Blessings,

Shelley

What's in a hat?

Posting on behalf of Anne Weiland. 

Half of our leadership team was not able to go on the trip due to a leg injury and infection. The required some last minute scrambling with luggage and figuring out how to fill some big shoes, or in this case a big hat. You see Bob is always visible in a crowd and none of our team members ever get lost if they follow  the tall man in the white bucket hat.  He is our chief safety and procurement specialist. He know where to find everything we need in Tegucigalpa from sand paper to cement mixers.  Because Bob could not come, everyone needed to be Bob and so I brought his hat.  Anyone who wears it instantly acquires all of his great leadership traits: patience, care taking, finder of all things needed.  We miss him but at least we have his hat!

A Series of Funny Moments and Learning Patience

A Series of funny moments and learning to be Patient   So our theme for the week is love, but our theme for the day yesterday was patience!  And yes, as usual here in Honduras, definitely something we all need.  It was a very long day again yesterday, but a good day.    We began with our our group short worship and enjoyed breakfast together.  A little while later, we joined in the with the church Sunday worship.  I'm always amazed at the patience, and uninhibited worshippers.  Church "begin"s at 10am, and I say that loosely.  People stroll in all throughout the service and the service often starts late.  But its not disruptive or a concern if there is a steady stream of people showing up mid-service.  In fact, those people are welcomed with open arms and showed to a seat.  Those of us from the USA who drive a car to church, and have an alarm clock and a schedule to keep, don't often realize the effort these people have to make to get to church.  Some walk a long way, some rely on busses, some start out but don't always make it before the service is over, but yet they are not discouraged.  They cherish the ability to go to church  and see it as a blessing.  We should all worship this way.  There is no time set for the service, it's over when its over, and that's just okay.  The music is loud and heartfelt and the prayers are genuine.     After the service, we had a very productive meeting with the leaders of the church.  It was awesome to see such a large group of strong, dedicated leaders, taking an active role in making sure their church was successful and growing.  We learned a lot about their needs and desires, and what we could do to help them help themselves.  They said our church is your church, often and talked about their appreciation for us and the work we do there.     Some of our new missioners, took some time to visit the Christ Statue and also the Valle of the Angels - small artisan village with lots of handmade items.  The rest of us had a short lunch and went in a few different directions.  Some of us had to go to the airport to pick up the lost luggage from the day before and run a few errands.  Both of these things were experiences by themselves!   I don't think I have ever received such kind but funny treatment at an airport.  Starting with the desk agent who tried to pretend he did not have our bags, to the guy who came out to meet us to help us retrieve those bags - also joking that we wouldn't be able to get our bags without our claims tickets - which the other guy had just taken! We were escorted to a tiny, tiny office at the back of the airport where we had to turn in our passports to get special "backstage" passes, in order to go back and find our luggage with the delta agent who was helping us.  The sign on the wall told us to wear the lanyard by our "thorax".  For some reason this entertained us way more than it should have and I don't know if it was just because we don't use the word "Thorax" that much or we were just slap happy at that point, but it was funny and you had to be there.  We were then walked back through the airport to enter the secure area to retrieve our bags.  While struggling to get through the metal detectors, undetected, we turned around just in time to see the first guy wheeling all our bags out into the main lobby area.  So, we gave up on the metal detectors, returned out "special" tags and returned to the truck where they were already loaded and ready to go into the truck.  The delta agent walked with us the entire way, talking about how much they appreciated groups like ours who take time out of their personal lives to do the work that is needed out here.  Have you ever in an airport, had the opportunity to have a heartfelt, un-rushed conversation with an airline agent???  I haven't until this day.  Another example, of the love and patience this culture demonstrates on a daily bases.     Back at the ranch, the rest of the group was setting up the equipment and supplies for the rest of the week, working through glitches and complications, but working tirelessly until it got done.  Once the luggage group arrived back we dove in to help finish up.  We broke for dinner and gathering and heard some more entertaining stories and some more inspiring stories from the rest of the group.  Including owner from our the new guys in our group.  They are sharing a room and on the back wall of that room there is a window.  During the first night, one of them had suggested they open the window to get more airflow as it was a little hot.  So they opened the shades, and were somewhat surprised at how dark it was.  They proceeded to open the window, only to realize the window opened out into the church area and they were actually in an interior room!  The way they told the story had us all laughing, complete with stories of making sure they all had deep on before opening the window!! Fun times.    We returned to work at about 9pm to make sure we were squared away for our first day of seeing patients and working on site.  Again, entertained by our new guys trying to hang a tarp in the optical area.  It's going to be an entertaining week with this bunch, I can just tell!  The only thing missing is Bob, who is one of our faithful missioners, and at the last minute was not able to come due to an injury on his leg.  We miss him a lot and know he is hear in spirit.  Ron, also is missing this year and we know he is here in spirit also.     Another exercise in patience and understanding.  The work was done and I returned to the room to shower and then attempt to do a little soccer team work and update the blog.  God had other plans and I think was probably telling me to go to bed, as the internet did not work and I was quickly approaching frustration an hour later sitting trying to post stuff.  After a moment in prayer, I came to the understanding that not everything needs to get done on a schedule and that it's okay if the blog does not get done by a specific time every night.  It's okay! Just like in church this am.  No time limits, and no one is judging!     Well, I need to get ready for the day working between construction and optical so I am going to finish for this am.  Will try to update tonight, but know that it's okay if it just does not happen!    Blessings,       Shelley

Arrival in Tegucigalpa

Today was a very long day - but we made it here none-the-less.  Our first flight out of Milwaukee was delayed about 40 minutes, which made our already tight connection, a big challenge.  We ran through the airport and walked on the plane with the doors closing behind us - only to sit on the runway for another half hour!  Since we had a delay and tight connection, our bags did not make it to Honduras, and are currently sitting in Atlanta - they arrive tomorrow.  So, a few of us are borrowing clothes, and toiletries, but making do.  It would be easy to get stressed at situations like these, but when you arrive in a country that has so many needs, your needs become small. 

What a blessing it is to be able to see the progression of the mission headquarters.  So strange to be staying in the building we are currently working on and in the dorms that we were building last year.  There is something sort of satifying about that.  

We got a head start on some of our set up today - one advantage of staying at the work site.  Which means tomorrow will be less busy for set up.  

Our theme for the week is "Do everything in Love".  

"We are called to act out our faith every day. God works through us to reach those who may never otherwise open the Bible or enter a church. What’s more, He borrows our voice to tell His story and uses our life to demonstrate His grace and glory. Good deeds are a believer's labor of love."

My prayer is always to be able to be able to use my voice and my time to demonstrate His grace and glory.  While the work we do sometimes can be challenging, it is always a labor of love.  

The evening is winding down and the air is cooler outside.  The final travel group for week one arrives any minute now at the airport, and our group will finally be all together for the week.  This final group several new missioners and so I prayer they have a fruitful week.

That's all for now - exhaustion is kicking in.  

More tomorrow

Blessings,

Shelley 

 

And so the travel begins!

Well, the first group of missioners is off to Honduras today - by now they should be on their way to Tegucigalpa.  Please pray for safe travels, and happy landings in Tegu!  It's definitely the most interesting airport to land in!  

The rest of the week one crew will be arriving on Saturday.  

I'm all packed, ready to go - got to keep in mind the reason for going.  

1. Pray that the mission team will not let the platform take the place of the mission. In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus commissioned us to make disciples. That’s our mission. Oftentimes, compassion ministry, construction, or other need-based ministries are the “platforms” that give opportunity for mission trips. But success in meeting these needs is not our “mission.” Our mission is disciple-making (evangelism, teaching, baptizing) connected to a local church. It is easy to let the need (platform) become the focus. Pray that our mission teams will not forget the 
   mission” in lieu of meeting the need.

Labor of Love!

Going on a mission trip requires significant planning and preparation as a team but also individually.  Each of us have different lives, and different areas we need to prepare in our lives for such a big trip.  Missioners are busy planning out who is going to feed their pets, manage their mail, watch over their homes, and get them to the airport.  Also, planning what to pack for a trip such as this requires some thought too, because clothing needs to be sprayed with bug repellent.  Team leaders are making plans to ensure a safe and well thought out trip, and co-coordinating with our Honduran leaders to ensure things run smoothly.  This year is a little more complicated because we have 6 different flight groups arriving at different days and times!

For me personally, this is a time that I focus on all of the above but to also ensure my family is in "good shape" before I leave.  I am fortunate enough to have a husband who works from home and is around a lot, so that definitely makes things easier, but there are somethings that need to be worked out ahead of time.  Such as who is going to get to a particular activity when people are going in 3 different directions, and we are down a driver!  Our daughter has a dance competition while I am gone, and I want to make sure she has what she needs before I leave. Our son has an soccer tournament, and I manage his team, so making sure he is squared away and the team is prepared with paperwork etc, is also on my "to do list".  The biggest prep work I do for my family is making sure they are well fed while I am gone, so I spend time preparing a ton of freezer meals that are simple and easy for them to cook.  Today I finished that task!  Yeah!

I am very thankful that I have the time and resources to prepare healthy meals for my family.  While preparing meals tonight, I am once again reminded of the many blessings in my life.

But, while all of this is going on, it is most important that we keep in mind the reason we are going and that we prepare our hearts and minds to do the the Lord's work.  This is what is truly most important.  If we get caught up in the details and logistics, we lose sight of our greater mission.  We need to remember that the mission is not about the "work", but the people whose lives we touch and the people who touch our lives.  It truly is a blessing and truly a labor of love.

Blessings.

Shelley

Freezer Meals Prepared

Preparing Team Lanyards