"Tapping" Down the Walls

Many Hands Make Light Work!

Little Workers

In December, the ladies who work with the children of Emanuel Day Home took a well-deserved break.  After Christmas, Emanuel Baptist Church began the process of tearing down an old, run-down building, in order to make room for a much needed dining hall, bathrooms, and classrooms.  Many members of the church, down to the little ones, came to help, and the foundation is now set for the construction of the new building.  To help pay for the work on the foundation, the ladies of the church have been working hard selling everything from old bathtubs, clothes, lunches, and delicious homemade doughnuts!   A team from the United States will be arriving next week to begin the construction. They will raise the walls, put on a roof, and get the building ready for plumbing and electricity.

Making Tortillas for Baleadas

This is all exciting news for our church, as well as the Children’s Day Home, which will be blessed with a more sanitary dining hall and bathrooms.  This does not come without a price, however.  Because of the construction, the children have not been able to return since December.  Please keep these children in your prayers, as they wait for the reopening.  This month also marks the beginning of a new school year, with many returning to classes this week.  We are thankful that most of the children continue to attend Sunday School on a weekly basis, and it is encouraging to see their eagerness to learn more about the Lord!

VBS Pizza Party

Due to a three-week teacher’s strike, the ladies at Emanuel Day Home have been working extra hard.  Entertaining, teaching, and feeding twenty-five children all day, five days a week, can be quite a task for one teacher and one cook!  Thankfully, this happened to be the week of VBS!  A group of students and adults from Kentucky arrived to conduct a four-day Cowboy Ranch VBS, complete with puppets, songs, Bible stories, and crafts.  But as the children bid their sad farewells to the Kentucky group on Thursday, another group  from Riverbend Church in Florida, arrived fresh and ready to go on Friday morning!  They had already spent the week ministering in another part of Honduras, but came specifically to conduct a two-day VBS just for the children of Emanuel Day Home!  What a blessing it was to have these two groups come and share their time, love, and the message of the gospel with the children of our community!

Osiris

The excitement was not over, however.  The most exciting event was yet to take place.  On Sunday, August 22, we were blessed to witness the baptism of three special young women.  Although the day home ministry provides loving care, nutritious meals, and many times cares for the physical needs of the children in the program, the main focus has always been the gospel.  Mary, the teacher, has been so faithful at presenting the gospel to the children, as well as the mothers.  Church members have visited the homes, ministering to their needs and proclaiming God’s Word.  It was during one of these visits that Osiris realized her sin and her need of a Savior.  Despite resistance from her Catholic mother, Osiris gave her life to the Lord!

Kathy

Another young lady that was baptized, is also a testimony to the faithfulness of Mary to proclaim God’s Word to the children.  Kathy is fourteen years old, and has been attending the day home, along with her younger brother, for the past year.  Their mother passed away when Kathy was nine, and she has been passed around to relatives.  This past year, she came to live with her aunt, one of the members of our church.  Shortly after this, Kathy came to know the Lord as her savior!  She has a servant’s heart, and is a great help to Mary with the younger children.  She has had a rough life, and continues to face many difficulties and temptations, but she is keeping her focus on the Lord.  She is a true joy and delight to know!

Julissa

The third young lady, is the twelve-year-old daughter of Mary!  Julissa (or Juli), is another young lady who puts a smile on your face!  She is a favorite with the children at the day home and is a huge help to her mother in this ministry.  Her love for the Lord is evident, and it is an encouragement to see the children wanting to follow her example.

Please enjoy this little video we put together of the baptism, and please continue to remember Osiris in prayer, as she has begun to face some persecution for her commitment to the Lord.

Placerita Group

Recently, a group from Placerita Baptist Church in California arrived to hold a Vacation Bible School and to do presentations in the public schools (singing, drama, games).  Sadly, three of the children from the day home were not able to participate.  They  attend school in the afternoon, which caused them to miss the morning school performance as well as the afternoon VBS.

Much to the delight of Carlitos, Karina, and Angel, the group arrived at the day home for a private performance just for them!  When they found out they would be coming, Carlitos was beside himself with amazement and declared he was going to take a bath!

Sometimes it’s the little things that make such a HUGE difference!!!

Game Time!

Better than Disney!

Joseph's Coat

Yates Family Visit

Soccer!

The children recently enjoyed a visit from a family from Florida who stopped by to play a little soccer, as well as a group from Hope Baptist Church in North Carolina.  This group not only completed repairs around the church, but found time to dramatize a few Bible stories, much to the delight of the children. These visits, as simple as they may seem, make a huge impact on the lives of these children.  Knowing someone has come all that way just to spend time with them, whether it’s kicking a ball around, giving a piggy-back ride, making a craft, or just giving a hug – is an encouragement, blessing, and a tangible reminder of the Lord’s love for them.   Although material gifts are fun to receive, these memories are fleeting, but the gift of time is etched in their minds.  The children remember these visitors (many times by name!) and pray for them as well.

Water Balloon Game

Girls' Pool

How many of us go for a swim or order pizza and say to ourselves, “Wow!  This is a rare and special treat I will remember the rest of my life!”

The children were recently treated to an unexpected surprise.  Visitors from Florida, Rhich and Pat Nelson, sponsored a pool and pizza picnic!  Not only do these children rarely enjoy a dip in a pool, but pizza is an impossibility.   Their teachers at the public school realized this, and even gave them special permission to leave early (as long as they finished their exams first!).

They arrived at MEDA eager to get wet, and soon found themselves drenched by water balloons and hoses, slithering down slip-n-slides, and splashing in wading pools.  The fun was not over however, as pizza and sodas soon arrived, followed by ice cream and watermelon!

Slip and Slide

Bombs Away!

What a blessing it was for these children to enjoy a special day just for them.  The day home provides for many of their basic physical needs, but sometimes going above and beyond creates memories that will last a lifetime!

Gift Exchange

Gift Exchange (the little girl on the left has been missing from the day home for awhile, and no one knew where she was. She has been living with and caring for her mentally-handicapped mother. What a joy it was to see her again! We are praying she returns again soon.)

The children celebrated the “Day of Love or Kindness” on Friday.  This would be equivalent to our Valentine’s Day.  They enjoyed a party complete with candy, decorating heart cookies, and even exchanged little gifts such as a chips, cookies, or a bag of juice.  It was an exciting day, but also an opportunity to teach them how to put John 13:34 into practice – “Love one another even as I have loved you”.

Decorating Cookies

Valentine's Cookies!

Last week also marked the beginning of a new school year.  We are happy to report that all the children who are of age have been enrolled.  Please pray for these children to persevere, as it is difficult for many to finish out the school year.  At least two of these children are repeating first grade for the third time, due to a lack of attendance.  It is interesting that they faithful in their attendance to the day home, but do not always finish out the school year.  Many times this is due to either a lack of funds or the inability to accomplish the tasks required of them at school.  The classrooms are simply too full and many times parents are unable to help with homework.  It is our prayer to someday turn the day home into a school where not only their spiritual and personal needs are met, but their academic needs as well.

With Mom Ready for a New School Year

To celebrate this new beginning, some creative people worked hard to beautify the day home.  Shelves were built, chairs painted, and the walls were adorned with whimsical foam decorations.  Please join us in thanking the Lord for His continued provision!  Please also visit our new category – “Siblings of the Month”, to get to know the family of two of the children who have been here from the beginning, Carlitos and Fany.

The Day Home is now on Christmas break until January 4.  Please pray for the continued safety and health of the children during this time!

Bible Lesson

Recently, one of the little girls left the day home.   She returned for a visit, and another little girl, Elsa, was eagerly urging her to return.  ”You need to come back!  You need to be here!”  Mary, the teacher, upon hearing this, explained that the little girl is in a home where she is being cared for and no longer needs to attend the day home.  Elsa was still upset, however, and wanted the other little girl to return.  Mary again explained why the little girl did not need to return.  ”But teacher”, protested Elsa, “She HAS to come back.  How else will she learn about God?”

To Elsa, the day home was not just a place to come for good food, friends, and fun.  To her, the most important reason for being there was to learn the Word of God!  It did not matter that this other girl was being cared for physically, Elsa was concerned about her spiritual care.  How beautiful to see the Lord working in the lives of these precious children through the Day Home and the lives of those like Mary who invest their time and love.

The typical school year in Honduras goes from February – November.  To celebrate the end of another school year, we traveled to a nearby property for a picnic celebration!

The children hunted colored eggs, climbed trees, and had fun exploring!  

After a delicious meal of chicken and rice, they settled down in front of the fireplace to hear a Bible story.

Fireside Bible Story

We ended our special day by roasting marshmallows in the fireplace.

Hooray for vacation time!!!!!