Monday July 4

by Jamie Powell

Hey everybody! So today was the Fourth of July as I'd hope everyone was aware, however we weren't in America. Also I'd hope that was pretty clear so we didn't really do very many traditional Fourth of July things. The people here obviously really don't care too much about America's holiday so we didn't focus on today being the fourth at all. Despite not doing "Fourth of July things" today, we still had a ton of fun. Today we went on our excursion ,to the Pulhapanzak waterfall. At Pulhapanzak, we went zip lining and took a tour behind the waterfall. To get to Pulhapanzak is about a two and a half hour drive from Quimistan so we needed to leave Quimistan relatively early. Once we arrived, everyone got all harnessed up to go zip lining across the waterfall. There were multiple platforms to get from the starting point to the ending point, the whole zip line had an amazing view, but the last three had a magnificent view of the waterfall. This waterfall is about 140 feet tall and you can see the force of the water when you look down at it. It is very hard to describe the waterfall with words, it is one of those things you just have to see in real life to really, truly understand the beauty. Pretty much everyone who did the zip line finished and declared that that was one of the most amazing things they had done claiming that nothing could top that experience. Little did they know that there was something just as spectacular to come. The team was headed to go behind the waterfall which I think we all expected to be something like a man-made tunnel behind the waterfall that was simply going to be a scenic walk-we sure were wrong. We followed the guide down towards the base of the waterfall but didn't anticipate the amount of mist that was going to hit us. There was this nice little path down and then the path gradually turned into big rocks that we had to navigate our way through and on top of that the mist from the waterfall started getting pretty intense-or so we thought-and that was when I think I realized I really had no idea what was coming. As we neared the waterfall, we got to this little pool of water that we jumped into to get even closer to the waterfall. So after we passed the pool we were right at the base of the waterfall and there was a lot more mist and we still didn't realize that that was only the beginning. The guide took us behind the waterfall which they really should have called "through and then behind the waterfall". Once we got behind/under the waterfall, it was one of the craziest things I, and a lot of others, had ever experienced. There were a few places that we passed through that were calm places blocked by rocks, but most of the time I felt like a weather reporter in a hurricane. The wind down there was even worse than Lubbock wind (hard to believe I know) and then it was combined with water which made opening your eyes and walking or really doing anything other than standing there with your eyes closed pretty hard, so the guide who didn't seemed very fazed by any of this, impressed us all. When we finally got the the part that was really behind the waterfall, the water wind wasn't any better, but if you could look up. you could see the water rushing over the cliff and it was breathtaking, literally. Then we turned around and went back through but this time we were prepared which was good. When we made it back to the pool of water, we got to jump off of some taller rocks which was my favorite part. After reading about our little adventure you might be thinking something along the lines of "Oh my goodness! why would anyone think that was a good idea?" or "Who in their right mind would do that?" Well, it was actually one of the most "one of a kind" and exhilarating experiences any of us have ever had and I never once felt scared or anxious, I was too busy having fun trying to beat the water and looking in awe at God's creation. Today was one of those days that you can try but can never fully explain your experience no matter how hard you try and I am so grateful to have been given this opportunity to see God and his power in such a unique way. So although we didn't have the usual Fourth of July, we had a day that we will all surely remember!

 Matt and Amā at the base of the waterfall

Jamie, Lexie, Tory, Makenzie, and Madeleine posing after they had made it through the waterfall

 Lexie posing in front of the waterfall

The whole team posing for a picture by the sign after making it through the waterfall

 Madeleine on the biplane!

Tory having a blast!  

Sunday is our Fun Day

Sunday, July 3 by Daun Lipetska 

We started our day off with a devotion and some yummy pancakes.  Next we headed out to the Terejas Program.  On Sunday mornings Sandra (one of the ladies that cooks for us) leads a Sunday School program there.  Today there were about 50 kids from 1 year olds to teenagers.  Sandra does an excellent job of singing church songs with these kids. She has so much enthusiasm and the kids have tons of excitement for the Lord!  Bailey got to teach the kids one of his Spanish church songs he had up his sleeve. Who knew he had this talent too! We also attempted to teach them a few songs in English. Makenzie, Lexie, Madeleine, Matt and Bailey taught the lesson for the morning. They talked about how special each of the children are, how the Lord loves them so much and how we worship the same God in Texas as they do in Honduras. After the lesson we helped them make butterflies to take home. At first some of them weren't sure what to do (many of them probably don't get a lot of opportunities to make crafts), but then they got going and loved it! Even the teenagers got into it!  The other neat thing to see today was how some of these kids that we saw at the medical clinic on Thursday already looked better.  Several of them had some pretty nasty cuts and scraps or skin rashes that Dr. Rogers had given medicine for that had already started healing by today!  When it was time to leave it was so hard to tell them goodbye.  It's hard to imagine the things they deal with everyday. I just wanted to keep loving on them.

After lunch we drove up into the mountains to Buenos Aires. It was about a 40 minute very bumpy, curvy drive where we were able to see coffee bean crops and lots of trees. Once we got to the top it was so worth it! It was absolutely beautiful! You could climb up to a lookout area and see the entire Quimistan village while we watched clouds roll in off the mountains...just a little bit different than Lubbock, Texas.     

After Buenos Aires we drove into Quimistan to get some ice cream and go into a few shops.  We got 4 pairs of new shoes for one of the families that lives right outside the gates of the Tranquilidad Children's Home. We can't wait to give them to the 4 kids!

This evening we all went to a church service at a local church.  It was quite an experience. It was all in Spanish and was a service full of ENERGY! Most of us didn't always know what was being said, but it was a special experience to know that we all worship the same God and that He loves us the same as He loves the beautiful people of Honduras. After the 2 1/2 hour service we went back to eat and celebrate 2 special birthdays.  A sweet mom and her 7 year old daughter that live on the grounds where we are staying had asked us to celebrate their birthdays with them.  They are new to Quimistan and the mom didn't want them to celebrate alone. She brought a beautiful cake to share with all of us. It was so much fun and such a blessing that we got to help make their day special.   

Basically, it was a great day in Honduras!   

 Daniel, Daun, & Bailey prepare to sing "This Little Light of Mine" to the children!

 The children show their "little lights" to the group members leading the songs in English.

 Bailey wraps up the message to the children while Matt does a great job of translating. #spanishrox

 A few of the boys show off their gorgeous butterflies that they made during Sunday School.

 A little boy falls asleep on the bench after intensely listening to the sermon or maybe we bored him to sleep. Who knows, but we are going with the latter ;)

 Bailey and one of the girls share a sweet moment after she completed her butterfly project.

 Pearl and her meal from the church made up of a tortilla, a meat, beans, and some sort of sweet butter (shown below). #yumyumyum

 Matt and a tired little boy hang out at Sunday School.

 Lexie, Bailey, & Jamie play with Pearla and Andy, our new friends from Tejeras. This hand shake is a universal language from America to Honduras to anywhere else.

 The group visits Buenos Aires to take in the scenery and the cool mountain air. #nohumidityuphere

 The gorgeous view from Buenos Aires.

 Madeleine, Tory, Jamie, Makenzie, & Lexie with our new friend Emma from Aiken, South Carolina. She is helping out for a month or so at Tranquilidad with Jennifer.


xoxo, Daun Lipetska (Kenz did captions :))))

Friday, July 2 by Tory Cooper

Buenos noches, amigos!

It is Saturday night in Quimistan, Santa Barbara, Honduras and we have officially completed our fourth, full day.

I woke up this morning already knowing it was going to be a HOT day. After some delicious breakfast tacos, the team split up to start the day's work. Half of the team (Bailey, Daun, Makenzie, Jamie, Matt, Brooks and myself) stayed at the compound to run a clinic for Tranquilidad's employees' families. The other half (Roy, Keith, Ama, Jeanine, Madeleine, Lexie) headed to the Tranquilidad Home to continue work on the playground we are constructing as well as play with the children at the home. The clinic ran very smoothly as a testament to God's grace, Dr. Brooks Rogers's compassion, Roxanne's leadership, and the translator's dedication. It was such a joy to be able to play with the children as they waited patiently in line for their turn. We made pot holders, bracelets, played with sidewalk chalk, and even kicked around some soccer balls. My personal favorite part of the morning, was having one of the children, a little boy named Jonathan, come and sit in my lap forever. He had no idea who I was. I did not know him. But in that moment, we found comfort in where God had placed us.

As we ran the clinic, the rest of the team put in some work at TQ. It was awesome to hear stories about the babies and experiences shared with them where Christ was evident. Planks for the fort of the playground were planed, coated for termite-protection, and painted. Construction of the ladder has begun and I can already envision children full of love and laughter running and swinging on this set. I have enjoyed seeing the passion and desire the Lord has created among our team to get the playground finished.

God has a heart for Honduras, and has long before we showed up. I am so grateful I have been able to see Him working in the short amount of time we have been here. We'll see you in 5 days, USA.

P.S. Hi Mom and Dad. I promise I'm wearing mosquito spray. Love ya.

Bailey on kid-play duty at the clinic.

Tory and Jonathan (he really was happy) 

Dr. Brooks Rogers doing her doctor thing. 

Daun - the quintessential mother.

Jamie was all smiles at the clinic. 

 Jeanine and Keith - besties for the resties!

The paint fumes got to Keith!

... and Ama.

Bailey holding up the pole.  Is Matt hiding something? 

The "Paint Girls" 

 This playground is designed to survive hurricane-force winds.

July 1 (Friday) by Lexie Burris and Madeleine Lipetska

Hola amigos! Today love knew no boundaries (including language boundaries). This morning we had bacon and eggs to start out the day as well as an inspiring devotion lead by Matt and Ama.  Roy, Daun, Lexie, Brooks and Madeleine went to a village in the mountains to do a medical clinic. While Brooks did her doctor things, the rest of us entertained the kids with crafts and bubbles. At first the kids were shy, but after breaking out the bubbles the kids warmed up pretty fast. They enjoyed our Texan accents and tried to learn English. They were the sweetest kids with the most beautiful hearts. Brooks worked hard through lunch in order to give everybody the care they needed. We were also welcomed with arms wide open by a family to have a late lunch in their home. We were so grateful for the sacrifice this family made in order to provide us with a meal. Meanwhile, back at TQ the rest of the team worked hard on the playground. The guys planed the wood and the girls painted and applied termite juice to it in order to make the playground safe for the kids at TQ.  Matt, Keith and Bailey got a break from their playground work to play with the children today.  All in all, today was a great day in Honduras!

 Tory and Ama reorganize the toolbox that Bailey dumped out. #LOL

Jasmine sanding some wood.

Matt and Bailey sweat profusely in the name of Jesus. 

Keith and Moises enjoying the afternoon.

Matt and Angel have a staring competition.

While embracing the hot weather at TQ, Jamie, Makenzie, and Ama paint wood with their hands.

The clinic team took a stop on their way home. #breathtaking

Hermanas at the clinic. #cuties

Roy and Daun make new friends. 

Gymnastics at the clinic. #boys

Posing for the pic with the crosses he made at the clinic. #cheesin'

Lexie and Madeleine take a "loco" picture with all their amigos. #crazy

Hola from Quimistan!

Written by Ama Martinez

Today (Thursday) was our second full day in Honduras. It feels simultaneously like we just got here and like we have been for a long time. Parts of Honduras already feel like home in our hearts.

This morning we split up into teams. Half of us went to the children’s home to continue building the playground for the children that live there and play with the babies. The other half of us went to Tijeras where we were holding a clinic for children because Dr. Brooks Rogers, a pediatrician is on our team and has been willing and passionate about working, helping, and caring for the children. In total we saw 43 families, which was 93 children. Out of the 93 children there was only one completely healthy child, a young baby. The problems ranged from diarrhea to skin infection and everything in between. It was a so humbling to be a part of something so much bigger than any one of us. Our hope is that these families and children noticed our efforts to care for them and realize that it is because of the greater love of Jesus. Dr. Brooks Rogers would see the children and learn their symptoms with the assistance of a translator, whose name is Daniel and then would write the doses and types of medications for each child, then Roxanne and Daun would gather the medications and write down instructions in spanish. Finally, Matt would speak to the mothers about their children’s medications, explaining Roxanne’s instructions. Meanwhile, myself, Tory, and Makenzie were outside of the clinic and were entertaining the kids outside. The outside activities mostly consisted of jump rope and bubble blowing. Those kids seriously loved to jump rope. We would count how many times they could jump in Spanish and celebrate when they accrued many consecutive jumps. We learned many names as they played well together, shared 2 jump ropes, laughed and loved on each other through fellowship. If you know me, you know that playing with kids is not necessarily something in my wheelhouse - but there is something about being with children that so desperately want and need the fun of simply playing that gives you the fuel to keep going. What we may lack in communication is multiplied in effort to connect in some tangible way. It’s amazing what the Lord changes and grows in you when you are simply willing. I am so thankful for today, for all of the Honduran children, for the patience of those making the clinic work, and the God who is making this all work together.

I know there is so much more to say and so much more that the Lord has done today but these are all the words I have. If you are reading this, just know that we are all very very blessed, happy, tired, and safe. We love you.


Ama Martinez

Matt and Daun at the Clinic

Makenzie at the Clinic

Tory at the Clinic 

Roy, Bailey, and Keith at the children's home playground

Dr. Brooks Rogers seeing children at the clinic 

Ama and Tory washing children's feet