Before...and...After

Here are the 'before and after' pictures of the computer room project at the Children's Home here in Honduras. Praire Ridge Church, this is what your support and donations made possible! We had intermittent power all day Thursday which made installing new lights and fans tricky. However, the power stayed on throughout the movie night we put on for the kids last night, thankfully. The older kids watched Transformers in Spanish and the younger kids watched Ice Age also in Spanish.
I can't believe Jeremy and I (Graham) leave to head home already tomorrow morning. The week has gone fast here but we have learned and grown so much. I will be excited to see my family and sleep in airconditioning again but will definitely miss the beautiful people and amazing hospitality here at the Children's Home. We'll be thinking about them and praying for them long after we leave.

Photos from Honduras

Progress on the Project

We have been working hard here in Honduras on the 'computer room' project. The pictures show our Day 1 work on the ceiling (Monday, because Sunday was our day to hang out with the kids and get supplies ready). Today (Day 2) we built tables for the computers and got some help mudding the ceiling. We'll do some painting tomorrow and hopefully have things ready to move computers in on Thursday.

We took a break this afternoon from the hard work and hit the local water park! yes, there is a water park just blocks from the slum-like community of Azacualpa. We'll post a few more pictures next. They say the internet speeds up after 10pm around here and I think we're noticing that!!

Hot in Honduras

Hello from Honduras! I (Graham) am here with Jeremy Williams from Ankeny, IA and have discovered the reason people here need a siesta every afternoon - it's too hot to do anything else! Actually we couldn't even nap since our room felt like a convection oven. Aside from that we are enjoying our time getting to know the children and others here at the children's home. Azacualpa (the nearest town) is a small but crowded, and very-3rd-world community. The children's home we are visiting and serving this week is somewhat of a "light on a hill" here. In addition to the 24 or so children that live here, they drive an old school bus into town and bring dozens more out to the home for meals and sunday school. They also bring others for church Sunday nights.

Jeremy and I brought 6 netbook computers we plan to set up in a 'computer room' here at the home for the children to use. The high speed internet works fairly well when the power works! It's a strange phenomenon amidst the 3rd world surroundings but we're excited how the internet will be a great learning tool and resource for them. We'll try to post another update this week as our renovations and work progress.

Brazil Reflections

Speaking as someone who feels fulfilled by physically serving others' needs, this experience taught me about the importance of building relationships--that it's better to interact and connect before jumping right into work. I met so many wonderful people and formed so many friendships, and I'm more grateful than words can express that I was encouraged to focus on these people instead of becoming consumed by "getting the job done."

I was surprised that the language barrier seemed so small compared to what I was expecting. I thought it would be near impossible to communicate, but with the little English that they knew, the little Portuguese that Cheryl had taught us, often creative actions (especially on Ingrid's part), and lots of smiles, somehow we were able to put together a language we all understood.

Ella Broadbooks

Brazil Reflections

The Mission Trip to Lar Batista was a life changing experience. The children didn't have many toys but that isn't what they wanted. All they want is love, attention and to play with us. Simple. Amazing how they have had such hardships in their lives and seem to conquer it and have having faith and believing in Christ; also being sweet and have a huge smile on their faces. My live will be forever changed. It is definite that the Lord has this orphanage in the palm of his hand.

-Amy Blize

Thursday Update

Painting, painting, painting! We are all very dirty from paint at the moment, after painting both the inside and outside of the girls' dorm. Tomorrow will be our last day at Lar Batista, although we're trying not to think about saying goodbye. We've made so many good friends and created so many memories -- not to mention (most likely) gained several pounds from the incredible food! You will never fully know how much we appreciate all your prayer and support. Blessings to all, and see you soon!