Thursday in Honduras---Ned

Day 4 in Copan Ruinas Honduras. Our final day in Honduras and we travelled to a village that no one had been into. It was the highest we travelled all week up into the mountains. It was obvious that they were not used to seeing gringos as we were the main attraction. Many of the Chorti were picking coffee in the mountains so very few were in the village. We were able to visit the school and share the story of David and Goliath with the children. What an awesome experience to visit the schools and see the smiles on the childrens faces. They are so precious and eager to listen and learn. Kameran mentioned today that though some of the adults were quick to go inside and shut their doors, the children cared less and were more than happy to be with us and of course play with Trish. By the end of the day even the adults were opening up and talking more when they found we only wanted to talk, pray, and help. There were many medical needs today as many were struggling with upper respiratory problems and asthma. There is much dust, cooking in the homes (smoke), and burning of trash that attribute to this. The problem with this is that it stalls the coffee picking as they are unable to climb up the mountain and work. In order to visit a doctor they had to take a 30 minute horse ride down to the next village or hike to the main road (3-4 hour walk in good road conditions) then take a bus into Santa Rita or Copan. The villagers pick for someone else and get paid $50 limps ($2.50 US) for a 5 gallon bucket, unsorted, or $300 limps ($15 US) for a 5 gallon bucket sorted with only good quality beans. The coffee being picked today is some of the best because it is the highest up at the end of the coffee picking season. This season is important for this village as the ground is not good enough for crops. They live off of what they make in this 3 month season for the next 9 months (Jan-Mar). Four people in one house we visited can pick 13 buckets a day. Some families also soaked, unshelled, and bagged the beans as well. The village today had a water project but did not have any electricity. In one home today we met Jose, a young boy with Cerebral Palsy. Trish was incredible as I watched the love of Christ pour out of her into this young man. Steve and Audrey (missionaries here in Honduras) are working to get him a wheel chair. Steve and Audrey, this team that has come, has been used in an incredible way by God this week to take the love of Christ out. Our prayer is that today is the beginning of a long relationship with this village of Chorti people and that God moves in a mighty way among them. Having Marcia and Edgardo with us this week has been incredible, God is using them both in a powerful way. Edgardo made a profession of faith a while back and has stated when we return in July he will be baptized. God is amazing and the Chorti people are so precious. Praying for God to continue working here in Honduras and looking forward to coming back soon!