Here is the photo of Yuvonia that I should have posted. It may explain why she is having back surgery. She still plans to go to La Palma, but will teach rather than work like this.

Johna came through surgery fine yesterday. She will, of course, have some soreness and recovery time. That is complicated by taking care of her four little ones.
Now please pray for Yuvonia. She is a wonderful lady and perennial missionary to La Palma. She is having severe back pain and is scheduled for surgery in about 10 days. We wish her the best in her recovery.

Johna developed many 'special friends' among the children in La Palma. Johna is having some surgery today, so please say a prayer for her as you pray for the work, the church, the school, and the people in La Palma.

It is reported that many, many in La Palma have the flu--probably some regular flu and some H1N1. Their cultural habits spread it easily. Keep praying for their health.

At the Customs warehouse in September, the officials decided to unload our containers and inspect everything to make sure we were not importing something that we should not. I had in my hand a complete list of everything and showed it to them. They said they needed to check it, so they started unloading stuff--two truckloads! They were carrying out walkers and wheelchairs and infant seats and boxes of clothing, and so on. When they saw a big television box they thought they had us. It was marked X595 and the list showed that it contained adult diapers. Well, when they opened it, it was full of adult diapers! Very shortly after that the unloading stopped and they reloaded the items already taken off. We put our own padlocks on the trucks and the 'inspection' ended. Our credibility had been established, they had fulfilled their obligation to check things out, and life got better.

Steve and Connie present a 'family pack' bag of clothing to a family. These bags were donated and contained clothing for a 'typical' family.

We assume this was a load of scrap metal being taken to market somewhere. The boy appears to have a firm hold on something!

Much of the stuff we unloaded from the containers in September is in storage waiting for the new building to be finished.

We do a lot of things in La Palma, but we must never forget that our real mission is to preach the word and save the lost.

This is also under construction--a facility to care for widows and orphans in La Palma. The boys and girls dormitories will house the younger children. A family is to live in the houseparents quarters. Widows, older orphans, and staff can live in the right side.
The intent is to have a family setting in an institutional facility, and to use widows and older orphans to manage the younger orphans as much as possible.
This is not expected to be completed until sometime in January. It will then be a while before the licensing process can be completed.

This building is under construction and expected to be completed by December 4. It will house the La Palma Bible Institute, a preacher school to train native men and women to be preachers and teachers. The primary method of teaching will be via video conferencing, but internet download of recorded lessons and the use of live instructors will be options.
In addition to the large classroom, there will be a study area/library, a kitchen/dining area, and sleeping rooms with shower. Several students can reside at the Institute at any given time.
Included in the structure is a room for medical storage and work. This will allow the nurses and doctors on trips to better perform their exams. It will be equipped with an exam table and dental chair.
A large storage room is also included. We keep a lot of stuff there. This room will also serve as a workshop for the carpenters in our teams.

Mary and Melvin show a little girl in Ocotepeque a photo of herself. The children love to see their picture instantly after the photo is taken.

As they stand at the gate, you can see the similar silhouettes of Melvin and Ralph. They were together about 40 years ago in Viet Nam, and they must be eating the same foods!

Mindy made her first La Palma trip in September. From the Temple Texas area, she brought some real laughter and love to the kids and people in La Palma. In case she has been telling about the hardships she had to endure, we wanted to show that she sometimes was quite comfortable!

This is the Lord's Day! Let us worship Him and Praise HIM! Today please remember our brothers and sisters in La Palma and Ocotepeque as they worship the same God that we do. Let us lift up our voices to God in praise for our blessings and for the continued growth of the churches there.

Lori and Melva console Erika when she was not feeling well. She is now on different medicine and feeling better. Pray for her health - physical and spiritual.

Pray for the people in Honduras, especially the folks in Ocotepeque. The country has as much uncertainty about the future as ours does, except violence could be in their near future. Here is the latest intelligence report:

Honduras: Zelaya Extends Deadline for Deal – 16 October 0900



Speculation continues that a deal is close between representatives of Interim President Roberto Micheletti and deposed leftist president Manuel Zelaya. Zelaya, who had set yesterday as the deadline for an agreement, yesterday extended that deadline until noon today. It is not clear what action he would take if the new deadline is not met. Most likely he would call his supporters back onto the streets, which have been quiet in recent days.



Zelaya appears to have agreed to forgo attempts to change the constitution to permit him to run for additional presidential terms, the issue that led to his 28 June ouster, and to accept restrictions on his authority. Micheletti, however, warned that the key issue of Zelaya’s reinstatement to the presidency remained unresolved. Meanwhile, the 29 November presidential election draws ever closer, amid concern that the winner will not be recognized internationally.



The interim government has been adamant that Zelaya, who returned to the country surreptitiously on 21 September and is holed up at the Brazilian Embassy, not be permitted to resume his presidency, even with restrictions on his power.



Personnel should follow developments closely and curtail circulation in the event that tensions between the two sides reassert themselves. Travel to Honduras should remain suspended.

This girl has a wonderful smile! She is a happy student at the La Palma Christian School.

We are told to 'bear one another's burdens', but I don't feel capable of doing what this lady is doing.

Claudia is an amazing girl! Over 20 years without walking, and after a year of therapy (actually only 4 sessions and a lot of work on her part), she can stand alone unaided, walk with a walker, and is doing a lot of her own therapy on the parallel bars that Morris built for her. The Pull-A-Pet is a new carriage for her when Dad takes her to town. It goes better on muddy, rough roads than the wheel chair does.
Claudi needs an exercise bike. If you have one to donate to her, please let me know. We can ship it soon. Ralph

Geography classes are important enough to display the map where the children see it several times a day.

Watch how Jose tries to make the Personal Energy Transport work, but he is just not big enough for it. We hope to get him a smaller one.

The new auditorium with padded pews and chairs looks much nicer than it did with folding chairs.

This little girl is Andrea, the one with a heart defect that cannot be corrected. She is unable to have the needed surgery, and is not expected to live much longer. She is still a sweetheart.

Kids love to see the photos of themselves immediately after being taken.

These children in Ocotepeque, Honduras will likely never forget that American woman who sat down on the floor with them, taught them and sang with them!

Sunset in La Palma! The wall with the Fernando Llort painting on it makes a terrific backdrop for a beautiful sunset.

I can't help it! This begs the title of "little drummer boy!"

Three pretty girls practice for the parade. Their costumes are beautiful.

We borrowed a truck and driver from the Mayor to deliver a Personal Energy Transport up on the mountain to a crippled fellow. We took crutches, walkers, clothing, and several blankets/bedrolls to give away. Five ladies were going in addition to Melvin and me. Melvin and I offered to let the ladies ride in front--they declined and forced us to ride up there--where it was safe and comfortable.
From left to right, Lori, Hiliana (clinic nurse-super lady), Johna, Lana, and Mary.
Melvin's comment as they settled into the back was this: "Looks like we're taking the squaws to the auction!". The trip lasted longer than planned, but we all had a great time.

This fellow struggles to get around, but the only thing he wanted was some new crutches. We were happy and humbled to provide them for him.

The fellow who was too small for the PET that we took him has a large tomato patch- we estimated it at about an acre and a half. It is well maintained and cared for. Here Melvin poses through a row--the plants are 6 feet tall or more and supported by a system that is very effective.