Our last day in Teguc

It's hard to believe that we leave Tegucigalpa tomorrow. I apologize for not posting the last 2 days, but we haven't been at the Micah house in the evening and that is where we can connect to the internet.

Actually, we were at Micah Tuesday evening but I was emotionally drained and just wasn't able yet to put into words the events of the day. We went back out to Villa Linda Miller and continued working on the school, digging for the foundation walls, applying cement/plaster to the cinder block walls of the completed rooms, painting, and doing crafts with the kids. Then, since we didn't go on Monday, it was our turn to go up into the dump and pass out water and then down to AFE and play with the kids.

Some of you have seen pictures of the people that live in the dump. But it is impossible for a picture to convey the reality of it. There were about 20 of us packed into the Toyota van with 100 bags of water. And literally hundreds of people digging through the mountains of garbage, looking for food and anything of value that could be salvaged. Small shanty's made of cardboard and tin are scattered here and there for the lucky ones. Others have only a cardboard box to sleep in. We drove through the trash yelling "agua" out the window and people would run to the van to get it. Some carried thinner soaked rags in plastic bags that they constantly huff on to escape the reality of their lives. Kids with hands completely blackened by filth. They wear rags and fight street dogs, vultures, and each other to survive.

It was too much for me to handle, absolutely unbelievable to my suburban white mind that people actually have to live like this. But the thing that was so completely unbelievable to me was this...as I sat in the van crying, tears running down my face, one of the men that lived in the dump came up to the window and with a look of concern on his face asked Brian why I was sad.

How strange to have this man in such desperate conditions have compassion for the sadness I was obviously feeling. And yet we who have so much walk through much of life with little to no compassion for the lost and hurting around us. As we drove away I again remembered what Beth Ferrell told me. We will not be able to get them out of the dump, but we can give them all the hope that is only in Jesus Christ.

We hope, though, that if the Lord allows us to build the school that maybe we can be part of getting a few out.

At AFE we set up play pools for the kids, some we brought down from the dump. They hauled bucket after bucket of water just so they could play in it for less than an hour. What a difference to see these kids that will work for an hour so they can play for 30 minutes, where in our society we want it in 5 minutes and want it to last until we want to stop. We played soccer and pushed them on the swings, and then when it was time drove them back up to their home in the "crematory".

Yesterday we worked at Villa Linda Miller again and then the school children treated us to a traditional Honduran dance, sang songs, and expressed heartfelt thanks. It was very touching to have such heartfelt sincerity poured out for the work that we did.

Brian worked on the Micah van, showing Eric how to change oil and then teaching Pedro how to change a diesel fuel filter. Pedro has a huge desire to learn anything and everything he can about mechanics and construction. He's a big guy with a big heart for God. We went back to AFE and embarked on a huge water fight with just about everyone getting back into the van completely drenched.

Dinner was at the Leadership house, pupusas which are corn pockets filled with beans, cheese, and vegetables. Afterward we spent time in worship and prayer, a very fitting end to 3 days of service.

Today after doing a home visit we went to the bilingual Christian school that Michael suggested and then looked at a piece of property near El Tigro, on the outskirts of Tegucigalpa. It's a beautiful area with a very reasonable price. Land and construction costs would be well within our budget, so we will be praying for the Lord's leading in this.

And so tomorrow we leave Tegucigalpa...leave our home. We will be spending 2 days together as a family digesting all of the events over the past week and getting ready to return to Oregon. Thank you all for your prayers, they have truly sustained us.

Gracias mi hermanos y hermanas in Jesus Cristo,

The Wiggs

What an amazing God

Well, where to start? Yesterday started at 6:00 am with some quite time in the word followed by a solitary walk throught the down town central park area . Quite different from the Fanno Creek park. The time was an awakening of the senses, almost as though I was able hear the colors and see the sounds. Iwas standing on the cornner and to my left I heard the sound of music. I looked and saw what appeared to be statues of angles swaying and moving towards me; it was a processional headed to the cathedral for the morning mass, complete with Mary and the resurrected Jesus. It was really qiute a sight. From there we went to a church service at Michael Millers church. The pastor preached for about 45 minutes and THEN began with his first point (shhhh, don't tell Steve). After church we ate lunch and headed to the streets for my first Honduran walk about, 26 of us in all took fried rice and water. I really did not know what to expect then one of my prayers was answered as I met Santos a boy from the You tube video. It was truly a God thing he was hungry and sober as the kids could not get the yellow glue since everything was closed for Holy week. We talked and made arangements to meet later this week. We walked a little further into the market where I saw the small children pictured above. My heart, already weak, started to unfold and I placed myself into our Fathers hands and asked Him to show me His glory in this. He is faithful and I saw children smile at the love of Christ being poured out by this group of young people. Then i met Daniel (para de agua - water dog) from the You tube video. He may possibly be the next Micah boy. Pray for him to be set free from the grip of the glue. The night ended the only way it could with 30 or so people on the roof top terrace watching the passion of the Christ, Amen.

Today we headed out to Villa Linda Miller for construction and the possibility of catching up with Eric, the boy we all have been praying for. Again God has a plan I was able to spend the day with him. Tomorrow I am holding the first auto clinic and will teach a few of the boys, including Eric, some automotive basics as we service the Micah truck and van. Several of the young men are very excited about the opportunity. Praise God.

The construction went well and the dirt is dirt. Tell Ted and the rest of the team coming this year that it is an awesome oppertunity not only at the school but all over the city. I will stop for now and thank you all for your prayers. They and palpable and giving us much needed strength. I will let some pictures speak for themselves.

In the Grip of His Grace

Brian (Creature of God)

He has risen indeed!

He is risen, he is risen indeed! What a wonderful Easter we have had celebrating our Lord's victory over death and Satan, and the joy we have knowing that we share that victory with Him. We went to church with Michael and the team from St Louis and then they all headed down into the streets with fried rice for the street kids. Michael, Brian James and I stayed at the Micah House and made spaghetti dinner for the team. It was such a blessing to be able to serve this way, Bridgetown all over again!



Brian will post about his day that started with a 6 am quiet walk through the Central Park and then ministering to the street kids. He is visibly shaken and, knowing him the way I do, leaving Honduras on Friday will be one of the hardest things he has done.



I am asking prayer specifically for 2 of the boys here...Harvin and Jerson. I talked with Harvin at length yesterday and he is really struggling with his faith right now. He has a heart and passion for the Lord but is finding it really difficult to stay in the word. The adversary is really beating him up with self doubt and depression as he gets ready to leave for college in Costa Rica.

The other boy is Jerson. He is one of the older boys too, and after years of being clean he is having some major struggles with wanting to use again. Please pray that the Lord would fill his life with other things so that there is no time to entertain the thoughts of using. Pray that he would see the destruction that has come into Eric's life since he has fallen back into drug use, and that he would cling to Jesus and flee from the temptations that are in front of him.

He is risen, he is risen indeed. I cling to that hope as I see the enormous need here and the unbelievable struggles these boys face.

Love and blessings to you all,

Natasha

Day 3

Last night we went down to the Central Plaza to see the Holy Burial, Santo Entero (sp?), that is held every Good Friday. People make this incredible "paintings" from colored sawdust down the streets that depict various messages from scripture and the life of Christ. Some of them are absolutely amazing, and hard to believe that they are made from sawdust. Then a parade of sorts begins, which is basically a funeral procession walking over the top of the pictures. I understood the symbolism but it was really very gothic, almost macabre, a glorification of the suffering and death of Christ. It left me with a very unsettled feeling, and maybe that is the purpose. To make us see and understand that (to quote from last nights sermon) Christ REALLY was beaten, REALLY spit on, REALLY nailed to a rough splinter filled cross, and REALLY killed...for us.

I am looking forward to tomorrow to see the glory and joy that goes with celebrating the resurrection of Christ and the salvation that is ours because of it.

Today the team arrived from St. Louis, 24 kids between the ages of 14 and 19, some that have been here many times and many first timers. We all went to the Jesus Statue for orientation and then back to the Micah House where we were treated to a mini-concert by the Los Micah Boys. This is a rap group that 5 of the guys have put together. They do concerts and share their testimonies and what an amazing thing to see the power of the Holy Spirit come full circle, from saving these boys who are now singing and preaching about Christ to others that are lost.

The last song was written by Marvin, a 19 year old that has such a love for Jesus. He wants to go to college next year and go into Youth Music Ministry. The song is called My Two Eyes and it talks about how you can see everything around you, but when you stop and look in the mirror take the time to really look at yourself and truly see where God has brought you from. There wasn't a dry eye in the place.

Tomorrow we go to Easter Service at Michael Miller's church and then after lunch are taking food down into the market place where most of the street kids live. With the country basically shut down for Holy Week these kids have even less access to anything to eat.

Our kids are doing amazingly well. Michael jumped right in today and helped the team with their luggage and Brian James has played so well with some of the younger Micah Boys. They are completely unfazed by the surroundings. What a joy it is to be able to see this all through their eyes.

Well, we've got a busy week ahead, 3 days of ministry at Villa Linda Miller, AFE, and the dump. Thank you for your continued prayers.

Natasha

The Adventure Begins

We had a wonderful dinner with Pastor Arnold and his family. It was almost like a welcome home party. Our 5 combined kids played so well together, the language barrier doesn't seem to affect them like it does us "older folk". I am so impressed with the family relationship here, the bond is almost palpable and it gives me a burning desire to have that same thing in my own family.



This is sure to be a roller coaster ride from the way things have started. Along with the joy of spending time with Arnold, we got to see our first real live cockroach. Up until then the only ones I've seen were DEAD and in the insect exhibit at the zoo. But there he was, mucho grande cockaroacha, big as kiwi (well, almost) sitting on top of my plate from earlier in the day. And by the time we got Brian up to the room to save us, it had disappeared into the wall. That led to a night of little sleep while trying to convince a younger Wigglet that they weren't going to come and get him in the night.



So after a meager 3 hours of sleep we were on our way to the airport heading for Tegucigalpa. Or so we thought. There were only 5 passengers...yes, that would be our family and one other person, with reservations. So the flight had been cancelled and we were rerouted on Taca airlines, through El Salvador. We had to fly into another country to get here. So much for my fear of landing in a 737 at the Teguc airport. It is a little strange, though, to actually be able to make out individual people walking down the street for the last 5 minutes of your descent.



The boys are loving it here, playing with the Micah boys and learning how to breakdance on the rooftop patio. I have always felt so blessed to have the children God has given me, but to watch them come into another country and just connect with people like it's just another day, it's just amazing. I am humbled by the simple faith they have that we are walking in God's will and all is well.



And if you ever wonder if God cares about the details in your life, here's a blessing we've already been priveleged to be a part of. Someone donated a laptop computer for us to take with us. They didn't know who it was for, but said that someone in Honduras needed it. So we tucked it in our suitcase, didn't mention it to anyone, and waited for the Lord to show us who it was to go to. At lunch Michael Miller told Brian how Jessica (one of the missionaries here) had recently had her laptop stolen from the van. It was quite upsetting for her, and she doesn't have the financial means to replace it.



Really? Well, do we have a "coincidence" for you...



What a joy it was to walk into her apartment and give her a love gift from our Heavenly Father! She was moved to tears, and told us how earlier today she was recalling in James where we should count our trials as joy, and that she was bowing her knee to God and counting the loss as joy because He would grow her and make her more like Him. And then He so wonderfully rewarded her faith.



Isn't God cool? To know that we serve a God that loves us so much, He truly cares about ALL of our needs. What He wants from us is obedience and faith.

Much love and many blessings to all of you that are "here" with us. Brian will make a post later and add some pictures.

Se hermana in Cristo,

Brian & Natasha

We made it!

Hola mi hermanos y hermanas in Jesus Cristo.

Our plane finally took off from Portland at 2:15 this morning. We weren't in the air 10 minutes before we were all sound asleep. And we made it to Houston with plenty of time to make our connection, about 1 1/2 hours. The flight into San Pedro Sula was very good, a little bit of turbulence but the Lord is getting me used to flying. Brian James and Michael love it.

God has certainly blessed us with some wonderful children. Only 4 hours of sleep and they were little troopers, not crabby by any stretch. We took a taxi to the hotel and had lunch. Brian took the boys swimming and then we all took a much needed 4 hour nap.

What a huge difference there is here in regard to Easter. Almost every shop is closed down from Thursday through Sunday, for Holy week. It's really rather nice to see the reverance for Christ's sacrifice on the cross.

Pastor Arnold and his family came to the hotel and praise God, my Spanish is kicking in! His wife said she was at the womens conference and saw Blanca and Debbie O'Connor.

Thank you all for your continued prayers that I will be able to recall the Spanish I've learned. I am able to communicate fairly well, even got a chance to translate for a woman in the cafe that wanted to order a birthday cake. Hablar Despaso (sp?) is going to be a much used phrase. It means speak slower. I've learned a lot of my Spanish with word association - despaso - this spaz oh! Hey, whatever works, right?

It is overcast and very humid. Temp was about 75 with a bit of drizzle. The boys are amazed at the differences in food, how different Coke tastes for instance, and popcorn. Es muy bien!


Brian and Arnold's family are down getting some dinner while I post this, so I'd better get down there and help translate. We fly into Tegucigalpa tomorrow morning so please pray effective communication, for a productive day, and the our eyes and hearts would be open to the Lord's will for us here.

Muchos gracias!

Se hermana en Cristo,

Natasha

It's go time...

Or maybe not. So we're being told that our plane is running 2 1/2 hours late. Hmmm. Continental.com still shows it leaving on time. The wonderful age of technology. I guess our first prayer request would be that we get to Houston on time to make our connection since it is the only flight into San Pedro Sula. And that the kids would be able to get some sleep.

We did manage to make it out the door with 5 suitcases and 3 carry ons. Not too bad for a family of 4. And Mavo was so gracious to give us a ride to the airport. Thank you friend, we so appreciated it.

We've already met a team heading to Belize on a missions trip. Nice to know we'll be in the company of brothers and sisters. They're everywhere.....

Love to you all, thanks for holding us up. We'll check in later.