A look into the past...

June 19

  

     The team was able to experience a wonderful treat today; a trip to the Copán Mayan Ruins. Copán is home to the second largest ball court in the Mayan territory. The tour winds through the city, including sights such as temples, statues, and sacrificial altars. Our tour guide was very knowledgable and was able to answer any questions that were presented. Copán gave us the incredible opportunity to look into the history of Honduras.  

     The area also hosts a large number of the native Macaw birds, which are equally amazing to look at. We learned that Macaws mate for life which reminded us of God's design for marriage.

   

A Glimpse of Joy Admist the Poverty

June 18th

We began our day with a precious time of devotion and another "magnifico" breakfast.  Then we went to TQ and successfully planted the remaining trees which had been purchased (#30). We have learned how to mix poop and then scoop it into the hole in prep for the new trees.  We are grateful that God has sent rain to help them grow and look forward to the fruit each one will bear.

After lunch, we presented a gift of beans and rice to the community near Tranquilidad. Our home church has taught us to look for opportunities to reach "every man, woman and child" within our own community.  Here it was a blessing for us to see the smiles when the families received such a small gift and words of love in the name of Jesus.

Directly from there, we visited the Tejeras feeding program which is sponsored by Honduras Agape Foundation.  This program feeds 75+ children four times a week.  We were all moved by the beautiful faces of these impoverished children so eager for their meal...possibly the only one of the day.  We were able to help serve them the meal but are grateful to those whom God has moved to sponsor it.

A Day Bursting with Song

June 17th

We awoke this morning to the sweet sounds of birds just outside our windows. It began a day of song in Honduras. Our first activity of the day (after a spectacular breakfast by Gloria and Sandra) began at the El Povenier kindergarten, where Sra. Umanzor has been training up tiny Honduran ninos and ninas for over 20 years in the way of Christ. The joy of serving 80+ kindergarten children concluded in song when one of her classes proudly serenaded the North Americans with a jubilant kindergarten rendition of the Honduran National Anthem. 

A drive up to Buenos Aires gave us a true panoramic view of the Quimistan Valley, home to thousands of beautiful Honduran people...and now home of Tranquilidad Foundation (TQ). The cool temperatures at 3,000 feet gave us a brief reprieve before our second leg of tree planting. Tough work but so rewarding to know that TQ will have a orchard full of banana, plantain, mango, papaya, lime, fig and orange trees to sustain the children and families that will be calling Tranquilidad home. 

The afternoon thunderstorm exploded in bullets of rain that was a prayer answered (both for the trees AND the workers!). Soaked but happy, we headed down to our compound, ready for a fabulous dinner and out for a night in Quimistan to support TQ's construction manager, Stanley, singing in Quimistan's annual "Festival of Popular Song". We cheered, sang to Brown Eyed Girl (our own Jennifer Edwards entered the contest), and immersed ourselves in the joyful lives of the Honduran people.

Lucky for us, our wonderful missionary sponsors, Roxanne and Sam Turnipseed, and TQ's dedicated translator (and devoted friend), Daniel, created a beautiful day of song for our team. But what is most beautiful is the song of salvation through Jesus Christ which reigns above all.

Top: Sra. Umansor's kindergarten class wearing their crowns...the princes and princesses of King Jesus
Middle photos (left to right): The beauty of Honduras; Charles "Butch" Spalding and granddaughter, Dora,bonding on a mission trip to serve Christ; George Dewhirst, the team veteran, serving on his 17th mission trip to Quimistan.
Bottom: Our new little friends showing honor to their country and love to their North American visitors