Honduras Update
August 28, 2006
When I (Allen) think about this July's trip to Honduras, it is with mixed feelings and with a more heightened awareness that the battle we face is more spiritual than anything.
The photo of the pole mount at Las Vegas San Juan (LVSJ) symbolizes our victory over real and spiritual darkness. Otto Afanador fell through the roof at this school, but we returned to LVSJ three days later and finished the install.
The kids seemed more responsive (to the gospel) on this trip, perhaps due to the great Fiesta Team we had of Kevin Sasson, Parker and Malvina (another great translator). While the installation team, including Nahun, Roger and locals from each of the villages, worked on the systems, the Fiesta Team played games and taught kids the meaning of the gospel.
The four installs proved tougher than previous projects as they were further away and harder to accomplish. We packed mules and the locals helped haul our tools and equipment to the remote villages of Quebrachal and Gabriel.
The villagers also provided Allen with a mule to ride. Allen, not an experienced mule rider, couldn't much refuse the gift and describes the events as an adventure, especially the ride back from Gabriel in pouring down rain. His inability to walk afterward without the bowed leg look also provided much merriment.
The day following Otto's accident, we sent Lance & Parker Brown and Meilyn Moncada (one of our wonderful translators) to Esperanza with the teacher from LVSJ to buy materials for the pole mount, so they missed hour-long trek through a rainstorm, but provided the group much entertainment describing the trip.
The installation at Gabriel went well with real evidence of Americans, including Jack Armant, Nick, Ryan, Joyce & Daniel from First Presbyterian Church of Franklin PA, and Hondurans working side by side to safely and quickly get the installation done which was good considering the oncoming rain and the need to do part of the work on another school, Espino, before returning to Conception (home for the trip).
The team's decision to stop at Espino (despite all being soaked and looking a little like drowned rats) and continue working proved to be a big spiritual lift to the locals at Espino, the poorest village (and darkest school) of the four. We returned at 6 AM the next morning to finish the roof part of the work.
The teacher (at Espino) sang us Way Down on the Shawnee River in English, despite not knowing any (other) English.
The team turned on light in the darkness of all four schools and spoke of the Love of Jesus being the reason for our coming — to all of the children and numerous adults in every village. We all continue to pray for Otto's complete healing from his injuries.