First Week

As usual, Life at the Beach is busy and full of surprises. As I related last week, on our first day here we had to go to the "wake" for the daughter of one of the employees here. We were told that the mass would be at seven and the burial at eight the next morning. They have to bury their dead within 24 hours because there is no embalming, and the girl had been dead 18 - 20  hours when they found her. We wanted to skip the mass, so we showed up at the cemetery at eight, but nobody was there. Two men were walking from the cemetery, so I got out of the car to ask them what happened. They told us that they had to bury her at six in the morning because the body was decomposing. You have to understand that the casket is kept at a relative's house all night without embalming or refrigeration. The family just stays up all night. I asked the men if they were relatives, but they said they were friends. One of them had a camera and asked permission to take my picture. I asked why, and he said he was taking pictures of those who were there. I assumed it was to give to the family. They wrote my name down.

We drove from the cemetery to the father's house to see if we could talk to him. We found him there and had a chance to talk to him. I even asked him if we could pray for them and we did. We also mentioned that we had talked to a friend of his who took my picture at the cemetery. Well, he told us, that he wasn't a friend, but a reporter from one of the local newspapers! The man never identified himself as a reporter! Next day there was a one page article on the paper about the tragedy, along with an insert with my picture and a comment that he completely made up! John thinks it is hilarious, but I was very upset about it. By the way, this has been a famous case in the whole country. In fact, my mother so it on Univision in California.

The church is now call "Nuevo Comienzo" (New begining)

Front view

Side view - bathrooms on back - two doors painted blue and two doors pink. No mistakes!

Sunday School "room"- all children under 12 go to the same class

View of the inside of the church - chairs were also donated by the Florida group

We visited friends every day of last week. I taught in our little church here Thursday and John preached Sunday morning in both churches. Right after we left last time, a team from a church in Florida came and painted the church, landscaped the front, and donated all the equipment needed for communion. They also donated a projector. You can see the results on the above pictures. We also had our first couples' Bible study on Saturday. John talked about suffering because of all these things that have been going on. We had a BBQ with meat, chicken and tortillas from Honduras, very good!! Last night we even went to a birthday party for one of the owners here. He turned 84 years old! He and his wife are from Georgia. They are both Christians and a lot of fun.

Today we are meeting with one girl, Alejandra, who has been part of our couples since the beginning, but she and her "fiancée" have separated due to alcohol and abuse. She is very sad. Counseling is a big part of our ministry here. Pray that she will come to the Lord. Also for her fiancée whose mother attends church sporadically.

Yirardi is cancer free, as far as we can tell. The doctor has not used the word "remission" yet, but the parents are very happy with all of the negative results. Keep praying.

Prayer requests:

• Yirardi's health
• For the family that lost the young woman
• John's ear is still bothering him
• Maturity for all believers
• Alejandra and Fabian' relationship
• Wisdom for John and I on what to say in all the different encounters

That's all folks! Until next time...from the beach!