Do you remember the game "telephone" we used to play when we were younger? A phrase is whispered into the first persons ear, then the phrase is whispered into the next person, and the next, and so on. Well, by the end of the line, or circle, or whatever shape you might have been sitting in, the phrase had changed. Sometimes, just a few words had changed, and sometimes it had turned into an entirely different phrase. The point of the game was to prove that each time the phrase was told, maybe the person telling it left out a word or said a different word or maybe the listener didn't hear a word or heard the wrong word. Each person then relays the wrong message, sometimes based off of faulty information.
This is Nate Reeves, for those of you who don't know me, I'm Terry and Margaret's son. I'm updating the blog this morning and giving you a news update straight from the source. I opened the blog with that story so that you will remember not to believe or listen to every update you hear. I just spoke with my dad and he told me exactly what is happening in Honduras right now.
So, here's the update:
This morning in Honduras, Congress approved a pseudo-military-coup of the President. Whatever you hear, know this: What has happened in Honduras is 100% consistutional and was voted in Congress as the best thing to do for the Honduran people. This is not the beginning of Guerilla Warfare, no dictator has overthrown the government. As of now, and until the presidential elections this winter, Congress is in power and will be serving as the president. The reason that I am writing this, rather than Brandy, is that the power has been cut off in Honduras to try to limit the spread of propoganda against Congress. Again, don't let this scare you. The government is doing this because they fear that Mel, the president who was just taken out of power, will try to make the Honduran people believe that it was done illegally. Most likely, this will just be for a couple of days, but that is the current situation.
We don't know how the American media will react to this, which is why we want to give you the information directly. If by chance the media decides that they want to make it look bad, we just want you to have comfort in knowing that 1. the TORCH group is very safe and 2. everything that has been done with the government of Honduras is constitutional.
As for an update on what the group is doing, they are on the mountain where they stay, El Hatillo. They were having worship service at the mission house and afterwards were going to do a hot-dog cookout for some children in the surrounding community. They will be staying at the mission house tonight and will play it day-by-day until they receive more news. There is plenty of work to be done on El Hatillo, which is a very safe place to be.
Keep the group and the country of Honduras in your prayers. If they are still unable to post blog updates, I will do my best to get information posted as soon as I receive it so you can keep up with the group.
NR
Sunday, June 28
Saturday, June 27
Let the work begin!!!
Today is the day it all begins for real!! Yesterday was the day we all arrived and many believed that was the day it began. I am not saying that it did not begin that day because it did, trust me. I am saying that the first day there is a lot to take in. The second day is the day when we might get to make a choice!!
Saturday we all woke up to sunshine! We had cereal, toast and fruit for breakfast. After breakfast we met for devotional outside. This morning Chad Roberst (Nino) led us in a few thoughts. He talked about what an important impact just one of us could have on one person during this trip. He encouraged each of us to go out and be a positive Christian example to the Honduran people.
After devotional, Terry Reeves divided us into four teams: a building team, market team, bodega team, packing/medical team. I have decided to do the blog similar to last year and have different individuals tell about there experiences in each of the groups. I hope you all enjoy their stories.
The Market
No matter how many times I think my Spanish is getting better, I quickly realize that I am greatly mistaken. When I go to the open market. I sat on the bus for 20 minutes memorizing a few phrases that I knew I would need to know. When I stepped out of the bus I forgot EVERYTHING. Luckily, Chase Tunner was with us. He studied Spanish in college so to say the least, he made up for my lack of Spanish knowledge. It’s always a fun and exciting experience going to the Market. Its obvious that the vendors are excited that all the crazy Gringos are there too because we spent nearly 10,000 limps there. The most remarkable thing of the day to me, however, was the lady that left her business and potential income behind to help us bargain and get our money’s worth of food. There are only more great stories like this to come.
-Alex Jackson
My first experience out of the mission house was very enlightening. I discovered that there are very different traffic laws in Honduras, and whoever has a horn must use it. A group of about twenty people including myself went to the bodega…a storage unit where TORCH keeps their supplies. We transformed masses of mad chaos into neat and organized piles. We also saw a rat! The rat was almost the size of a small dog and it caused everyone to run for cover into the bus! It was a wonderful day J !
-Marah Casey
Construction Team
You may have heard the song lyric “out in the country past the city limits sign.” Well that line describes exactly where the construction team went today. We drove through the mountains to a beautiful site to build a house, way out in the country. I loved it because the smell of fresh grass and animals reminded me of home in Tennessee. We didn’t waste a minute when we arrived we worked to get all the tools and lumber to the site and began to build. The house we built was an extension for a family of 9. Their original house was made of dirt and clay. It wasn’t all work and no play we took some breaks to play with the kids some played soccer while others played with playdoh. I got the opportunity to learn a new skill, roofing, it made me nervous to be up on the roof at first but I got the hang of it and it was really fun. We finished the house in a little under 4 hours and the family was very grateful. We said a prayer with them before we left and it was a great way to begin the trip.
-Katie Griffy
By this time the rest of the team had gotten back to the mission house so everyone had started getting ready for dinner. For dinner we had chicken, salad, pasta salad, and a roll. It was pretty good I might add!!! We sat around for a while and conversed with one another then headed over for devotional!! Tonight the devotional was done on the live stream!!! Chase Turner led us in some thoughts tonight! He started off with Phil. 4:13. Chase wanted us to remember that we can do all things through CHRIST if we are doing it for the glory of God the Glory of me!! Because you know what it's not about me, it is about GOD!!! Chase sure knows what to say!! After the devotional thought we did the Where Did you See Jesus. This Is always, always an awesome time!! He was seen in so many places today. I am going to just put people's name and hopefully I can write quicker next time and get stories!! Jesus was seen in Darla Ham, Sara Tucker, Tara Shea, Erin Mann, Terry Stewart, Girls on the Build site, Bodega crew, Whitney, Mark's interns, there were so many more guys I just couldn't get them down, I'm so sorry!!
The devotional was great tonight. Like I said it was live stream if you are reading the blog then you can get access to it. There is a link!! I will try first thing to get that on in the morning, I do not know hat to do it right now. Guess what it is actually already posted from last year though so if you would like to try and find it just scroll down the blog to the 2008 post and it says click here I think. It is actually really simple. I will try to get up on a recent one ASAP though!!! Thank you all for being patient!! LOVE YOU!!!!!!!! Please keep praying!!!!!
Brandy B
News Update!!
Hey all!! This just to let you all know that we are in direct contact with the US Embassy here!! We are aware of all that is happening. As of now we are remaining inside the city limits of Tegucigalpa. We are still working very hard inside the city limits. Tonight I will bring you an update of all the activities of all we did today and you might be surprised!! We are safe and having a very good time serving our Lord!! Please remember as you receive news at home that some stories could be over emphasized and that Honduras/Tegucigalpa is a VERY VERY big city!! We are staying on the out side of the city and we could be miles away from anything that could being reported. Just remember to read the blog. Also remember that if a storm comes through it could knock out the power/internet. Please do not worry to much if you do not hear from us for a day or two because that could happen!!! If you have any questions email me!! brandyb06@gmail.com. Thank you guys for being patient!! We love you all and we know that you are praying for us, but please do not forget to pray for the people that live here!! Thank you all!!
Brandy B.
Friday, June 26
The Gringos Have Arrived!!!
Today started out lovely for the advanced team!! We woke up to breakfast, which I am sorry to say I did not eat, but I did have the coffee!!! After breakfast we played the "sit around and wait game" which is loads of fun, everyone should try it some time!! Then a truck delivered food to the mission house that the advanced team unloaded (this food will be broken down into smaller bags that feed a family of about 8 for a week). About 30 minutes later a truck delivered wood for two houses (do not quote me on that guess) and the guys unloaded that while Amy, Jenny, and myself did some assignments Terry had given to us!! As you can tell we were very busy way before the group even arrived!!
At about 10:30 we got in the trucks and headed to the airport to meet up with the first group flying in on Continental! Here's where everything gets a bit sketchy time wise for me because all of it runs together. The first group lands and meets us upstairs to eat lunch and to wait on the next group which is the Delta group. They fly in come upstairs eat and wait on the next group which is the American group. When they fly in they come up and eat. We wait for a while so they all have time to eat. Then we all leave the airport by about 3ish? I'm not really sure. We come straight to the mission house for a brief orientation. Everyone gets their rooming assignments and bags and goes to their rooms.
At about 4:30 we loaded a bus and went to the local grocery store to buy our food while we are here. I thought we were going to be meeting up with the other group but apparently not. I guess they got there before us. Anyway, we left there and came back to the mission house for some much needed supper.
After supper we met for devo. Bret Mitchell, from Canada (now living in Montgomery, Al) led us is a few thoughts. After devo we broke off into to groups to go over a few more rules and then went off to bed.
There will be more to come!!!! I am glad to have almost everyone here!! There are still a few more coming to join our group, but a majority of us are here!! Keep praying!! We love you all!!
Please if you want email you can!! Feel free!! Oh and Collin if you would like to get the Mississippi accent you are going to have to read it that way!! love ya!!
God Bless you all!!
Brandy B
Thursday, June 25
Day two for Team Awesome!!
Let me just say you can all thank Nino aka (Chad Roberts) for the title of our blog!! Terry posted the first blog this morning and has officially handed the torch over to myself for the trip!! I know that there will be a lot of new folks on the trip so let me introduce myself briefly!! My name is Brandy and I am from Mississippi. There that is all you need to know, which should be enough to explain my sense humor and my craziness!!
Ok...The day started nicely, if I do say so myself!! Breakfast was served between 7 and 8. This morning we had a choice or cereal, toast, and a banana nut bread thing. It was great of course!! Then we played the "sit and wait game." There is only 8 of us on the advance team or "team awesome" according to Nino, so the the game really isn't that bad. After Terry and Mark Connell chatted for a bit it was decided we would go down to the bodega and load the buses with boxes of supplies and bring them back to the mission house.
I think we loaded up at about 9:30 am, which isn't bad at all I might add, and headed down the mountain to fill the trucks with gas and go to bodega. At the bodega we loaded up supplies that had been sent earlier. To give you all an idea of how much we loaded, we had two trucks and a whole bus full with just 8 people!!! Which is awesome!! Guess how long it took us? Just about two hours, which is awesome!!! Ok...I'm finished bragging on the advanced group!!
After we finished loading the bus and trucks, Mark took us to a place that served the best fried chicken ever, yes even better then back home!! I promise!! We stayed there for a while talking about what we "plan" on doing and then headed back up the mountain!! Once we made it back we unloaded the trucks and sorted what we had picked up from the bodega. Then the Heavens opened and God sent every ounce of water ever made on top of Honduras. I'm pretty sure He had a huge bucket and kept pouring it on top of our mountain, it was pretty cool actually!!! Until we backed the bus up and unloaded it!! It didn't take long though with "team awesome"!! After we finished unloading we sat around for a while. Then, a couple of the of "team awesome" thought it would be cool to run and slid in standing water. I hope I can figure out how to upload the video to the blog so you can enjoy Tyler Steffy and Nino (Chad Roberts) and their run!!
So far the trip has went well. Please, Please, Please pray for the groups flying in!! They start coming in the morning. I will post tomorrow night Lord Willing!! Remember to be patient with communication!! I love you all and miss you!! God Bless
Brandy B
welcome to Honduras
The advance team arrived in Honduras yesterday and the "welcome to Honduras" moments have already started! So, here is the first of many updates coming to you from Central America.
We discovered yesterday at the airport that Delta and Continental ARE charging for the second piece of luggage. American is Not charging... imagine That! Sorry, welcome to Honduras. The American Airline flight was delayed and arrived 2 1/2 hours late. Welcome to Honduras. One of my bags did not make it. Welcome to Honduras. Friendship rental car, where we rent our pickups, did not have any available. Welcome to Honduras. So, in other words, typical trip.
All is well so far. Today will be a day to organize up coming projects and buying supplies. We will be driving into town to make copies of the VBS flyer and meeting with Mark Connell to visit potential house sites for building. Tim is constantly updating us on the political situation here in Honduras. Things are stable as of now, although, the President has been on the television frequently making appeals to support his agenda. We are expecting large turnouts on the streets this weekend as the vote approaches. Our plan is to proceed with caution as we plan our work.
We will send more information as we receive it. As a reminder, make sure to retain luggage claim tickets because we experienced very strict security at the airport. Also, make sure that those bringing Torch gear bags have i.d. tags because that is the bag that did not show yesterday for me. With 90 bags coming in, all looking the same, you can imagine the airport security trying to verify baggage claim numbers.
The weather is hot a rainy, just like we like it. We will be waiting at the airport on Friday. Can't wait to see everyone!!!
TR
Saturday, June 20
Making a list, checking it twice
With less than a week to go it is time to start going though the final check off list to make sure you have everything done before you leave on your trip to Honduras. I am not one to make lists (ask my wife) but I have been using one the past 2 weeks to make sure everything gets done. My check off list had over 50 things on it so count yourself lucky that today’s blog will only have a fraction of that number!
1. Complete your shopping for the trip. You should have received a packing list for the trip. If not, here it is: Bible; Toilet paper; Pepto Bismal; rain jacket; Tooth brush/paste; Soap/shampoo; Hand wipes; Hand sanitizer; Imodium; Shaving cream/razor; Towel/wash cloth; Deodorant; Q-tips; Insect repellent; Multi-vitamins; Passport; Camera/film; Deck of cards; Waterproof watch; Work clothes; Personal medicines; Gallon size sip lock bags; Hammer; Toys / give away stuff; Flip flops (for shower); Work shoes; Work gloves; Laundry bag; Flash light; Alarm clock; Spending money ($75 - $150+); Hat; Water bottle; Sunscreen (psf 20 +); Paper/pen/pencil; Backpack; Snack foods; Gatorade / Kool-Aid mix; Pocket knife; Sunglasses; Sharpies; Band-aides;
You can buy a lot of this stuff in Honduras but it will be cheaper to get here in the states.
2. Locate your passport and put it in your backpack
3. Withdraw your spending money. The amount varies per person. A long time veteran might only need $75.00 spending money for the whole trip while rookies might want to bring much more. You will need spending money to go out to eat every now and then (especially on Sundays… you will need money for lunch and dinner on both Sundays we are in Honduras); snacks; soft drinks; and shopping money (souvenirs, etc)
4. Contact your credit card companies. If you are planning on using a credit / debit card at all during the trip you need to let your bank know you are going to be out of the country! Otherwise the card company might deny charges.
5. Contact your doctor. Let your doctor know you are going to be out of the country.
6. Contact your insurance company. Make sure the insurance company knows you are going to be out of the country and find out if there are any special forms / waivers that need to be signed so that you can have treatment if you get sick or injured.
7. Contact your emergency contact person(s) to remind them of the trip and verify their phone number(s) before you leave.
8. Make sure all of your clothes meet the dress code. No tank tops, sleeveless shirts or tops; shorts need to be knee length; shirts that have print on them must be appropriate for the trip.
9. Call in your prescriptions. If you have any medications that you need to take on the trip, make sure you have enough for the trip. Call in refills if needed and pick them up at least a couple of days before you leave.
10. Verify your airline ticket / e-ticket. Make sure to print off your itinerary with record locator number, ticket number, etc. Place it in your backpack with your passport.
More to come! We are now on the count down…. this week will go by super fast. Don't drag your feet on this stuff, get it done so you won't have a lot of last second things to do. You might even be able go get a couple of hours sleep the night beofre you leave! Take care and I will write more SOON! Dios te bendiga!!!!
TR
1. Complete your shopping for the trip. You should have received a packing list for the trip. If not, here it is: Bible; Toilet paper; Pepto Bismal; rain jacket; Tooth brush/paste; Soap/shampoo; Hand wipes; Hand sanitizer; Imodium; Shaving cream/razor; Towel/wash cloth; Deodorant; Q-tips; Insect repellent; Multi-vitamins; Passport; Camera/film; Deck of cards; Waterproof watch; Work clothes; Personal medicines; Gallon size sip lock bags; Hammer; Toys / give away stuff; Flip flops (for shower); Work shoes; Work gloves; Laundry bag; Flash light; Alarm clock; Spending money ($75 - $150+); Hat; Water bottle; Sunscreen (psf 20 +); Paper/pen/pencil; Backpack; Snack foods; Gatorade / Kool-Aid mix; Pocket knife; Sunglasses; Sharpies; Band-aides;
You can buy a lot of this stuff in Honduras but it will be cheaper to get here in the states.
2. Locate your passport and put it in your backpack
3. Withdraw your spending money. The amount varies per person. A long time veteran might only need $75.00 spending money for the whole trip while rookies might want to bring much more. You will need spending money to go out to eat every now and then (especially on Sundays… you will need money for lunch and dinner on both Sundays we are in Honduras); snacks; soft drinks; and shopping money (souvenirs, etc)
4. Contact your credit card companies. If you are planning on using a credit / debit card at all during the trip you need to let your bank know you are going to be out of the country! Otherwise the card company might deny charges.
5. Contact your doctor. Let your doctor know you are going to be out of the country.
6. Contact your insurance company. Make sure the insurance company knows you are going to be out of the country and find out if there are any special forms / waivers that need to be signed so that you can have treatment if you get sick or injured.
7. Contact your emergency contact person(s) to remind them of the trip and verify their phone number(s) before you leave.
8. Make sure all of your clothes meet the dress code. No tank tops, sleeveless shirts or tops; shorts need to be knee length; shirts that have print on them must be appropriate for the trip.
9. Call in your prescriptions. If you have any medications that you need to take on the trip, make sure you have enough for the trip. Call in refills if needed and pick them up at least a couple of days before you leave.
10. Verify your airline ticket / e-ticket. Make sure to print off your itinerary with record locator number, ticket number, etc. Place it in your backpack with your passport.
More to come! We are now on the count down…. this week will go by super fast. Don't drag your feet on this stuff, get it done so you won't have a lot of last second things to do. You might even be able go get a couple of hours sleep the night beofre you leave! Take care and I will write more SOON! Dios te bendiga!!!!
TR
Thursday, June 18
1 week and counting!
One week!!! One week from today we are on our way to Tegucigalpa, Honduras! I am pretty sure I am not the only one excited. I am getting emails and phone calls everyday from team members who just want to tell me how excited they are about the trip! I have been going to Honduras for a long time and I am pretty sure that I am sensing more excitement this year than any other trip. And that just makes me that much more excited!
It reminds me of my college days at Freed-Hardeman. I was sent out to go preach at a congregation just outside of Henderson (I believe it was the Oak Grove Church of Christ). I didn’t know it at the time but it was a predominately African-American congregation. I was nervous (I still get nervous, even today, when I speak in front of a group of people) and when I began preaching I heard a booming “Amen!” come from the crowd! It scared me senseless… but I regained my composure (sort of) and continued. I got another “Amen!” and a “Preach it!!!” from the crowd and as the crowd got more excited about my sermon the more passionately I began to preach. I don’t even remember what my topic was that day but I can tell you it was one of my best sermons!!!! Excitement generates more excitement. And the “Amen corner” is getting excited!
OK, I have more information for you. As I mentioned earlier, I am going to be posting information every day or two until we leave. Please check this daily and make sure you get this information!!! Even seasoned veterans make mistakes when it comes to the small things as we get ready for the trip.
Wednesday I gave you important information about your luggage. Just as a reminder, let me say it again, “KEEP UP WITH YOUR LUGGAGE CLAIM TICKETS!!!” There are 2 main reasons I keep mentioning this:
1. Honduras is not America! You can’t just walk up to the luggage carrousel, grab your bag, and walk out. The Honduran customs people will not let you leave with ANY bag unless you can prove it is yours! (You will be glad they do this when you realize that no one is going to steal your suitcase).
2. If your bag does not show up (AKA “welcome to Honduras”) we HAVE to have the baggage tickets to verify which bag is lost. Then, if we are really lucky, we will find the bag a day, or two, or three, or 6 weeks later (ask Brett and Judy Mitchell…. They know this routine really well…)
OK, now that I know we all understand the luggage information, let’s go over the flight information and entry procedures when you arrive in Tegucigalpa. If you are a rookie, this is very important. If you are a veteran, make sure you haven’t forgotten this information!
1. You need to check your flight information. Lots of times airlines will change flight information after you have bought your ticket. I am not sure why they do this, but they do. Especially departure times! Make sure you know the current departure time of your flight! Double check flight connections, arrival times, etc, so that you are not left in the dark on this.
2. Everyone needs to wear his or her Torch T-shirts on the flight down. It is not because we are trying to make a fashion statement on the plane or to cause everyone to look at us and admire our beautiful maroon colored mission shirts. It is so that we can identify team members! When you arrive at the airport you will recognize a team member by their Torch shirt, even if you do not know their name. Those that meet up with us at connection airports will be glad to see those shirts too. And it will make my job of gathering up all 95 of you when you arrive in Tegucigalpa. It is EASY to leave someone behind when they are not in their Torch shirt. And we don’t want to leave anyone behind…
3. Before you land in Honduras, the flight crew will pass out 2 different forms you will have to fill out before you get off of the plane. MAKE SURE TO HAVE A PEN WITH YOU WHEN YOU SIT DOWN IN YOUR ASSIGNED SEAT ON THE PLANE! You will have to have both forms with you when you go through the customs area at the airport. Most of it is simple and self-explanatory. Here are a couple of questions you need to know how to answer:
* Where will you be staying while in Honduras? Answer: VILLA GRACIAS Km 8 EL HATILLO, TEGUCIGALPA, HONDURAS, C.A.
* What is the purpose of your trip: Answer: TOURIST
If in doubt, ask someone nearby what to write down. The forms will be in Spanish and in English (if you are lucky). Once you have filled them out place the forms in your passport and keep your passport SAFELY put away until landing. Do not misplace your passport… put it in your backpack or in your front pocket!
Going through customs can be a bit intimidating. Just make sure you have your 2 forms filled out with your passport when it is your turn to go to the counter. They are going to speak to you in Spanish. Make sure to take your hat and sunglasses off so that they can see you. They are going to ask you to place one of your fingers into a fingerprint scanner and they will also take a digital photo of you. They do this to everyone so don’t panic. Very important: they will staple one of your forms into your passport. do not loose it! you need that form to get out of the country!!!
Once you have passed through customs you will go to the luggage area to claim bags. Claim your bags and set them with the rest of the luggage from your group. Once all bags are located (or identified as lost) everyone will proceed through the X-Ray scanner and through the final check point. Once the security personnel checks your bags with the baggage tickets they will allow you to pass through into the airport where the advance team will be waiting for you.
See? It wasn’t that hard, was it? OK, for the rookies, you might be scared to death by now. Don’t worry, it will be much easier than all of this sounded. And if it isn’t, at least you can say I told you so!!!
1 week and counting! Stay tuned; more information is coming on Saturday! Hasta luego
Terry
It reminds me of my college days at Freed-Hardeman. I was sent out to go preach at a congregation just outside of Henderson (I believe it was the Oak Grove Church of Christ). I didn’t know it at the time but it was a predominately African-American congregation. I was nervous (I still get nervous, even today, when I speak in front of a group of people) and when I began preaching I heard a booming “Amen!” come from the crowd! It scared me senseless… but I regained my composure (sort of) and continued. I got another “Amen!” and a “Preach it!!!” from the crowd and as the crowd got more excited about my sermon the more passionately I began to preach. I don’t even remember what my topic was that day but I can tell you it was one of my best sermons!!!! Excitement generates more excitement. And the “Amen corner” is getting excited!
OK, I have more information for you. As I mentioned earlier, I am going to be posting information every day or two until we leave. Please check this daily and make sure you get this information!!! Even seasoned veterans make mistakes when it comes to the small things as we get ready for the trip.
Wednesday I gave you important information about your luggage. Just as a reminder, let me say it again, “KEEP UP WITH YOUR LUGGAGE CLAIM TICKETS!!!” There are 2 main reasons I keep mentioning this:
1. Honduras is not America! You can’t just walk up to the luggage carrousel, grab your bag, and walk out. The Honduran customs people will not let you leave with ANY bag unless you can prove it is yours! (You will be glad they do this when you realize that no one is going to steal your suitcase).
2. If your bag does not show up (AKA “welcome to Honduras”) we HAVE to have the baggage tickets to verify which bag is lost. Then, if we are really lucky, we will find the bag a day, or two, or three, or 6 weeks later (ask Brett and Judy Mitchell…. They know this routine really well…)
OK, now that I know we all understand the luggage information, let’s go over the flight information and entry procedures when you arrive in Tegucigalpa. If you are a rookie, this is very important. If you are a veteran, make sure you haven’t forgotten this information!
1. You need to check your flight information. Lots of times airlines will change flight information after you have bought your ticket. I am not sure why they do this, but they do. Especially departure times! Make sure you know the current departure time of your flight! Double check flight connections, arrival times, etc, so that you are not left in the dark on this.
2. Everyone needs to wear his or her Torch T-shirts on the flight down. It is not because we are trying to make a fashion statement on the plane or to cause everyone to look at us and admire our beautiful maroon colored mission shirts. It is so that we can identify team members! When you arrive at the airport you will recognize a team member by their Torch shirt, even if you do not know their name. Those that meet up with us at connection airports will be glad to see those shirts too. And it will make my job of gathering up all 95 of you when you arrive in Tegucigalpa. It is EASY to leave someone behind when they are not in their Torch shirt. And we don’t want to leave anyone behind…
3. Before you land in Honduras, the flight crew will pass out 2 different forms you will have to fill out before you get off of the plane. MAKE SURE TO HAVE A PEN WITH YOU WHEN YOU SIT DOWN IN YOUR ASSIGNED SEAT ON THE PLANE! You will have to have both forms with you when you go through the customs area at the airport. Most of it is simple and self-explanatory. Here are a couple of questions you need to know how to answer:
* Where will you be staying while in Honduras? Answer: VILLA GRACIAS Km 8 EL HATILLO, TEGUCIGALPA, HONDURAS, C.A.
* What is the purpose of your trip: Answer: TOURIST
If in doubt, ask someone nearby what to write down. The forms will be in Spanish and in English (if you are lucky). Once you have filled them out place the forms in your passport and keep your passport SAFELY put away until landing. Do not misplace your passport… put it in your backpack or in your front pocket!
Going through customs can be a bit intimidating. Just make sure you have your 2 forms filled out with your passport when it is your turn to go to the counter. They are going to speak to you in Spanish. Make sure to take your hat and sunglasses off so that they can see you. They are going to ask you to place one of your fingers into a fingerprint scanner and they will also take a digital photo of you. They do this to everyone so don’t panic. Very important: they will staple one of your forms into your passport. do not loose it! you need that form to get out of the country!!!
Once you have passed through customs you will go to the luggage area to claim bags. Claim your bags and set them with the rest of the luggage from your group. Once all bags are located (or identified as lost) everyone will proceed through the X-Ray scanner and through the final check point. Once the security personnel checks your bags with the baggage tickets they will allow you to pass through into the airport where the advance team will be waiting for you.
See? It wasn’t that hard, was it? OK, for the rookies, you might be scared to death by now. Don’t worry, it will be much easier than all of this sounded. And if it isn’t, at least you can say I told you so!!!
1 week and counting! Stay tuned; more information is coming on Saturday! Hasta luego
Terry
Wednesday, June 17
Packing and baggage information
I have spent time on the phone and on line securing travel information for all of us going to Honduras in just a few days. Please make sure you read the following carefully:
For international travel, you must be at the ticket counter a minimum of 2 1/2 hours before departure. American Airlines recommends 3 hours. Allow plenty of time; all of our flights are sold out so there will be lots of other people checking in besides our group!
When you arrive make sure you have / do the following:
* Your checked luggage has an I.D. tag on it (even the gear bag if you are checking one in). Do this BEFORE you get to the ticket counter!!!!!!
* MAKE SURE to keep the luggage claim numbers!!!!!!!!! You will not be able to claim luggage in Honduras if you do not have the claim tickets (they will attach them to your boarding pass sleeve when you check in… make sure you know where they are)
* Once you have cleared the security passport you will not need your passport to get on the plane. Give it to your group leader or put it somewhere SAFE. You will need it to fill out entry forms to Honduras.
Concerning checked luggage:
* For international travel on Delta, Continental, and American there is NO CHARGE for checked luggage. You will not have to pay for your luggage.
* Bags MUST weight 50 pounds or less. There is a charge from $50 - $75 if you go over! (Even if it is only a couple of pounds). Weigh them before you leave the house.
* You can only check in 2 bags.
* Reminder: make sure your bags have identification tags on them! The Honduras inspectors are VERY picky about this detail.
* Remember that all baggage is subject to inspection before it is loaded onto the plane. U.S. inspectors will leave a note in your suitcase if they have inspected it.
* Place anything that might leak in a zip-lock plastic bag to keep it from getting on the rest of your stuff! Remember Murphy’s rule: “If something can go wrong it probably will.” (otherwise you will be washing the clothes the first day you arrive…)
For carry on luggage:
* Make sure it will fit the overhead compartment! If it doesn’t and they have to put it under the plane you could be charged up to $100.00.
* Carry on luggage cannot weigh more than 40 pounds.
* You are allowed 1 carry on item and 1 personal item (purse, pillow, etc). Remember, EVERYONE on the plane is doing the same thing you are so follow the rules! Don’t be the one who doesn’t abide… your shirt will give you away as to who you are and what group you are with on the trip!
Things you can and cannot bring in your carry on bag:
* You cannot bring your pocketknife on the plane! Pack it in your check in luggage. Same is true for tweezers, fingernail clippers, etc.
* Liquids and gels (Toothpaste, hair gel, hand lotion, Shampoo, sunscreen, etc) must be in containers of 3 oz or less. If any are larger it must be packed in checked-in luggage (remember the zip-lock bag). ALL liquids and gels in your carry on bag MUST be put in ONE (1) quart size zip-lock for the security personnel to approve it.
* You cannot bring tools (hammers, nails, etc) in your backpack! I know you are laughing about knives and hammers, but all of these have been taken from group members traveling on my team (I can’t make this stuff up!!!)
So, as you begin to pack for your trip (I know some of you are!) remember these things. For the last minute packers (like me) you might want to print this off and have it when you do pack so you don’t for get anything listed. Do these things and your check-in will go more smoothly and you will not be the one causing the glares and stares from those behind you waiting to check-in or get on the plane.
MUCH more to come. Make sure to check regularly and make sure anyone that you know going on the trip is reading this blog. This blogspot is the communication lifeline for our trip. Use it regularly starting today. Make sure all family members and friends have this web address so that they will be able to keep up with our trip. We will post daily activities and news along with photos.
It’s almost time!!! Hope you are as excited as I am about the trip. Hasta luego!
TR
For international travel, you must be at the ticket counter a minimum of 2 1/2 hours before departure. American Airlines recommends 3 hours. Allow plenty of time; all of our flights are sold out so there will be lots of other people checking in besides our group!
When you arrive make sure you have / do the following:
* Your checked luggage has an I.D. tag on it (even the gear bag if you are checking one in). Do this BEFORE you get to the ticket counter!!!!!!
* MAKE SURE to keep the luggage claim numbers!!!!!!!!! You will not be able to claim luggage in Honduras if you do not have the claim tickets (they will attach them to your boarding pass sleeve when you check in… make sure you know where they are)
* Once you have cleared the security passport you will not need your passport to get on the plane. Give it to your group leader or put it somewhere SAFE. You will need it to fill out entry forms to Honduras.
Concerning checked luggage:
* For international travel on Delta, Continental, and American there is NO CHARGE for checked luggage. You will not have to pay for your luggage.
* Bags MUST weight 50 pounds or less. There is a charge from $50 - $75 if you go over! (Even if it is only a couple of pounds). Weigh them before you leave the house.
* You can only check in 2 bags.
* Reminder: make sure your bags have identification tags on them! The Honduras inspectors are VERY picky about this detail.
* Remember that all baggage is subject to inspection before it is loaded onto the plane. U.S. inspectors will leave a note in your suitcase if they have inspected it.
* Place anything that might leak in a zip-lock plastic bag to keep it from getting on the rest of your stuff! Remember Murphy’s rule: “If something can go wrong it probably will.” (otherwise you will be washing the clothes the first day you arrive…)
For carry on luggage:
* Make sure it will fit the overhead compartment! If it doesn’t and they have to put it under the plane you could be charged up to $100.00.
* Carry on luggage cannot weigh more than 40 pounds.
* You are allowed 1 carry on item and 1 personal item (purse, pillow, etc). Remember, EVERYONE on the plane is doing the same thing you are so follow the rules! Don’t be the one who doesn’t abide… your shirt will give you away as to who you are and what group you are with on the trip!
Things you can and cannot bring in your carry on bag:
* You cannot bring your pocketknife on the plane! Pack it in your check in luggage. Same is true for tweezers, fingernail clippers, etc.
* Liquids and gels (Toothpaste, hair gel, hand lotion, Shampoo, sunscreen, etc) must be in containers of 3 oz or less. If any are larger it must be packed in checked-in luggage (remember the zip-lock bag). ALL liquids and gels in your carry on bag MUST be put in ONE (1) quart size zip-lock for the security personnel to approve it.
* You cannot bring tools (hammers, nails, etc) in your backpack! I know you are laughing about knives and hammers, but all of these have been taken from group members traveling on my team (I can’t make this stuff up!!!)
So, as you begin to pack for your trip (I know some of you are!) remember these things. For the last minute packers (like me) you might want to print this off and have it when you do pack so you don’t for get anything listed. Do these things and your check-in will go more smoothly and you will not be the one causing the glares and stares from those behind you waiting to check-in or get on the plane.
MUCH more to come. Make sure to check regularly and make sure anyone that you know going on the trip is reading this blog. This blogspot is the communication lifeline for our trip. Use it regularly starting today. Make sure all family members and friends have this web address so that they will be able to keep up with our trip. We will post daily activities and news along with photos.
It’s almost time!!! Hope you are as excited as I am about the trip. Hasta luego!
TR
Sunday, June 14
Tick. Tock.
Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. The seconds are winding down as we get ready for our trip. I can hear the sound of the clock in my head. But yesterday one of the last big burdens was lifted when I finished writing this year’s journal. I have to admit my English teachers from high school AND college would give you a weird look if you told them I did a lot of writing. If you saw my grades for composition, grammar, spelling, and such you would have to agree with them. But here I am, writing away. Funny how things turn out, would you agree?
So, now I am writing checks out to pay the bills and my debit card is about to melt from all of the last minute purchases. I have bought airline tickets, gear, supplies, and yesterday the good folks at the Corner Drug Store hooked my up with a lot of meds for the medical team for a fraction of their shelf price. I love resourcing and it is amazing how it works. 6 degrees of separation? I think in the church it is more like 3 degrees. Tomorrow the t-shirts come in, Tuesday the journals are done from the print shop, and Wednesday I mail packages to the team leaders. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.
My next objective is to type out the projects we are going to do and match them up against the work fund to see if everything works. Once that is done I will make one last contact to the people in Honduras and the wheels will begin to turn. Wood will be ordered. So will tin, nails, hinges, and spikes. Food will be ordered. Literally tons of it. Hospitals will be contacted to set up visitation times. Paint, brushes, rollers, pans, and masking tape will be bought. Fliers will be printed. Carlos will start making $20 packets of Limperias. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.
Right now I am coordinating flight arrivals so that I can make sure everyone is picked up at the airport. This year we have folks flying in on Delta, American, and Continental. As always, I will be living at the airport. I have people coming and going all week long. But hey, whatever it takes to get people to be part of an amazing group called Torch. And for the several long timers who can’t go this year, you will be missed. But probably nearly as much as you will miss being here. Who knows, maybe next year? Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.
As we get closer and closer to the trip I want you to begin spending dedicated time in prayer to prepare yourself for the trip. Try to spend some time each day praying about the trip. Here are some things you need to SPECIFICALLY pray for as the trip approaches:
* Safety during our trip down
* Good weather!
* The people of Honduras we will minister to on the trip
* That each person will have a servant’s heart
* Safety while we are in Honduras
* Good health!
* That His will shall be done
* For patience and understanding
* For kindness and a loving spirit
* That all of the groups will bond together and become one
I will be posting another blog this coming Thursday so stay tuned. It will have LOTS of IMPORTANT information. Take care and I will be seeing you SOON!!!
Terry
So, now I am writing checks out to pay the bills and my debit card is about to melt from all of the last minute purchases. I have bought airline tickets, gear, supplies, and yesterday the good folks at the Corner Drug Store hooked my up with a lot of meds for the medical team for a fraction of their shelf price. I love resourcing and it is amazing how it works. 6 degrees of separation? I think in the church it is more like 3 degrees. Tomorrow the t-shirts come in, Tuesday the journals are done from the print shop, and Wednesday I mail packages to the team leaders. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.
My next objective is to type out the projects we are going to do and match them up against the work fund to see if everything works. Once that is done I will make one last contact to the people in Honduras and the wheels will begin to turn. Wood will be ordered. So will tin, nails, hinges, and spikes. Food will be ordered. Literally tons of it. Hospitals will be contacted to set up visitation times. Paint, brushes, rollers, pans, and masking tape will be bought. Fliers will be printed. Carlos will start making $20 packets of Limperias. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.
Right now I am coordinating flight arrivals so that I can make sure everyone is picked up at the airport. This year we have folks flying in on Delta, American, and Continental. As always, I will be living at the airport. I have people coming and going all week long. But hey, whatever it takes to get people to be part of an amazing group called Torch. And for the several long timers who can’t go this year, you will be missed. But probably nearly as much as you will miss being here. Who knows, maybe next year? Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.
As we get closer and closer to the trip I want you to begin spending dedicated time in prayer to prepare yourself for the trip. Try to spend some time each day praying about the trip. Here are some things you need to SPECIFICALLY pray for as the trip approaches:
* Safety during our trip down
* Good weather!
* The people of Honduras we will minister to on the trip
* That each person will have a servant’s heart
* Safety while we are in Honduras
* Good health!
* That His will shall be done
* For patience and understanding
* For kindness and a loving spirit
* That all of the groups will bond together and become one
I will be posting another blog this coming Thursday so stay tuned. It will have LOTS of IMPORTANT information. Take care and I will be seeing you SOON!!!
Terry
Monday, June 8
God lives under the bed!
“ I envy Kevin. My brother, Kevin, thinks God lives under his bed. At least that's what I heard him say one night. He was praying out loud in his dark bedroom, and I stopped to listen, 'Are you there, God?' he said. 'Where are you? Oh, I see. Under the bed...'
I giggled softly and tiptoed off to my own room. Kevin's unique perspectives are often a source of amusement. But that night something else lingered long after the humor. I realized for the first time the very different world Kevin lives in.
He was born 30 years ago, mentally disabled as a result of difficulties during labor. Apart from his size (he's 6-foot-2), there are few ways in which he is an adult. He reasons and communicates with the capabilities of a 7-year-old, and he always will. He will probably always believe that God lives under his bed, that Santa Claus is the one who fills the space under our tree every Christmas and that airplanes stay up in the sky because angels carry them.
I remember wondering if Kevin realizes he is different. Is he ever dissatisfied with his monotonous life? Up before dawn each day, off to work at a workshop for the disabled, home to walk our cocker spaniel, return to eat his favorite macaroni-and-cheese for dinner and later to bed. The only variation in the entire scheme is laundry, when he hovers excitedly over the washing machine like a mother with her newborn child.
He does not seem dissatisfied.
He lopes out to the bus every morning at 7:05, eager for a day of simple work. He wrings his hands excitedly while the water boils on the stove before dinner, and he stays up late twice a week to gather our dirty laundry for his next day's laundry chores.
And Saturdays - oh, the bliss of Saturdays! That's the day my Dad takes Kevin to the airport to have a soft drink, watch the planes land, and speculates loudly on the destination of each passenger inside. 'That one's goin' to Chi-car-go! ' Kevin shouts as he claps his hands. His anticipation is so great he can hardly sleep on Friday nights. And so goes his world of daily rituals and weekend field trips. He doesn't know what it means to be discontent. His life is simple.
He will never know the entanglements of wealth of power, and he does not care what brand of clothing he wears or what kind of food he eats. His needs have always been met, and he never worries that one day they may not be.
His hands are diligent. Kevin is never so happy as when he is working. When he unloads the dishwasher or vacuums the carpet, his heart is completely in it. He does not shrink from a job when it is begun, and he does not leave a job until it is finished. But when his tasks are done, Kevin knows how to relax.
He is not obsessed with his work or the work of others. His heart is pure. He still believes everyone tells the truth, promises must be kept, and when you are wrong, you apologize instead of argue. Free from pride and unconcerned with appearances, Kevin is not afraid to cry when he is hurt, angry or sorry. He is always transparent, always sincere. And he trusts God.
Not confined by intellectual reasoning, when he comes to Christ, he comes as a child. Kevin seems to know God - to really be friends with Him in a way that is difficult for an 'educated' person to grasp. God seems like his closest companion.
In my moments of doubt and frustrations with my Christianity, I envy the security Kevin has in his simple faith. It is then that I am most willing to admit that he has some divine knowledge that rises above my mortal questions. It is then I realize that perhaps he is not the one with the handicap. I am. My obligations, my fear, my pride, my circumstances - they all become disabilities when I do not trust them to God's care.
Who knows if Kevin comprehends things I can never learn? After all, he has spent his whole life in that kind of innocence, praying after dark and soaking up the goodness and love of God. And one day, when the mysteries of heaven are opened, and we are all amazed at how close God really is to our hearts, I'll realize that God heard the simple prayers of a boy who believed that God lived und under his bed.
Kevin won't be surprised at all!”
This was sent to me via email and I have no idea who wrote it. But it really hit home with me. I know Kevin! I actually know several Kevins. But their names are Taylor, Tommy, and Billy. I bet you know Kevin too. And if you don’t, it is your loss. They truly are special people that live a life most of us cannot even imagine. And I am blessed to be around people like Kevin.
“At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. "And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.” Matthew 18: 1-5
I don't know about you, but the idea of being a kid sounds pretty good. The "being an adult" thing doesn't work for me very well. Maybe that is what the Bible is talking about when it says, "Humble yourslef in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up." Some thing to think about.... when was the last time you caught fireflies, skipped some stones, and looked under your bed for God instead of a pair of shoes?
TR
I giggled softly and tiptoed off to my own room. Kevin's unique perspectives are often a source of amusement. But that night something else lingered long after the humor. I realized for the first time the very different world Kevin lives in.
He was born 30 years ago, mentally disabled as a result of difficulties during labor. Apart from his size (he's 6-foot-2), there are few ways in which he is an adult. He reasons and communicates with the capabilities of a 7-year-old, and he always will. He will probably always believe that God lives under his bed, that Santa Claus is the one who fills the space under our tree every Christmas and that airplanes stay up in the sky because angels carry them.
I remember wondering if Kevin realizes he is different. Is he ever dissatisfied with his monotonous life? Up before dawn each day, off to work at a workshop for the disabled, home to walk our cocker spaniel, return to eat his favorite macaroni-and-cheese for dinner and later to bed. The only variation in the entire scheme is laundry, when he hovers excitedly over the washing machine like a mother with her newborn child.
He does not seem dissatisfied.
He lopes out to the bus every morning at 7:05, eager for a day of simple work. He wrings his hands excitedly while the water boils on the stove before dinner, and he stays up late twice a week to gather our dirty laundry for his next day's laundry chores.
And Saturdays - oh, the bliss of Saturdays! That's the day my Dad takes Kevin to the airport to have a soft drink, watch the planes land, and speculates loudly on the destination of each passenger inside. 'That one's goin' to Chi-car-go! ' Kevin shouts as he claps his hands. His anticipation is so great he can hardly sleep on Friday nights. And so goes his world of daily rituals and weekend field trips. He doesn't know what it means to be discontent. His life is simple.
He will never know the entanglements of wealth of power, and he does not care what brand of clothing he wears or what kind of food he eats. His needs have always been met, and he never worries that one day they may not be.
His hands are diligent. Kevin is never so happy as when he is working. When he unloads the dishwasher or vacuums the carpet, his heart is completely in it. He does not shrink from a job when it is begun, and he does not leave a job until it is finished. But when his tasks are done, Kevin knows how to relax.
He is not obsessed with his work or the work of others. His heart is pure. He still believes everyone tells the truth, promises must be kept, and when you are wrong, you apologize instead of argue. Free from pride and unconcerned with appearances, Kevin is not afraid to cry when he is hurt, angry or sorry. He is always transparent, always sincere. And he trusts God.
Not confined by intellectual reasoning, when he comes to Christ, he comes as a child. Kevin seems to know God - to really be friends with Him in a way that is difficult for an 'educated' person to grasp. God seems like his closest companion.
In my moments of doubt and frustrations with my Christianity, I envy the security Kevin has in his simple faith. It is then that I am most willing to admit that he has some divine knowledge that rises above my mortal questions. It is then I realize that perhaps he is not the one with the handicap. I am. My obligations, my fear, my pride, my circumstances - they all become disabilities when I do not trust them to God's care.
Who knows if Kevin comprehends things I can never learn? After all, he has spent his whole life in that kind of innocence, praying after dark and soaking up the goodness and love of God. And one day, when the mysteries of heaven are opened, and we are all amazed at how close God really is to our hearts, I'll realize that God heard the simple prayers of a boy who believed that God lived und under his bed.
Kevin won't be surprised at all!”
This was sent to me via email and I have no idea who wrote it. But it really hit home with me. I know Kevin! I actually know several Kevins. But their names are Taylor, Tommy, and Billy. I bet you know Kevin too. And if you don’t, it is your loss. They truly are special people that live a life most of us cannot even imagine. And I am blessed to be around people like Kevin.
“At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. "And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.” Matthew 18: 1-5
I don't know about you, but the idea of being a kid sounds pretty good. The "being an adult" thing doesn't work for me very well. Maybe that is what the Bible is talking about when it says, "Humble yourslef in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up." Some thing to think about.... when was the last time you caught fireflies, skipped some stones, and looked under your bed for God instead of a pair of shoes?
TR
Tuesday, June 2
Come on, give me a real challenge...
To say Nate (my son, for those who might not know “the prince”) is a chip off of the old block is not totally accurate. To say he is a chunk off of the block might be more precise. I am sure my son would not admit it openly, but he is a lot like me in so many ways. One of his many similar traits is confidence. The boy does not suffer from a shortage of this man trait. Of course, with mentors like Tim Hines and Mark Connell (for those who do not know these men, you will certainly get to know them this summer on our trip down in Honduras), let’s just say Nate has been influenced and leave it at that.
This last couple of weeks has been quite a stressor for me. Just trying to wrap up the school year with reviews, finals, grading papers, etc. is rough, but add to that the upcoming retreat, all of the paper work that has to be filled out (and collected from our last minute add on people and for those who haven’t turned everything in yet…), buying supplies, and you have the perfect recipe for stress. And then I found out that I was being let go from school. Due to a drop in registration, several of us at school were told we would not have contracts renewed for next year. So, add to this mix filling out applications, typing up resumes, and trying to set up interviews, and now you have one stressed out mission team leader.
THEN, just in case I had not quite reached the “snapping point,” a few of my long term Spanish translators contacted me to tell me they would not be able to go this summer. I went from 10 translators to 3. All had good reasons and I am certainly not upset with them… but this Alabama boy has had about all he could take. I had so many issues to deal with that I felt I was involved in a 5-alarm fire. Enter Nathan Reeves.
The most pressing thing on my list (in my mind at least) was 2 fold: find Spanish translators and find a doctor for our medical team (I didn’t even mention that one…). I sent out emails to my network / resourcing friends in the ministry field looking for anyone that might fill the bill. Nathan called me on the phone and told me not to worry, he was on it. Again, for those who know Nate, and those who have molded him, you have to take in a breath and just hold it when you hear that phrase.
About an hour or two later he called me back. “Problem solved. The real question should have been HOW MANY translators do you want?” Now, stressed out of his mind Dad was hearing his highly confident son tell me that he solved the translator problem. 1 phone call and a couple of emails he said. He sent me 2 phone numbers and told me to make the calls. I laughed to myself. Right. So, when is the last time you ate a slice of humble pie? Mine was a great big slice and it tasted pretty good to tell you the truth.
2 phone calls later I have 5 (yes FIVE) Spanish translators. How good are they you might ask? After all, a couple of hours? Who could Nathan contact in a couple of hours? Chase Turner for one. Chase played soccer with Nate at Freed-Hardeman. He majored in Spanish and is now working as a Spanish minister in Arkansas. Chase has been with me to Honduras too, which is an added benefit. And he has really wanted to go back to Honduras… that is where his vision for Spanish ministry began. How cool is that?
Call number 2? Well, I called Nadia Aguilera (yes, I know, THAT is a Spanish name if you ever hear one, right?) who graduated from Lipscomb last year. She went to Honduras with me 2 years ago and was a wonderful translator. I was SO excited that Nate gave me Nadia’s number… this was going to be GREAT! However, my bubble burst when she told me she could not go. Rats! As I was thinking “Thanks Nate” she continued the conversation and told me that her brother and sister were available to go. As we talked on the phone I could hear her talking to others in the background. Soon her youngest sister asked if she was needed and then her Dad. Jorge Ernesto Aguilera. Oh yeah, grand slam, game over! Just his name did it for me! He is a PREACHER at the Cole Mill Road Church of Christ (Latino congregation) in Raleigh / Durham, NC. Oh, and he is a medical doctor. Did I mention that the family is from HONDURAS?
Yes, Nathan is that good. All you have to do is ask him. 5 translators, 2 are ministers, 1 is a doctor. Not bad. God certainly does move in mysterious ways. He certainly worked through my son. And I am pretty sure if He can take care of this fire in my life He can probably take care of the others as well. I told you that God was at work, didn’t I? If He can do all of this in 1 day IMAGINE what He is going to do during the 10 days we will be in Honduras!
Dios es bueno todo el tiempo. ¡Todo el tiempo Dios es bueno! God is good all of the time. All of the time God is good!
Terry
June 10th is the deadline for all paperwork and money! Less than 4 weeks and counting! Now, I need to go find a job..... :-)
This last couple of weeks has been quite a stressor for me. Just trying to wrap up the school year with reviews, finals, grading papers, etc. is rough, but add to that the upcoming retreat, all of the paper work that has to be filled out (and collected from our last minute add on people and for those who haven’t turned everything in yet…), buying supplies, and you have the perfect recipe for stress. And then I found out that I was being let go from school. Due to a drop in registration, several of us at school were told we would not have contracts renewed for next year. So, add to this mix filling out applications, typing up resumes, and trying to set up interviews, and now you have one stressed out mission team leader.
THEN, just in case I had not quite reached the “snapping point,” a few of my long term Spanish translators contacted me to tell me they would not be able to go this summer. I went from 10 translators to 3. All had good reasons and I am certainly not upset with them… but this Alabama boy has had about all he could take. I had so many issues to deal with that I felt I was involved in a 5-alarm fire. Enter Nathan Reeves.
The most pressing thing on my list (in my mind at least) was 2 fold: find Spanish translators and find a doctor for our medical team (I didn’t even mention that one…). I sent out emails to my network / resourcing friends in the ministry field looking for anyone that might fill the bill. Nathan called me on the phone and told me not to worry, he was on it. Again, for those who know Nate, and those who have molded him, you have to take in a breath and just hold it when you hear that phrase.
About an hour or two later he called me back. “Problem solved. The real question should have been HOW MANY translators do you want?” Now, stressed out of his mind Dad was hearing his highly confident son tell me that he solved the translator problem. 1 phone call and a couple of emails he said. He sent me 2 phone numbers and told me to make the calls. I laughed to myself. Right. So, when is the last time you ate a slice of humble pie? Mine was a great big slice and it tasted pretty good to tell you the truth.
2 phone calls later I have 5 (yes FIVE) Spanish translators. How good are they you might ask? After all, a couple of hours? Who could Nathan contact in a couple of hours? Chase Turner for one. Chase played soccer with Nate at Freed-Hardeman. He majored in Spanish and is now working as a Spanish minister in Arkansas. Chase has been with me to Honduras too, which is an added benefit. And he has really wanted to go back to Honduras… that is where his vision for Spanish ministry began. How cool is that?
Call number 2? Well, I called Nadia Aguilera (yes, I know, THAT is a Spanish name if you ever hear one, right?) who graduated from Lipscomb last year. She went to Honduras with me 2 years ago and was a wonderful translator. I was SO excited that Nate gave me Nadia’s number… this was going to be GREAT! However, my bubble burst when she told me she could not go. Rats! As I was thinking “Thanks Nate” she continued the conversation and told me that her brother and sister were available to go. As we talked on the phone I could hear her talking to others in the background. Soon her youngest sister asked if she was needed and then her Dad. Jorge Ernesto Aguilera. Oh yeah, grand slam, game over! Just his name did it for me! He is a PREACHER at the Cole Mill Road Church of Christ (Latino congregation) in Raleigh / Durham, NC. Oh, and he is a medical doctor. Did I mention that the family is from HONDURAS?
Yes, Nathan is that good. All you have to do is ask him. 5 translators, 2 are ministers, 1 is a doctor. Not bad. God certainly does move in mysterious ways. He certainly worked through my son. And I am pretty sure if He can take care of this fire in my life He can probably take care of the others as well. I told you that God was at work, didn’t I? If He can do all of this in 1 day IMAGINE what He is going to do during the 10 days we will be in Honduras!
Dios es bueno todo el tiempo. ¡Todo el tiempo Dios es bueno! God is good all of the time. All of the time God is good!
Terry
June 10th is the deadline for all paperwork and money! Less than 4 weeks and counting! Now, I need to go find a job..... :-)
Wednesday, May 20
Here am I send me!
My 10th grade bible class at school just finished watching the film “The End Of The Spear.” Unlike so many other classes I have taught over the years, showing video to this group of guys (its an all boy’s class) is a good thing because they really watch it (of course I do give a test after the video which I am sure helps the concentration aspect of watching a movie). They were glued to the movie and had great discussion afterwards. It makes giving up 3 days of class to show the movie that much more worthwhile.
About half way into the movie, right after the Waodani warriors kill the 5 missionary men on the Curaray River bank, one of my students made the comment that I obviously was not trying to convince them into becoming missionaries! Most of the 34 students (2 classes) had not seen the movie and were completely taken by surprise when the 5 men died. It certainly was not what they were expecting. “Why would anyone risk their very lives to go into an area that dangerous?” they asked. Good question. Why would THEY go?
As we watched the second half of the movie they were completely blown away at the fact that the wives of the men went into the Ecuadorian jungle to live with the Waodani. By the end of the movie they were amazed at the level of dedication the missionaries showed in their effort to teach this indigenous tribe about God and His Son Jesus. They were very impressed with the movie, especially knowing that it was based on a true story.
At the end of the film, right after the credits, there is a small clip with an interview with Steve Saint (son of Nate Saint, one of the missionaries that was killed) and Mincayani, the tribal leader who actually killed Nate Saint. Mincayani was converted and he and Steve came to the States when the movie was released back in 2006. In the clip it showed Mincayani in America and experiencing life here for the very first time.
Can you even imagine what it was like for Mincayani? Living in the jungle your whole life hunting monkeys to eat? Living in straw huts with no electricity or running water? No flush toilets or furniture? Walking everywhere you go on small paths and living day to day with your main concerns being feeding your family and keeping them safe? Then, climbing into an airplane (try to experience that one through his eyes!) and landing at one of our major airports. Hundreds and hundreds of people hustling through the buildings. People movers and escalators shuttling people from point A to point B. Riding in a car for the first time… on paved highways traveling 70 miles an hour. Seeing a Super Wal-Mart for the first time? Can you say “Overwhelming?”
The clip is quite humorous as you listen to Micayani’s take on “moving pathways” and “food houses.” But to be honest, it was very difficult to get my 10th grades to see all of this through Micayani’s eyes. Why? They have never been out of the country. They have never seen anything that contrasts the way they live everyday of their lives in America. They cannot imagine what it would be like NOT having all of the things that are around us everyday. To them, what surrounds them is normal. But you know what? It isn’t.
Time to take a quiz. This time it is only 3 simple questions. Your answer will either be “Yes” or “No.” No trick questions, just simple yes or no questions. Here we go:
Do you have a phone?
Do you have the opportunity to eat 2 meals per day?
Do you live in a house that does not have a dirt floor?
Did you answer, “Yes” to all 3 questions? If so, according to WHO (World Health Organization) YOU are among the top 12% of the richest people that live on the planet. 88% of the world cannot answer “Yes” to all 3 of those questions. Surprised? Shocked? Welcome to America. The world we live in is not the norm. It is FAR from it. Try seeing life through the eyes of the rest of the world.
Several years ago a good friend that I met in Honduras came to America. He had to go to Vanderbilt for medical treatment that was not available in any of the hospitals in Tegucigalpa. He too traveled on a plane for the first time. He left an area with no electricity, no running water, and dirt roads. His capital airport has one runway. Maybe 12 airplanes a day land there on a busy day. Gerardo landed in Miami, one of the largest airports in the world and his eyes were opened. He entered our world the same way Mincayani did in the movie. And Gerardo’s life was changed forever.
The same thing is true for those of us that travel to Honduras, Mexico, or Ecuador. Our lives are changed forever because we see the world through different eyes. So, let’s go back to the question one of my students asked mid-way though the movie. Why would THEY go (to Ecuador to work with the Waodani tribe? Maybe the deeper question would have been, “Why don’t WE go there?” Or maybe, “Why don’t YOU go there?”
This summer about 100 people from Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky, Arkansas, Florida, Pennsylvania, Mississippi, and Texas will climb aboard airplanes to fly to Tegucigalpa, Honduras. These volunteers will form our Torch team and for 11 days we will work among the poorest people in the Western Hemisphere. We will build houses; playgrounds; distribute food; visit orphanages; do service projects; visit hospitals; conduct a VBS; teach adult bible classes; and provide a free remote medical clinic. We will have morning and evening devotionals and will attend a local congregation for worship services. And we will, without a doubt, realize what it is like to be part of the 12% of the richest people on the planet.
Why did that mission team go to Ecuador? Probably for the same reason we go to Honduras. Little Stevie asked his dad, Nate Saint, right before he flew to the contact site, if he would fight and defend himself if he was attacked. Nate Saint replied he would not. Why? Because he was ready to meet God and they were not. And He said unto them, Go into all of the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who had believed and been baptized will be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. Mark 16: 15-16. That is why we go. We are ready and they are not. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39. As Isaiah said, “Here am I, send me!” Thank you Lord for sending us.
Terry Reeves
About half way into the movie, right after the Waodani warriors kill the 5 missionary men on the Curaray River bank, one of my students made the comment that I obviously was not trying to convince them into becoming missionaries! Most of the 34 students (2 classes) had not seen the movie and were completely taken by surprise when the 5 men died. It certainly was not what they were expecting. “Why would anyone risk their very lives to go into an area that dangerous?” they asked. Good question. Why would THEY go?
As we watched the second half of the movie they were completely blown away at the fact that the wives of the men went into the Ecuadorian jungle to live with the Waodani. By the end of the movie they were amazed at the level of dedication the missionaries showed in their effort to teach this indigenous tribe about God and His Son Jesus. They were very impressed with the movie, especially knowing that it was based on a true story.
At the end of the film, right after the credits, there is a small clip with an interview with Steve Saint (son of Nate Saint, one of the missionaries that was killed) and Mincayani, the tribal leader who actually killed Nate Saint. Mincayani was converted and he and Steve came to the States when the movie was released back in 2006. In the clip it showed Mincayani in America and experiencing life here for the very first time.
Can you even imagine what it was like for Mincayani? Living in the jungle your whole life hunting monkeys to eat? Living in straw huts with no electricity or running water? No flush toilets or furniture? Walking everywhere you go on small paths and living day to day with your main concerns being feeding your family and keeping them safe? Then, climbing into an airplane (try to experience that one through his eyes!) and landing at one of our major airports. Hundreds and hundreds of people hustling through the buildings. People movers and escalators shuttling people from point A to point B. Riding in a car for the first time… on paved highways traveling 70 miles an hour. Seeing a Super Wal-Mart for the first time? Can you say “Overwhelming?”
The clip is quite humorous as you listen to Micayani’s take on “moving pathways” and “food houses.” But to be honest, it was very difficult to get my 10th grades to see all of this through Micayani’s eyes. Why? They have never been out of the country. They have never seen anything that contrasts the way they live everyday of their lives in America. They cannot imagine what it would be like NOT having all of the things that are around us everyday. To them, what surrounds them is normal. But you know what? It isn’t.
Time to take a quiz. This time it is only 3 simple questions. Your answer will either be “Yes” or “No.” No trick questions, just simple yes or no questions. Here we go:
Do you have a phone?
Do you have the opportunity to eat 2 meals per day?
Do you live in a house that does not have a dirt floor?
Did you answer, “Yes” to all 3 questions? If so, according to WHO (World Health Organization) YOU are among the top 12% of the richest people that live on the planet. 88% of the world cannot answer “Yes” to all 3 of those questions. Surprised? Shocked? Welcome to America. The world we live in is not the norm. It is FAR from it. Try seeing life through the eyes of the rest of the world.
Several years ago a good friend that I met in Honduras came to America. He had to go to Vanderbilt for medical treatment that was not available in any of the hospitals in Tegucigalpa. He too traveled on a plane for the first time. He left an area with no electricity, no running water, and dirt roads. His capital airport has one runway. Maybe 12 airplanes a day land there on a busy day. Gerardo landed in Miami, one of the largest airports in the world and his eyes were opened. He entered our world the same way Mincayani did in the movie. And Gerardo’s life was changed forever.
The same thing is true for those of us that travel to Honduras, Mexico, or Ecuador. Our lives are changed forever because we see the world through different eyes. So, let’s go back to the question one of my students asked mid-way though the movie. Why would THEY go (to Ecuador to work with the Waodani tribe? Maybe the deeper question would have been, “Why don’t WE go there?” Or maybe, “Why don’t YOU go there?”
This summer about 100 people from Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky, Arkansas, Florida, Pennsylvania, Mississippi, and Texas will climb aboard airplanes to fly to Tegucigalpa, Honduras. These volunteers will form our Torch team and for 11 days we will work among the poorest people in the Western Hemisphere. We will build houses; playgrounds; distribute food; visit orphanages; do service projects; visit hospitals; conduct a VBS; teach adult bible classes; and provide a free remote medical clinic. We will have morning and evening devotionals and will attend a local congregation for worship services. And we will, without a doubt, realize what it is like to be part of the 12% of the richest people on the planet.
Why did that mission team go to Ecuador? Probably for the same reason we go to Honduras. Little Stevie asked his dad, Nate Saint, right before he flew to the contact site, if he would fight and defend himself if he was attacked. Nate Saint replied he would not. Why? Because he was ready to meet God and they were not. And He said unto them, Go into all of the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who had believed and been baptized will be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. Mark 16: 15-16. That is why we go. We are ready and they are not. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39. As Isaiah said, “Here am I, send me!” Thank you Lord for sending us.
Terry Reeves
Tuesday, May 12
Running on empty
As I begin writing this blog I am sitting in my classroom at school staring out the window. I am mesmerized at a brilliantly blue sky with sunlight flooding in my room. What a beautiful sight! This is the 3rd day in a row with no rain and today the clouds have parted and the sun is shinning through. Of course I do live in Tennessee and the weather could change in half an hour so I am enjoying it while I can.
According to the site counter, we are now only 44 days till our trip to Honduras. About 6 weeks and counting. It is hard to believe, isn’t it? For those GOING on the trip, time is creeping along and June 26th can’t get here soon enough; for those of us PLANNING the trip, time is flying by and the departure date is roaring towards us like a car approaching a stop sign while going down a steep hill with no brakes!!! It is all in your perspective.
Here are important dates and information everyone needs to know concerning our trip:
Monday, May 18: Villa Gracias (Mission House) deposit paid
Saturday, May 23: Torch T-shirt orders go to the silk screeners to be printed.
Friday, May 29: Torch supplemental insurance submitted and paid.
Saturday, May 30: Torch duffel bags stenciled and numbered
Sunday, May 31: Torch fund raiser luncheon / auction @ Western Hills CoC
Friday, June 5: All collected supplies and donations due in Nashville.
Friday, June 5 – Sunday, June 7: Torch retreat in Centerville, TN
Wednesday, June 10: Final balance payment due (and remaining paper work)
Friday, June 12: Torch Journal goes to printers
Tuesday, June 16: Torch Journals mailed to team leaders
Friday, June 19: Torch funds withdrawn from bank for trip
Tuesday, June 23: Stress test as last minute details taken care of before departure!!!
Wednesday, June 24: Advance team departs for Honduras
Friday, June 26: Main team departs for Honduras!!!
Outside of this, the only things I need to do is design the Torch shirts, write the Torch Journal, and finish ordering / buying medical supplies and gear for the trip. As you can see, time is flying by!!!! Forget about teaching classes, reviewing, final exams, report cards, sleep………
As for our Torch team members, Wednesday, June 10th is the date you need to focus on. It is VERY, VERY important that you have your final paper work and payments to me NO LATER THAN THE 10th. Do not mail your final payment on the 10th. I need it on my hand by that date. Checks have to have time to be deposited so that they have time to clear before I withdraw the money on June 19th.
For those coming to the retreat the weekend of June 5-7, I need to know how many are coming BY THIS WEEKEND. We have to confirm our reservation numbers at the retreat center Sunday night. Group leaders please take time this week to get with your team members to verify how many are going. The retreat is $25 per person and that pays for 3 days / 2 nights at the retreat center and Friday dinner; 3 meals on Saturday, and brunch on Sunday.
This is our tentative schedule for the retreat:
Friday, June 5
3:30 – 6:00: arrive at Camp Meribah Lodge
6:30: Dinner
7:30-9:00: Mixer games and such like
9:00: Evening devotional
Saturday, June 6
8:00: Breakfast
9:00: Morning devotional
10:00 – 12:00: Presentation of the overview of the trip (projects, expectations, dress codes, rules, etc); presentation of the water purification system (construction of system, problem solving, prep work, etc by Friendship Christian students); presentation of VBS materials and Bible lessons (Hilldale Church of Christ, Clarksville, TN)
12:30: Lunch
1:30 – 2:30: Free time; prep for packing of supplies
2:30 – 4:30: Sort, pack supplies in duffle bags; color code bags; create manifest list
4:30 – 6:00: Small group discussions. Team will be divided into groups and will rotate to different stations to discuss different aspects of the trip (construction projects; medical; evangelism; visitation; service projects; etc)
6:00: Typical Honduras Dinner!
7:00: Group activities continued
9:00: Evening devotional
Sunday, June 7
8:00: Worship service
9:00: Camp clean-up
10:30: Brunch and final clean-up
11:30: check out
Let me know if you have any questions, concerns, suggestions, or thoughts concerning the trip. Continue reading the blog, I will be posting on a regular basis from this point on! It is an honor to get to work with all of you this summer! Hasta luego mis hermanos y las hermanas en Cristo!
Terry
According to the site counter, we are now only 44 days till our trip to Honduras. About 6 weeks and counting. It is hard to believe, isn’t it? For those GOING on the trip, time is creeping along and June 26th can’t get here soon enough; for those of us PLANNING the trip, time is flying by and the departure date is roaring towards us like a car approaching a stop sign while going down a steep hill with no brakes!!! It is all in your perspective.
Here are important dates and information everyone needs to know concerning our trip:
Monday, May 18: Villa Gracias (Mission House) deposit paid
Saturday, May 23: Torch T-shirt orders go to the silk screeners to be printed.
Friday, May 29: Torch supplemental insurance submitted and paid.
Saturday, May 30: Torch duffel bags stenciled and numbered
Sunday, May 31: Torch fund raiser luncheon / auction @ Western Hills CoC
Friday, June 5: All collected supplies and donations due in Nashville.
Friday, June 5 – Sunday, June 7: Torch retreat in Centerville, TN
Wednesday, June 10: Final balance payment due (and remaining paper work)
Friday, June 12: Torch Journal goes to printers
Tuesday, June 16: Torch Journals mailed to team leaders
Friday, June 19: Torch funds withdrawn from bank for trip
Tuesday, June 23: Stress test as last minute details taken care of before departure!!!
Wednesday, June 24: Advance team departs for Honduras
Friday, June 26: Main team departs for Honduras!!!
Outside of this, the only things I need to do is design the Torch shirts, write the Torch Journal, and finish ordering / buying medical supplies and gear for the trip. As you can see, time is flying by!!!! Forget about teaching classes, reviewing, final exams, report cards, sleep………
As for our Torch team members, Wednesday, June 10th is the date you need to focus on. It is VERY, VERY important that you have your final paper work and payments to me NO LATER THAN THE 10th. Do not mail your final payment on the 10th. I need it on my hand by that date. Checks have to have time to be deposited so that they have time to clear before I withdraw the money on June 19th.
For those coming to the retreat the weekend of June 5-7, I need to know how many are coming BY THIS WEEKEND. We have to confirm our reservation numbers at the retreat center Sunday night. Group leaders please take time this week to get with your team members to verify how many are going. The retreat is $25 per person and that pays for 3 days / 2 nights at the retreat center and Friday dinner; 3 meals on Saturday, and brunch on Sunday.
This is our tentative schedule for the retreat:
Friday, June 5
3:30 – 6:00: arrive at Camp Meribah Lodge
6:30: Dinner
7:30-9:00: Mixer games and such like
9:00: Evening devotional
Saturday, June 6
8:00: Breakfast
9:00: Morning devotional
10:00 – 12:00: Presentation of the overview of the trip (projects, expectations, dress codes, rules, etc); presentation of the water purification system (construction of system, problem solving, prep work, etc by Friendship Christian students); presentation of VBS materials and Bible lessons (Hilldale Church of Christ, Clarksville, TN)
12:30: Lunch
1:30 – 2:30: Free time; prep for packing of supplies
2:30 – 4:30: Sort, pack supplies in duffle bags; color code bags; create manifest list
4:30 – 6:00: Small group discussions. Team will be divided into groups and will rotate to different stations to discuss different aspects of the trip (construction projects; medical; evangelism; visitation; service projects; etc)
6:00: Typical Honduras Dinner!
7:00: Group activities continued
9:00: Evening devotional
Sunday, June 7
8:00: Worship service
9:00: Camp clean-up
10:30: Brunch and final clean-up
11:30: check out
Let me know if you have any questions, concerns, suggestions, or thoughts concerning the trip. Continue reading the blog, I will be posting on a regular basis from this point on! It is an honor to get to work with all of you this summer! Hasta luego mis hermanos y las hermanas en Cristo!
Terry
Tuesday, May 5
Raindrops keep falling on my head
If spring showers bring May flowers, we are going to have a bumper crop this year here in Tennessee. I honestly cannot remember seeing so much rain. Please do not get me wrong, we are not having the flooding that happened up north, although our rivers and streams are as full as can be. It is just the day after day after day rain. Outside activities are all but impossible right now. My soccer team has played 2 matches all season on a dry field. Yesterday I bravely volunteered many of my students to go help the ground crew at school try to prep the softball and baseball fields to be usable for the district tournament games. My grass at my house is nearly a foot tall because it won’t stop long enough to cut it.
This past Sunday was one of our scheduled fund raisers at church. Months have gone by as we have planned and promoted the annual Torch Invitational Golf Tournament. This year it was at the Opryland / Gaylord Springs course. Very nice and challenging. And, as you might have guessed, it rained. Now, playing golf is not one of my strong points. Never has been. I like playing and consider it a fun game and all, but I have never even tried to master it. As a matter of fact, the last time I played was this time last year for the same event! So, rain really doesn’t mess my game up very much. Far from it. Maybe for others who are good at the game; but not me.
Amazingly, about 44 people came out to play Sunday afternoon. The rain came down and the flood water rose and winds blew (well, the rain came down) and we had a great time. And, as always, my team had a lot of laughs along the way. And in the process money was raised to go towards our trip to Honduras and the mission team from Western Hills that is going to work at the City of Children this summer in Mexico. Dark clouds and liquid sunshine could not stop the event. We had a great time. It will just take a while to get the mud off of my shoes.
Some people wonder why we would go through such great lengths to raise money to go on a mission trip. After all, it is a lot of work. It takes a lot of time and energy and resources. Sometimes the end result does not seem worth the effort. Not to mention the time and money it takes to go on the trip in the first place. Sacrificing vacation time; the cost of the trip; the lodging arrangements; the food; the shots and vaccinations; the dress codes; the rules; the cold showers; the Imodium, Tums, and Pepto; the language barriers; the culture differences. Why in the world would anyone have yard sales, golf tournaments in the rain, and pancake breakfasts to do all of that?
Sunday our preacher at Western Hills (my brother-in-law), brought up to the stage one of the adults going on the trip to Mexico. He just picked him randomly from the crowd. The man had no idea this was coming. Scott asked him WHY he was going on the trip to Mexico. Talking about impromptu! But his answer was swift and sincere, “Because they need us.” The truth in those words rang in my ears.
They DO need us. Even in the mist of a recession I have found that the number of people going with me to Honduras has not gone down. As a matter of fact, this is going to be one of the largest groups I have taken to Honduras. People are still giving generously to the work fund. People are still donating supplies that we need. People are even playing gold on a rainy day instead of staying home to watch the NBA playoffs on TV. As bad as the recession is here in the States, you an only imagine how bad it is in places south of our boarder. We live in a huge country with lots of natural resources and wealth. We have a country with a health care system and programs set up to help those in need. We have faith based organizations and churches that help in time of need.
But imagine living in a place like Honduras. 55% unemployment rate. Inflation that is out of control. The value of your monetary system failing (the Limperia continues to lose value. 10 years ago the exchange rate was 12 Limperias per Dollar, today is nearly 20 to one). Corruption at every level of government keeping tax money from reaching its intended projects. No health care system. No welfare system. No unemployment system. No government agencies to speak of that can rise to the level of help that is needed. And faith based organizations and churches that have the ability to help are outside of your country.
In Honduras you do not live from paycheck to paycheck. You live day to day. You are not concerned about next week’s bills; you are concerned about putting food on your kid’s plate today. You are not worried about what you are going to wear today; you are worried if you have anything to wear today. You are not concerned about the internet being down for a few hours today; you are worried that the water truck will not make it up to your side of the mountain to deliever drinking water. You don’t worry about downsizing or “cutting back,” you don’t even know what that means.
In Honduras the value of money is going down and the price of goods is increasing. Jobs are hard to find. The cost of food and fuel continue to climb. The poor is getting poorer and the need is growing everyday. Why do we go? “They need us.” And it is not just our money and supplies. If that was all that was needed we could just put a check in the mail and be done with it. Clean. Sterile. Unemotional. Unattached. They need to know that there are people that care. They need to know that there are congregations that care. They need to know that we serve a God that cares.
Thank you Lord for the rain.
TR
This past Sunday was one of our scheduled fund raisers at church. Months have gone by as we have planned and promoted the annual Torch Invitational Golf Tournament. This year it was at the Opryland / Gaylord Springs course. Very nice and challenging. And, as you might have guessed, it rained. Now, playing golf is not one of my strong points. Never has been. I like playing and consider it a fun game and all, but I have never even tried to master it. As a matter of fact, the last time I played was this time last year for the same event! So, rain really doesn’t mess my game up very much. Far from it. Maybe for others who are good at the game; but not me.
Amazingly, about 44 people came out to play Sunday afternoon. The rain came down and the flood water rose and winds blew (well, the rain came down) and we had a great time. And, as always, my team had a lot of laughs along the way. And in the process money was raised to go towards our trip to Honduras and the mission team from Western Hills that is going to work at the City of Children this summer in Mexico. Dark clouds and liquid sunshine could not stop the event. We had a great time. It will just take a while to get the mud off of my shoes.
Some people wonder why we would go through such great lengths to raise money to go on a mission trip. After all, it is a lot of work. It takes a lot of time and energy and resources. Sometimes the end result does not seem worth the effort. Not to mention the time and money it takes to go on the trip in the first place. Sacrificing vacation time; the cost of the trip; the lodging arrangements; the food; the shots and vaccinations; the dress codes; the rules; the cold showers; the Imodium, Tums, and Pepto; the language barriers; the culture differences. Why in the world would anyone have yard sales, golf tournaments in the rain, and pancake breakfasts to do all of that?
Sunday our preacher at Western Hills (my brother-in-law), brought up to the stage one of the adults going on the trip to Mexico. He just picked him randomly from the crowd. The man had no idea this was coming. Scott asked him WHY he was going on the trip to Mexico. Talking about impromptu! But his answer was swift and sincere, “Because they need us.” The truth in those words rang in my ears.
They DO need us. Even in the mist of a recession I have found that the number of people going with me to Honduras has not gone down. As a matter of fact, this is going to be one of the largest groups I have taken to Honduras. People are still giving generously to the work fund. People are still donating supplies that we need. People are even playing gold on a rainy day instead of staying home to watch the NBA playoffs on TV. As bad as the recession is here in the States, you an only imagine how bad it is in places south of our boarder. We live in a huge country with lots of natural resources and wealth. We have a country with a health care system and programs set up to help those in need. We have faith based organizations and churches that help in time of need.
But imagine living in a place like Honduras. 55% unemployment rate. Inflation that is out of control. The value of your monetary system failing (the Limperia continues to lose value. 10 years ago the exchange rate was 12 Limperias per Dollar, today is nearly 20 to one). Corruption at every level of government keeping tax money from reaching its intended projects. No health care system. No welfare system. No unemployment system. No government agencies to speak of that can rise to the level of help that is needed. And faith based organizations and churches that have the ability to help are outside of your country.
In Honduras you do not live from paycheck to paycheck. You live day to day. You are not concerned about next week’s bills; you are concerned about putting food on your kid’s plate today. You are not worried about what you are going to wear today; you are worried if you have anything to wear today. You are not concerned about the internet being down for a few hours today; you are worried that the water truck will not make it up to your side of the mountain to deliever drinking water. You don’t worry about downsizing or “cutting back,” you don’t even know what that means.
In Honduras the value of money is going down and the price of goods is increasing. Jobs are hard to find. The cost of food and fuel continue to climb. The poor is getting poorer and the need is growing everyday. Why do we go? “They need us.” And it is not just our money and supplies. If that was all that was needed we could just put a check in the mail and be done with it. Clean. Sterile. Unemotional. Unattached. They need to know that there are people that care. They need to know that there are congregations that care. They need to know that we serve a God that cares.
Thank you Lord for the rain.
TR
Saturday, April 25
I knew we could, I knew we could
The Little Engine That Could. What a great kid’s story. A long train of cars had to be pulled over the mountain. The bigger engines, one by one, made their excuses as to why they could not do it. But the little engine thought he could do it. And he did. “I think I can! I think I can!” was his famous phrase that got him over that mountain.
The little blue engine was built to pull a few cars on and off the switches at the station. Larger, more powerful engines, built and designed for harder work, were nearby for the heavier loads. When the long train of cars arrived at the station the larger engines declined when they considered the steep incline they had to pull. But the little blue engine thought it could do it. Optimism. Bravery. Hard work. Perseverance. Achievement.
I have witnessed the little blue engine at work. In a little church in a little town in western Pennsylvania. About 45 minutes outside of Pittsburgh is the town of Kittanning, PA. Population is approximately 5,000 according to the 2000 census. The town has been in the decline since the collapse of the steel industry and suffering from the economic recession. It was built on the banks of the Alleghany River and the home of the Kittanning Church of Christ. About 100 of the best people you could ever want to meet. Little church in a little town with a big heart and an “I think I can” attitude.
Last spring Brian Steffy, and elder of the Lord’s church, called me with an interesting proposition. A school in Kittanning was being knocked down to make way for a new building. Members from Kittanning went to the school board and asked if they could have the desks, chairs, chalk boards, and other school supplies that was going to be thrown away. Brian and Scott Townsend asked if these supplies could be used in Honduras since they were still in good shape. My motto is “If it is free it is for me” so of course we decided to get the school supplies.
Because of a long list of difficulties and red tape, the supplies were placed on hold and we could not ship the school supplies last summer. Then we ran out of money. So Kittanning had a storage facility full of desks and supplies and no way to get them south of the boarder. Enter the Little Engine That Could.
The Kittanning congregation decided to take the project of getting the school supplies to Honduras upon themselves. Now, this is no easy task. The paper work, the scheduling, the doc fees, lawyer fees, labor fees, loading of the container, and the final cost can be overwhelming, even if you have lots of resources. This is not a task for a church of 100 in a town of 5,000 in the depths of the recession. But that did not stop Kittanning.
This past week Healing Hands International assisted Kittanning in shipping a 40’ container full of school supplies to Honduras. The container will arrive in Porta Cortez sometime next week. In 2 weeks the container will arrive in Tegucigalpa and will be unloaded. And soon after of that the supplies will be distributed to schools in and around Tegucigalpa. Instead of “I think I can, I think I can,” Kittanning can now say “I knew we could, I knew we could.”
Good job. Because Kittanning would not give up on this idea, dozens and dozens and dozens of children in Honduras will have a better place to go to school and to learn. Who knows, maybe there are lots of little blue engines out there… I would love to hear their stories.
Go out and make a difference today.
Terry
The little blue engine was built to pull a few cars on and off the switches at the station. Larger, more powerful engines, built and designed for harder work, were nearby for the heavier loads. When the long train of cars arrived at the station the larger engines declined when they considered the steep incline they had to pull. But the little blue engine thought it could do it. Optimism. Bravery. Hard work. Perseverance. Achievement.
I have witnessed the little blue engine at work. In a little church in a little town in western Pennsylvania. About 45 minutes outside of Pittsburgh is the town of Kittanning, PA. Population is approximately 5,000 according to the 2000 census. The town has been in the decline since the collapse of the steel industry and suffering from the economic recession. It was built on the banks of the Alleghany River and the home of the Kittanning Church of Christ. About 100 of the best people you could ever want to meet. Little church in a little town with a big heart and an “I think I can” attitude.
Last spring Brian Steffy, and elder of the Lord’s church, called me with an interesting proposition. A school in Kittanning was being knocked down to make way for a new building. Members from Kittanning went to the school board and asked if they could have the desks, chairs, chalk boards, and other school supplies that was going to be thrown away. Brian and Scott Townsend asked if these supplies could be used in Honduras since they were still in good shape. My motto is “If it is free it is for me” so of course we decided to get the school supplies.
Because of a long list of difficulties and red tape, the supplies were placed on hold and we could not ship the school supplies last summer. Then we ran out of money. So Kittanning had a storage facility full of desks and supplies and no way to get them south of the boarder. Enter the Little Engine That Could.
The Kittanning congregation decided to take the project of getting the school supplies to Honduras upon themselves. Now, this is no easy task. The paper work, the scheduling, the doc fees, lawyer fees, labor fees, loading of the container, and the final cost can be overwhelming, even if you have lots of resources. This is not a task for a church of 100 in a town of 5,000 in the depths of the recession. But that did not stop Kittanning.
This past week Healing Hands International assisted Kittanning in shipping a 40’ container full of school supplies to Honduras. The container will arrive in Porta Cortez sometime next week. In 2 weeks the container will arrive in Tegucigalpa and will be unloaded. And soon after of that the supplies will be distributed to schools in and around Tegucigalpa. Instead of “I think I can, I think I can,” Kittanning can now say “I knew we could, I knew we could.”
Good job. Because Kittanning would not give up on this idea, dozens and dozens and dozens of children in Honduras will have a better place to go to school and to learn. Who knows, maybe there are lots of little blue engines out there… I would love to hear their stories.
Go out and make a difference today.
Terry
Tuesday, April 14
¿dónde está el agua purificada?
“Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink.” Famous quote, but do you from where it comes? Don’t worry, I didn’t know either. Samuel Taylor Coleridge. 18th century poem called “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.” So, what does this have to do with the price of tea in China? Or beans in Honduras? Glad you asked.
Today is your lucky day. Let’s take a little quiz, shall we? You are probably going to learn some things you did not know before. Things you actually should be aware of and need to know. 10 questions. 10 points each. Ready? OK, here we go:
Let’s start out easy and work our way up.
1. Q. What percentage of the earth is covered by water?
A. less that 40% B. 54 % C. 70% D. nearly 90%
2. Q. What percentage of the human body is water?
A. less than 40% B. About 66% C. 77.5% D. Nearly 90%
3. Q. What percentage of the earth’s water is fresh water?
A. Less than 5% B. About 20% C. Almost 40% D. More than 50%
Q. What is the longest fresh water river in the world (4,132 miles!)?
4. A. Nile River B. Mississippi River C. Amazon River D. Rhine River
5. Q. How long can a human survive without water?
A. 1-2 days B. 3-6 days C. 6-10 days D. More than 10 days
6. How much of the world’s fresh water is frozen at the South Pole?
A. 10% B. 25% C. 50% D. 90%
7. Q: How much water does an average American use in a day?
A. 5 gallons B. 20 gallons C. 95 gallons D. 150 gallons
8. Q. The greatest source of fresh water for humans is found where?
A. Rivers B. Underground C. Lakes D. In the form of rain
9. Q. Worldwide, which consumes the most freshwater?
A. Residential B. Agricultural C. Industrial D. Bio-medical
10. Q. About how many people worldwide have inadequate fresh water?
A. 500,000 B. 15,000,000 C. 520,000,000 D. 2, 500,000,000
Want to grade it and find out? Here are the answers:
1. C 2. B 3. A 4. A 5. B
TR
Today is your lucky day. Let’s take a little quiz, shall we? You are probably going to learn some things you did not know before. Things you actually should be aware of and need to know. 10 questions. 10 points each. Ready? OK, here we go:
Let’s start out easy and work our way up.
1. Q. What percentage of the earth is covered by water?
A. less that 40% B. 54 % C. 70% D. nearly 90%
2. Q. What percentage of the human body is water?
A. less than 40% B. About 66% C. 77.5% D. Nearly 90%
3. Q. What percentage of the earth’s water is fresh water?
A. Less than 5% B. About 20% C. Almost 40% D. More than 50%
Q. What is the longest fresh water river in the world (4,132 miles!)?
4. A. Nile River B. Mississippi River C. Amazon River D. Rhine River
5. Q. How long can a human survive without water?
A. 1-2 days B. 3-6 days C. 6-10 days D. More than 10 days
6. How much of the world’s fresh water is frozen at the South Pole?
A. 10% B. 25% C. 50% D. 90%
7. Q: How much water does an average American use in a day?
A. 5 gallons B. 20 gallons C. 95 gallons D. 150 gallons
8. Q. The greatest source of fresh water for humans is found where?
A. Rivers B. Underground C. Lakes D. In the form of rain
9. Q. Worldwide, which consumes the most freshwater?
A. Residential B. Agricultural C. Industrial D. Bio-medical
10. Q. About how many people worldwide have inadequate fresh water?
A. 500,000 B. 15,000,000 C. 520,000,000 D. 2, 500,000,000
Want to grade it and find out? Here are the answers:
1. C 2. B 3. A 4. A 5. B
6. D 7. D. 8. B 9. B 10. D
Grading scale:
0 = 100 A
1 = 90 B
2 = 80 C
3 = 70 D
4 or more F
So, how did you do? Feel good about your score? How much did you know about water? If you are like me, you probably just learned a lot. Only 3% of the world’s water supply is fresh water! And 90% of the fresh water on the planet is FROZEN. When Samuel Taylor Coleridge said, “Water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink” he wasn’t joking. There is so much water on the planet but the vast majority is undrinkable. So we have 6.5 BILLION people needing access to the small percentage of fresh water the world has to offer.
Most of the fresh water today is used for agriculture. Then industrial. And coming in third is residential. Water scarcity is already the number 1 problem facing the world population today and it is projected to get worse. 2.5 BILLION people suffer from contaminated water and 884,000,000 suffer from inadequate drinking water.
Nearly 1 BILLION world wide suffer from water related diseases each year and over 2,000,000 die. And most of these people are children. 4,000 children a DAY die from preventable water born diseases. Most of these are from 3rd world, developing countries. 42 countries struggle with this problem everyday. One of these countries is Honduras. Lack of clean water and water shortages plagues Honduras and the country’s inability to provide clean water is a growing problem.
The majority of Hondurans do not have running water and dopurified. Bacteria and other organisms thrive in the water producing a host of medical problems that include diarrhea; intestinal worms; malaria; schistosomiasis; trachoma; and typhoid.
As we work in Honduras we encounter this scenario every day. It is a daily scene as women and children carry containers of water on their heads back to their “houses.” This water, usually from a local creek, will be used to wash clothes, bath children, cook the food, and provide water to drink. Raw sewage drains along the sides of the dirt roads back into the very creek the water was drawn. Those that are fortunate enough to have a small amount of money buy water from tanker trucks that drive throughout the villages. And even though the water from these trucks is clean it is rarely purified. not have access to clean water. Rivers and streams provide the poor of Honduras the water they must use for cooking, bathing, drinking, and sanitation. Few communities are able to afford companies to come in and drill wells. Even for those who do have access to well water, the clean water they use is not
This summer our team will be able to address this ever growing problem by installing 2 water purification systems at the Didasko Orphanage and Casa de Esperanza Children’s Home. Dadasko is the home of 34 adorable children who live near Tamara, about 20 miles outside Tegucigalpa. Didasko is overseen by Jorge and Rosa Castillo, a wonderful Christian couple who has worked at Didasko for years. Casa de Esperanza (the house of hope) is located in Santa Ana, about 20 miles outside of Tegucigalpa. It was established in 2005 and is the home of 18 precious children at this time. Marc and Terri Tindall help oversee the work along with a staff that includes Karen and Dorian Guido.
The systems we will be installing will purify water by removing the bacteria and contaminates from the water. The system will be capable of purifying nearly 2,000 gallons of water per day. This will be more than adequate for the children’s home and will provide additional water that can be bottled and sold at a fair price to those living in the communities nearby. The revenue from the sale of purified water will generate additional funds for the children’s home that can be used for food, medicine, clothing, and additional supplies that are needed for day to day operations.
The water purification system costs $3,000.00. This pays for all of the hardware (PVC pipe, pumps, filters, wiring, valves, UV lamps, holding tanks, etc) and is very simple to operate. Filters only have to be replaced twice a year. This system works on a gravity feed concept. A large holding tank distributes the raw water into the pump system. The water travels through a system of filters to remove contaminates. Once the water travels through the final filter it is pumped through a series of pipes that loops back and fourth mixing ozone into the water after being exposed to the Ultra Violet lamps. Once this is completed the purified water is stored in a separate holding tank ready for use.
With minimal maintenance this system should last for several years and will provide clean, pure drinking water for kids who really need it and will truly appreciate it. Giving these kids a chance to succeed is one of the greatest physical gifts we can give them. We are excited to be able to provide these systems and hope to install additional systems in the future. If you would like more information about the water purification systems or would like to contribute to the project, please feel free to contact me at reeves.tl@gmail.com
So, when you take your next shower, or brush your teeth, or even flush the toilet, just think of all of that clean, pure water going down the drain. And be thankful you live in a country where something as important as this can be taken for granted. 150 gallons per person per day…. Just think about it.
Grading scale:
0 = 100 A
1 = 90 B
2 = 80 C
3 = 70 D
4 or more F
So, how did you do? Feel good about your score? How much did you know about water? If you are like me, you probably just learned a lot. Only 3% of the world’s water supply is fresh water! And 90% of the fresh water on the planet is FROZEN. When Samuel Taylor Coleridge said, “Water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink” he wasn’t joking. There is so much water on the planet but the vast majority is undrinkable. So we have 6.5 BILLION people needing access to the small percentage of fresh water the world has to offer.
Most of the fresh water today is used for agriculture. Then industrial. And coming in third is residential. Water scarcity is already the number 1 problem facing the world population today and it is projected to get worse. 2.5 BILLION people suffer from contaminated water and 884,000,000 suffer from inadequate drinking water.
Nearly 1 BILLION world wide suffer from water related diseases each year and over 2,000,000 die. And most of these people are children. 4,000 children a DAY die from preventable water born diseases. Most of these are from 3rd world, developing countries. 42 countries struggle with this problem everyday. One of these countries is Honduras. Lack of clean water and water shortages plagues Honduras and the country’s inability to provide clean water is a growing problem.
The majority of Hondurans do not have running water and dopurified. Bacteria and other organisms thrive in the water producing a host of medical problems that include diarrhea; intestinal worms; malaria; schistosomiasis; trachoma; and typhoid.
As we work in Honduras we encounter this scenario every day. It is a daily scene as women and children carry containers of water on their heads back to their “houses.” This water, usually from a local creek, will be used to wash clothes, bath children, cook the food, and provide water to drink. Raw sewage drains along the sides of the dirt roads back into the very creek the water was drawn. Those that are fortunate enough to have a small amount of money buy water from tanker trucks that drive throughout the villages. And even though the water from these trucks is clean it is rarely purified. not have access to clean water. Rivers and streams provide the poor of Honduras the water they must use for cooking, bathing, drinking, and sanitation. Few communities are able to afford companies to come in and drill wells. Even for those who do have access to well water, the clean water they use is not
This summer our team will be able to address this ever growing problem by installing 2 water purification systems at the Didasko Orphanage and Casa de Esperanza Children’s Home. Dadasko is the home of 34 adorable children who live near Tamara, about 20 miles outside Tegucigalpa. Didasko is overseen by Jorge and Rosa Castillo, a wonderful Christian couple who has worked at Didasko for years. Casa de Esperanza (the house of hope) is located in Santa Ana, about 20 miles outside of Tegucigalpa. It was established in 2005 and is the home of 18 precious children at this time. Marc and Terri Tindall help oversee the work along with a staff that includes Karen and Dorian Guido.
The systems we will be installing will purify water by removing the bacteria and contaminates from the water. The system will be capable of purifying nearly 2,000 gallons of water per day. This will be more than adequate for the children’s home and will provide additional water that can be bottled and sold at a fair price to those living in the communities nearby. The revenue from the sale of purified water will generate additional funds for the children’s home that can be used for food, medicine, clothing, and additional supplies that are needed for day to day operations.
The water purification system costs $3,000.00. This pays for all of the hardware (PVC pipe, pumps, filters, wiring, valves, UV lamps, holding tanks, etc) and is very simple to operate. Filters only have to be replaced twice a year. This system works on a gravity feed concept. A large holding tank distributes the raw water into the pump system. The water travels through a system of filters to remove contaminates. Once the water travels through the final filter it is pumped through a series of pipes that loops back and fourth mixing ozone into the water after being exposed to the Ultra Violet lamps. Once this is completed the purified water is stored in a separate holding tank ready for use.
With minimal maintenance this system should last for several years and will provide clean, pure drinking water for kids who really need it and will truly appreciate it. Giving these kids a chance to succeed is one of the greatest physical gifts we can give them. We are excited to be able to provide these systems and hope to install additional systems in the future. If you would like more information about the water purification systems or would like to contribute to the project, please feel free to contact me at reeves.tl@gmail.com
So, when you take your next shower, or brush your teeth, or even flush the toilet, just think of all of that clean, pure water going down the drain. And be thankful you live in a country where something as important as this can be taken for granted. 150 gallons per person per day…. Just think about it.
TR
This is a photo of the water purification system that was installed at Mission Lazarus in San Marcos, near Choluteca, by the mission team from Friendship Christian School in Lebanon, TN, this spring.
Friday, April 10
He arose!
Low in the Grave He Lay
Low in the grave He lay, Jesus my Savior,Waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord!
Refrain
Up from the grave He arose,With a mighty triumph o’er His foes, He arose a Victor from the dark domain, And He lives forever, with His saints to reign. He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!
Vainly they watch His bed, Jesus my Savior; Vainly they seal the dead, Jesus my Lord!
Refrain
Up from the grave He arose, With a might triumph o'er His foes, He arose a Victor from the dark domain, And He lives forever with His saints to Reign. He arose! He arose! hallelujah! Christ arose!
Death cannot keep its Prey, Jesus my Savior; He tore the bars away, Jesus my Lord!
Refrain
Up from the grave He arose,With a mighty triumph o’er His foes, He arose a Victor from the dark domain, And He lives forever, with His saints to reign. He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!
Music and Lyrics by Robert Lowry 1874
We have victory in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. When the women returned to the tomb early that Sunday morning to complete the burial proceedures for Jesus, they found the stone moved away and the grave empty! The angel asked why they seeked the living from the dead? He is not here. He has risen!
This Sunday billions of people across the globe will celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. May this Easter be a blessed one as you reflect and remember the greatest story every told; the greatest event in the history of mankind. The greatest victory ever won. And the greatest promise ever kept.
He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. He is the Lord of lords and King of kings. He is our all in all. Jesus Christ.
TR
Low in the grave He lay, Jesus my Savior,Waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord!
Refrain
Up from the grave He arose,With a mighty triumph o’er His foes, He arose a Victor from the dark domain, And He lives forever, with His saints to reign. He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!
Vainly they watch His bed, Jesus my Savior; Vainly they seal the dead, Jesus my Lord!
Refrain
Up from the grave He arose, With a might triumph o'er His foes, He arose a Victor from the dark domain, And He lives forever with His saints to Reign. He arose! He arose! hallelujah! Christ arose!
Death cannot keep its Prey, Jesus my Savior; He tore the bars away, Jesus my Lord!
Refrain
Up from the grave He arose,With a mighty triumph o’er His foes, He arose a Victor from the dark domain, And He lives forever, with His saints to reign. He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!
Music and Lyrics by Robert Lowry 1874
We have victory in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. When the women returned to the tomb early that Sunday morning to complete the burial proceedures for Jesus, they found the stone moved away and the grave empty! The angel asked why they seeked the living from the dead? He is not here. He has risen!
This Sunday billions of people across the globe will celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. May this Easter be a blessed one as you reflect and remember the greatest story every told; the greatest event in the history of mankind. The greatest victory ever won. And the greatest promise ever kept.
He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. He is the Lord of lords and King of kings. He is our all in all. Jesus Christ.
TR
Wednesday, March 25
Crunch time!
Less than a week to get your applications and deposits in to me. Hopefully next week I will be able to send out information about our team. I should know by then the size of the group, the congregations represented this year, and will be able to begin designing the work for the summer based on the projected work fund. Several have been asking via email about what we are going to be doing this year. Once I have applications in hand I will be able to estimate how many houses we are going to build this year along with food distributions (these are the two most costly items in our work fund). Once that is done I will be able to contact Mark Connell and begin arranging for orders to be placed concerning wood, tin, nails, hinges, and bulk food orders. He will also begin searching candidates who are in need of housing.
We have landed some big donations / purchases for supplies this year. We have plenty of toothbrushes, toothpaste, bar soap, Tylenol and antacid tablets. Our focus now is on Pepto Bismol, cough syrup, antibiotic creams, chewable children’s vitamins, adult vitamins, toys, and stuffed animals. We will also be collecting crayons and various school supplies. We will be collecting supplies until May 24th. We will begin packing the supplies and have them ready to go by the first weekend of June. Because we are not shipping a container this year we are not collecting much in the form of clothes, shoes, or other bulky items. We have received some of these items already, which we will send down but we are not going to do a big drive like we have done in the past.
We are planning an area wide Torch retreat the first weekend of June (June 5-7). Anyone going is invited but especially if you are within driving distance of Nashville. Jenny Lovell is working on securing a place for us and I will post more information as soon as we have it. During the retreat we will sort and pack all of our supplies that will be going to Honduras into the Torch duffel bags. Once they are packed they will be labeled and ready to go. The duffels will then be sent out to everyone that is going on the trip to check in as one of their 2 suitcases for the trip. Considering the cost of a container (over $6,000) we will be saving a lot of money. I will post specific information about weight restrictions and size limits on luggage later on as the trip grows closer.
If you have not done so, please send me an email with your flight information on it. I need to have this information in the book of much importance so I will know when you are flying in and the time you arrive. Otherwise you might get to know the workers at the airport quite well while you wait for me to come get you!!!! Or, you could be creative like Brett and July Mitchell and venture off on your own to try to find me (actually I would prefer that you stay at the airport… it makes finding you a bit easier!). I have received several flight confirmations already and for those of you that have sent the information to me I thank you!!!
Please let me know if you have any specific questions about the trip. The Mitchell, Indiana group has been using a constant email feed for information the past several weeks. Even though they have never been to Honduras before I believe they will be as ready as any group going down just by the sheer volume of questions they have been asking me. I will be posting more and more specific information, as we get closer to departure.
Time is flying by. For me, spring break is just about over and then it is 9 weeks of classes and we are done for the year. 4 weeks into June and we are leaving on a jet plane. Can’t wait; hope you are as excited as I am! Hasta luego mi amigos! Dios te bendiga!
TR
Less than a week to get your applications and deposits in to me. Hopefully next week I will be able to send out information about our team. I should know by then the size of the group, the congregations represented this year, and will be able to begin designing the work for the summer based on the projected work fund. Several have been asking via email about what we are going to be doing this year. Once I have applications in hand I will be able to estimate how many houses we are going to build this year along with food distributions (these are the two most costly items in our work fund). Once that is done I will be able to contact Mark Connell and begin arranging for orders to be placed concerning wood, tin, nails, hinges, and bulk food orders. He will also begin searching candidates who are in need of housing.
We have landed some big donations / purchases for supplies this year. We have plenty of toothbrushes, toothpaste, bar soap, Tylenol and antacid tablets. Our focus now is on Pepto Bismol, cough syrup, antibiotic creams, chewable children’s vitamins, adult vitamins, toys, and stuffed animals. We will also be collecting crayons and various school supplies. We will be collecting supplies until May 24th. We will begin packing the supplies and have them ready to go by the first weekend of June. Because we are not shipping a container this year we are not collecting much in the form of clothes, shoes, or other bulky items. We have received some of these items already, which we will send down but we are not going to do a big drive like we have done in the past.
We are planning an area wide Torch retreat the first weekend of June (June 5-7). Anyone going is invited but especially if you are within driving distance of Nashville. Jenny Lovell is working on securing a place for us and I will post more information as soon as we have it. During the retreat we will sort and pack all of our supplies that will be going to Honduras into the Torch duffel bags. Once they are packed they will be labeled and ready to go. The duffels will then be sent out to everyone that is going on the trip to check in as one of their 2 suitcases for the trip. Considering the cost of a container (over $6,000) we will be saving a lot of money. I will post specific information about weight restrictions and size limits on luggage later on as the trip grows closer.
If you have not done so, please send me an email with your flight information on it. I need to have this information in the book of much importance so I will know when you are flying in and the time you arrive. Otherwise you might get to know the workers at the airport quite well while you wait for me to come get you!!!! Or, you could be creative like Brett and July Mitchell and venture off on your own to try to find me (actually I would prefer that you stay at the airport… it makes finding you a bit easier!). I have received several flight confirmations already and for those of you that have sent the information to me I thank you!!!
Please let me know if you have any specific questions about the trip. The Mitchell, Indiana group has been using a constant email feed for information the past several weeks. Even though they have never been to Honduras before I believe they will be as ready as any group going down just by the sheer volume of questions they have been asking me. I will be posting more and more specific information, as we get closer to departure.
Time is flying by. For me, spring break is just about over and then it is 9 weeks of classes and we are done for the year. 4 weeks into June and we are leaving on a jet plane. Can’t wait; hope you are as excited as I am! Hasta luego mi amigos! Dios te bendiga!
TR
Tuesday, March 17
14 days and counting!
14 days and counting. March 31 is the deadline for applications and deposits.
It really does seem like yesterday I was sending out the first tidbits of information about the 2009 Honduras mission trip. March 31 seemed like such a long time away. And it was. Over 4 months to be exact. But now we are 2 weeks away from the first set of deadlines. I have received several applications and deposits already from the early birds. Now it is time for all of the others to get into gear and get your applications and deposits to me.
Here are a few reminders that you need to know:
* Everyone who is going on the trip must fill out an application.
* PLEASE make sure the insurance and medical information at the bottom of the application is filled out. This information is VERY important.
* Make sure to put your passport information on the application. Note: If you have not received your passport yet, leave that section blank and then email the information to me as soon as you receive your passport.
* If this is your first time to go on a Torch Missions trip, you must have 2 letters of recommendation and an essay stating why you want to go on the trip.
* If you are under 18 years of age when we leave for Honduras you must have a Spanish permission form signed and notarized with your application.
* Everyone must sign the Torch Missions rule sheet and have it notarized. This is also due with the application.
* Please make your check out to Western Hills Church of Christ / Honduras or to Torch Missions 09 / Reeves. The deposit / first payment is $250.00. The balance and final payment will be due in May.
* Team leaders: If possible, collect all of the money from your group and send 1 (one) check to Western Hills or Torch Missions. It makes work on our end a lot easier.
* Team leaders: Make sure to make a photocopy of all paperwork before you mail it to me. It would also be wise to photocopy all checks that you collect.
* My address is:
Terry Reeves
221 Oak Hill Drive
Lebanon, TN 37087
I will be sending out additional information about the trip soon. I will be making out the tentative work schedule very soon. Once we have finalized number of people going this year I will have a much better estimate of the work fund which will help me determine how many houses and food distributions we will do this year.
Continue to keep our trip lifted up in prayer. Also, please pray for the team that from Friendship Christian School that left Monday. They will be working at Mission Lazarus installing a water purification system and some drip irrigation systems. They will also be conducting a VBS and doing construction as well. Also, Steve Davidson is taking a team down this month from Nashville and Marc Tindall is leading a spring break team. I am sure there are others too so keep the mission teams in your thoughts and prayers.
Awesome things are being done for the Kingdom and God is working though His clay vessels. What an honor it is to be able to do Kingdom work for the Master. Isn’t it amazing what He can do through people like us? Take care and I will be checking the mailbox for your stuff!!!
Terry
It really does seem like yesterday I was sending out the first tidbits of information about the 2009 Honduras mission trip. March 31 seemed like such a long time away. And it was. Over 4 months to be exact. But now we are 2 weeks away from the first set of deadlines. I have received several applications and deposits already from the early birds. Now it is time for all of the others to get into gear and get your applications and deposits to me.
Here are a few reminders that you need to know:
* Everyone who is going on the trip must fill out an application.
* PLEASE make sure the insurance and medical information at the bottom of the application is filled out. This information is VERY important.
* Make sure to put your passport information on the application. Note: If you have not received your passport yet, leave that section blank and then email the information to me as soon as you receive your passport.
* If this is your first time to go on a Torch Missions trip, you must have 2 letters of recommendation and an essay stating why you want to go on the trip.
* If you are under 18 years of age when we leave for Honduras you must have a Spanish permission form signed and notarized with your application.
* Everyone must sign the Torch Missions rule sheet and have it notarized. This is also due with the application.
* Please make your check out to Western Hills Church of Christ / Honduras or to Torch Missions 09 / Reeves. The deposit / first payment is $250.00. The balance and final payment will be due in May.
* Team leaders: If possible, collect all of the money from your group and send 1 (one) check to Western Hills or Torch Missions. It makes work on our end a lot easier.
* Team leaders: Make sure to make a photocopy of all paperwork before you mail it to me. It would also be wise to photocopy all checks that you collect.
* My address is:
Terry Reeves
221 Oak Hill Drive
Lebanon, TN 37087
I will be sending out additional information about the trip soon. I will be making out the tentative work schedule very soon. Once we have finalized number of people going this year I will have a much better estimate of the work fund which will help me determine how many houses and food distributions we will do this year.
Continue to keep our trip lifted up in prayer. Also, please pray for the team that from Friendship Christian School that left Monday. They will be working at Mission Lazarus installing a water purification system and some drip irrigation systems. They will also be conducting a VBS and doing construction as well. Also, Steve Davidson is taking a team down this month from Nashville and Marc Tindall is leading a spring break team. I am sure there are others too so keep the mission teams in your thoughts and prayers.
Awesome things are being done for the Kingdom and God is working though His clay vessels. What an honor it is to be able to do Kingdom work for the Master. Isn’t it amazing what He can do through people like us? Take care and I will be checking the mailbox for your stuff!!!
Terry
Sunday, March 8
The tennis match
Following the prices of airline tickets to Honduras is like watching a tennis match at center court. Your head is constantly going back and forth as you try to follow the bouncing ball. First, American Airlines has the best price. Then it is Continental. Then it is American. Then it is Continental. Back and forth. Back and forth.
Today (Sunday, March 8), American Airlines now has the lowest fare out of Nashville. Here is the quote I got from their website:
Flight information for American Airlines:
Friday, June 26
Depart Nashville on AA flight #1877 @ 5:55 AM to Miami
Connect on AA flight#953 @10:40 to Tegucigalpa
Monday, July 6
Depart Tegucigalpa on AA flight #954 @ 2:20 to Miami
Connect on AA flight #410 @ 10:45 PM to Nashville
Total cost: $547. 20
This fare will not last long and I feel pretty sure that these will be the cheapest you will for the trip. If you did not book on Coninental this last week this is your best bet for cheap tickets and you need to move fast. This flight (and the Continental flight) will sell out so do not delay much longer.
PLEASE send me flight information as soon as you book so that I have a record of you (and/or your team). If you are flying from another departure point (people from Oklahoma, Florida, Texas, Pennsylvania, etc) please continue looking for tickets and get with me as soon as you book (especially if you are flying TACA). I know a lot of you booked with Continental last week so please get with me with your information.
Look for a another posting within the next few days. Good luck on getting your tickets. It is going to be a great trip and I am really looking forward to working with you this summer.
Terry
Today (Sunday, March 8), American Airlines now has the lowest fare out of Nashville. Here is the quote I got from their website:
Flight information for American Airlines:
Friday, June 26
Depart Nashville on AA flight #1877 @ 5:55 AM to Miami
Connect on AA flight#953 @10:40 to Tegucigalpa
Monday, July 6
Depart Tegucigalpa on AA flight #954 @ 2:20 to Miami
Connect on AA flight #410 @ 10:45 PM to Nashville
Total cost: $547. 20
This fare will not last long and I feel pretty sure that these will be the cheapest you will for the trip. If you did not book on Coninental this last week this is your best bet for cheap tickets and you need to move fast. This flight (and the Continental flight) will sell out so do not delay much longer.
PLEASE send me flight information as soon as you book so that I have a record of you (and/or your team). If you are flying from another departure point (people from Oklahoma, Florida, Texas, Pennsylvania, etc) please continue looking for tickets and get with me as soon as you book (especially if you are flying TACA). I know a lot of you booked with Continental last week so please get with me with your information.
Look for a another posting within the next few days. Good luck on getting your tickets. It is going to be a great trip and I am really looking forward to working with you this summer.
Terry
Tuesday, March 3
Calling all bargin hunters
Just in: Low airline fare posted today!
Continental Airlines today (Tuesday, March 3) just posted round trip tickets from Nashville to Tegucigalpa for an amazingly low $544.20. This price includes all taxes and fees!!! I HIGHLY recommend anyone flying out of Nashville to take advantage of this fare. I know that I will be booking and I already know others that are jumping at this fare. This is as low as I have seen in years.
Specifics:
Departing info (Friday, June 26)
Continental flight # 2175 departing Nashville @ 6:05 to Houston; connecting on flight #756 arriving 11:39.
Return flight (Monday, July 6)
Continental flight #755 departing Tegucigalpa 12:28 to Houston. Connect flight #2471 to Nashville.
As a reminder, you still have the option of flying American airlines and fares will vary literally everyday. Good luck, may you find low fares in your travel plans!
Blessing to all,
Terry
Continental Airlines today (Tuesday, March 3) just posted round trip tickets from Nashville to Tegucigalpa for an amazingly low $544.20. This price includes all taxes and fees!!! I HIGHLY recommend anyone flying out of Nashville to take advantage of this fare. I know that I will be booking and I already know others that are jumping at this fare. This is as low as I have seen in years.
Specifics:
Departing info (Friday, June 26)
Continental flight # 2175 departing Nashville @ 6:05 to Houston; connecting on flight #756 arriving 11:39.
Return flight (Monday, July 6)
Continental flight #755 departing Tegucigalpa 12:28 to Houston. Connect flight #2471 to Nashville.
As a reminder, you still have the option of flying American airlines and fares will vary literally everyday. Good luck, may you find low fares in your travel plans!
Blessing to all,
Terry
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