Tuesday night was the arrival time for all of the TLC group from Honduras. Unfortunately, all of us couldn’t get home. Drew Thomas had a problem with his ear on the island Sunday. Apparently he busted his ear drum. This meant that he and Annalisa had to remain at sea level until his ear could be checked by a doctor. Any flying could have cost him his hearing. They saw Dr. John on the Island of Utila on Monday while the rest of the group flew to Tegucigalpa. The good news was that his injury was in the 1% group that can adjust to pressure and he will be able to fly home on Friday. Cathy, Kim Beck, Annalisa and Drew flew back to Tegucigalpa yesterday. Currently they are scheduled to fly home on Friday. Cathy will remain ten more days with Kim Beck for some down time.

I know that we were unable to post while we were on the Island and when we returned to Tegucigalpa the internet was down. We couldn’t even call home. But, Andrew Key, Rachel Van Hersh, Brianna McClannahan, Matt Nowell and myself flew back on Tuesday night. Tired and deeply moved by the whole experience. I will post information about our time on the Island soon. Thank you so much for your prayers and support.

Danny

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This has been an incredible trip. Just before coming to the big Island of Utila, we saw a school of dophins that would breach and spin in the air. How beautiful! We have snorkeled the entire island in two days. We saw an Octopus last night and everyone got to see and touch it if they desired. We are in town to enjoy a lunch together and hang out before returning to the island.

The last few days have gone fast. Our last ministry visit was to the juvenile prison for girls. Isabell, who lives with Rick and Kim, was there when they met. She and her brothers and sisters now live at the Beck home. Rachel and Brie have become big buddies with Isabell and Michelle. They came with us to the island. Our group did an outstanding job at the prison and they connected well with the girls. One had just recently been diagnosed with HIV. There is much work we could do at the prison in the future.

I can’t find words to describe everything we have experienced. The island has provided an outstanding opportunity to connect with the Lord and seek His direction. Thank you for the continued prayers. We leave the island early Monday morning and return to Tegucigalpa. This will be over all too soon. The memories and affects will go on for eternity.

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Hello Readers! First of all, thank you all very much for your continued prayers and thoughts. The past few days here have been busy, exhilarating, and humbling. You can see some of the pictures posted below from the city dump we went to on Monday… wow. Before we left, Danny and Rick had thoroughly explained to us everything that we would probably encounter there, but the experience itself was too much for words. It’s incorrect to say that people are “living” in the dump -they are “surviving,” “waiting,” “scraping by.” Any morsel of hope that is brought to them is consumed in seconds -their souls are as hungry as their bellies. I cannot imagine living in these conditions. I regret every time that I have ever complained of “starving,” “dying of thirst,” or being “unloved” -I have never known such things. I am infinitely blessed. But I believe God has blessed me in order that I share my blessings with others- they are not mine to keep, but mine to give.

We brought hope to the people in the dump in the form of smiles, touches, food, water, and words -please pray that this hope will remain and echo in their hearts. There was an article in The Miami Herald last year written about the Tegucigalpa municipal dump, and it reports that Honduras has the highest rate of children working in its dumps: about 2,000. (This article is very descriptive in its account of “life” at this dump, and I believe you can read it online and view the pictures at www.MiamiHerald.com , entitled “Throwaway Children” dated Monday, November 13, 2006.) Praise God that attention is being brought to this problem, because it is a huge one. As Rick said, it is a problem that “has to be attacked spiritually, physically and emotionally.”

We spent yesterday at the womens’ prison, which was quite a change of atmosphere. The women there were very welcoming, and I think they enjoyed the time we spent there. Rick and Kim had shown them “The Chronicles of Narnia” a little while ago, and Rick wanted us to do a follow-up with it, illustrating parallels from it to the Christian life. This was fun -I love this movie! And the Becks said it would help the women think allegorically. We also sang some music, and Brie shared a short testimony while Rick translated. All in all, the time we spent there was was very warm and enjoyable, and the women were so receptive and cheerful!

We’re preparing now to leave for Little Key (the island) and things are kind of hectic around the house! But everyone is looking forward to a few days of rest and fellowship. Please continue to keep us in your prayers, as we will be spending this time discussing ways to incorporate what we’ve learned here into our roles as leaders among the youth back home.
-Annalisa

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Our team is doing a great job of keeping us up on what they are doing in Honduras. Here are some more photos — be patient if it takes a bit of time for them all to load — it’s well worth it.
— beth

Ministering in the city dump

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Monday was a typical day for Honduras. Our trip to the dump was delayed from lunch until dinner. I spent most of the day trying to purchase our tickets for the Island trip on Wednesday. When we arrived to purchase the tickets they could not accept a credit card due to the system being down. So, we went to the bank to exchange American Express Traveler’s checks. Simple huh? It took four banks and two grocery stores before we could get the cash needed to purchase the tickets. At one bank they said that we had to open an account to cash the checks while another said their personnel who handled those wouldn’t be back until tomorrow. It is the kind of frustration the Beck’s face each time they try and pay bills. The group got to the dump in the late afternoon. They prepared the food for the group. Andrew was offered some glue by some of the boys at the dump. They use it to mask their hunger when enough food is not available. Brianna said, “I had to fight tears back the whole time.” The buzzards, the smell, and the life they live. What a wake-up experience! Drew shared scripture at the dump and Rick translated for him. It was a frustrating and blessed day. The day ended with an incident at the house. The sink fell and shattered in one of the bathrooms and spewed water all over the place. It took Rick and I a while to get the water up and close the pipes. What a day. Keep praying. We just met and made our plans for visiting the Juvenile Prison in the next hour. Each member of the team is taking part in a presentation using the movie Lion, Witch and Wardrobe.

Danny

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Rachel Van Hersh summarizes the video Daniel in the Lions’ Den to all the children (with an interpreter).

Matt Nowell shares his testimony with Koinonia Church on Sunday, with Carla interpreting.

Danny and Rick during Danny’s sermon with ninos listening attentively!

Our TLC group, after church, with all the Becks.

Annalisa Thomas gets a much-needed shoulder rub after many piggy-back rides.

Singing praise music with all the children in the barrio

Four tired travelers during a layover in Houston.

The view from the Becks’ house overlooking Tegucigalpa

A few of the children from the barrio who came to play with us.

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Well, I think we finally wore the group out on Sunday. It is 7:45AM and none of the students are awake. Yesterday was full with Koinonia Church, lunch with interpretors, the Beck family and the neighborhood event. There are three little girls who come every Sunday morning from a poor Barrio (neighborhood) to have breakfast and go to church with the Becks. Kim has told us that one of the girls was coming by and eating the dog food in the dog’s dish because she was starving. We went to a small neighborhood park that is protected by an armed guard. We took soccer balls, frisbees and snacks for the local children. Our group led singing and playing games with the kids. These kids do not go to school and are allowed to run free on the streets all day and night. They live in tin shacks with no running water and little food. They were thrilled to get a little bag of water and a cookie from us. The smell of Marijuana was strong in the air but the children were so happy that someone came to love on them. Rick Beck showed Bible stories on video and Chronicles of Narnia to the older youth and adults. We were all blessed to show a little of God’s love to these starving children. I did running around for supplies while the group worked with the children during the VBS and when I came back they were all sitting and tired. I think they did too many piggy back rides. Rachel did a wrap-up of the Daniel movie for the children. After the first movie one little girl found out we were going to show the Chronicles of Narnia. She said, “Oh what a mountain of riches! We get to see two movies!” Earlier in the day, Matt shared his testimony at Koinonia Church and the group sang at the church services. They did an outstanding job. Led by Drew and Andrew, the group set a tone of fun in both settings. You would be proud of how they worked, initiated and related to the locals. They have shown leadership individually and collectively in a short time. I was not aware of how much of an impact my prior involvement with their Kairos Youth Congress had meant to the church. I spoke in 2005 and raised some funds to help in 2006. They honored me with mementos from 2006 including a clock from Kairos. Thank you for letting us be here! The needs are so great.

Danny and Cathy

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Greetings TLC family! We have just completed our first full day here in Tegucigalpa and it was indeed an eventful one. We started off this morning by attending church with the Beck family. Except for our part, the service was all in Spanish which made for quite a unique worship experience. Danny was given the opportunity to deliver the message and the rest of us were asked to sing a few songs for the congregation. They seemed to really enjoy having us there and were incredibly welcoming. After lunch we had a chance to rest for a little while before conducting a VBS of sorts for the children in one of the neighborhoods near where we are staying. It was an amazing experience for all of us. We played soccer, frisbee, and some other games with over a hundred kids. That eventually turned into giving “piggyback” rides until we could barely walk, then we led them in singing and showed a Daniel and the lion’s den cartoon. Everyone fell in love with the kids. The language barrier proved to be only a very mild frustration and definitely didn’t put a damper on any of the fun or ministry. The only bad part of the day was having to leave them after only a few hours. It’s about bed time now. For tomorrow, please pray especially for the time we will spend ministering to the people at the city dump, it is certain to be a difficult atmosphere for us to take in and adjust to…

-drew

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It has been a long day, but a safe one and enjoyable one. We are now at the home of Rick and Kim Beck in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Everyone is set for the night. We had Telapia for dinner cooked by a native Honduran. Our group of eight has filled a home of ten. Rick introduced their foster children to our group and we went through the schedule for the next ten days. Rick asked our group, “what do you feel like is the same as home?” Matt Nowell immediately said, “the people around here drive just like Memphis! They cut you off and race around.” Rachel and Brie are conversing with the foster children in Spanish and having a good time. Drew and Annalisa are hitting the wall tonight after three weeks in Africa. They are hitting the hay early. The only issue today was the guitar brought and checked by Andrew didn’t make it to Honduras. Continental is working on getting it here. Tomorrow is full with the services at Koinonia Church, a neighborhood club in a barrio near the Beck home and preparation for the city dump on Monday. As we left the plane, the stewardess gave us all the left over sandwiches that were to be thrown out. She found out about our work at the dump on Monday. All of us will participate in both events Sunday. We will play with children, share, sing and show love to the local neighborhood children. Thank you for your support, prayers and love. Tomorrow comes in just a few hours and we need a good nights rest. Blessings.

Danny

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Last night we had a phone call from the Rick Beck (the missionary for YFC) who called for the Pastor of Koinonia Church in Tegucigalpa. He has asked that our TLC team lead the services on Sunday morning. Drew Thomas and Andrew Key will sing some music and some of our students will share their testimony with the church. Danny will preach. This church hosts a large youth training event each year with hundreds of Christian students from around Honduras called Kairos. Danny spoke for them two years ago. Ministry opportunities have exploded as the team will do a neighborhood VBS activity on Sunday afternoon. Monday will find our team cooking and delevering food to the city dump where many young people live. Tuesday they will be at the female youth prison presenting a program to the girls. We will be hitting the ground running when we land in Tegucigalpa on Saturday. Pray for safety, health, and the leadership of the Holy Spirit.

Danny

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