My Heart

I snapped this photo as Peter was winding up the hose after giving the garden a good soak. The girls had finished picking peas and skipped over to observe their brother at his task. Such a simple slice of life.

Oh, I love these children. The most difficult part of our Honduran expedition is leaving these sweet girls behind. While I can't wait for the trip, there is a part of me that can't wait to return, so we can be whole again.

Watch over this family, Lord. Use each of us for your glory, hedged by your protective provisions. Thank you for the gift you've given us in each other. Amen.

Finishing Swimming Lessons

• The Zesty Swimmer •

• The Diligent Swimmer •

• The Serene Swimmer •

And Another

Just received another confirmation, this time from Ambrocio:
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Thanks Here is all just normal time that the president thinks many will come to expect because entuciasman always sympathetic but definitely not in the country.

the moment it's all normal. the news always takes the most extreme of evil.

Thanks for your mail.
Ambrocio
(Computer Translation)

The Path of Confirmation

Two email confirmations this morning. This is what we asked for at our prayer meeting last night. The path continues to lead us forward.

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Greetings from Home. Our first groups canceled against our council. The group was ready to come but the leadership of the church said no. We do have a group that is arriving tomorrow and feel that there are no problems with them coming.

I got back on Saturday and will return to Honduras on Thursday. There was nothing going on to cause any fear in the areas we are going to be in. We sent to Siguatepeque last Thursday and there was no evidence that anything was going on. The only problem was the road construction which is always going on.

I talked with Mike, he is in Honduras, three times yesterday and he says that nothing has changed. Everything is working, stores and buses are running, the airport in San Pedro Sula is open, and the road construction continues. There are some problems in Tegucigalpa around the airport. Otherwise the word we received is everything is functioning as normal.

We can see no reason for you to cancel the trip. If we felt there was any danger we would not have you come. We are long ways for the capital.

I am around if you want to talk. If any of the team members have any questions, please have them contact me. I am praying for the group. God has brought you a long ways to now have it canceled.

In His Love,

Steve
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and
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Since we are NOT currently in Honduras to report directly, all I can really say is we are getting on a plane tomorrow and going to Honduras. We will let you know if anything should arise that you should know about. We anticipate nothing.

We have no concerns and, frankly, we are very excited to go back. We can't wait to see and visit with old friends and work on the Lord's Kingdom expansion. And, we are anxious to introduce y'all to Honduras and it's people.

See you Friday!

Eric and Gloria

A Loss

Pops' Grandmother Florence passed away today.

I didn't know her well, but I do know she was an intelligent, driven, hard-working woman and her pride was her family. She has eight children and a bounty of grands, great-grands, and even great-great grands to call her theirs.

We are thankful Pops' parents had already taken the trip to Montana to be with her. They were with her at the end and said she took her last breath and set her lips in determination in "the way that she does." It was as if it were her decision and she was now ready.

Thinking of her full life and feisty personality this evening. She will be deeply missed by many.

A Good Morning

Spent the morning at a beautiful memorial service for the life of little Leah Grace. A little life that amazed the medical community at her 99 days and blessed everyone who was privileged to know and love her. Truly, there is joy in the suffering.

At the reception, I was able to share and chat with respected, longtime friends. They asked about the upcoming trip and were aware of the current political conditions. Naturally, no one claimed to have a revelation from the Lord, but did have wise words to share. I found their perspective immensely encouraging.

They have committed to praying with us that the Lord would slam the doors of opportunity shut if we are not to go and to give a clear sense of direction and peace either way. Amen to that!

When I returned home, I found an email from Ambrocio in my inbox. Again, encouraging. Compliments of Google Translator, here is his roughly translated text:

No classes and much silence and manipulation by the media, but everything is normal and we're eager to see them and spending time with you. and do many things.

I hope the situation will be resolved soon, or maybe time will allow the spirits to become normal.

We're just my good man died Monday night after the coup, the buried Tuesday, but that is not Pienc war, no way was a stroke that hit him and God has strengthened us all.

I encourage you today to see my mail, but we are praying for good and all.

love in Jesus Christ.
Ambrocio.

We remain willing to cancel our trip, but continue to receive messages of "go." Here's to praying, waiting, and listening ...

Morning at the Raspberry Fields

Honduras Update

Here is the latest update from our missions director:

Greetings from San Pedro Sula.

Everything is calm here. We can move about the city without any problem. There is a curfew but that is no big deal. They have had demonstrations in favor of the exiled president every day. They have burned a lot of tires and screamed a lot. Besides that there have not been any problems. Tuesday those in favor of the new government and president had their demonstrations. There were kept apart and nothing more happened. Today will be large demonstrations in favor of the new government

We left the city yesterday to visit a national missionary in the countryside. There was only one place where there were soldiers. That is common all the time. We drove through Siguatepeque and everything was normal.

Our group has put off their project until Saturday. They will only be here for five days. I think the group really wanted to come but the church leadership made them put it off. We were convinced that there was no problem with them coming.

Our staff has a group in La Esperanza (30 miles outside fo Siguatpeque). The team is doing fine. They are on their free day today and will leave tomorrow.

We still do not know what the exiled president is going to do. He says he is going to return but we have no idea. From the papers this morning, I would be surprised if he ever returns. Several countries have already recognized the new government.

According to the papers everything is back to normal. All the transportation is running. All the roads are open. I cannot see where anything has changed.

Pray that our team will get here on Saturday. Please pray that the situation is resolved and we can get back to serving the poor. They are the ones that affect the most when things like this happen.

Hondurans do not have a history of being a violent people and this is evidence that nothing has changed.

I do not see any problems with travel in Honduras.

In His Love,

Steve

Sure is a different perspective than the western media, isn't it? Still praying for His direction. No plans are final 'til we step on that plane ... and really, are our plans ever 'final' in light of His?

Discovering the Trocadéro

A few weeks ago I sold my first item from my little Etsy shop. I was most surprised and delighted, as I'd quite forgotten about the shop and instantly became re-inspired to sew for it again (at least after the trip!).

In celebration, I decided to do something extravagant ... buy ridiculously priced French caramels from Galipette. It's like they were free. Right? With my earnings and all...

The treasure package finally arrived, all chic in it's simplicity.

And inside? The Trocadéro caramels. The enclosed description bearing words like: Normany cream, Brittany butter, and flakes of fleur del sel (why, hand-collected petal-like crystals of Guerande sea-salt, of course!).

Oh, mercy. The sweet, the salty, the creamy ... and then I realized ...

... that heaven just might indeed be made entirely out of French caramels ...

Signs of Encouragement

Two emails arrived from direct contacts in Honduras. They were encouraging and positive. This is good! We will continue to assess the current events, but feel a great measure of peace at the present.

"The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."
-Deuteronomy 31:8

With prudence, yet also in faith...