Day Four - Beautiful Faces & Smiling Faces :-)

As this is my first international mission trip to Honduras, I wanted to share a few of my first impressions.  Upon landing in Pedro San Sula, we couldn't help but notice the lush tropical greenery with surrounding mountains along the bumpy road to the Quimistan valley.  There were people everywhere alongside the roads, so my question of "why?" was quickly followed by "there is no electricity, no running water or plumbing, translated 'no job."  My next question, as I love the water, is "what are they doing along the river?" answered with "bathing and laundry!"  Martha and Gary's place, our home for the week, is amazing; the cooks, pictured below, are spoiling us with three delicious hot meals a day; we only thought we would lose weight this week!  Our alarms each morning are roosters crowing and birds singing...and the rains are God's very best sound machine.

Gloria, Sandra and Leti

After 2 1/2 days of plumbing, digging ditches and laying pipe as well as nurturing the incredible flowers at the Children's home, we had our first face to face time with the Honduran people as we shared the hygiene kits so graciously provided by Crossroads Church in Aiken as well as Community Bible Church in Beaufort, SC.  The families were extremely grateful for the regalo (gift) and had a ready smile for our team as we shared "Bendiciones en el nombre de Jesus Christo" (Blessings in the name of Jesus Christ).  As we returned after distributing almost 300 hygiene packets, the three children  from the first house we visited were freshly bathed and had clothes on...all smiles!

 Frederic in
 his element.

A young  boy 

eager to pose for

our camera....

muy guapo!

 George and Kari
delivering on the left.

Coy and Kari serving in His name.

Sam, Frederic and Ron draw a crowd.

Roxanne blessing 

this young man in the

 name and in the

 power of Jesus Christ.

Ron working hard or harding working?

"Beautiful places, smiling faces" was printed on the South Carolina license plates for several years as a state slogan.  I can think of no better way to remember Honduras!  In the next few days, we begin our Vacation Bible School ministry...looking forward to see how HE continues writing the rest of the story!