Second Week

John and the kids

Remember your present, Rubia?

 

This is fun

We had a good week. My foot is healing well, and I even started walking, but not every day yet. Saturday afternoon John brought Francisco's kids and Yirardi to the pool for an afternoon of fun. John probably had the most fun of them all. Sunday afternoon we watched our friend's team soccer match. Coach Méndez has just been hired to head the team, and now I know why a change after the season started: they are tied for last place. They lack speed. The two players who came with him and one other national player have been added for speed, but still is not enough. They tied the match 1 - 1. Al least they did not lose. I just keep praying for him to have wisdom to get the most out of each player.

Sunday evening we had the couples Bible study at the home of Fabian and Alejandra in the nearest town from here. Last year they built a two bedroom house, with a bathroom, small kitchen and a small living room, no dining room. We sat outside because there wasn't enough room in the house for all of us. This is the common practice here, since homes are small and hot. We brought beef for BBQ, the local version of carne asada. We just bought at in the supermarket already marinated. It was very good. We had the usual tortillas Hoduran style from Luz with rice and beans, very good. We also had cheese cake and ice cream for dessert. The purpose of meeting at their house was to bless their new home. We talked about the parable of the wise and the foolish builders. I told the story by memory, then they repeated it to each other, then we read it from the Bible, and we asked them questions and comments. They got the message loud and clear, but as Dennis says, easy to understand, but hard to put into practice. We finished with a game, as usual. They stayed and talked. Even though they were far from home and had to work the next day, they stayed until about 10 pm. They are really connecting with each other as a group.

Monday we went with one of the couples, Sergio and Bianka to another beach town one hour from here for lunch. They had the day off, and it was something different to do. Bianka graduated with a BA on nursing last January. She took and passed all her Board exams last April, but she still doesn't have her nursing license on hand in order to apply for jobs. It has taken almost a year. She should get it this week. In the meantime, she works part-time at her sister's beauty shop. Her husband works at the Beach Club here, but really wants to study to be a pastor. He certainly has the gift. Pastor Alejandro would love to turn over the little church here to him, but Bianka needs a good job, so that he can go to the university. Getting a degree here is difficult and expensive. Pray for them.

Tonight we are going into town to visit certain people who are backsliding. One because alcoholism and the other family because they must have been offended by someone, although they deny it. We need wisdom to encourage these believers to come back to the fold.On Wednesday we will have lunch with the pastor and his wife, just to encourage them.

Prayer requests:

• Continue to pray fro my foot and for protection and good health for both of us
• Pray that Fabian and Alejandra will turn their lives to Christ
• Pray that Banka will find a full-time nursing job
•  Pray for Jose Pablo to stop drinking and come back to church
• Continue to pray for Yirardi's health
• Pray for Yirardi's parents to take that step of faith
• Pray for wisdom for both of us as we teach, encourage and counsel
• Pray for our family back home

Thank you for your prayers! Until next time...from the beach...