1st Church blog

While Wendell held meetings regarding the water situation in Kgautswane, Kelly, Dave and I went off to Orlando High School to learn about the ministry being carried on there by Angie and Isaac.  They have been given space on the school grounds to set up a counseling room, where they address issues of HIV, AIDS and sexual abstinance.  Angie report that before they started, 28 girls became pregnant during the shcool year.  Through their program that has dropped to 2. 

we met in the school library-- a beautiful room full of almost empty book shelves.  The books present didn't appear to be used, and none of them caught my interest--well, I did wonder about the book on Miami Homes.  After this meeting we were off to the Hector Peterson Museum - one that tells the story of apartheid. 

Throughout the whole trip and throughout the country, I was impressed by how the story of apartheid was told.  Great care was taken to treat the white population with deep respect, in spite of the tremendous wounds that it's regime placed on its black citizens. 

We rushed through a late lunch, back to the B&B to change clothes, gather our things and head to the airport.  Bur first we stopped to meet with with Kobus Gerger, the General Secretary of the Dutch Reformed Church.  Over dinner we shared with them the story of First Seattle's exploration of the Belhar Confession and its adoption.  Dr Gerber was fascinated with the story.  He was intrigued by Steve Robinson, the Vietnamese presenter at our conference.  He challenged us to write down the story so he could share with his community -- how the American church sees itself needing the Belhar Confession

Final Thoughts,

The things that I've posted here reflect some of the events that we participated in during a three week tour of South Africa. I'm not sure that I've scratched the surface on the emotions and significance of these events.  I don't know how to express that.  The people we met are eager for relationship with us.  Showing up to their worship services, sharing a meal, taking them on tour of their areas were probably the most significant things that we could do.

I meet so many people, I have a hard time recalling and sorting out names of people.  Swart, Maria, Boysen, Carl, Cepho, Anton, Andries, Dr. Dan, Ephriem, Clara, Tookie, Peggy, Johan, Oscar,  Benedict, the gas pump staff, the domestics in the various B&Bs. Occassionaly we would come to a stop because of road work. I often would throw open the car door and talk to the road crew.  The joy expressed in shaking of hands.  I went to AFrica to see the land.  to eat its food and drink its wine.  At the beginning I wanted to see more of the museums and sites of Cape Town -- I leave wanting to spend more time over food or riding in the car with my friends.

South Africa is a remarkable country

The water was off throughout Soweto when we entered Mama Josephine's B&B.  We were tired, mostly from the emotion of the day, and the realization that the trip was coming to an end.  Over a glass of wine we got Mama Josephine talking.  She runs a resturant, and shebeen (speakeasy),  Turns out she was the first licensed shebeen in Soweto. It was an experiment, one which was mostly successful.  it slowed the police raids, and allowed them to keep their liquor supply.  If I understood correctly, her husband David, delievered beer to other shebeens.

Eventually we got hungry.  It was after dark, the car was three blocks away, and we needed to be escorted out after dark.  We tried to order in pizza, but the deliever car was out of service.  Finally Josephine's husband and I went to fetch the pizza.  We first stopped by the resturant and shebeen. Although it appears to be another pool hall (two tables), it was rich in history.

Josephine, David, and a couple of neighboring relatives joined us over pizza.

The following comes from my journal as we return to Seattle over the North American continent.  Our flight departed from Joberg about 23 hours ago. Our journey is almost over.

Sunday we worshiped with the Maranatha URCSA. Peitros met us at the Evaton Shopping Mall and guided us to the church. but first we stopped to don the shirts that they prepared for us: the shirts celebrated the relationship between Maranatha (Sebokeng), Driehoek (DRC), Second Table Ministries (SEattle) and Post Dam (New York). (It's suppose to be Potsdam).

At the church many people, especially the women were busy in the kitchen cooking up a storm.  The aroma was wonderful.  This is the largest congregation we are visitng, about 800 members.  They have a meeting hall, auditorium and a house for their evangelist.  After a short tour of these facilities, we were given a presentation of the church's ministry program and an explanation of their needs. It was very comprenhensive. 

The worship service was unique in that is was a bit closer in style to a CRC service. Pastor Mike wore a black robe, they seemed to sing more hynms - tunes that I recognized like Holy Holy Holy and Blest Be the Tie that Binds.  As the singing started one of the ladies grabbed me by the arm and ushered me into the aisle to dance with everyone else.  David reminded my that "white men don't dance", but the joy of the Lord in celebration with fellow Christians had my feet shuffling to the beat - however poorly.

 As the service proceeded, we were treated to singing choirs, operaritic solos, a presentation by Second Table, a sermon and the sharing of communion.  We presented the congregation with an American flag -- they erupted in joy.  The pastor gushed that it would be hung in the front of the church. We also gave them maps of the world and US.  They in turn presented us with gifts -- a Lesotho hat and blanket.  The hat represents the gathering around a table, the sharing in conversation and food.  I lost the symbolism of the blanket - I know it has to do with covering.

Having no where to pack the hat, I wore it to the airplane.  People commented "you have a Lesotho hat".  ONe person asked if I had the blanket - I proudly told him that I did.  These were significant gifts.

After the service, we , along with the church council, were loaded onto a waiting bus.  We toured the area and saw the various wards of Sebokeng.  Then we drove to Klipkop - an impoverished area- to visit their mission church.  The church is a tin shack, about 10 x 12.  Sunday school children surrounded it. We gathered inside for a couple of songs, then moved to the cooler outdoors in the full shining African sun for more song and traditional northern Zulu dance.  It was hard to leave those precious children behind. I believe we left the last of the beanie babies with them.

 Leaving Klipkop we drove through the Driehoek DRC property and then returned to Maranatha for that luch we had smelled cooking earlier.  Word got out that Dave and I were singal.  The women flocked to Dave.  With all the excitement going on at that time, I was careful not to use the words "I do", for I might have come home with a wife.

 Monday - a small group of 14 from our sister church Evaton Noord picked us up at our B&B in Soweto. We spread throughout the van, and began a tour of this historic area of South Africa.  Here the fight against apartheid was waged.  the tour took us passed Winnie Mandela's home and the former homes of Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandella.  All were hard to photograph, as they were surrounded by high walls.  Mandela's home is going under renovation in preparation for its opening as a museum next year. 

We made an extended stop at  Regina Mundi Cathoic church, a place where the ANC held secret meetings (at leat until the National Party figured out that not all the gatherings focused on worship).  The guide showed us bullet holes throughout the building.  One policeman butted his rifle against the altar, breaking off a corner of the marble.  The balcony contained a photo gallery.  I think it was here that the emotions of our Evaton Noord friends came forward.  A few women tugged at my sleeve, pointing to pictures and started to tell me what it was like to wear the dumpass; a license that gave or denied permission to almost anything.  It had to be stamped to be in any neighborhood, it had to be stamped to have permission to find a house, to find a job.  One couldn't seek  a job without permission and one couldn't be given a job without permission. It became an impossible tangled mess. 

Our friends were overjoyed to be there, seeing this area that was so important to their history.  I suppose it would be like us visiting Philidelphia, Boston or Washington DC in 1795.  And I'm afraid that simplifies it too much.  Our firends had never been to Soweto before.  It is only 10-15 miles from their homes.  Here we are, sharing their story with them.

After our tour we shared lunch together, went back to our B& B and our final goodbyes to our friends at Evaton Nord. 

One hears many sounds in Africa.  Birds are everywhere, and they like to sing.  Each morning we hear doves, crickets. This morning I was awaken by a braying donkey - loud, incessant.  We are staying in the rural area of Kgautswane, in a rondeval - or native hut.  My hut houses the local freezer, for there is a constant flow of people coming and pulling things out of it.  The rondeval has two rooms, a sitting area and the bedroom.  The bath has a shower with running water, only the cold spigot produces anything.  Wendell and Kelly rejoice that they have hot water.

There were other sounds that caught my attention in Africa.  Leigh Platje asked: "Do you know Sasha and Melia (Obama)? As we toured the mission church in Khayelitsha a neighbor greeted us saying: "I love Obama, I love you".  Over dinner with the community in Kgautswane I was told "On January 20th, we were all Americans!"  When I wrote the Dec. Belhar briefing I noted that there was great significance that we as white folk don't understand to our election of a black man as president.  I see it reflected here again. 

There's another sound in Africa - it is the sound of singing in the churches, of voices joined in conversation and laughter.  Singing -- begins with the women.  One starts and strikes the beat, (a small hand held leather pillow of air),  The others join in.  within a few measures all are on their feet, and they start to shuffle.  They seem to sing the same song or verse over and over again.  I recognized "It is Well with my Soul", Holy, Holy, Holy, and Blest be the Tie that Binds our Hearts in Christian Love". I try to join in, but am confused by the Xhousa or Zulu words.  But my heart swells, and my eyes fill with tears as I join my brothers and sisters in song before the throne of grace.

We did not have access to computers or the internet for the last 10 days of our trip.  And so much happened during that time. First, we are also back in Seattle now. We arrived on Wednesday afternoon after 24 hours of flying.  It takes 9 hours just to go from Jo-berg to the north coast of the African continent.  Secondly, we experience great traveling mercies. No one was sick, no one had the trots, no car accidents, only minor confusion as to where to go, and how to get there.  We never felt unsafe, threatened etc.  The weather was good -- lots of rain with thunder and lightening, but only once did I get soaked running to the car.  Ultimately, these littke things add up and make the trip very comfortable.

March 4

We arrived at Gomo Gomo Tuesday afternoon just in time for lunch.  Traveling with us is Anton and Tookie, his wife; and Cepho and his financee Peggy.  Anton is the DRC pastor in Oudshooren (I can't find the correct spelling of the town, sorry).  Cepho is the pastor of the URCSA in Kgautswane a nearby rural area.  Anton and Cepho have a good working relationship, and we are hoping that our time together will strenghten that relationship.

About 4 pm we set off on our first safarri ride.  We are in an open vehicle, and are told to sit at all times.  Off we go through the bush, down this straight road (I think all the roads in SA are straight as an arrow).  We see birds, lots of different birds. Tookie is an avid bird watcher and is very excited about our finds.  I must say, I don't recognize most of the birds, 

Shortly we come to a stop, the drive Johan, and the tracking guide grab the rifle, tell us to stay seated and hushed.  And they walk away. 

We're not exactly sure what is happening. 

Upon their return, they jump back on, throw the vehicle in reverse, and speed off into the bush - slowing in front of a pride of 4 lions. We stop about 5-10 feet above them: one male, three females, acting like all cats in the summer sun. The oldest female is about 17 years old.

We could hardly arouse the interest of the lions, though they did raise their heads and yawn at us a bit.  We were off to find rhinos, buffalo, impala, kudo.  However our goal was to track a lepard.  Pawprints and scat were found. We came across a couple hyenas also tracking the lepard.  In the end, we only found a lepard turtle, the next day.  We have nothing to complain about -- for we found 3 of the big five on the first outing.

We returned to the camp for dinner, around an open five.  It felt like we were on Survivor -- and being treated to our last meal.  We could not wander around the camp alone at night - one of the staff had to walk us back to our rooms.  Incense coils were burning to keep the bugs at bay.  Of course, someone brought up the African Black Mamba snake just before departing for rooms -- left me with something to ponder in my dreams.  I state this because that is only thing that caused me to feel "unsafe" throughout the entire trip.

 The next morning we were aroused at 5 am, and off by 6 for another adventure in the bush.  Not far out we came across a herd of elephants, We watched as they striped leaves off trees, and shook trees out of the ground.  Huge animals, gentle animals.

Upon return we enjoyed breakfast and then a walking tour - giving us a chance to see some of the smaller critters that can escape notice.  Johan found millipeds, chick-quid, huge termite hills, huge spiders.  He showed us trees whose leaves can be used as soft TP.  We dug through elephant dung to find the dung bettle - an important part of the African eco-system.

Our evening drive took us back to the lion pride -- it seems that they hadn't moved very far, and were still uninterested in us.  Later we came across a gariffe, and a rhino, flocks of birds and a few impala.

On our last drive we find two spider webs that have captured small birds. Johan stopped the vehicle and freed both.  The web had captured the birds by their legs.  We continued the search for the lepard, but to no avail.

This morning we worshiped with our sister church Evaton Nord.  The congregation was elated to see Kelly and Wendell again, and they greeted Dave G and I very warmly.  At the end of the service, Maria Boysen pulled us aside and gave a heartfelt greeting.  Maria has been suffering from diabetes lately and would greatly appreciate the prayers of the congregation for her health.

It is custom to sing and sing and sing in a South African worship service.  The Sunday School children perpared two songs for us.  The children from the creche were all wearing the Shoreline Christian T-shirts that were donated in 2007.  It was so cool to see Shoreline Christian emblazened everywhere.  Flora reports that there are 101 kids registered in the creche.  And the building looks beautiful. 

The women start the singing, with a BEAT.  One of them was also playing a BELL - think a dinner bell.  Everything began and ended with song.  Much of the service was taken up by receiving the offering.  The people come forward in groups - or wards - a geographical grouping of members.  They would dance in front of the table and lay their coin on it.  Dance around it again and lay another coin down.  When the group was done, the total given was announced, and then another person read off the contribution by name and amount.  Most were able to give about R20-R50 ($2-$5).  It took a long time to go through all the groups. 

There was a group of 4 individuals who are able to tithe.  They had their own presentation of their gifts.  I should also note that everyone gives something -- even the smallest of children.

 The Seattle Ward also had their chance to give.  Our dancing was ---well David reminded me "white men don't dance".  (But can Kelly get into it!)  And we were able to lay our gifts down in one pass by the table.  Our gifts were totalled also, and announced.  The people took great joy in giving.  You can see it on their faces, you can hear it in their song.

Each of the team members was given opportunity to greet the congregation.  Wendell thanked them for the gift of the Belhar. Kelly presented maps of the USA and world.  David gave greetings from the congregation, and I was asked to close in prayer -- but that wasn't the end of the service.

On Saturday Swart was invited to give a eulogy at a mass funeral for 5 men killed in a public works accident. That took his full day.  At the close of the service today, he was off to preach at a nearby DRC where he is starting a new church for black community members. This is another daughter church of Evaton Nord.

During the lunch time, Kelly and Wendel had opportunity to talk in depth with four of the church women and got to know them better.  They are very concerned about the upcoming national elections. They are disillusioned with the ANC, and they don't trust the promises of any of the politican parties.  They told us of their love for Evaton Nord and speak highly of Swart.  We have photos that will be shared with the congregation.

Dave and I were outside migling with the children.  They were eatting their lunch, and very happy to chat with us. Most told us their age and grade at school.  I met one young man named "Thank You"  He said that his parents were thankful to God to recieve him.  The feeding program is funded by the gifts of the people at First Seattle CRC.  Each child had a chicken leg, rice, vegetables -- and cooks did a wonderful job of preparing it.  (No, I didn't get a taste).

 After everything was done, we took 4 people to their homes in Sebokeng -- about 25 km from Palm Springs - the area where Evaton Nord is.  These people normally take 2 taxis to get to church.  Church is certainly the center of their lives.

Tomorrow we are off to the north.  Dullstrom on Monday.   Tuesday and Wednesday we will be at the game preserve -hoping to see lots more wild animals.  Thursday we come back to Kgautswane staying in native rondevells.  We will be mostly out of contact during this time.  Next weekend will be a full one with the folk at Marantha URCSA.

At our last  Neighbors Helping Neighbors Missions Table, we assembled 200 basic first aid kits to give to the families using the day care at our sister church Evaton Noord.  During Neighbors Helping Neighbors Sunday on March 22 we will be assembling toiletry packs for the Union Gospel Womens and Childrens Shelter.  They were absolutely thrilled that we are doing this.  They remarked that it is very discouraging to turn people away and to have something give would be such a blessing.  The goal is 100 womens toiletry packs.  So far we have 75 toothbrushes and floss donated by Dr. Santorsola, a local dentist. 

Do you know of or have the resources  for quantities of new personal items:  fingernail polish, emory boards, deodorant, soap lotion, combs, earrings, toothpaste, compact sewing kits, bandaids...what ever else you can think of that is about the size of your fist;  these items will be packed in a 1 gallon ziplock bag.  Many thanks for your suggestions, please contact Sarah Zerkel. 

To give you some idea of the planning that goes into the events we participate in, the following is the agenda given to us by the the Maranatha URC for Sunday March 8

Program Director: Mr. P. Segele

Part 1

9 - 10 am:     Presentation by W. Ramotshidisi

Part 2

10- 10:15     Opening Pray and Confession by Rev Mike Metha

10:15 --10:20  Welcoming of Guests by J Nkitseng

10:20-10:25  Poem

10:25-10:30  Song by GYM

10:30-10:35  Sunday School Presentation

10:35-11 STM (Second Table Ministries) Presentation

Part 3

11 - 11:45 Holy Communion

11:45 - 12:15 Tithes and Sunday Collection

12:15 - 12:30 Presents (Presentation?) by W. Betha

12:30 - 12:45 Reply by STM (we have no idea what is coming here)

12:45 - 1 pm  Vote of Thanks by B Lenake

Part 4

Touring of Klipkop and Drie Hoek

(Klipkop is Maranatha URCSA's daughter church and Drie Hoek is a DRC church.

then LUNCH

Hey Harry, can you pull off a 6-7  hour service?

I can hardly wait for this experience.  IT has been proven to me (see Aliwal North post) how important it is to spend time with these people here.  Our presence has helped to build bridges between the URCSA and DRC -- In fact our B&B host and his daughters are going to church with us this Sunday at Evanton Nord and will also join us this at Maranatha.

Sorry I'm not able to add any pictures.  Doug Houck and Team

ON Thursday the team drove to Bloemfontein, SA and toured the Boer War Museum. Bloemfontein is a city like any american suburb.  We shopped at the shopping mall, drove by beautifuly appointed houses with their manicured yards.  Being in Bloemfontein I could imagine how easy it is to put the problem of poverty and the overwhelming needs of many people in this country behind me.  They were out of sight.  It is disconcerting to realize that I probably act the same way in Seattle. I just don't go to places in my own city that suffers from poverty.  and it is so close by--I recall my discomfort visiting Ryan's apartment in "Little Beruit", jsut south of the church.  So easy to ignore.

We arrived in Vanderblijpark about 1 pm Friday.  We have been challenged by internet access and computers and communications.  Please forgive us for slow additions.  Swart, pastor of our Sister Church was waiting for us on Thursday evening, and earlier today.  He even expected us to show up at his church LAST Sunday.  Communications problems happen in part to different levels of technology used.  Some of the best internet connection is via DSL connections.  Computers crash, and it takes time for repairs to be made.

Anyway, Swart came down about 2:30 to greet us.  We spent about 90 minutes together. He is off to prepared to give a message at a funeral for 5 individuals who were killed in a public works project accident. These 5 men were between 20-30 years old., married with families.  It will be a mass funeral (some 200 km from here).  He expects it to become a political event - as politicians will also be speaking (there is a National Election in April).  Please remember him on Saturday.

Maria, his wife has been seriously ill, and in the hospital.  We aren't sure that we will even see her on this visit.  Her health is a major concern -- we are not exactly sure of what her condition is.  And we pray that it doesn't affect their plans to visit Seattle First in August.

I think I just wrote a long blog -- and it didn't post.  argh. 

Saturday afternoon we toured Belhar Church and URCSA church head quarters.  We also became fast friends with Carl Swart, a DRC pastor working with the URCSA churches, and Lucas Plaatje and his wife Beauty and daughter Leigh.  A church member provide a tour of Khaylitsha - an imformal settlement about 12 sq miles -- think Tent City on steroids.  People live in tin shacks about 10 ft sq.  Cattle and children roam everywhere, and both seem to think that playing along the highway is a good place to hang out, play soccer or graze.  The soil reminds me of Lake Michigan beach sand -- and the wind blows. Dust everywhere.

Our tour took us to the Khaylitsha daughter church construction site.  Four brick walls.  Wendell and Kelly said it was a empty lot in 2007.  A neighbor wandered over and thanked us profusely for coming.  He loved us, He loved Obama (we hear that frequently), and he wanted us to take his picture. 

The next stop was the Khaylitsha main church. The men's group was meeting in a garage, the women in the main building. Saturday evening, all dressed to the nines.  We were embraced, and welcomed.  Our time in the women's group ended with a singing of Ït is Well with My Soul""

 This morning we worrshiped with the Mfuline congregation. Wendell brought the message based on Luke 4.  Again, the congregation welcomed and rejoiced - just simply that we were there.

The B&B has been very patience with my using their computer.  So much more to tell of just 3 days.  Vonnie - expect an email from Leigh.  She is a remarkable young lady.  Monday we head onward -- I hear that ostrich is anticipated for dinner tomorrrow night!  Thanks for yourr prayers Doug Houck and company

I am posting this to let you know that Wendell, Kelly, Dave, and Doug have arrice safely in South Africa. Doug wrote (at 3:03AM PST today):

On Wednesday, February 18th, Dave Gronlund, Doug Houck, Kelly and Wendell  Verduin depart Seattle for Cape Town South Africa. Their travels will take them to our sister church Evaton Noord. They are carrying various gifts from First Seattle CRC to the people that they will be meeting along the way.  Thanks for the Beanie Babies, T-shirts, web-cam and other untold (and unknown, by me) goodies that were given to us to take along. Please keep us in your prayers as we travel, and interface with the South African people.  Watch this blog for updates of our trip.

Here is a way to load a single pictures to the blog. In the blog editor click the "insert/edit image" button. That should bring up the images properties dialog as shown below. Intuition suggests that the Upload tab should be used to upload pictures. But that is currently broken. Hit the "Browse Server" button. You'll see warnings about allowing scripts - you must allow them (this might be a problem in an internet cafe).  You'll see the editor's Resource...

Read More "Picture Upload"

Neighbors Helping Neighbors Sundays are just one form of Service Sunday at our church. I didn't know that until last week and I am suppose to be the coordinator! Are we in trouble here or what? So what other events do we do? Well, so far, Neighbors Helping Neighbors Sundays are the only event we've come up with. Do you have ideas -- please let me know!

Last time we had a new activity, that was creating small first aid packages for our Sister Church in South Africa. I am looking for more good new ideas for this year. Any ideas? Anyone? Anyone?

What about you? Do you have a story about the event that you be willing to share? Send it to me any I'll post it - or better yet I'll make you a Blog author.

Mind you I neither a blogger or an author, but I will share a short story about my Neighbors Sunday experience from last year. As we worked with one of our neighbors we learned that she was hearing impaired. Because of this she is very good a signing (American Sign Language or ASL, I think is its official title) she volunteers at her church signing for hearing impaired members and guests. She would love to teach a sign language class at our church -- would any of you be interested?

We are busy planning for the next event on Sunday, March 22^nd. One of my main goals is to be in contact with all our members electronically I am going to try to collect team member names and the like via e-mail and the web. So I have a new theme: "don't make me pass the clipboard!!"

John Vermeer (Neighbors Sundays coordinator)

We left Copan at about 9am and arrived in Progresso at about noon. We all ate at Wendy's (Burgers! Fries!) and then went to a big sovenior shop. After that we headed off to Tela and arrived at about 4pm. The kids unpacked and immediately went out to the beach and swam in the Carribean Seal, body surfing on the sweet waves. It was a great treat after spending so long on the bus! After that it was swimming in the bool, playing volleyball in the pool, hitting the waterslide, eating spaghetti (made by Annie's parents), playing cards, swimming contests like treading water the longest (Sarah Vander Giessen pwn'd all of  us), eating the leftover spaghetti, playing cards, watching movies, and it ended with us visiting a karaoke place (all in Spanish) .... then they turned on the dance music and we all went on the dance floor and danced like a bunch of white people! Then off to bed...

Today (Sunday) we all slept it (FINALLY), and then more of the same. More waves, more swimming, some naps, more eating. Sarah Vander Giessen was proposed to by an Honduran guy. You know, stuff like that.

Tomorrow we head back. This will likely be our last blog post, unless we can catch some wireless at an airport.

It's been an amazing trip, the kids are tired but are getting more refreshed. Can't want to come home!

We started the day at 4:30am, and the bus took off at 5:30am for the 5 hour drive to Copan where the Mayan ruins are. It was a long ride and more than a few kids got car sick. We started our tour at around 10:45am and finished it at around 2:00pm.

The kids were pretty hungry by that time and we started to head off to the restaurant. We had the choice of walking or taking a taxi. We opted for the taxi for 10L (50 cents). The taxi was a three wheeled golf-cart scooter sort of thing. 3 sat in the back, one sat in the front. the taxi driver dropped a bunch of us off at the wrong place. They took off and there we sat (I was one of them in the group) at the wrong place, no taxi, just enough spanish speaking to figure out tthat we didn't know what to do!

Eventually the taxi came back, and we were taken to the correct location. Yes, we had to pay again. Our theory is that they did it on purpose. Oh well.

After that, some of the kids went to the local market in town, and another group took a horse-back tour of the mountains above the Mayan ruins (for $15 American).

Tonight, its supper, and relaxing to Spanish cable television.

I wish I could upload pictures, but I'm not able to from this internet cafe. At least they have an English keyboard so I can capitalize things this time!

More later. Miss you all!

BTW, did you know the Mayan's thought that a big flat forehead, large nose, cross-eyes, and sharp green teeth were a sign of beauty?

hey folks. today i'm updating you from an internet cafe here in town. the reason you will not see me type any capital letters is because i'm typing on a spanish keyboard and i keep messing up when hitting the shift key ... it is in a slightly different place.

we said goodbye to the kids at the school today. it was our last day teaching. it was hard to leave, because we've grown to love the kids. it was also hard to leave because some of the epic kids had 5 or 6 children hanging on them saying "no! no!". we went to the job sites today again.

with one job, we were able to finish paving the drive, building a retaining wall, and filling in the dirt behind the retaining wall. we also dug a drainage ditch. now remember, all that digging was in hard-pan. all the fill dirt, used to be hard-pan until the kids pick-axed it up.

with another job, we were able to build a house for someone ... in two days. how did we do that, you may ask ... well, you start with a basic frame of four poles on each corner and a rough outline of a roof. then you slap sheet metal on the sides and on the top. dirt floor, no electricity, but now you have a house. the couple that is going to live in the house was living in a mud-house that was caving in on one side, so they were only living on one side of the house. now they can stay dry, so that is great!

the kids are all in downtown siquatepeque today shopping again. tonight we pack and go to the mayan ruins, then two days at tela, then drive to the airport.

tonight we'll be saying goodbye to the youth group here in honduras. i'm sure that will be hard for many of the kids. i think some of the honduran girls fancy some of our boys :-)

anyway that's all for now. not sure when we can make the next update, but will continue to try as we get access to the internet.

love from honduras.