Newsletter - November, 2007

The Least of These My Brethren

November, 2007

Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me." Matt. 25:40

Published by the Society of the Good Shepherd, P. O. Box 122, Amberson, PA 17210

What Can Our Youths Do for the Kingdom?

Rachel and Jason

Rachel Hickman and her brother Jason asked me last January if they could come down to Honduras at the same time that Deborah and I would be down there. They indicated that they would be staying several months after we left—if there were ministry tasks they could do while down there. There proved to be many such ministries! Here is the letter I received from Rachel at the end of their stay in Honduras.

Greetings. We ended up staying a total of six months in Honduras. We spent the first three months helping the 1st and 2nd grade in the school where Luis and his family were attending services. Jason also taught English class there two days a week, and I helped in the kitchen after classes, serving food and washing dishes. I even taught them how to make a potato dish. Jason also tutored a young lady from the school who wanted to learn English, and he helped others here and there with English classes.

My Spanish improved enough to go and visit Milagro twice by myself. [See the October, 2006 Newsletter. She is the sister who has a crippling disease, who received a loan from the Society.] The one time was just to visit and help her with whatever projects she had going, and the other was to help with a week-long Bible study for Students Week. Those visits were some of the best times down there in Honduras. She is such an encouragement.

Jason with some of his students

I was also able to go to Olvidio and Norma’s wedding with the Vega family. In addition, I went with them to the north coast (Trujillo) for a wedding of some of their friends. That is also where I ate a plate of food with small termites crawling all over it. Yet, I rarely got sick while I was down in Honduras.

At one point in our stay in Honduras, I ended up having a mouse jump out at me as I reached for a tortilla...I ate the tortilla anyway. (No, this didn’t happen at the Vega’s house.) Well, to be able to spend three more months in Honduras, we had to go to Belize to renew our visa. It was arranged for us to stay a few days with some Mennonites there. It was quite the experience. Trying to get on the right busses from Siguatepeque to the port in Guatemala and then in the end, missing the last boat across to Belize at 2:15 in the afternoon and spending the night in a hotel around the corner from Immigrations. By the way, it is very humid in Guatemala; thankfully we had a fan in the room.

Rachel with Milagro’s class

We made it across on the first boat the next morning and showed up unexpectedly at the Mennonites’ store/home. All we had were directions from other people who had gone up before. Long story short, we found the right place and were received very warmly. That is where Jason got very sick with parasites and infections in his throat and stomach. The Belize Immigration Office had only stamped us for a week. Praise God, on one of the days, Jason had recovered enough so that we could get out. He became sick again the evening we got back to our houses. We eventually took him to the Evangelical Hospital in Siguatepeque, and he was out in a couple of days doing much better and a lot skinnier.

I was able to spend a week at the Mennonite’s Children’s Home helping with some extra children they received until these children could go back home. Most of these additional children were sick (the house where they were from was beyond filthy—not typical of most Honduran homes). I got to change a couple of diapers loaded with worms. Their 6 week old baby brother was so sick, he had to spend a few days in the hospital. When the Mom came back with the baby, I held him for an hour and promptly decided I would keep him if I could. I called him Joel (he didn’t have a name at the time). Fortunately I have a picture of him.

Both Jason and I were able to spend some time in clinics (Jason more than I). That is where he decided for sure that he wants to become a doctor. He started classes this fall. He is also studying French and is somehow squeezing in a bit of Russian. God definitely has special plans for him.

When you stay with the Vega family, you never know what situations you will find yourself in. While Jason had more opportunities to go into the rural areas, I found myself being involved with formal settings. There was Luis winning the National Coffee Cup of Excellence and the meetings for that. We also participated in the Sister City Signing Agreement between Sullivan, Tennessee and Siguatepeque. The Vice President of Honduras was there.

Making rebar posts

I was also able to go with a team from Wisconsin to the town of Orica and help build a park and attempt to do a bit a translating. Luis and Nancy were also there. There is absolutely nothing for the young people in that town, except trouble. I thoroughly enjoyed it. We cleared the area, dug the trench (400 or 600 feet), mixed and poured the cement, made rebar posts (my favorite part), and started the first couple of rows on the perimeter fence.

Time went by way too quickly down there in Honduras, and yet it was just about the right amount of time. I am so grateful we went and look forward to other opportunities should the Lord will again. Thank you again for all that you did in helping us get information and connecting us to Luis and his family.

Blessings,
Rachel

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